2026 HIGH SCHOOL HOLIDAY HOOPS PRESENTED BY UNITED FIBER
December 18 @ 2:30 pm - December 22 @ 10:00 pm
LARGEST FIELD EVER IS SET FOR 5TH ANNUAL ST. JOSEPH AREA SPORTS HALL OF FAME HOLIDAY HOOPS CLASSIC PRESENTED BY UNITED FIBER
DECEMBER 18-22, 2026 – CIVIC ARENA
For Immediate Release: Friday, July 31, 2026
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 5th 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 six Buchanan County high schools along with other area/regional/out of state teams of interest competing in a boys/girls doubleheader classic style format just before the Christmas holiday.
“Interest in this event continues to grow which speaks to the quality of the venue and unique, arena style atmosphere that is a great experience for the student-athletes to compete in.” stated Brett Esely, Executive Director of the St. Joseph Sports Commission. “This is by far our largest field ever in which we’ve added a day featuring 50 teams competing in 29 games.”
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. They have been a foundation level supporter of the sports commission from day one, in which Holiday Hoops has always been of interest and a great fit for them. Their continued support has enabled us to enhance and this this event annually” Esely remarked.
With six county high school teams other regional/state teams of interest along with two teams from out of state, Holiday Hoops features 29 games over four days and begins on Friday, December 18 as Savannah squares off against Faith Christian. The Savage girls finished 22-6 a season ago while the Faith Christian boys recorded a 26-4 record and a 3rd Place finish in Class 1. The second doubleheader of opening day features a solid Northwest Missouri matchup as Central takes on Maryville. The Friday nightcap features one of the best matchups of the event as the Benton Girls (22-9, 4th Place in Class 4) face Topeka Hayden Catholic who won the Kansas 4A State Championship a season ago.
Day two begins bright and early on Saturday as St. Joseph Christian takes on Platte Valley. Saturday’s second doubleheader features North Platte and Faith Christian. The boys game is a feature matchup of the event with two 2026 state Final Four teams squaring off as the Panthers finished 27-5 last season and 3rd Place in Class 3. Up next an intriguing matchup awaits as East Buchanan takes on Rock Port. The Blue Jay Girls finished 29-3 a season ago and 3rd Place in Class 1 while the Blue Jay Boys were Class 1 District 16 Champions with a final record of 22-7. The days final doubleheader features a pair of 20 win girls teams as Mid-Buchanan takes on Albany, the Warriors were Class 2 District 16 Champions this past winter. The Dragon boys (22-5) take on Albany to close the days slate.
After an off day, action continues Monday morning as West Platte opens against Mexico in boys action followed by a pair of boys teams coming off 20 win seasons as Princeton (26-3, Class 1 District 14 Champions) plays Stewartsville/Osborn (21-8). At 1 & 2:30 PM, Bishop LeBlond will face Plattsburg. The Golden Eagle Girls were Class 3 District 15 Champions a season ago. In the days penultimate doubleheader, East Buchanan returns to face Lafayette County followed at 7 PM by girls action featuring Chillicothe (21-6) against perennial Kansas power Olathe North (17-7). A high level matchup closes the Monday slate as the Benton Boys (30-2, 3rd Place in Class 4) face Smithville (19-10, Champions of Class 4, District 15).
The final day of the event tips at 10 AM on Tuesday morning as Mid-Buchanan returns to face St. Pius X out of Kansas City in a boys/girls doubleheader. At 1 & 2:30 PM respectively, North Andrew will take on Maysville. The Cardinal Girls were Class 1 District 15 Champions this past year. In the events second to last doubleheader, Central returns to take on Kirksville. The Tiger girls recorded a 25-5 record in 2026 winning the Class 4 District 8 Championship. Princeton will compete in the final doubleheader of Holiday Hoops as the girls face West Platte while the boys take on Bishop LeBlond in each teams second game of the event.
“District Champions, Final Four teams, State Champions, 20 win teams, this field is absolutely loaded with great matchups in which fans will want to camp out downtown right before Christmas this year!” Esely stated.
Holiday Hoops also enhances the profile and awareness of the St. Joseph Area Sports Hall of Fame of which the 2026 induction class will be enshrined on Sunday, August 23.
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.
2026 ST. JOSEPH AREA SPORTS HALL OF FAME HOLIDAY HOOPS PRESENTED BY UNITED FIBER
Friday, December 18:
2:30 PM- Savannah vs. Faith Christian (G)
4:00 PM – Savannah vs. Faith Christian (B)
5:30 PM – Central vs. Maryville (G)
7:00 PM – Central vs. Maryville (B)
8:30 PM – Benton vs. Topeka Hayden Catholic (G)
Saturday, December 19:
10:00 AM – St. Joseph Christian vs. Platte Valley (G)
11:30 AM – St. Joseph Christian vs. Platte Valley (B)
1:00 PM – North Platte vs. Faith Christian (G)
2:30 PM – North Platte vs. Faith Christian (B)
4:00 PM – East Buchanan vs. Rock Port (G)
5:30 PM – East Buchanan vs. Rock Port (B)
7:00 PM – Mid-Buchanan vs. Albany (G)
8:30 PM – Mid-Buchanan vs. Albany (B)
Monday, December 21:
10:00 AM – West Platte vs. Mexico (B)
11:30 AM – Princeton vs. Stewartsville/Osborn (B)
1 PM – LeBlond vs Plattsburg (G)
2:30 PM – LeBlond vs. Plattsburg (B)
4 PM – East Buchanan vs. Lafayette County (G)
5:30 PM – East Buchanan vs Lafayette County (B)
7 PM – Chillicothe vs. Olathe North (G)
8:30 PM – Benton vs. Smithville (B)
Tuesday, December 22:
10:00 AM – Mid-Buchanan vs. St. Pius X (G)
11:30 AM – Mid-Buchanan vs. St. Pius X (B)
1 PM – North Andrew vs Maysville (G)
2:30 PM – North Andrew vs. Maysville (B)
4 PM – Central vs. Kirksville (G)
5:30 PM – Central vs Kirksville (B)
7 PM – West Platte vs. Princeton (G)
8:30 PM – LeBlond vs. Princeton (B)
The St. Joseph Sports Commission is a division of the St. Joseph Convention & Visitors Bureau