The undefeated Cooperstown boys basketball team will begin defense of its Holiday Tournament title this Friday at 8 p.m., when they play Sidney in the nightcap of what will be a busy day at Bursey Gymnasium.

The Cooperstown Sports Booster Club will hold its 21st annual Redskins Holiday Boys' Basketball Tournament Friday and Saturday, Dec. 27 and 28. Teams include Sidney, Canajoharie, Dolgeville and host Cooperstown. Cooperstown defeated then state-ranked Delhi in last year's tournament final.

Junior varsity action gets under way at 1 p.m. Friday with Canajoharie taking on the Dolgeville Blue Devils. At 2:30 Cooperstown will play the Warriors of Sidney. These match-ups will be repeated in the varsity contests which begin at 6:30 and 8 p.m. The consolation games will be held at 1 and 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, with the championship games scheduled for 2:30 and 8 p.m.

The Redskins, 7-0, tuned up for the tournament with a pair of easy victories over Sauquoit on Thursday and Mt. Markham Saturday. Jeremy Holmes led the way against Mt. Markham with 26 points in a 63-44 victory.

"I expect our guys to be pumped up and ready to defend their title," said Cooperstown head coach Dave Bertram. "We're playing very good defensively and that helps when we have nights when our shots aren't falling. That was the case on Saturday."

If the Redskins can get past Sidney, who enter the game with a 5-3 record, they will likely face Dolgeville in the final in what should be a good contest.

Dolgeville beat Waterville by 20 points earlier this season and Waterville nearly handed the Redskins their only loss of the season on Dec. 16.

All participants will receive a tournament T-shirt sponsored in part by Bassett Healthcare, Mang Insurance, Royal Chrysler of Oneonta, The Doubleday Cafe and Ashley-Conner Realty. Following the championship game, trophies will be presented to the tournament All-Stars, the Most Valuable Player and the Championship team. The awards are sponsored by Wilber National Bank, Don Olin Realty, Cooperstown Agway and Church & Scott, Inc., all of Cooperstown. Trophies for the J.V. winners are sponsored by the Cooperstown Bat Company and will be awarded after the J.V. championship game.

Davenport and Edmeston will play in the other first round game.

The Lady Redskins improved to 2-4 with a victory over Morrisville on Friday night.

"Kristin Leonard had a very good game defensively and Anne Kennedy played well offensively," said Cooperstown head coach Frank Miosek. "Leah Hall came off the bench to spur our first quarter offense, which was a nice boost."

Miosek said he expects Walton, who defeated the Lady Redskins in last year's tournament final, to be a tough opponent, but that Davenport is probably the favorite to win it.

"We'd like to play well and get some momentum for the second half of the season," Miosek said. "I expect we'll be a team that will continue to get better as the season progresses."

...Cooperstown finished second to host Milford in the season-opening Anton Remy Tournament in November.