Semifinal updates
More:Updates, scores from the 2023 Blue and Gold Tournament semifinals
Quarterfinal stories from Wednesday
More:2023 Blue and Gold Tournament: Takeaways, scores from Blue Division quarterfinals
More:2023 Blue and Gold Tournament: Takeaways, scores from Gold Division quarterfinals
More:2023 Blue and Gold Tournament: The top performers from Wednesday's quarterfinal matchups
More:Glendale's Amare Witham has the 'it factor' and looks like the city's next great prospect
More:Why the Blue and Gold brings out the heroics in Sparta star Jacob Lafferty
More:Why Nixa found it important to support Logan-Rogersville after loss of Landis Carr
Blue Division quarterfinal results
- No. 1 Nixa 87, Mountain Grove 50
- No. 5 Fair Grove 51, No. 4 Logan-Rogersville 47
- No. 2 Republic 59, No. 7 Catholic 44
- No. 6 Willard 60, No. 3 Hartville 52
Gold Division quarterfinal results
- No. 1 Central 86, No. 8 Ash Grove 43
- No. 4 Sparta 43, No. 5 Greenwood 40
- No. 7 Branson 66, No. 2 Ozark 63
- No. 3 Glendale 73, No. 6 Strafford 48
Blue Division semifinal schedule on Thursday
Winners bracket games in Great Southern Bank Arena
- 7 p.m. — No. 1 Nixa vs. No. 5 Fair Grove
- 8:30 p.m. — No. 2 Republic vs. No. 6 Willard
Gold Division semifinal schedule on Thursday
Winners bracket games in Great Southern Bank Arena
- 4 p.m. — No. 1 Central vs. No. 4 Sparta
- 5:30 p.m. — No. 3 Glendale vs. No. 7 Branson
Final Willard 60 Hartville 52
Willard holds on to knock out No. 3 seed Hartville. We'll get a semifinal matchup between rivals Republic and Willard to advance to the Blue Division title game.
A balanced offensive attack from the Tigers who got 12 points from junior guard Braxton Boyer and 10 from Mason Ruckman.
4Q 0:45 Willard 57 Hartville 51
Split free throws. Missed 3 goes out of bounds at the other end.
4Q 1:05 Willard 56 Hartville 51
4Q 1:15 Willard 56 Hartville 49
Willard splits a pair of free throws. Hartville turns it over at the other end.
Tigers make their free throws.
4Q 1:42 Willard 53 Hartville 49
Steal and a bucket...
4Q 2:00 Willard 53 Hartville 47
Three-point play for the Eagles...
4Q 2:54 Willard 52 Hartville 44
Eagles hit a pair of free throws. They're as close as they've been since the first quarter.
4Q 6:41 Willard 48 Hartville 38
Not over yet?
End 3Q Willard 46 Hartville 31
Halftime Willard 37 Hartville 21
This is one of the best performances we've seen all tournament. Willard has dominated in all facets. Making hustle plays, knocking down shots, creating turnovers, etc. This is turning into quite the surprise to cap off the quarterfinals.
2Q 6:27 Willard 28 Hartville 14
Very uncharacteristic play from Hartville tonight as it plays without its head coach. Willard has been awesome.
End 1Q Willard 24 Hartville 12
Willard has one fewer point than the Eagles allowed yesterday in their win over Stockton.
1Q 1:11 Willard 20 Hartville 12
Willard's got a fun team to watch. Pretty 3-point shooting and buckets in transition. Giving Hartville all it can handle so far in an up-tempo game.
Final Republic 59 Catholic 44
The Tigers advance to a Blue Division semifinal and they'll play the winner of the nightcap between Hartville and Willard.
4Q 4:43 Republic 53 Catholic 44
Catholic had a few opportunities to cut more into the lead but came up empty. Tigers are back up to a nine-point advantage.
End 3Q Republic 46 Catholic 41
The Fightin' Irish have been fightin' all game and they're within striking distance heading into what could be a fun fourth.
3Q 4:04 Republic 39 Catholic 28
Halftime Republic 25 Catholic 18
Shots started to fall for Catholic in the second quarter. Most of Republic's scoring is coming from beyond the arc.
End 1Q Republic 16 Catholic 7
The Fightin' Irish aren't hitting some open 3's. Republic's size and athleticism have been a bit overwhelming. The Tigers hit four 3's in the first quarter.
Final Fair Grove 51 Logan-Rogersville 47
The Eagles will confuse us all with a Nixa Eagles vs. Fair Grove Eagles semifinal matchup in a Blue semifinal on Thursday. Horrible creativity in this area.
Tyler Barnett couldn't be stopped. Fair Grove got a late five-point possession that put this game out of reach.
Nixa and Fair Grove met in the semifinals last season.
