When Live Oak defeated Saratoga in the tournament finals last winter, the Acorns won that crown on the floor at San Jose's Pioneer High School. The reason? Los Gatos had a power problem, and there were no lights in the high school gym.

That doesn't figure to be a problem this year as the teams return for a new edition of the Wildcat Shootout. And there should be plenty of power on the floor when eight talented teams gun for the 2003 tourney title.

Leigh, Pioneer, Saratoga, defending champ Live Oak and host Los Gatos all bring strong teams into the tournament that begins Dec. 10 and winds down to a final round on Dec. 13.

"Leigh is strong, Pioneer is strong and Live Oak has a good team again," said Los Gatos coach Jim Marino, who added that Saratoga is "small, quick and scrappy." And his own Wildcats played Piedmont Hills for the championship in the Westmont tournament last Saturday night.

The tourney begins on Dec. 10 when Branham and Saratoga collide at 5:30 p.m. Los Gatos will take on Willow Glen at 7 p.m. On Dec. 11, Pioneer meets Armijo of Fairfield at 5:30 p.m. and Leigh faces Live Oak at 7 p.m.

First-round losers will square off at 3:15 p.m. and 4:45 p.m. on Dec. 12 with winners playing at 6:15 p.m. and 7:45 p.m. The finals are set for Dec. 13 with the consolation championship game at 3 p.m., the third-place game at 4:30 p.m. and the championship game at 6 p.m.