By Mike Scott

Norm Stewart Classic features historic 48 continuous hours of basketball

Hall of Fame Basketball Coach Norm Stewart and the Missouri Basketball Coaches Association will host the 9^th Annual Norm Stewart Classic at Columbia College, December 2-4, 2016. This year the Classic will have a new twist. Games will be played for 48 continuous hours.

The Norm Stewart Classic was founded nine years ago by Gary Filbert with the intention of honoring Coach Norm Stewart by showcasing student athletes in Missouri and by raising money for the American Cancer Society’s Coaches vs. Cancer program, which Stewart began as a pilot program while coaching at the University of Missouri.

Gary Filbert played basketball for the University of Missouri and was a high school and college coach for many years. He also founded the Show-Me State games in Missouri, which has grown to be the largest State Games in the nation. Filbert lost his battle to cancer in 2011, but has left behind many programs that bear his devotion to student athletes.

“Continuing one of the many outstanding events that my former Missouri teammate and former assistant coach at Missouri Gary Filbert started is an honor. While this event celebrates fine young male and female high school athletes, it is just as much about celebrating the life accomplishments of Gary Filbert. Filbert did so much for the athletes, at all levels and ages, in the state of Missouri and the Midwest,” said Coach Norm Stewart

The Classic is made up of 46 teams, both boys and girls teams, from across Missouri. The boys team from Bondurant-Farrar High School out of Iowa will also travel to participate in this year’s Classic.

Columbia College’s Southwell Complex will host the 24 games that will be aired nationwide on ESPN3. The games will also be broadcast on regional television stations across Missouri. The Classic starts with the first game at 6 pm Friday, December 2 and will end with the last game starting at 4 pm on Sunday, December 4.

Each game will have one player who will be recognized as the Gary Filbert MVP. In addition to receiving the MVP medal, the MVP of each game will receive a $100 scholarship made payable to the school of their choice.

Denny Hunt, Executive Director of the Missouri Basketball Coaches Association said, “We are excited to host the first ever 48 hours of high school basketball in the nation. Gary Filbert would be proud of what we’ve accomplished with this event and we’re certainly looking forward to showcasing all of the outstanding student athletes.”

Tickets are $5 for adults, $3 for students, and children under 5 are free. Tickets can be purchased at the door.

Sponsors for the Classic include:

Holiday Inn Executive Center
Missouri Book Store
MPIX
Veterans United
MFA Oil
Columbia Orthopedic Group
Missouri National Guard
Hillyard
Shiloh Bar & Grill
Landmark Bank
Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives
Columbia Daily Tribune
Columbia Convention & Visitors Bureau
BSN Sports
Champion

The proceeds will go to the American Cancer Society’s Coaches vs. Cancer program. A program that Stewart started while coaching at the University of Missouri, after his diagnosis and treatment of colon cancer. The program was adopted as the charity of the National Association of Basketball Coaches. As a group, they have raised over $100 million dollars for cancer research.

Norm Stewart Classic Tip-Off Times

Friday, December 2:

6:00 PM Columbia Rock Bridge vs. Waynesville (Girls)

8:00 PM Columbia Battle vs. Poplar Bluff (Boys)

10:00 PM Springfield Kickapoo vs. Washington (Girls)

Saturday, December 3:

12:00 AM Oak Grove vs. California (Boys)

2:00 AM Neosho vs. Parkview (Girls)

4:00 AM St. Louis’ Incarnate Word vs. Jefferson City’s Helias Catholic (Girls)

6:00 AM Harrisburg vs. Community R-6 (Girls)

8:00 AM Harrisburg vs. Chilhowee (Boys)

10:00 AM Salisbury vs. Brookfield (Girls)