What to know about the 2022 Pink and White Tournament
The top high school girls basketball tournament in the area is here with the four-day Pink and White Tournament tipping off at Drury this week.
Beginning Tuesday, the area's top teams and players will compete for Pink and White crowns. There is plenty to learn about some of the top-tier programs in the area with the field including a pair of defending Missouri state champions.
Here's what you need to know heading into the week.
When is the tournament?
Starting Tuesday, the Pink and White Tournament will tip off with two games at 9:30 a.m. in the O'Reilly Family Event Center and at Kickapoo High School. Each gym will host eight games on the first day. Games in Weiser Gym on Tuesday have been moved to Kickapoo due to a busted pipe.
The quarterfinals of both tournaments will be played Wednesday with the semifinals on Thursday and both championships on Friday. Every winners' bracket game after Tuesday will be played in the O'Reilly Family Event Center.
Consolation matchups will be played each day as well. Check the tournament bracket throughout to see when and where your favorite team is playing.
Pink Division bracket
First-round games at Kickapoo High School on Dec. 27
9:30 a.m. — No. 7 Marshfield vs. Bolivar
11 a.m. — No. 2 West Plains vs. Willard
12:30 p.m. — No. 6 Ava vs. Logan-Rogersville
2 p.m. — No. 3 Nixa vs. Central
3:30 p.m. — No. 8 Ozark vs. Camdenton
5 p.m. — No. 1 Greenwood (Arkansas) vs. Greenwood (Missouri)
6:30 p.m. — No. 5 Skyline vs. Hillcrest
8 p.m. — No. 4 Rock Bridge vs. Sarcoxie
Due to injuries and illness, Mount Vernon dropped out of the tournament and was replaced by Sarcoxie
White Division bracket
First-round games in O'Reilly Family Event Center on Dec. 27
9:30 a.m. — No. 7 Lebanon vs. Thayer
11 a.m. — No. 2 Republic vs. Aurora
12:30 p.m. — No. 6 Carthage vs. Glendale
2 p.m. — No. 3 Kickapoo vs. Catholic
3:30 p.m. — No. 8 El Dorado Springs vs. Parkview
5 p.m. — No. 1 Grain Valley vs. Clever
6:30 p.m. — No. 5 Strafford vs. Buffalo
8 p.m. — No. 4 Cabot (Arkansas) vs. Branson
News-Leader coverage plan
News-Leader reporter Ryan Collingwood will have coverage from the 2022 Pink and White Tournament.
Collingwood will cover the best games involving local teams along with a roundup at the end of each day. Both championships will be covered on Friday.
Some stories will be behind a paywall. Online digital subscriptions currently are available for 99 cents per month for the first 12 months.
Could this be Nixa's year to win a title?
Nixa has been knocking on the door for a Pink and White title over the last several years, which included a triple-overtime championship loss to West Plains in 2020. This program might be in its best spot to win one this year.
Norah Clark leads the way for the Lady Eagles along with a great supporting cast who can step into the main role any night. Lilly Mahy, Jacy Bray, Sadie Conway, Karis Ferguson and others have shown early this year that they have what it takes to help this program take the next step.
West Plains has been the team in Nixa's way in recent seasons and there is a possibility the Lady Eagles meet up with the defending Class 5 champs in the semifinals. The Lady Eagles beat them 49-39 earlier this season.
There are others for Nixa to be wary of — especially the two out-of-area teams on the opposite side of the bracket. Greenwood (Arkansas) is among the best teams in the Natural State, and Rock Bridge out of Columbia has one of the best young rosters in the state.
But there is a lot to be excited about if you're Nixa with how well these girls could perform next week. This program has been right there as a title contender over the last few seasons and the hard work could finally pay off this week.
Can Kickapoo three-peat or will Kaemyn Bekemeier grab her first title?
Kickapoo can win its third-straight Pink and White Tournament title with a championship run this season. This one would be the most impressive yet as it would have to do so without the likes of Indya Green and Bella Fontleroy, two all-time great Lady Chiefs who have since graduated.
The Lady Chiefs have shown glimpses of their dominant selves throughout this season as they enter the tournament at 7-3. But there are great teams in the White Division who are perfectly capable of ending their reign.
Republic is regarded as the best of the southwest Missouri teams in the White Division as senior star Kaemyn Bekemeier still seeks her first Pink and White title. Winning a Pink and White would add to the accolades that she's earned as one of the great players to come through the area.
Outside of Republic, there is still the looming threat of Strafford on the opposite side of the bracket which won a Pink and White title last season. Top-seeded Grain Valley is also in the White Division which features Mizzou signee Grace Slaughter who is regarded as one of the top players in the state.
There is plenty of talent all over the White Division and whoever comes out of this will be in a great position heading into the remainder of the season.
Top players to watch
Pink Division
Madison Cartwright, Greenwood (Arkansas)
Allyssa Joyner, West Plains
Norah Clark, Nixa
Mari Miller, Rock Bridge
Jayda Porter, Rock Bridge
Sara Mendel, Ava
Olivia Gastineau, Ava
Lauren Luebbert, Marshfield
Abby McBride, Marshfield
White Division
Grace Slaughter, Grain Valley
Kaemyn Bekemeier, Republic
Kya Johnson, Kickapoo
Jenna Cook, Cabot
Laney Humble, Strafford
Elsie Larsen, Strafford
Kianna Yates, Carthage
Raegan McCowan, Lebanon
Heaven Shockley, Lebanon
Macie Mays, El Dorado Springs
Tara Masten, Parkview
Potential matchups that would be worth the price of admission
Pink Division
West Plains vs. Marshfield (quarterfinals) — This could be the first of two matchups between a pair of the top teams in a loaded Class 5 district that also includes Rolla.
Nixa vs. West Plains (semifinals) — When these two meet, you know you're in for a great game as we've seen over recent seasons. Nixa won the first matchup 49-39 on Dec. 19 and the two could play a third time in the Nixa Invitational Tournament.
Nixa vs. Rock Bridge (championship) — Rock Bridge has some of the best young talent in the state and also plays at the Class 6 level. Perhaps this could be a look at the state playoffs although Grain Valley is also in the Bruins' district as Kickapoo and Republic are in Nixa's. This would be a great way to measure the Ozarks' best against Columbia's.
White Division
Strafford vs. Grain Valley (quarterfinals) — Grain Valley features one of the best players in the state, while Strafford is the program that everyone in the state looks up to.
Republic vs. Kickapoo (semifinals) — This would be a rematch of last season's Pink Division title game. These two have been the best in the Ozarks for the better part of the last decade.
Republic vs. Grain Valley (championship) — A championship game between Missouri State signee Kaemyn Bekemeier and Mizzou signee Grace Slaughter could be the first in a series of matchups for years to come.
Wyatt D. Wheeler is a reporter and columnist with the Springfield News-Leader. You can contact him at 417-371-6987, by email at wwheeler@news-leader.com or Twitter at @WyattWheeler_NL. He's also the co-host of Sports Talk on Jock Radio weekdays from 4-6 p.m.
This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Pink and White Tournament: Bracket, schedule, top athletes, times
