Traditionally, the arrival of the holiday break means it’s tournament time for local prep basketball programs. This year is no different.

All three Sparks area prep boys programs will be competing in tournaments during the Washoe County School District’s two-week break.

The Spanish Springs boys team will be going to the MaxPreps Torrey Pines Classic in suburban San Diego. The annual tournament runs Dec. 26-31.

The Cougars, who opened their season 7-0, now sit 8-3 after losing three of their last four games. The local club will be looking to bounce back on its California trip.

“I wanted to get us some good competition that was from outside of our area, competition that will make challenge us and make us do things we’re not used to doing,” Spanish Springs coach Kyle Penney said. “Hopefully, that will happen. There are 80 teams and everyone wants to be in the top bracket. It can be tough placement, depending on your draw, but there are quality teams and teams from all over.”

To the casual onlooker, it may seem as though the boys hoop teams at Reed and Sparks are travel partners. The Raiders and Railroaders both competed in the Rail City Classic last weekend. Now both will take some extended time off from game action before returning to the hardwood for the Carson Tournament, Jan. 1-3.

Sparks coach Dick Lee, who has seen his team go just 3-8 through the first month of the season, is happy to get in some uninterrupted practice time.

“We want to use this time to cut down on our turnovers,” Lee said. “We want to get the ball up the floor a little quicker and we’re going to change some defenses. We just want to execute at the offensive end better. In fact, we are doing that already.

“We are by no means down. We are disappointed in our results but we realize we’ve played the toughest 3A schedule in the north and we hope down the road it benefits us.”

First-year Reed boys coach Dustin Hall was also looking forward to consecutive days or practice. His Raiders are 4-5 so far on the season.

“We definitely need some practice time, but it’s tough,” Hall said. “We’ve got a few kids out of town this whole week due to family plans and with a couple unexpected injuries, we’ve only got seven guys practicing. But this time will be good. We need to get back in the gym and sharpen up a bit.”

On the girls side, both Spanish Springs and Reed will enjoy Christmas but get right back to work on their hoop games. The two teams will practice Friday and then play in tournaments.

Spanish Springs is competing in Centennial High’s Holiday Tournament in Las Vegas Dec. 27, 29 and 30. The Cougars are 7-5 but have dropped three games in a row and are set to face some stiff competition in southern Nevada. In the SSHS pool is Silverado, a state semifinalist last year, Highland, Ariz., which won 30 games last winter and perennial northern Nevada playoff qualifier Galena.

“There’s no time like the present to get better. We’ve had some tough times recently and we’ll likely face some adversity in the tournament, but what doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger, right?” SSHS girls coach Christine Eckles said. “We’ll just keep working to get better.”

The Reed girls have not played since Dec. 16 but their break is nearly over. The Raiders (4-2) will play in the West Coast Jamboree in the East Bay Area. The tournament will start Saturday. After a break on Sunday, it will resume Monday and continue through Wednesday.

The Sparks (1-6) girls played in McQueen tournament Monday through Wednesday. The SHS club will now take a break before opening 3A North League play in early January.