In the continuing effort of creating quality game day experiences for our area student-athletes and coaches, the St. Joseph Sports Commission is excited to announce the field and matchups for our 3rd Annual St. Joseph Area Sports Hall of Fame Holiday Hoops Classic presented by United Fiber, December 19-21, 2024 along with the addition of the Inaugural New Year’s Winter High School Basketball Showcase January 3-4, 2025. Both events will be played at Civic Arena in Downtown St. Joseph.
Holiday Hoops, which is hosted and operated by the commission features seven Buchanan County high schools along with other area teams of interest competing in a boys/girls doubleheader classic style format just before the Christmas holiday.
With the positive experience and interest level teams have enjoyed from the Holiday Hoops event, brought motivation for the creation of the Inaugural St. Joseph Sports Commission Winter Basketball Showcase January 3-4, 2025. The Winter Showcase features boys and girls games featuring three local high schools playing in a two game classic format against teams regionally and statewide along with other single game match-ups of interest.
“In the spirit of fit, niche and game day environment, teams that have participated in Holiday Hoops in our first two years have been treated to a quality experience in a big-time arena style atmosphere. This event, which continues to grow spurred the creation of our Winter Showcase just after the New Year which has been built as a two-game classic format that we hope to do exclusively in that model in the coming years,” stated Brett Esely, Executive Director of the St. Joseph Sports Commission.
The presenting sponsor of Holiday Hoops, United Fiber, is a local fiber-optic network based in Savannah, Missouri and continues to increase their presence in the St. Joseph and surrounding communities. As a proud subsidiary of United Electric Cooperative, they are dedicated to delivering top-notch hometown service to their valued customers and electric members. Their advanced fiber-optic network infrastructure redefines connectivity standards, offering unparalleled quality, unwavering reliability, and blazingly fast speeds that outshine traditional options like cable, satellite, and DSL.
“We are extremely grateful to United Fiber for their continued partnership and commitment not only to Holiday Hoops but with all endeavors of the commission. Their support not only is an investment into our community but helps enhance Holiday Hoops as well as our growing event profile in creating and maintaining a first-class event experience for all involved.” Esely remarked.
With seven county high school teams along with other regional and state teams of interest, Holiday Hoops features 16 games over three days and begins on Thursday, December 19 as the Lafayette girls take on Columbia Battle High School while the Fighting Irish boys square off against 2024 Class 6 State Final Four participant Oak Park. Day two begins with a rematch from last year as LeBlond takes on North Andrew followed by Savannah matching up with Macon, while in the nightcap Benton takes on Park Hill South. Day three features eight games beginning with another rematch from last year as St. Joseph Christian (Chrisitan girls – 2024 Class 1 District 15 champions) plays DeKalb, the second doubleheader of the day features North Platte and Platte Valley. The North Platte girls advanced to the state quarterfinals a season ago while Platte Valley was the Class 1 State Champion. On the boys side, Platte Valley was a State Quarterfinalist. The third doubleheader pits Mid-Buchanan against Maysville, the Wolverine boys were Class 2 District 16 Champion this past season. In the evenings final doubleheader, the Central girls take on KC Kipp while the boys match-up against Chillicothe.
Holiday Hoops also enhances the profile and awareness of the St. Joseph Area Sports Hall of Fame of which the 2024 induction class was announced on May 30. Enshrinement is set for Sunday, August 25.
In the Inaugural St. Joseph Sports Commission New Year’s Showcase, 14 games will be contested over two days as the Friday slate opens with LeBlond taking on Lafayette County, Benton plays Riverview Gardens from the St. Louis area with the Central girls playing West Plains from southern Missouri and the boys taking on Hogan Prep. Day two opens with North Platte facing off against East Atchison followed by LeBlond and Lathrop (Lathrop girls advanced to the Class 3 State Quarterfinals a season ago). Central takes on Riverview Gardens in the penultimate doubleheader with the Benton girls playing West Plains and the Cardinal boys taking on Class 4 Final Four participant KC Central in the nightcap.
“Scheduling is extremely difficult, a lot of dots to connect. But we are extremely proud of this quality field we have put together for both of these marquee events and are thankful to all involved for having interest in making it work,” Esely said.
Ticket prices per day are: $10 for adults, $5 for youth/ students/senior citizens, children 5 and under will be admitted free. Tickets may be purchased at stjomosports.com or in the arena box office beginning one hour prior to tip off of the day’s first game. Cash and credit card are accepted. Sponsorship opportunities for the event are available by contacting the sports commission.
The St. Joseph, Missouri Sports Commission is an umbrella arm of the St. Joseph Convention & Visitors Bureau.
2024 ST. JOSEPH AREA SPORTS HALL OF FAME HOLIDAY HOOPS PRESENTED BY UNITED FIBER
Thursday, December 19:
6:00 PM – Lafayette vs. Columbia Battle (G) – Battle wins 39-36
7:30 PM – Lafayette vs. Oak Park (B) – Oak Park wins 75-35
Friday, December 20:
12:30 PM – LeBlond vs. North Andrew (G) – LeBlond wins 45-16
2:00 PM – LeBlond vs. North Andrew (B) – LeBlond wins 57-38
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