By Ken Jackson

Sports Writer

County girls basketball teams will get in one last flurry of competition before taking a holiday break when they compete in various tournaments.

Osceola and Gateway will play in the Midnight Basketball Invitational at Jones High beginning Monday. The Kowgirls enter the event on a five-game winning streak after defeating Celebration, 43-39 on Wednesday.

“The players have shown me courage with this turnaround after being in a slump and losing four in a row,” OHS Coach Barner Cooks said. “We’ve gotten nice adjustments from everyone.”

Osceola (8-5) will open the tournament on Monday at 10:30 a.m. against Port Orange Atlantic. Gateway plays in Monday’s opening game, against Edgewater at 9 a.m.

The Kowgirls finished third in the MBI last year.

Poinciana will take an unblemished 9-0 record to the Dr. Phillips Christmas Tournament, also on Monday.

Wekiva, Deltona, Daytona Beach Seabreeze, Ocoee and former district opponent Bishop Moore are in the Eagles’ bracket.

Celebration will play at the Madison County Christmas Tournament, where they will open against Bluffton, S.C. on Monday.

The Storm (8-4) won seven of their first eight games, but have dropped three of their last four since then, but did mix in a 52-40 win over 4A District 6 foe Oak Ridge on Tuesday. St. Cloud will host a holiday invitational on Tuesday and Wednesday. Games are at 6 and 7:30 p.m.