2009 Positronics Walnut Grove Holiday Classic

Received the brackets on the Walnut Grove Holiday Classic tournaments yesterday.  This has become probably the best small school girls basketball tournament in SW Mo if not the state every year.  And the boys tournament is always very competitive also.  This year is no different as the girls side features 11 teams that are very good including 3 final four teams from last year, and 2 other district champs.  Miller grabs the #1 seed with Hannah Wilkerson continuing her quest for the all time scoring record.  Defending champ Couch comes in at #2, a strong Ash Grove side coming off a win at last week’s Ash Grove Tournament at #3, and defending class 1 state champions Exeter are the #4 seed.

The boys side features Morrisville at the #1 seed with Shawn Artz and Nick Ruzicka leading the way.  Fair Play comes in at #2 lead by senior Ryan Durst.  With Bakersfield riding a good start grabbing the #3 seed.

The ladies kick off action next Saturday the 19th at 9AM with Miller playing Greenfield.  They’ll take a week off and resume on the 26th with both boys and girls games.  Eight games are scheduled each day from 9 in the morning to 9 at night.  Can’t think of a better way to overdose on holiday hoops.  The first round schedule is listed below for both sides.  The full bracket can be viewed in pdf form by clicking on the heading above each section.  Get on out to Walnut Grove and enjoy.

2009 Positronics Walnut Grove Holiday Classic

Girls Schedule

12/19 - First round

• 9 AM – #1 Miller vs #16 Greenfield
• 10:30 AM – #8 Walnut Grove vs #9 Bakersfield
• Noon – #4 Exeter vs #13 Dadeville
• 1:30 PM – #5 Fordland vs #12 Halfway
• 3 PM – #2 Couch vs #15 Marionville
• 4:30 PM – #7 Verona vs #10 Chadwick
• 6 PM – #3 Ash Grove vs #14 Fair Play
• 7:30 PM – #6 Clever vs #11 Humansville

12/26 – Winners quarterfinals
12/28 – Consolation quarterfinals
12/29 – All semifinals
12/30 – Finals day

First round games to watch include Walnut Grove lead by Hannah Harman playing on their home court against last year’s final four team Bakersfield, who still have some excellent returning talent.  Verona and Chadwick should be a fast paced competitive matchup.  And a couple of great talents in the nightcap as Clever’s Bridget Hanafin and Humansville’s Kayla Bays will face off.

Players to watch

• Hannah Wilkerson, G, Miller
• Nicole Adams, F, Miller
• Bridget Hanafin, F, Clever
• Destani Stensrud, G, Exeter
• Shleby Bowman, G, Exeter
• Jenna Chadd, G, Verona
• Jessica Smith, G, Verona
• Tristan Carrasquillo, F, Verona
• Lizzie Nessling, F, Couch
• Kayla Bays, F, Humansville
• Haley Harman, G, Walnut Grove
• Hannah Harman, F, Walnut Grove
• Brandy Uchtman, F, Fordland
• Kailie Weinreis, F, Ash Grove
• Tammy Voorhis, G, Ash Grove
• Erika Davis, G, Chadwick
• Jamie Hale, G, Chadwick
• Krystyn Dollarhide, F, Chadwick
• Lia Feinhold, C, Bakersfield
• Stephany Kaysinger, G, Bakersfield
• Emma French, F, Bakersfield

Boys Schedule

12/26 – First round

• 9 AM – #1 Morrisville vs #8 Humansville
• 10:30 AM – #4 Hurley and #5 Niangua
• Noon – #2 Fair Play vs #7 Halfway
• 1:30 PM – #3 Bakersfield vs #6 Walnut Grove

12/28 – Semifinals
12/30 – Finals day

Hurley and Niangua both bring first year coaches to the floor and both a strong post presence, and an outside scorer.  That should be the highlight of the first round and a very entertaining game.  Don’t sleep on Walnut Grove’s chances against Bakersfield either.   Anything can happen playing at home.  And with Cord Peterson around, Halfway can’t be overlooked either.  If the Hornets and Lions advance, Fair Play/Bakersfield should be a fantastic second round game.

Players to watch

• Brycton Burk, G, Hurley
• Steven Jennings, F, Hurley
• Dakota Ellison, G, Bakersfield
• Cole Enton, C, Bakersfield
• Shawn Artz, F, Morrisville
• Brandon Martinson, G, Morrisville
• Nick Ruzicka, F, Morrisville
• Ryan Durst, F, Fair Play
• Colter Cantrell, G/F, Fair Play
• Justin Miller, G, Niangua
• Logan Rolfe, F, Niangua
• Dakota Hawk, G/F, Walnut Grove
• Cord Peterson, F, Halfway