Though schools are out for winter break, the girls varsity basketball season will be heating up next week in the East Bay. From Monday to Thursday, all six Bay Valley Athletic League schools, as well as Antioch’s Cornerstone Christian High School, will be hosting games in the annual West Coast Jamboree.

Heritage will be the home of the 16-team sapphire division and will host Weston Ranch in its first game, scheduled to tip off Dec. 27 at 7 p.m. The Patriots ended last week 6-3, which includes a double-overtime win against Northridge in the Northridge tournament.

“Playing four games in four days is tough,” said Heritage head coach Lexy Tamony. “The bracket is full of programs with strong winning traditions. There are a lot of different styles of play that we will have to contend with over the course of four days, so we will have to be able to adapt on the fly.”

Spectators will see not only good basketball; odds are they’ll see players who will be a force in woman’s basketball for years to come. WNBA rosters currently boast 13 West Coast Jamboree alumnae, five of whom were taken in the top 10 of their respective drafts.

In total, the West Coast Jamboree comprises 16 tournaments held at 11 locations in the Bay Area. Games will also be held at Vallejo’s Jesse Bethel High School, Livermore’s Las Positas College, Orinda’s Miramonte High School, and Alhambra High School in Martinez. All local teams will play only at their home gym.

While most teams in the Jamboree hail from the Bay Area, some come from all over California. Schools from Nevada, Oregon, Texas and British Columbia will also participate.

Deer Valley hosts the Platinum Division. To accommodate an extra team, the 4-2 Wolverines receive a first-round bye. Their first game tips off on Dec. 28 at 7 p.m., and they host the winner of the game between Sacramento and Hanford high schools. If Sacramento advances, Deer Valley gets to avenge one of its two losses of the young season.

Liberty and Freedom co-host the Diamond and Ruby divisions. In their opener, the 2-4 Falcons face Mission Prep from San Luis Obispo. That game tips off at 2:30 p.m. The 5-5 Lions host Las Lomas in their opener, which starts Dec. 27 at 3 p.m. Combined, the two divisions field 12 teams.

Antioch is the site of the Pearl and Tanzanite divisions. Each division fields eight teams. The Panthers, who have struggled to a 2-8 record on the young season, tip off against San Leandro Dec. 27 at 7 p.m. Pittsburg hosts the gold division. The Pirates open against San Francisco’s Washington High School. That game is also scheduled for Dec. 27 at 7 p.m.

At the gyms where 16 teams play, the first games will start at 10 a.m. and the last at 8:30 p.m. More information can be found at www.westcoastjamboree.com.