The Eastern Plains Athletic Conference basketball tournament kicks off today in Melrose, with Elida looking to defend titles on both sides. Still, Elida boys coach Darrell Chenault isn’t looking for a cakewalk. “I think it’s as tough as it can get,” said Chenault, whose charges are off to a 12-0 start. “I think there are four or five teams that have a chance to win it. “It’s going to be a great environment when it gets to Eastern.” Melrose will host the first two days of the 10-school event, with the final three days at Eastern New Mexico University’s Greyhound Arena in Portales. The Elida boys title was the school’s first in the 50 years of the event. Elida’s girls, meantime, claimed their third crown in six seasons with a victory over Melrose in last year’s final. Chenault, who brings an experienced squad into the event, sees Texico, Dora and Fort Sumner as other possible title contenders. The Tigers beat Texico 58-50 in last year’s final. “We shouldn’t have a ‘nerve’ problem,” he said. “It’s just about going out and playing your best. “Defense is probably going to win you a game. We’re still shorter than everybody, so we’ll try to use our quickness.” Elida in the 3A bracket and Texico in the 4A bracket were the top seeds for both boys and girls, so their teams drew byes through today’s eight-game, first-round slate. Texico boys coach Richard Luscombe said his team would like to play Elida again in the finals. “I know our kids would like it,” said Luscombe, who is in his 19th season at Texico and needs two wins to reach 400 for his career at the school (398-138). “But we definitely aren’t looking past anybody.” A Dora graduate, Luscombe thinks the Coyotes (6-3) could be a tough out, noting that Dora’s only losses have come to strong Class 2A programs. “They’ve probably played as tough a schedule as anybody,” he said. On the girls side, Elida (10-2) and Texico (11-1) are off to strong starts and could be on a collision course. Texico’s only loss was to Class 5A power Cibola in the Plateau Holiday Classic in Clovis, and coach Keith Durham has tried to push his team against a challenging schedule. “When we walk in that gym, we know we’re going to get every team’s best shot,” said Durham, who coached the Lady Wolverines to the Class 2A state championship last season. “We’re 11-1 and I thought we played Cibola pretty well for a half, but I don’t think we’ve played our best game yet.” Texico lost to Elida in the semis last year. “I think Melrose has played a pretty tough schedule,” Durham said. “I think you can flip a coin between Fort Sumner and Grady. And Elida will be tough on the other side of the bracket.” Championship games are set for 6 (girls) and 8 p.m. (boys) on Saturday night at Greyhound Arena. Boys 3A bracket: 1. Elida 12-0; 2. Dora 6-3; 3. Fort Sumner 5-3; 4. Floyd 7-5; 5. Melrose 5-5. 4A bracket: 1. Texico 6-3; 2. House 7-5; 3. Grady 5-6; 4. Logan 0-7; 5. San Jon 0-8. At Melrose H.S. Tuesday Game 3: Logan vs. Melrose, 4:45 p.m., old gym Game 7: House vs. Fort Sumner, 8:15 p.m., old gym Game 8: Dora vs. Grady, 8:15 p.m., new gym Game 4: Floyd vs. San Jon, 4:45 p.m., new gym Wednesday Game 10: Elida vs. Logan-Melrose winner, 4:45 p.m., new gym Game 12: Texico vs. Floyd-San Jon, 8:15 p.m., new gym At Greyhound Arena, Portales Thursday Game 14: Game 3 loser vs. Game 7 loser, 4:45 p.m. Game 16: Game 8 loser vs. Game 4 loser, 8:15 p.m. Friday Game 18: Game 10 loser vs. Game 12 loser, 10:45 a.m. Game 21: Game 10 winner vs. Game 7 winner, 4 p.m. (semifinals) Game 23: Game 8 winner vs. Game 12 winner, 7:30 p.m. (semifinals) Saturday Game 24: Game 14 loser vs. Game 16 loser, 9 a.m. Game 26: Game 14 winner vs. Game 16 winner, 12:30 p.m. Game 28: Game 21 loser vs. Game 23 loser, 4 p.m. (3rd place) Game 30: Game 21 winner vs. Game 23 winner, 8 p.m. (championship) Girls 3A bracket: 1. Elida 10-2; 2. Fort Sumner 5-3; 3. Floyd 7-5; 4. Melrose 5-5; 5. Dora 5-5. 4A bracket: 1. Texico 11-1; 2. House 8-4; 3. Grady 6-5; 4. Logan 3-5; 5. San Jon 0-8. At Melrose H.S. Tuesday Game 1: Logan vs. Dora, 3:05 p.m., old gym Game 5: House vs. Floyd, 6:30 p.m., old gym Game 6: Fort Sumner vs. Grady, 6:30 p.m., new gym Game 2: Melrose vs. San Jon, 3:05 p.m., new gym Wednesday Game 9: Elida vs. Logan-Dora winner, 3:05 p.m., new gym Game 11: Texico vs. Melrose-San Jon winner, 6:30 p.m., new gym At Greyhound Arena, Portales Thursday Game 13: Game 1 loser vs. Game 5 loser, 3:05 p.m. Game 15: Game 6 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 6:30 p.m. Friday Game 17: Game 9 loser vs. Game 11 loser, 9 a.m. Game 19: Game 13 loser vs. Game 15 loser, 12:30 p.m. Game 20: Game 9 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 2:15 p.m. (semifinals) Game 22: Game 6 winner vs. Game 11 winner, 5:45 p.m. (semifinals) Saturday Game 25: Game 13 winner vs. Game 15 winner, 10:45 a.m. Game 27: Game 20 loser vs. Game 22 loser, 2:15 p.m. (3rd place) Game 29: Game 20 winner vs. Game 22 winner, 6 p.m. (championship)