BEATRICE, Neb. - A Southeast Nebraksa tradition, almost a century strong, is set to continue next week.

The 97th edition of the MUDECAS Basketball Tournament is set to ring in another year, as 16 schools get set to descend on Beatrice for an exciting week of basketball.

"I think it's a culmination of the early part of the basketball season and bringing 16 teams into Beatrice for a quality basketball tournament that makes it so popular," Rempe said. 

MUDECAS is the longest running high school basketball tournament west of the Mississippi River. Jerry Rempe is a tournament director for the event and says strong community support has helped MUDECAS last as long as it has.

"When you bring 16 schools in, the communities have done a great job of supporting the tournament," Rempe said. "Great teams have come in, the facility was totally full last year for the boys tournament."

Games begin Monday and will be played at both the Beatrice middle school gym and the iconic Beatrice Auditorium. Bleachers on one side, stage on the other, and a basketball floor in the middle.

Rempe says memories made in that gym will last a lifetime.

"That's something they'll always remember," Rempe said. "Being able to play in that venue, there's just something about it. They seem to relish that more than a state championship or the state tournament... It's something that everyone looks forward to after the first of the year - playing in the MUDECAS basketball tournament."

Games can be heard on radio stations Ol Red 99.5 and KWBE 94.7 FM/1450 AM, with championships on News Channel Nebraska TV.