The 68th annual Neosho Holiday Classic begins Wednesday, Dec. 28, and lasts through Friday, Dec. 30 with 16 boys teams in two divisions (Black, Gold) and six girls teams.
On the boys side, tournament host Neosho will look to defend its Black Division title and the Wildcats open against their fellow Wildcats in Cassville for the second year in a row.
The other three Black Division quarterfinal games are Sapulpa (Okla.) and Monett, Huntsville (Ark.) and McDonald County, and East Newton and Crooked Oak (Okla).
Neosho defeated archrival McDonald County 70-63 for the championship last season, earning the Wildcats their first Holiday Classic title since 2002.
The Gold Division quarterfinal games are Atascocita (Texas) against St. Joseph Lafayette, Van Buren (Ark.) against Morrilton (Ark.), Bentonville (Ark.) against Maumelle (Ark.), and Cypress Falls (Texas) against Memphis Mitchell (Tenn).
Texas schools Atascocita and Cypress Falls both make return appearances in the Holiday Classic after making significant waves several years ago.
Atascocita, driven by sharpshooting guard Carsen Edwards and the explosive 6-foot-8 big man Fabian White, dominated the Holiday Classic and took over Neosho for four days back in 2015. The Eagles were ranked No. 1 in the nation at the time of their appearance in Neosho.
Edwards and White both enjoyed outstanding collegiate careers — Edwards twice earned All-American honors at Purdue and White started more than 100 career games for Houston.
Edwards now plays professionally in Turkey after his NBA career did not pan out, while White plays for the South Bay Lakers in the NBA G League.
Meanwhile, Cypress Falls entered the 2017 Holiday Classic nationally ranked and placed third in a tournament won by North Little Rock, who featured future Arkansas Razorback star and current Golden State Warrior shooting guard Moses Moody.
Other notable players from the Holiday Classic past include current and former NBA players Malik Monk, Buddy Hield, Hasheem Thabeet, and the twins Aaron and Andrew Harrison, as well as former NFL quarterback Josh Freeman.
Maumelle defeated fellow Arkansas school Mills 84-73 for the Gold Division title last season.
On the girls side, defending champion Fort Smith (Ark.) Northside, Stoutland, Neosho, Van Buren (Ark.), St. Joseph Lafayette, and Whitehaven (Tenn.) make up the field.
Neosho, the only local team on the girls side, plays Van Buren on Wednesday and Whitehaven on Thursday.
Van Buren won three straight Holiday Classic titles from 2015 to 2017.
Former Tennessee and WNBA player Shekinna Stricklen propelled the Morrilton Devil Dogs to three straight girls titles from 2003 through 2005, and she became the most notable girls player from the Holiday Classic.
2022 Neosho Holiday Classic
Wednesday, Dec. 28
at Neosho High School
Cypress Falls (Texas) vs. Memphis Mitchell (Tenn.), 11 a.m.
Sapulpa (Okla.) vs. Monett, 12:30 p.m.
East Newton vs. Crooked Oak (Okla.), 2 p.m.
Bentonville (Ark.) vs. Maumelle (Ark.), 4 p.m.
Neosho vs. Cassville, 5:30 p.m.
Atascocita (Texas) vs. St. Joseph Lafayette, 7 p.m.
at Neosho Junior High
Huntsville (Ark.) vs. McDonald County, Noon
Van Buren (Ark.) vs. Morrilton (Ark.), 1:30 p.m.
Fort Smith Northside (Ark.) girls vs. Stoutland, 3 p.m.
Neosho girls vs. Van Buren (Ark.), 4:30 p.m.
St. Joseph Lafayette girls vs. Whitehaven (Tenn.), 6 p.m.
Thursday, Dec. 29
at Neosho High School
Gold Consolation Semifinal No. 1, 10 a.m.
Gold Consolation Semifinal No. 2, 11:30 a.m.
Black Semifinal No. 1, 1 p.m.
Gold Semifinal No. 1, 3 p.m.
Black Semifinal No. 2, 4:30 p.m.
Gold Semifinal No. 2, 6 p.m.
at Neosho Junior High
Black Consolation Semifinal No. 1, 10 a.m.
Black Consolation Semifinal No. 2, 11:30 a.m.
Fort Smith Northside vs. Lafayette, 1 p.m.
Neosho vs. Whitehaven, 2:30 p.m.
Stoutland vs. Van Buren, 4 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 30
at Neosho High School
Black Third Place Game, 9 a.m.
Gold Third Place Game, 10:30 a.m.
Black Fifth Place Game, Noon
Gold Fifth Place Game, 1:30 p.m.
Girls Championship Game, 3:30 p.m.
Black Championship Game, 5 p.m.
Gold Championship Game, 6:30 p.m.
at Neosho Junior High
Black Seventh Place Game, 9 a.m.
Gold Seventh Place Game, 10:30 a.m.
Girls Fifth Place Game, Noon
Girls Third Place Game, 1:30 p.m.
Past Tournament Champions
Boys
2021 — Neosho (Black)
2021 — Maumelle (Gold)
2020 — East Newton
2019 — Bentonville (Black)
2019 — West Memphis (Gold)
2018 — Bentonville (Black)
2018 — West Memphis (Gold)
2017 — North Little Rock
2016 — Wichita Life Prep
2015 — Atascocita
2014 — East Newton (Black)
2014 — St. Joseph Lafayette (Gold)
2013 — Morrilton (Black)
2013 — Sagemont (Gold)
2012 — Sunrise Christian
2011 — Sunrise Christian
2010 — Carthage
2009 — Central Park Christian
2008 — Van Buren
2007 — Marietta
2006 — Kansas City Ruskin
2005 — Cypress Christian
2004 — Springdale
2003 — Fayetteville
2002 — Neosho
2001 — Neosho
2000 — Neosho
1999 — Neosho
1998 — Springfield Hillcrest
1997 — Siloam Springs
1996 — Owasso
1995 — Neosho
1994 — Neosho
1993 — Siloam Springs
1992 — Diamond
1991 — Siloam Springs
1990 — Neosho
1989 — McDonald County
1988 — McDonald County
1987 — East Newton
1986 — Carthage
1985 — McDonald County
1984 — Joplin Memorial
1983 — Rogers
1982 — Neosho
1981 — Carthage
1980 — Joplin Memorial
1979 — Joplin Memorial
1978 — Joplin Memorial
1977 — Joplin Memorial
1976 — Joplin Memorial
1975 — Carthage
1974 — McDonald County
1973 — McDonald County
1972 — Webb City
1971 — Carthage
1970 — Carthage
1969 — Mount Vernon
1968 — Carthage
1967 — Wheaton
1966 — Wheaton
1965 — Neosho
1964 — Lamar
1963 — Goodman
1962 — Granby
1961 — Carthage
1960 — Carthage
1959 — Springfield Central
1958 — Neosho
1957 — Carthage
1956 — Carthage
1955 — Joplin
Girls
2021 — Fort Smith Northside
2020 — No Tournament
2019 — Whitehaven
2018 — St. Joseph Central
2017 — Van Buren
2016 — Van Buren
2015 — Van Buren
2014 — Neosho (Black)
2014 — Springdale (Gold)
2013 — Neosho (Black)
2013 — Bentonville (Gold)
2012 — Webb City (Black)
2012 — Pierce City (Gold)
2011 — Bentonville
2010 — Bentonville
2009 — Fair Grove
2008 — Neosho
2007 — Morrilton
2006 — Siloam Springs
2005 — Morrilton
2004 — Morrilton
2003 — Morrilton
2002 — Republic
2001 — Sapulpa
