The holiday itself may be over but we have some Christmas tournaments this week that are worth checking out, none better than the Northeast Catholic Classic at Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport.


Three of last year's state champions - St. Joseph (Class LL), New London (Class L) and Trinity Catholic (Class M), along with New York powerhouse Archbishop Molloy, are in a round-robin tournament beginning Tuesday at 6. Trinity faces New London, followed by Archbishop Molloy vs. St. Joseph at 8. On Wednesday, Molloy faces Trinity Catholic at 6, followed by St. Joseph vs. New London.

Masuk hosts Shelton in its own Christmas Tournament at 7 Tuesday. That game is preceded by Norwalk vs. Bunnell at 5:15. The consolation and championship finals are at the same times in Monroe Thursday.

In the Branford Holiday Festival Tuesday, the hosts face Hewlett (N.Y.) at 6, followed by Hand vs. East Lyme at 7:45. On Thursday, Hand takes on Hewlett at 6, followed by Branford and East Lyme at 7:45.

In the Candy Cane Classic at Woodland Tuesday, the hosts face Ansonia at 7, preceded by Amity vs. Oxford at 5. The consolation and championship are Wednesday at the same times.

In the Kohs Holiday Classic, East Hartford faces Glastonbury at 5:30 p.m., followed by Valley Regional at Xavier at 7:15. The consolation and championship are at the same times on Wednesday.

A rematch looms in Fairfield Prep's tournament final on Friday between Prep and Notre Dame-Fairfield that was quite a game a year ago. That will be at Fairfield University at 8 p.m. if the favorites can prevail.

Then there is Thursday's Vanguard Classic at the Floyd Little Athletic Center in New Haven. The schedule is as follows: West Haven vs.Hamden, 11:45 a.m.; Hyde vs. Kolbe Cathedral, 1:30 p.m.; Hillhouse vs. Harding, 3 p.m.; Hillhouse vs. Career (girls), 5 p.m.; Career vs. Stratford, 7 p.m.; and Wilbur Cross vs. Crosby, 8:45 p.m.