Vermilion to host weekend tournaments

The Vermilion Community College basketball teams will once again open their season with respective weekend tournaments in the friendly confines of their home gymnasium.The 11th annual event starts at 2 p.m. Friday, with four teams in both the men’s and women’s field.The Vermilion squads are joined by two Minnesota schools - Itasca (Grand Rapids) and Rainy River (International Falls) - and tournament mainstay Gogebic Community College of Ironwood, Mich.The first two tournament matchups involve the Rainy River and Gogebic women’s (2 p.m.) and men’s (4 p.m.) squads. The Vermilion teams close out the evening session, with the Ironwomen taking on Itasca at 6 p.m., with a Vermilion-Itasca men’s game set for an 8 p.m. finale.The Saturday lineup starts with the women’s third-place game at 10 a.m., followed by men’s third-place game at noon. The championship games are slated for 2 p.m. (women’s) and 4 p.m. (men’s), respectively.The tournament brings about 100 players and coaches to town, filling some area lodging facilities and bringing some extra business for local restaurants.