School may be out this week for the holidays, but area basketball and wrestling teams won't get much of a break.

Nearly every team in our coverage area, including some JV squads, will be in action later this week. Here is a roundup of what's on tap:

Starmount boys basketball

What: Frank Spencer Holiday Classic

Where: Joel Coliseum, Winston-Salem

When: The tournament starts Thursday with the Rams playing West Forsyth at 1:30 p.m. Starmount is guaranteed at least two games and will play its second contest either Friday afternoon or evening depending on how the opening round turns out. The championship is Saturday, if necessary.

Of note: If Starmount wins its opener, a second-round match-up with 1A power Winston-Salem Prep looms. Prep features 6-foot-8 center Reggie Johnson, who has signed with the Miami Hurricanes.

Rams coach Wayne Motsinger says Prep has four guards who are "quick as cats" that surround Johnson.

Starmount is the only non-Forsyth County school in the 12-team tournament and carries the event's No. 2 seed. Mount Tabor is the No. 1 seed, Winston-Salem Prep is No. 3 and Reynolds is No. 4.

Starmount girls basketball

What: Pioneer Holiday Invitational

Where: Watauga High School, Boone

When: The Rams open against Oak Hill (La.) on Thursday at 3 p.m. If Starmount wins, it will play the Watauga-West Stokes winner on Friday at 4 p.m. If Starmount loses, it will face the Watauga-West Stokes loser on Friday at 1 p.m.

Of note: Oak Hill is coached by the former coach of Avery High School, Jimmy Tilley. Watauga is a 4A school, while West Stokes and Starmount are 2A.

Elkin boys and girls basketball

What: Alleghany Holiday Tournament

Where: Alleghany High School, Sparta

When: The Elkin girls are scheduled to play at 4 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, while the boys are set to play at 5:30 p.m. both days. Opponents are Grayson County and Galax of Virginia.

Of note: Both Elkin teams carry 3-4 overall records into the tournament.

East Wilkes, North Wilkes boys and girls basketball

What: Wachovia Shootout

Where: Wilkes Central High School, Moravian Falls

When: Games will start at 4 p.m. Thursday with the North Wilkes boys facing West Wilkes. The East Wilkes girls will then play next against West Wilkes. Game three will pit the East Wilkes boys against Wilkes Central with the North Wilkes girls taking on Wilkes Central in the nightcap.

The boys winners and girls winners will face each other in the evening games Friday, with the boys losers and girls losers playing in the consolation games in the afternoon.

Of note: The East Wilkes girls won the Wachovia title last year, while the Wilkes Central boys won.

Starmount JV girls basketball

What: Flow Invitational

Where: Mount Tabor High School

When: The tournament is scheduled for Thursday through Saturday. Game times and opponents TBA.

North Wilkes, Elkin, East Wilkes wrestling

What: North Wilkes Viking Classic

Where: North Wilkes High School new gym, Hays

When: Friday, with matches beginning at 9 a.m.

Looking ahead to 2008

Area teams will hit the ground running when the calendar rolls into January. Elkin basketball teams will travel to North Stokes on Jan. 2, while East Wilkes teams will host West Wilkes. On Jan. 4, Starmount hoops squads will get another shot at Mount Airy, this time in Boonville.

Surry Central will tangle with North Wilkes in a Mountain Valley 2A contest in Hays on Jan. 4.

On the wrestling front, Elkin will host East Wilkes on Jan. 3, while North Wilkes will visit Surry Central on Jan. 4.