The week and month ahead

Now that we’re all fattened up from holiday meals and two weeks of inactivity, it’s time for high school sports again.

Here are some “can’t miss” events coming up next week in the City League.

In boys basketball, it’s East vs. Southeast, a pair of state-ranked teams, on Tuesday.

In wrestling, how about the Derby Invitational next Friday and Saturday. The lineup of teams is impressive, including the top three teams in Class 6A (Goddard, Wichita Heights and Derby) and Numbers 1, 2 and 4 in Class 5A (Emporia, Bishop Carroll and Valley Center).

Looking farther down the road, mark these dates on your calendar:

Jan. 13 – Girls Basketball, Heights vs. Carroll. That’s No. 1 in 6A vs. No. 1 in 5A.
Feb. 3 – Boys basketball, Heights vs. East, rematch of Heights’ 67-62 win on Dec. 6.
Feb. 10 – Boys basketball, Heights vs. Southeast, rematch of Heights’ 63-56 win on Dec. 19.
Feb. 12 – Wrestling, Wichita Heights vs. Bishop Carroll, the powerhouses of the City League butt heads.
Feb. 17 – Boys basketball, East vs. Southeast Part II.
Feb. 24 – Girls basketball, Heights vs. Carroll Part II. This one will probably decide the City League championship.

January also brings round two of regular season basketball tournaments.

Here are some of the better fields:

BOYS (Jan. 22-24)
Topeka Invitational – Could produce a matchup of Topeka Highland Park and Wichita East.
Valley Center’s January Jam – Field includes ranked teams Wichita Southeast and Topeka Seaman.
Bluetem Classic in El Dorado – Includes three ranked teams (Great Bend, Wichita Collegiate and Wichita Trinity).
McPherson Invitational – Includes ranked teams McPherson, Wichita Heights and Manhattan.

GIRLS (Jan. 29-31)
Newton Invitational – Will include ranked teams Andover Central, Rose Hill and
McPherson Invitational – Includes ranked teams Goddard, Buhler and St. John, plus McPherson, the currently unranked but defending 5A state champion.
Kapaun Mt. Carmel Invitational – Includes at least two ranked teams, Bishop Carroll and Great Bend.