More photos from this shoot

Photo: Paul Colletti The Rock Island Rocks huddle before tip-off against Davenport Assumption during the Genesis Shootout at Augustana College's Carver Center in Rock Island on Saturday, December 15, 2012.

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.