December 16 ended the 69th annual Conrad Allen Holiday Tournament, held in J. Conrad Allen Gymnasium. It spanned from Saturday, December 9 to Saturday, December 16. Wayne City High School entered their varsity and junior varsity teams in the tournament. The junior varsity team was thrown in at the last minute due to another team dropping out of the tournament.

The varsity went two and two. They won 57-56 against Thompsonville, lost 72-45 against Grayville, and won 59-45 against Lovejoy. 

Koby Anderson, Varsity Team Captain, said, “It was a good learning experience for us. We did not end up taking home what we wanted, but it is not February so at the end of the day it doesn’t matter. Our sole focus is getting better everyday and preparing for regionals.”

The junior varsity lost all of their games, but put up a good fight against multiple varsity teams.

“Facing teams with more experience made us better as a team,” said junior varsity player, Landis Musgrave.

The Conrad Allen Holiday Tournament is one of the oldest tournaments in Illinois history, with this year being the 69th annual year.

Varsity Coach Jake Talbert said, “The tournament is something that not only basketball fans in Wayne City look forward to, but basketball fans from all over Southern Illinois. It is amazing how many people I talk to from miles around who have played in, or had relatives who have played in the Conrad Allen tournament.”

The Conrad Allen Holiday Tournament is something that is cherished throughout the community in Wayne City. Many are ecstatic that it has lived on yet another year.