Video: Oak Hill takes Bass Pro title with buzzer beaterWarriors went on to finish 45-1, ranked No. 2 nationally.The Bass Pro Shops Tournament of Champions has been among the best high school basketball events in the country since its inception in 1985.
So it speaks volumes to say the TOC may have put together its best field ever for 2017.
The 33rd annual tournament will be held Jan. 12-14 at JQH Arena on the campus of Missouri State University in Springfield.
As announced by tournament organizers this week, here's a look at the eight teams lined up to compete for the 2017 title:
Father Tolton (Columbia, Mo.) – 30-3 record in 2015-16, Class 3 state champions
Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.) – 28-2, ranked No. 16 nationally by MaxPreps
Greenforest (Decatur, Ga.) – 30-2, Class A state champions, ranked No. 8 nationally by MaxPreps
Kickapoo (Springfield, Mo.) – 29-3, Class 5 state runner-up
Memphis East (Memphis, Tenn.) – 32-2, Class AAA state champions, ranked No. 21 nationally by MaxPreps
Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.) – 26-2, ranked No. 7 nationally by MaxPreps
Republic (Mo.) – 21-8, district finalist
Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.) – 26-5, 2016 Bass Pro Shops TOC runner-up
The 2016 final will be long remembered in Springfield. Trailing the entire game,
Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) beat Sierra Canyon at the buzzer for the win.
Oak Hill Academy celebrates a win in the 2016 final that will be tough to top.
Photo by Randy Kemp
