Blue and Gold Tournament Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Greenwood Blue &amp; Gold Tournament is one of the top holiday basketball events in the state and the best in the SWMO region. It is split up into the two 16-team fields in Blue and Gold Divisions. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The tournament will be held from December 26-30 at the Great Southern Bank Arena on the campus of Missouri State University in Springfield.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here is a look at the brackets and players to watch. It should be some very competitive games.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>BLUE DIVISION </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":3235455,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/12/IMG_7734.webp"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/12/IMG_7734.webp?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-3235455" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>PLAYERS TO WATCH</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2886000,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/IMG_3438.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/IMG_3438.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2886000" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2334901' first='Chase' last='Branham'] ([player_tooltip player_id='2873530' first='Logan' last='']-Rogersville): The 6'4" 2027 Indiana commit is ranked among the top guards in the country in the junior class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2607456' first='Titus' last='Moore'] ([player_tooltip player_id='2873530' first='Logan' last='']-Rogersville): A 6'6" 2027 forward who is a matchup problem with his big body and verstile skill set.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2701109' first='Joelle' last='Rover'] (Glendale): A 6'2" 2027 guard who is one of the most explosive athletes in the SWMO region.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jonathan Huskisson (Willard): A 6'0" 2026 guard who returns as one of Willard's top players as a good two-way performer </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2117605' first='Cannon' last='Thornhill'] (Marshfield): A very talented 6'2" 2026 point guard who comes over from Marshfield from Aurora.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2824654' first='Abel' last='Hume'] (Sparta): A 6'1" 2028 point guard who is one of the top young talents in the SWMO area.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2706483' first='Marcus' last='Moore'] ([player_tooltip player_id='2873530' first='Logan' last='']-Rogersville): A 6'7" 2026 power forward who has already committed to Northwest Missouri State.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2712713' first='Brody' last='Blades'] (Republic): A 6'3 2027 guard who is a knock down shooter from 3-point range</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kale Gardner (Mountain Grove): A 6'3" senior guard who is a dynamic athlete who can score on the drive.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Owen Vaught (Crane): A 2026 guard who is a four-year varsity standout and top scorer.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2717725' first='Owen' last='Weiss'] (Miller): A 6'0" 2026 guard who is a talented southpaw with deep shooting range.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1918815' first='Ryder' last='Rowden'] (Catholic): A 6'0" 2026 guard who can really score and also handle the offense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><br>The Favorite: Top-seeded Logan Rogersville has the talent and motivation to take the championship. They dropped a close one to Kickapoo in the finals last season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Contenders: Willard, Glendale, Republic.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Good First Round Matchup: Crane vs Sparta - Some quality guard play in this one featuring 2026 Owen Vaught of Crane and 2028 [player_tooltip player_id='2824654' first='Abel' last='Hume'] of Sparta.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>*******<br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>GOLD DIVISION </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":3235620,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/12/IMG_7733.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/12/IMG_7733.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-3235620" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><br></figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>PLAYERS TO WATCH</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2896913,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/07/IMG_3555.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/07/IMG_3555.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2896913" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>PLAYERS TO WATCH</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2194413' first='Adam' last='McKnight'] (Nixa): The )'4 2027 forward is a double-double machine in addition to being an All-State quarterback in football.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2334904' first='Kylan' last='Pickren'] (Ozark): A 6'5 2027 who is one of the more talented bucket-getters in the SWMO area.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mason Cogdill (Hartville): A 6'2 2026 forward who is a solid all-around player who contributes to winning.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2967596' first='Randy' last='Flint'] (Nixa): A 6'1 2026 guard who has excellent speed and athleticism.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2352733' first='Jax' last='Baxter'] (Stockton): A 6'6 2026 forward who can play anywhere on the floor with his versatility.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2701102' first='Griffin' last='Mehrhoff'] (Branson): A 6'4 2027 guard who led Branson to the championship of the Forsyth Tournament.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2715360' first='Colton' last='Ingold'] (Bolivar): A 6'3 2027 guard who is a capable perimeter shooter</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2966412' first='Boone' last='Garrison'] (Hartville): A 6'3 2026 point guard who can handle the offense and make perimeter shots.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1850456' first='Kolby' last='James'] (Willow Springs): A talented 2026 guard who is tracking towards 2,000 career points this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Favorite: Nixa - The Eagles get the early nod, but it's tight. There are some teams on their bumper.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Contenders: Hartville, Bolivar. Both are excellent teams that play well together with good ball movement and connectivity.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>First Round Matchups: Strafford vs Stockton and Branson vs Willow Springs are interesting games.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->