The Jefferson City Jays have yet to step foot onto their home floor this season, except for practice of course.
The Jays will only play two games at Fleming Fieldhouse before Christmas. But they're used to it by now, playing in various tournament and shootouts away from Jefferson City to start recent seasons.
"I've never minded that," Jays coach Blair Thompson said at Wednesday's press conference for the Capital City Shootout and Joe Machens Great 8 Classic. "Early in the season it gives us a chance to get on the bus and spend some time together and get away from some distractions. Our guys on the bench are our cheering section and we're rallying for each other and trying to get closer as a group."
But the Jays don't mind adding a game at Fleming when they can. In fact, they had that opportunity this season with the Capital City Shootout on Dec. 17. The Jays close out the seven-game event with a 7 p.m. matchup with Battle.
"To be honest we needed more home games," Thompson said. "We've been playing in shootouts like crazy, but unfortunately those shootouts have been other places on the road. I've tried to scale back on the traveling a little bit and I thought it was a good opportunity to play at home if they'd let us. Any time you can get Jeff City and Columbia hooked up in anything it's always a good rivalry game."
Jefferson City's other game at Fleming before Christmas is Dec. 20 against Willard. Then the Jays get three games on their home floor Dec. 28-30 in the Great 8 Classic.
Jefferson City opens with Western High School out of Louisville, Ky. The game is set for a 7 p.m. start.
Whitehaven (Memphis, Tenn.), Oxford (Miss.) and Northmont (Clayton, Ohio) are the other out-of-state teams in the tournament.
"We don't know a ton about them yet," Thompson said of Western. "You do as much research as you can but it's spotty. We know a lot of these teams coming in had good seasons last year and have a lot of good guys back."
Helias, Raytown South and Father Tolton are the other Missouri teams participating.