PHOENIX, Ariz. – The St. Francis varsity basketball team will open the 20th Annual Nike Tournament of Champions in Phoenix against Chapparal (Colo.) at 12:30 p.m. on Monday, Dec 19 at the Salvation Army KROC Center.

“I am really excited for the basketball aspect of the trip,” said junior guard Marlee Nicolos. “There is a lot of really good competition so we should grow as a team there. It is also a really big bonding experience for all of us. We get a lot closer after Arizona so I am looking forward to that.”

The Troubadours (3-1) are appearing in the Nike Tournament of Champions for the 11th time in school history. They are in the KIPP Bracket with Sacramento (Calif.), Foothill (Nev.), Oaks Christian (Calif.), Highland (Ariz.), Sheldon (Ore.) and Gilbert (Ariz.). The bottom half of the bracket includes Forest Grove (Ore.), Fairmont Prep (Calif.), Woodinville (Wash.), Lynwood (Calif.), Mesa (Ariz.), Eastlake (Calif.), Iolani (Hawaii) and Fremont (Calif.

Chapparal High School is located in Parker, Colo. They are 5-1 on the season and play Thursday night before heading to Arizona. The Wolverines are ranked 14th in the state of Colorado by Maxpreps.

The winner of the SF-Chapparal game will play the winner of Sacramento-Foothill on Tuesday at 3:00 p.m. in the KROC Center, while the losers will play at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday at KROC.

“The tournament helps everyone understand playing when you are tired,” said Nicolos of the four-day stretch. “Learning how to overcome soreness is a big thing. It also gets  everyone lots of touches on the ball.”

The Nike Tournament of Champions is the second tournament of the season for St. Francis, who played in the Roseville Elite Showcase last weekend. The Troubadours will also play in the Westcoast Jamboree Dec. 28-30.

The 2016 lineup includes 84 from different states and every region of the country, including the majority of the most powerful squads in the nation.

Established in 1997, the Nike Tournament of Champions is universally considered the greatest high school basketball event – for boys or girls -  in the world. Since its inception it has hosted more than 20,000 athletes from 44 States and every Canadian province; it has produced 168 State Champions and 16 of the past 18 consensus National Champions. Throughout its history, the event has showcased literally hundreds of high school All-Americans and future collegiate and professional stars; its alumni include 8 Olympians and more than two dozen WNBA athletes, including five #1 draft picks.