State Fair Community College to Host 22nd Annual W-K Holiday Shoot-Out

Basketball fans will have an opportunity to see some of the best high school basketball players and teams in the area at the 22nd annual W-K Holiday Shoot-Out.

The Shoot-Out will feature 48 local teams playing 24 games throughout December. The event begins on Wednesday, Dec. 13 and continues Dec. 14 - 16, and Dec. 27 at the Fred E. Davis Multipurpose Center on the State Fair Community College campus.

The idea for the Shoot-Out came 23 years ago from Tom Knight, who was the athletic director at Smith-Cotton High School.

“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 started calling local high schools and asking them if they would play a school from outside their area.”

The Wednesday, Dec. 13 action consists of a doubleheader between Concordia and Lincoln. The girl’s contest will tipoff at 6 p.m., followed by the boy’s contest at 7:30 p.m.

The games on Thursday, Dec. 14 consist of a pair of doubleheaders, starting with a matchup between New Franklin and Tuscumbia. The girl’s game begins at 4:30 p.m. and 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 Bunceton/Prairie Home will close out the action on day two of the Shoot-Out at 9 p.m.

The Friday, Dec. 15 action will consist of a pair of doubleheaders between Norborne and Chilhowee and Climax Springs and Smithton. The girl’s game between Norborne and Chilhowee will tipoff at 4:30 p.m., followed by the boy’s contest at 6 p.m. The girl’s contest between Climax Springs and Smithton is scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m., followed by the boy’s contest at 9 p.m. to close out the action.

The games on Dec. 16 will begin with a doubleheader between St. Paul’s Concordia and Cole Camp. The girl’s game will tipoff at 10:30 a.m., followed by the boy’s contest at noon. A doubleheader between Stover and Santa Fe will begin at 1:30 p.m. with the girl’s game. The boy’s game will follow at 3 p.m. Sweet Springs and Sacred Heart will play a doubleheader beginning with the girl’s contest at 4:30 p.m., with the boy’s game to follow at 6 p.m. Eldon will take on Smith-Cotton in a girl’s contest at 7:30 p.m. Hillcrest will close out the action with a game against Smith-Cotton boys and tipoff is scheduled for 9 p.m.

After a break for the Christmas holiday, action will resume on Dec. 27. A doubleheader between Hardin-Central and Green Ridge will begin the action on the final day. The girl’s contest is scheduled to start at 10:30 a.m., followed by the boy’s contest at noon. A doubleheader between Leeton and Macks Creek is scheduled for a 1:30 p.m. tipoff for the girl’s game, with the boy’s game to follow at 3 p.m. A doubleheader between Russellville and Tipton will close out this year’s event. The girl’s contest is scheduled to tipoff at 4:30 p.m., followed by the boy’s game at 6 p.m.

The title sponsor of the event is W-K Sedalia-Boonville. The co-sponsors are McDonald’s, Pummill’s Sporting Goods, Culligan, Show-Me Sports Network, Bothwell Peak Sport and Spine, and Jones Bros.

“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 on campus.”

The admission price for the event is eight dollars per day for adults, and kids 12 and under are admitted free.