Wheaton, Purdy, Southwest participating in 43rd annual event

By Kyle Troutman [email protected]

Three area schools will take part in the 43rd Annual Southwest Boys Holiday Tournament, which runs Saturday to Tuesday.

East Newton was determined to be the top seed and will kick off tournament action on Saturday against Wheaton at 2:30 p.m. No. 4 SWMO Rush will play Purdy at 4 p.m., followed by No. 2 McAuley Catholic and No. 7 Southwest at 5:30 p.m. and No. 3 Monett against No. 6 Seneca at 7 p.m. 

Monday contests are at 3:30 p.m., 5 p.m., 6:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. The championship is at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, the nightcap after the seventh-place game at 11 a.m., fifth-place game (consolation final) at 2 p.m. and third-place bout at 6:30 p.m.

Brad Stewart, Purdy boys basketball coach, said rebounding and limiting turnovers are the main areas he hoped to see the Eagles improve.

“We hope to finish with two wins, and finally get and stay healthy,” Stewart said. “We are an average varsity basketball team striving to become above average. We have had flashes of excellence both as a team and individually. We need more consistency in both.”

Southwest coach Jeff Treat and Wheaton Coach Sean Crane did not respond to requests for comment as of presstime