SCHEDULE SET FOR 4TH ANNUAL ST. JOSEPH AREA SPORTS HALL OF FAME

HOLIDAY HOOPS CLASSIC PRESENTED BY UNITED FIBER 

DECEMBER 18-20, 2025 – CIVIC ARENA

 

For Immediate Release: Friday, June 20, 2025

Brett Esely Contact: 816-233-6688, besely@stjomo.com

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 4th Annual St. Joseph Area Sports Hall of Fame Holiday Hoops Classic presented by United Fiber 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/regional teams of interest competing in a boys/girls doubleheader classic style format just before the Christmas holiday.

“In the spirit of fit, niche and game day environment, teams that have participated in Holiday Hoops in our first three years have been treated to a quality experience in a big-time arena style atmosphere.”  stated Brett Esely, Executive Director of the St. Joseph Sports Commission.  “The reputation of the event continues grow in which we received a number of inquiries from schools to participate this year.  Depending on date formulas in the future, we will seek ways to expand the field and provide further participation opportunities.”

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 17 games over three days and begins on Thursday, December 18 as  Bishop LeBlond squares off against Macon followed by Lafayette taking on Park Hill South in a doubleheader in which the Panthers feature one of the nation’s top female recruits in Addison Bjorn.  Day two begins with Platte Valley taking on West Platte who will appear in Holiday Hoops for the first time.  The days second doubleheader features Central High School taking on Savannah while the nightcap features the Class 4 State Runner Up Benton High School girls taking on Oak Park.  The first of four doubleheaders on day four features St. Joseph Christian taking on Class 1 Boys & Girls District Champion Rock Port.  North Platte appears in Holiday Hoops for the fourth consecutive season taking on Cameron in the days second doubleheader, the Panther girls were Class 2 District Champions a season ago.   They will be followed by East Buchanan’s return to the event as they take on Maysville.  The Bulldog boys were class 3 District Champions in 2025.  The nightcap of day three features Mid-Buchanan taking on Maryville who makes their first Holiday Hoops appearance.  The Dragon girls were class 3 District Champions a season ago.

“As we mention every year, the scheduling puzzle pieces do not get any easier, we are grateful to this field for their commitment in playing and we look forward to some exciting high school basketball downtown right before Christmas!”  Esely stated.

Holiday Hoops also enhances the profile and awareness of the St. Joseph Area Sports Hall of Fame of which the 2025 induction class was recently announced.  Enshrinement is set for Sunday, August 24.

Ticket information will be released in late fall in which all sales will be facilitated online and through the Civic Arena Box Office.  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.

 

2025 ST. JOSEPH AREA SPORTS HALL OF FAME HOLIDAY HOOPS CLASSIC PRESENTED BY UNITED FIBER

Thursday, December 18

4:00 PM – LeBlond vs. Macon (G)

5:30 PM – LeBlond vs. Macon (B)

7:00 PM – Lafayette vs. Park Hill South (G)

8:30 PM – Lafayette vs. Park Hill South (B)

 

Friday, December 19

2:30 PM – Platte Valley vs. West Platte (G)

4:00 PM – Platte Valley vs. West Platte (B)

5:30 PM – Central vs. Savannah (G)

7:00 PM – Central vs. Savannah (B)

8:30 PM – Benton vs. Oak Park (G)

 

Saturday, December 20

10:00 AM – St. Joseph Christian vs. Rock Port (G)

11:30 AM – St. Joseph Christian vs. Rock Port (B)

1 PM – North Platte vs. Cameron (G)

2:30 PM  – North Platte vs. Cameron (B)

4 PM – East Buchanan vs. Maysville (G)

5:30 PM – East Buchanan vs. Maysville (B)

7 PM – Mid-Buchanan vs. Maryville (G)

8:30 PM – Mid-Buchanan vs. Maryville (B)

 

The St. Joseph Sports Commission is a division of the St. Joseph Convention & Visitors Bureau