DEAR PONTIAC HOLIDAY TOURNAMENT FANS: The 85th Pontiac Holiday Tournament is officially in the books. To say it was uneventful would be an understatement. I had envisioned different scenarios about unusual weather delays that would impact the tournament but never did I imagine losing power for several hours and have an almost total blackout in our city. We took a direct hit with the winter storm. However, through it all everyone on our staff, floor officials, our coaches, and especially you our FANS were patient and understanding as we worked through the problem and created an alternate plan so we...

PHT Director, Jim Drengwitz, was inducted in the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame this year as a friend of basketball for his many successful years leading the Pontiac Holiday Tournament.  Congratulations to Mr. Drengwitz and his family for an incredible honor. http://www.pontiacdailyleader.com/article/20151211/SPORTS/151219893  

PHT was well represented in the IHSA Boys Basketball State Tournament —– Congratulations to the following PHT teams who advanced to the finals in Peoria: Chicago Curie captured their first Class 4A Championship. Benet Academy finished 2nd in Class 4A, and Chicago Simeon won the 3rd place trophy in 4A. Peoria Manual took home the 3rd place trophy in Class 3A.

The Pontiac Holiday Tournament, founded in 1926 by Don “Cash” Seaton, physical education teacher and head basketball coach, has the distinction of being the original and oldest high school Christmas tournament in the nation.  Seaton envisioned an event that would bring teams from different parts of the state to Central Illinois for three days during the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day.  This is still the goal of of our tournament today.  It is our hope that you the fans have a great experience watching some of the best teams, players, and coaches in Illinois participate...