Several area prep basketball teams will get back into action beginning Thursday after short breaks for Christmas in a few of the many high school holiday hoops tournaments that take place this time of year.

Picayune will once again host its annual two day clash at Kelly Wise Gym, with action spanning two days and 10 games.

The Maroon Tide stands 12-2 on the season, in their first year under the guidance of head coach Daniel Kennedy, and are coming off a pair of wins last week over Ocean Springs and Hancock. Picayune has won five straight games entering play in its own tourney.

The Picayune tournament also features the Picayune girls as well as the Hancock Hawks. All three local teams will see action on both Thursday and Friday.

On Thursday, the Hawks get things started by taking on Fountainbleau of Mandeville, La., at 2 p.m., followed by a girls game pitting Fountainbleau vs West Jones at 3:30.

The boys’ teams from East Marion and Northshore of Slidell face off at 5 p.m., with the Lady Tide taking on the Biloxi Lady Indians at 6:30 p.m., as Picayune searches for its first win of the season.

Finally, the Maroon Tide cap off the first day by taking on West Jones at 8 p.m. The game is a rematch of a game that took place earlier this year in Soso, one that Picayune won.

On Friday, Hancock’s Hawks lead the day off again at 2 p.m., by taking on Northshore followed by a girls’ game featuring West Jones vs Biloxi at 3:30.

West Jones meets Fountainbleau in a boy’s game at 5, and the Picayune girls meet Fountainbleau at 6:30.

Picayune’s boy’s meet East Marion at 8p.m., on Friday to close out the event.

• The Pearl River Central Blue Devils are also in action this week, taking part in a three day round robin tournament in Covington, La.

The Blue Devils, who are off to a 9-5 start and have won five straight games as well, are coming off a big win over Purvis and will begin play at Covington High by taking on the host team at 6 p.m., Thursday.

Head coach Alan Lumpkin’s team then meets Salmen of Slidell at the same time on Friday night, before rounding out play Saturday afternoon by taking on the St. Augustine Purple Knights out of New Orleans.

The Blue Devils ventured down to Niceville, Fla., for a pre-Christmas tourney last year in Lumpkin’s first year at the helm but will stay a bit closer to home this season.