The Effingham and Teutopolis boys will both compete in the 69th annual Salem Invitational Basketball Tournament, which is scheduled to begin Wednesday, Jan. 22.

East St. Louis, Highland, Salem, Carbondale, Mt. Vernon and Thornton Fractional North will also participate in the four-day event.

Both the Hearts and Shoes will open play Thursday, Jan. 23. Effingham will play Mt. Vernon at 6:30 p.m. and T-Town will face Fractional North at 8 p.m.

The tournament will continue on Friday, Jan. 24, and conclude Saturday, Jan. 25.

If the Hearts and/or Shoes win their opener, they will play at 8 p.m. Friday. A loss would send them into the 1 p.m. game on Saturday. Every team is guaranteed three games in the event.