Blue and Gold Tournament seeds/brackets released

Nixa's Austin Ruder looks to return to the Blue and Gold championship game.

The 66th Blue and Gold Tournament is scheduled for Monday, Dec. 26 to Thursday, Dec. 29, and the seeds were released this morning for the area’s top holiday high school basketball tournament.

Blue Division

1. Nixa
2. Kickapoo
3. Willard
4. Rogersville
5. Branson
6. Morrisville
7. Strafford
8. Clever

Gold Division

1. Hillcrest
2. Marshfield
3. Republic
4. Mount Vernon
5. Ozark
6. Fair Grove
7. Spokane
8. Conway

The Blue Division plays its first round at Hammons Student Center and the Gold Division plays its first round at JQH Arena. But in a new twist, all second-round and semifinals will be played at JQH. Why? Because the B&G is introducing a losers’ consolation bracket. All of those games will be played at Hammons Student Center.

Here are the matchups:

Blue Division
First-round games, Dec. 26
At Hammons Student Center

• (8) Clever vs. Buffalo, 9:30 a.m.
• (1) Nixa vs. Lebanon, 11 a.m.
• (5) Branson vs. Bolivar, 12:30 p.m.
• (4) Rogersville vs. Aurora, 2 p.m.
• (7) Strafford vs. West Plains, 5 p.m.
• (2) Kickapoo vs. Camdenton, 6:30 p.m.
• (6) Morrisville vs. Skyline, 8 p.m.
• (3) Willard vs. Willow Springs, 9 p.m.

Gold Division
First-round games, Dec. 26
At JQH Arena

• (8) Conway vs. Hartville, 9:30 a.m.
• (1) Hillcrest vs. Mansfield, 11 a.m.
• (5) Ozark vs. Mountain Grove, 12:30 p.m.
• (4) Mount Vernon vs. Reeds Spring, 2 p.m.
• (7) Spokane vs. Miller, 5 p.m.
• (2) Marshfield vs. Ava, 6:30 p.m.
• (6) Fair Grove vs. Crane, 8 p.m.
• (3) Republic vs. Greenwood, 9:30 p.m.

Don’t miss our extensive B&G coverage, including our unique Live Blogs and videos.