Basketball season is here with a number of preseason tournaments on the Thanksgiving week slate, beginning with the first round of the eight-team, all-Midlands A.C. Flora tip-off tournament on Saturday. The girls event at Flora features four early games – Lexington vs. Lower Richland and Blythewood vs. Eau Claire at 10 a.m. followed by Irmo vs. Chapin and Flora vs. Richland Northeast at 11:30 p.m. Second-round play resumes on Monday with three place games and the championship final on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.

The other big local event in the Lake Murray tip-off boys tournament at White Knoll and Lexington. The first round schedule features Northwestern vs. Blythewood (6 p.m.) and White Knoll vs. Chapin (7:30 p.m.) at White Knoll and Wando vs. Eau Claire (6 p.m.) and Lexington vs. Midland Valley (7:30 p.m.) at Lexington. Poll plays continues with two games at both sites on Tuesday, with four games at White Knoll on Wednesday and three place games and the championship clash on Friday at Lexington. The title game is set for 5:30 p.m.

Otherwise, Irmo and Chapin’s boys teams are off to tournaments in the Upstate. Irmo opens the Impact Sports Invitational at York against Spartanburg Christian on Monday at 7 p.m. Play continues through Wednesday. Chapin opens a four-team, two-day affair at Chapman against Chesnee at 6 p.m. on Monday.