Christmas is just over a week away. A major component of the holiday season is spending time with friends and family. Sports in Beaufort County offer a fun way to do just that in the form of holiday basketball tournaments.

Northside will host the annual Christmas tournament starting Monday at 6 p.m. In addition to the Panthers, Washington, Southside and Terra Ceia will all be competing for the title of best team in the county. The field, while small, should provide some incredible games.

Northside and Terra Ceia main evented one evening last year, and it was one of the best basketball games in recent memory. Basketball fans can expect a gymnasium packed with loud, friendly fans from across the county, making for a lively atmosphere.

There’s plenty on the line this year. The Pam Pack and Panthers have split their non-conference home-and-home series, so a potential meeting between the two would settle the score.

Contests between Southside, Terra Ceia and Washington that normally wouldn’t take place could happen, depending on how everything play out.

Outside Northside’s tournament, Washington’s girls’ will travel to Pitt County, and Southside’s girls will play at South Creek after Christmas. The Lady Pack will test its 9-1 team against some impressive competition.

All of these provide plenty of opportunities to get out and support the hard-working varsity athletes of Beaufort County.

Things start to ramp up on the national scale once the high school tournaments wind down. New Year’s Eve marks the semifinals for the College Football Playoff, and the championship game will be played Jan. 9. On the court, there will be plenty of good college basketball games going on, too.

If sports capture your interest, there are plenty of ways to enjoy some fun games while spending the holidays with friends and family. The important part is doing so with loved ones.