For the 66th year, the Blue and Gold high school tournament allows local fans from all around the area to see schools of different sizes take on each other in a chance for the small town boys to take on the bigger communties in "David vs. Goliath" match-ups. The 32 teams this year are all guarenteed at least two games, win or lose, and there are also 16 teams competing in the Pink and White girls version of the event played at the McDonald Arena. The boys first round games in the Blue Division start on Monday at the Hammons Student Center with Buffalo facing Clever at 9:30 a.m. Top-seed Nixa plays Lebanon at 11 a.m. followed by 5th seed Branson against Bolivar at 12:30 p.m., 4th seed Rogersville versus Aurora at 2 p.m., 7th seed Strafford against West Plains at 5 p.m., 2nd seed Kickapoo and Camdenton at 6:30 p.m., 6th seed Morrisville takes on Skyline at 8 p.m. and 3rd seed Willard facing Willow Springs at 9:30 p.m.
Holiday Hoops get hot-and-heavy the day after Christmas
Blue and Gold, Pink and White events start on Monday
The gold division first round games are at JQH arena with Conway and Hartville playing the opening round game at 9:30 a.m. At 11 a.m. top-seeded Hillcrest meets Mansfield, followed by 5th seed Ozark and Mountain Grove at 12:30 p.m., 4th seed Mt. Vernon against Reeds Spring at 2 p.m., 7th seed Spokane and Miller at 5 p.m., 2nd seed Marshfield versus Ava at 6:30 p.m., 6th seed Fair Grove facing Crane at 8 p.m., and 3rd seed Republic matching up with Greenwood at 9;30 p.m.
The Pink and White opening day line-up at McDonald arena starts with top-seed West Plains and Catholic at 9:30 a.m., then its 8th seed Aurora and Greenwood at 11 a.m., 4th seed Ash Grove and Hillcrest at 12:30 p.m., 5th seed Mt. Vernon and Central at 2 p.m., 2nd seed Nixa and Fair Grove at 4:30 p.m., 7th seed Willard plays Marshfield at 6 p.m., 3rd seed Branson and Parkview at 7:30 p.m. and 6th seeded Skyline and Rogersville at 9 p.m.
On Tuesday the KTXR Lady Classic starts at Drury's O'Reilly Family Event Center. The eight-team tournament features some of the area's best teams against entries from around the state and nation. Ozark and Columbia Rock Bridge tip-off the action Tuesday at 4 p.m., followed by Kickapoo and Mercy Academy at 5:30 p.m., Republic and North Little Rock at 7 p.m., and Glendale and Stockton at 8:30 p.m. The championship game is Thursday at 3:30 p.m.
All the Blue and Gold and Pink and White tournament finals are on Thursday at the JQH Arena.
