United Township is the lone Western Big 6 Conference boys' basketball team playing twice during the league's traditional non-conference weekend coming out of New Year's Day.
The Panthers (3-11) host both Peoria Notre Dame (7-6) tonight at 7:30, and Pekin (10-4) at 6:30 p.m. Saturday.
Three-time defending champ Rock Island (11-3) opens the 2013 portion of its schedule at home, too. The Rocks welcome Sterling (6-8) for a 7:30 p.m. tipoff Saturday.
Meanwhile, Moline (7-7) is on the road Saturday at Freeport (2-11). Tipoff is at 7 p.m.
Galesburg (9-7) also plays Saturday at the St. Anthony Shootout in Effingham. The Streaks meet Chicago Perspectives at 2:30 p.m., in the second of five games at the one-day tournament.
Neither Alleman (5-7) nor league-leading Quincy (11-2) are in action this weekend.
Alleman visits Class 2A state-ranked Rockridge on Tuesday (7:30 p.m.).
Quincy won't play its first game of 2013 until Jan. 11, when the Blue Devils host Alleman in the resumption of Big 6 action.
As usual, The Dispatch and The Rock Island Argus will cover this weekend's action. The newspaper's never preview non-conference games during the regular season.
Big 6 boys' game previews return to these pages next Friday morning.
Today is Wednesday, May 22, the 142nd day of 2013. There are 223 days left in the year. 1863 -- 150 years ago: Large quantities of ice from LaCrosse and Lake Pepin are beingshipped on ice boats, towed by steamers to St. Louis and points below. 1888 -- 125 years ago: With the Mississippi River at 18 feet above the low water stage,Rock Island is waging a valiant fight to keep the river from flooding the entire city. 1913 -- 100 years ago: Approval has been given by the city commission for paving 45thStreet between 7th and 11th Avenues. 1938 -- 75 years ago: Herndon Wright, of East Moline, has won the discus-throw title, by aheave of more than 140 feet, to set a new high school record at Champaign. 1963 -- 50 years ago: With the Selective Service Law recently extended by Congress forfour more years, Mrs. Hazel Doris reminded young men that they must register withinfive days after attaining their 18th birthday. 1988 -- 25 years ago: Over 500 Quad-Cities area retired volunteers were honoredrecently for their community services at a Retired Senior Volunteer Program luncheonat Palmer Auditorium in Davenport. Guest speaker, William Moffitt, director of productengineering of Deere & Co., spoke about leadership and stressed the importance ofcommunity volunteers.