Adding Some Purple to the Blue and Gold

January 12, 2023

Fair+Grove+High+School+boys+basketball+team+facing+Hillcrest+High+School+at+the+Clever+tournament+on+12%2F2.+Players+in+black%2C+left+to+right%3A+Blake+Winterberg%2C+Jaxon+Rowden%2C+Tyler+Barnett%2C+and+Bryden+Baxter.+%28photo+taken+by+Jena+Scaletty%29%0A

Fair Grove High School boy’s basketball team facing Hillcrest High School at the Clever tournament on 12/2. Players in black, left to right: Blake Winterberg, Jaxon Rowden, Tyler Barnett, and Bryden Baxter. (photo taken by Jena Scaletty)

The Fair Grove High School boy’s basketball team participated in the 77th Annual Greenwood Blue and Gold basketball tournament.

This is a huge tournament that happens over the winter holidays every year. In the words of Head Coach of the Eagles, Bryan Tucker, “I believe it started in 1947, so it’s one of, if not, the longest running holiday tournament in the state. Basketball has always been really big in Southwest Missouri and I think this tournament is such a great tradition for our area. People know to open Christmas presents and then watch basketball.” 

Some good things about the Blue and Gold basketball tournament according to Coach Tucker are; “Getting to interact with other coaches around the area. When we are in season we really just focus on what we have in front of us and it’s tough to see outside of that sometimes. With that tournament we can see other coaches and teams and watch a lot of good basketball.”  Tyler Barnett (11) ,a varsity center, also stated, “The Blue and Gold tournament is a chance for smaller and bigger schools to play against each other.”

The Eagles have participated in this tournament in past years, but this year was different with new faces and new tactics to take on the tournament. Coach Tucker stated, “We will prepare like we do for every game – make sure we are working on executing against what the other teams are doing and play to our strengths.” This strategy worked well as the Eagles went on to beat Crane High School 69-47 in their very first game of the tournament.

Other ways that the Eagles are preparing for the tournament games are practicing hard everyday and running their plays. Barnett stated, “We’re constantly touching up our plays and working hard in practice everyday.” They proved this successful in their second game of the tournament against Parkview High School, beating them 49-33.

A game in the tournament that the Eagles were looking forward to playing was against Nixa High School because, “…they are a bigger school with a good team so I’d like to see how we match up,” explained Barnett. The Eagles put up a fight against this team, but lost 45-53.

The Fair Grove boy’s basketball team ended the Annual Greenwood Blue and Gold tournament with two wins against Crane High School and Parkview High School, and two losses against Nixa High School and Greenwood High School. The Eagles will play in the tournament next year.

Leave a Comment

Eagle's Eye • Copyright 2024 • FLEX WordPress Theme by SNOLog in

Comments (0)

All Eagle's Eye Picks Reader Picks Sort: Newest

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *