After a brief one year layoff, the annual Picayune Christmas Basketball Tournament returns today and Saturday at Kelly Wise Gym.

Four games, two apiece on the girls and boys sides of the bracket, will take place each day beginning at 1 p.m. The title tilts and consolation games are Saturday.

Both Picayune teams will host the event, and be joined by girls teams from Poplarville, West Harrison and Ocean Springs as well as boys squads from West Harrison, St. Stanislaus and Ocean Springs.

Play tips off today with the Lady Hornets of Poplarville taking on the Lady Hurricanes of West Harrison at 1, followed by the West Harrison boys against St. Stanislaus at 2:30.

The first day concludes with the host teams in action against Ocean Springs, as the Lady Tide faces the Lady ‘Hounds at 4 and the Maroon Tide takes on the Greyhounds at 5:30.

The Picayune event is just one of a veritable plethora of holiday hoops tourneys taking place on the prep level at this time.

The Poplarville boys are in action today and Saturday in the Jackson area, as the Hornets take part in the Hartsfield Christmas Tournament.

Both PRC teams will attempt to bounce back from district opening losses as as they head to the Vancleave Tournament.

The Lady Devils open the event at 3 p.m., against East Central today. The Blue Devils follow suit immediately afterwards, also facing East Central at 4:30.

St. Patrick meets the host school in a pair of games following those two contests. On Saturday, the third place games take place first beginning at 3 and those will be followed by the championship contests in both the boys and girls brackets.