The Lancers boys basketball team tips off its 2012 season tonight — and is starting a new SM East tradition in the process.

During this past off-season, head basketball coach Shawn Hair organized what today becomes the first-ever ARC Madness Basketball Tournament, a three day competition that will pit four public and four private schools against each other.

The tournament will also feature a celebration of SM East basketball alumni during Saturday’s play.

The public schools participating are SM East, SM West, SM South and Center. The private schools are Bishop McGuiness, JC Helias, St. James and Bishop Kelly.

The Lancers open their season with a 7 p.m. tip against Lenexa’s St. James Academy at SM East. Admission is $7 for adults and $5 for students.

The Lancers girls team got its season off to an earlier start, playing its first game of the year Nov. 29. They head into an away game at SM Northwest tonight trying for their first win of the year after decisive defeats at the hands of St. Thomas Aquinas and Blue Valley North.