If you're a basketball fan, this past week offered some great venues.

As Greenville Academy's Tip-Off Tournament came to a close last Wednesday, one only had to take a Thanksgiving break on Thursday to recuperate for Fort Dale's Thanksgiving Tournament last Friday.

Both tournaments brought out the public and lured guests from several schools. I think the tourneys helped GA and FDA in that they opened the season with some tough games.

In the Thanksgiving Tournament, the Eagles' varsity girls team avenged their opening loss to Escambia by beating them in the championship game last Saturday.

Although the girls lost for the first time in over a year, I feel that it is better to have a slip up at the beginning than at the end of the season.

The team can now concentrate on just winning; not about the streak.

I thought the team showed a lot of poise in beating that strong Escambia team.

Coming back to avenge their first lost so early in the season will help this team as they go into their next games.

The whole field, Kingwood Academy, Wilcox Academy and Escambia, looked like some teams that you'll be seeing in the playoffs.

The FDA girls will be poised to defend their championship later next year.

As for the guys, playing some stiff competition like they did in the tourney will further their game.

Although they lost to an impressive Kingwood team, the Eagles will try to come up on the winning end against a physical Monroe Academy on Dec. 2.

The FDA up tempo brand of basketball makes for some exciting games.

Over at GA, the boys' and girls' teams endured some tough opponents at the Greenville Tip-Off Tournament.

Lowndes Academy left the round robin tournament undefeated.

They looked like the strongest team in the tourney by far.

The GA teams have some promise. The teams are quite young, especially the girls' squad. Although they are in the process of gaining experience, the team has shown improvement over just the tournament.

The first few games don't make a season anyway. If the girls can continue to improve from game to game, then the foundation has been set.

This team can be something to be reckoned with in the future.

As for the guys, they are hustling very hard for first year head coach Steve Whittington. They are showing a few signs of improvement as well. But, in order to win the games, they'll have to improve on their rebounding.

The Tornados will have their chance to rebound when they play at Cottage Hill in Mobile on Dec. 4.

The Greenville High Tigers opened their season with losses to Calhoun. However, the boys' team is gaining experience as I speak.

When area play begins on Dec. 7 with Monroe County, you better believe the Tigers will be ready. That goes for the girls' team also.

Changing gears, the GA wrestling season started last Monday night at Edgewood.

If you want to see a great program that's still on the rise, I would encourage you to make plans to attend GA's first wrestling meet of the season.

They will host Marengo, Marion Military Institute and Pensacola Christian on Thursday, Dec. 2 …

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving.