East and Central Host Memorial Basketball Tournaments

If you're looking for some exciting boys basketball action this weekend, and both take to the courts for their annual holiday tournaments. 

The Luke Homan Memorial Holiday Tournament honors the popular former Lancers sharp-shooting guard who died a tragic death a few years ago. This tournament and a summer golf outing raise funds for a memorial foundation which provides scholarships to Brookfield Central seniors, the Sky Ranch for Boys, Special Olympics and the Variety Club. 

Action tips off at 6 p.m. Thursday night as the Hartford Orioles play Milwaukee Bay View. The Lancers take the floor at 7:30 p.m. against the Nicolet Knights. 

The Lancers come into the tournament with a 6-2 overall record, 4-0 in the Greater Metro Conference, tied for first place. They are coming off a win against Milwaukee King last week and are favored to win their tournament. 

The Nicolet Knights are having a tough year, bringing a 2-6 overall record, 0-4 in the North Shore Conference. They dropped their most recent game against Racine Horlick. 

The Hartford Orioles are struggling this season, with a 1-6 overall record, 0-4 in the Wisconsin Little Ten. They beat Greendale, 49-47, in the season opener, but have lost their last six games. 

Milwaukee Bay View is 1-2 in non-conference play, beating Muskego, but losing to Waukesha West and DePere. 

Brookfield East welcomes Milwaukee Riverside, East Troy and Racine Horlick to the Spartan fieldhouse Thursday for a tournament that honors legendary Spartans basketball coach Lavern Luebstorf. 

Riverside and East Troy open the tournament on Thursday with a 6 p.m. game, followed by the Spartans and Horlick at 7:30. 

The Spartans are 5-3 overall and 3-1 in the Greater Metro Conference, alone in second place. They are coming off a loss to Oconomowoc last week (59-42), but have recent wins over West Allis Hale and Sussex Hamilton. 

The Riverside Tigers are 4-0 in non-conference play, with a decisive win over local powerhouse Wisconsin Lutheran (71-63). 

East Troy comes to Brookfield with a 6-1 overall record and a share of the Rock Valley Conference lead with Jefferson with a 5-0 record. They bring a three-game winning streak into the tournament. The Trojans pour on the points and fill the court with big players — Tanner Plomb, a 6-foot-8 senior forward with a 17.1 points per game average and two 6-9 juniors. Their size and scoring capabilities make them the favorite in the Luestorf tourney. 

Horlick is 3-3 overall and 1-2 in the Southeast Conference, tied for second behind three 3-0 teams in Racine Park, Racine Case and Franklin. They are coming off a 68-56 non-conference win over Nicolet.