By Doug Nye
Record Sports Writer

Olympia and Irmo, two teams hoping to rebound from their first defeats of the young basketball season, square off tonight in an 8 o’clock contest in the Yellow Jackets’ gym to highlight a slim area prep card.

In other action Booker T. Washington journeys to Greenville to face Sterling; Hopkins entertains Carver; Blythewood goes to Blaney; Webber host Mt. Pleasant; Cardinal Newman at Gilbert; and Camden travels to Hartsville.

Coach Earl Lovelace’s Irmo squad, one of several teams expected to make a strong run at the 5-AA conference title, Tumbled to AAAA Camden, 56-41, Friday night for its first setback.

At the same time Olympia, another pre-season 5-AA favorite, was being surprised by conference foe Saluda, 63-59. Mike Martin tossed in 19 points to pace the Red Devils, who held a 49-45 advantage after three quarters.

A victory would be very important to both clubs, since it’s a regularly scheduled 5-AA league battle.

Leon Benbow, a member of the Record’s All-Area team a year ago, will lead high-scoring and undefeated Booker T. Washington and it’s meeting with Sterling. Benbow poured in 33 points in the Tornadoes’ 95-72 spanking of Scholfield Friday night.

Tonight will mark the final regular season action for most clubs until after the Christmas holidays, although several tournaments are scheduled during the break.

The first one unfolds Thursday when the 14th annual City Tournament, sponsored by Richland Sertoma Club gets underway at four different gymnasiums. Coach Cy Szakacsi’s undefeated A. C. Flora squad has been seeded first.

The Falcons, who captured the State AAAA crown last winter, will take on Lexington, also unbeaten, in first round action at the Flora gym.

Other opening night batlles pits Dreher (3-0) against Lower Richland (2-0) in the Diamonds’ gym; Columbia (1-2) against Eau Claire (0-3) at the St. Andrews gym; and Airport (2-1) against Brookland Cayce (2-2) on the Bearcats’ court.

Winners square off Friday night in the Semi-finals and the championship and consolation games are slated for Carolina Coliseum Saturday night.

C. A. Johnson, Booker T. Washington and Hopkins will take part in the Johnson Christmas Tournament Jan. 26-27. At the same time Camden and Dentsville are schedule to participate in the fourth annual Sumter Holiday Invitation Tournament at Sumter.