Opponents: Bass Pro Shops Tournament of Champions Preview

By: Steven Pham 

Graphic by: Jon D’Angelo & Bass Pro Shop TOC

Wichita, KS. - #5 Sunrise Christian Academy (10-3) is participating in the 38th annual Bass Pro Shops Tournament of Champions. The tournament is from January 12th to 14th at Great Southern Bank Arena in Springfield, MO. 

The participating teams are Christ the King (NY), St. Rita of Cascia (IL), Staley High School (MO), Bartlett High School (TN), Calvary Christian Academy (FL), #7 Link Academy (MO), and host city Kickapoo (MO). 

It is a tournament-style bracket with a winner and consolation bracket. There will be a consolation winner, a seventh-place game, a third-place game, a championship game, and a dunk contest. 

The opening matchups are all on Thursday, January 12th. It tips off with Christ the King vs. Bartlett (4:30 p.m.) and Link vs. St. Rita (6 p.m.) on one side of the bracket. The other side of the bracket is Sunrise vs. Kickapoo (7:30 p.m.) and Staley vs. Calvary Christian (9 p.m.). 

Kickapoo is led by head coach Mitch McHenry in his sixth season with the team. He has led this team to multiple state championships in Missouri and made them a powerhouse within the state. The roster is led by Brayden Shorter, Trae Oetting, and Harrison Doennig. 

The winner of this game takes on either Staley or Calvary in the semifinals. Kickapoo has been extremely successful under McHenry’s tenure but this will be their biggest challenge of the season. It is going to take a perfect game for them to pull off the upset in front of their hometown crowd.