One of the more impressive high school basketball tournaments gets underway today in Springfield with the 21st Annual Bass Pro Tournament of Champions. Five teams from across the country and three from Missouri will compete this weekend. The first game will feature Springfield Kickapoo versus White Station of Memphis. Kickapoo is ranked fourth in Class 5 and White Station is ranked 19th in the nation by HoopsUSA.com. They are the defending champions. Poplar Bluff, which is ranked 2nd in Class 5, will go up against Bartlett High School of Anchorage, Alaska. PBHS is led by Tyler Hansbrough, who is considered one of the nations top high school players. He’s headed to North Carolina next season. Republic High School will face Rufus King High School of Milwaukee, which is ranked 24th by USA Today and are the defending D-1 Wisconsin state champs. Webster Groves, which is ranked 3rd in Class 5, will go up against St. Raymond’s High School of the Bronx. St. Raymond’s is the defending Class AA state champs in New York and have won the Tournament of Champions three times.
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