The Yosemite High School boys and girls basketball teams received Christmas presents they won't soon forget -- A trip to Orlando, Fla., to play in the Holiday Tournament held at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex located at Disney World.

The girls opened the tournament last Friday with a 50-29 win over Alabama's Pisah High School. On Dec. 29 the team lost to Cedar Creek High School of New Jersey, 66-32.

The girls received a third place plaque after beating the Ursuline High Koalas from New Rochelle, New York, 48-40.

The boys team lost all three of their games at the tournament. The team was defeated 62-39 in its opening game by the Bay High School Rockets from Ohio. On Dec. 29, the Badgers were defeated Pisah High, 87-60 and on Monday, the West High Wolverines of Atlanta, Ga., defeated the Badgers 58-36.

Rick Slayton, president of the Yosemite Youth Basketball Association, and his wife Elfie, made the trip to Orlando with the Badgers.

"In addition to playing some very competitive basketball, our teams have really enjoyed the Disney World theme park and the other activities they have participated in," Slayton said. "Both the boys and the girls teams have focused on improving their basketball skills while playing teams from around the nation in a once in a lifetime experience."

More than 70 teams are at the tournament and they celebrated New Years together Tuesday night at a dinner-dance sponsored by KSA Events, the tournament organizers. Both Badger teams held fundraising events to help with the $2,500 per player cost of the seven night trip.

The girls team will host Madera High on Jan. 8 and both teams, along with JV teams, play in Tehachapi Jan 12. North Sequoia League play opens for the boys on Jan. 15 at Sierra and the first league game for the girls team is at Sierra on Jan. 16. The Lady Badgers are looking for its 11th consecutive league title this season.