Local basketball fans will have an opportunity to see some of the best high school basketball players and teams in the area at the 19th annual W-K Holiday Shoot-Out. The shoot-out features 50 local teams playing 25 games throughout the month of December. The event begins on Friday, Dec. 13, and continues on Dec. 18, 19, 21, and 27, at the Fred E. Davis Multipurpose Center on State Fair Community College Sedalia campus.
The idea for the shoot-out came 19 years ago from Tom Knight, who was the athletic director at Smith-Cotton.
"We implemented it in the spring and summer of 2001 and had the first shoot-out that December," said SFCC Athletic Director Darren Pannier. "He (Knight) had the idea to bring in different opponents for the area schools to play. After he gave me the idea, I just starting calling local high schools and asking them if they would play a school from outside their area."
The Friday, Dec. 13, action consists of a doubleheader between La Monte and Chilhowee. The girl's contest tips off at 4:30 p.m. The boy's contest will follow at 6 p.m.
The games on Wednesday, Dec. 18, consist of a pair of doubleheaders starting with a matchup between Otterville and Jamestown. The girl's game begins at 4:30 p.m. The boy's contest will follow at 6 p.m. A girl's game between Northwest and Bunceton/Prairie Home will tipoff at 7:30 p.m. and a boy's contest between Northwest and Prairie Home/Bunceton will close out the action on day two of the shoot-out at 9 p.m.
The Thursday, Dec. 19, action will consist of a pair of doubleheaders between Tuscumbia and New Franklin. The girl's contest will begin at 4:30 p.m. followed by the boy's contest at 6 p.m. Windsor and Sturgeon will close with a doubleheader. The girl's contest is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. followed by the boy's game at 9 p.m.
The games on Dec. 21 will begin with a girl's contest between Smithton and Norborne. Tipoff is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. with the boy's contest at noon. Santa Fe and Calvary Lutheran will play a girl's contest scheduled at 1:30 p.m. followed by the boy's game at 3 p.m.
Sacred Heart and Sweet Springs will play a doubleheader beginning with the girl's at 4:30 p.m. and the boy's game to follow at 6 p.m. Smith-Cotton will take on Battle in a girl's contest at 7:30 p.m. The Smith-Cotton boys will play against Helias Catholic at 9 p.m.
After a break for the Christmas holiday, action will resume on Dec. 27 with a girl's game between Ewing Marion Kauffman and Stoutland scheduled at noon. A doubleheader between Cole Camp and Butler will follow, the girl's game at 1:30 p.m. and the boy's game at 3 p.m. A girl's contest between Russellville and Tipton will tipoff at 4:30 p.m. followed by a boy's game between Crest Ridge and Tipton at 6 p.m.
This shoot-out will conclude with a doubleheader between Lincoln and Concordia. The girl's contest is at 7:30 p.m. and the boy's at 9 p.m.
The title sponsor of the event is W-K Chevrolet. The co-sponsors are McDonald's, Pummill's Sporting Goods, Culligan, Pepsi, Ditzfeld & Weaver Charter Service, BackBone of Health, Hank's Portables and Septic Services, and Jones Bros. Marine.
"The sponsors help make sure that the doors stay open," said Pannier. "It's a costly event. I believe SFCC really benefits from it because it gets prospective students and their families on our campus."
The admission is $5 per day; children 12 and under are free.
David Rohrbach
SFCC Athletics