4Q 0:50 Fair Grove 49 Rogersville 43
The five-point possession is going to be the killer for the Wildcats.
4Q 2:28 Fair Grove 47 Rogersville 41
A five-point possession for Fair Grove as a 3 falls at the same time as a blocking call away from the shot while the Eagles were in the bonus.
4Q 2:53 Fair Grove 42 Rogersville 41
A three-point play for Scott Metz and Tyler Barnett picks up his fourth foul.
4Q 3:33 Fair Grove 41 Rogersville 38
Wildcats have had trouble stopping Tyler Barnett. Going to need to figure that out here quickly.
4Q 4:04 Fair Grove 39 Logan-Rogersville 36
4Q 5:45 Fair Grove 36, Logan-Rogersville 34
Halftime Fair Grove 22, Logan-Rogersville 18
End 1Q Fair Grove 13, Logan-Rogersville 6
Final Nixa 87 Mountain Grove 50
Nixa takes care of business. Looked much better in the second half than the first. It'll get the Logan-Rogersville and Fair Grove winner.
The scorekeepers added a few extra points for the Eagles after the game despite what the scoreboard said.
End 3Q Nixa 68 Mountain Grove 43
That looks more like the Nixa team we thought we were going to get. The Eagles are in control and appear to be on their way to the Blue Division semifinals.
3Q 3:26 Nixa 55 Mountain Grove 36
Halftime Nixa 42 Mountain Grove 32
It's a lot closer than most probably thought it would be. Mountain Grove is hitting shots. Nixa has more athletes that are running the floor and getting to the foul line better. Adam McKnight has 15 points with Devon Kemp adding 13.
End 1Q Nixa 20 Mountain Grove 16
The Panthers are holding their own against Nixa through one. Adam McKnight has 12 points for the Eagles.
1Q 2:29 Nixa 15 Mountain Grove 9
Freshman Adam McKnight has seven points for the Eagles.
Gold Division stories
More:2023 Blue and Gold Tournament: Takeaways, scores from Gold Division quarterfinals
More:Glendale's Amare Witham has the 'it factor' and looks like the city's next great prospect
More:Why the Blue and Gold brings out the heroics in Sparta star Jacob Lafferty
Final Glendale 73 Strafford 48
Amare Witham scored 37 points and knocked tied the Blue and Gold Tournament single-game record with nine 3-pointers.
End 3Q Glendale 59 Strafford 38
The Falcons are cruising in this one. Amare Witham has 32 points and eight 3-pointers. The most entertaining part of this game is the kids growling at each other from all around the arena.
3Q 3:00 Glendale 51 Strafford 34
Amare Witham now has 30 points and eight 3's.
Halftime Glendale 38 Strafford 25
Glendale looks night and day better than what it showed during last night's win over Marshfield. This looks like a team that should make the Gold championship game if Branson runs out of magic.
Witham finished the first half with the 23 points he scored in the first quarter. Great ball movement made its appearance in the second quarter.
2Q 3:55 Glendale 28 Strafford 21
The shooting has calmed a bit since the first quarter. Strafford is finding success getting the ball inside to Brady Ripp.
End 1Q Glendale 23 Strafford 14
Amare Witham scored all 23 points for Glendale and had seven 3's at the end of the first quarter. The Blue and Gold record for 3's in a game is nine.
1Q 1:37 Glendale 17 Strafford 9
Amare Witham has five 3's and all 17 of Glendale's points.
1Q 3:31 Glendale 8 Strafford 7
Amare Witham's shots are falling today. He has eight.
Final Branson 66 Ozark 63
We may have this year's Cinderella as Branson pulls off the biggest upset of the tournament so far. The Pirates knock out No. 2 seed Ozark in the Gold Division quarterfinals.
Nolan Toliver led Branson with 14 points.
4Q 0:02 Branson 64 Ozark 63
Nolan Toliver fouled. He makes both free throws.
Branson fouls up three. Hudson Roberts makes his free throws.
Ozark fouls.
4Q 0:20 Branson 62 Ozark 61
Tigers turn the ball over.
Jayce Culver goes to the line and splits his free throws.
Phin Scott answers with a 3.
4Q 0:53 Branson 61 Ozark 58
Phin Scott steal and layup for the Tigers.
Brody Gillespie fouled and split his free throws.
4Q 1:24 Branson 60 Ozark 56
Tigers got a steal but couldn't get a layup to fall on the fastbreak. Pirates get the board, fouled and Tristen Bough makes his free throws.
4Q 2:04 Branson 58 Ozark 56
Nolan Toliver steals the ball and puts the Pirates up after a fastbreak layup.
4Q 3:06 Ozark 56 Branson 56
Tie ball game in a contest in which neither team has broken away.
4Q 3:24 Ozark 56 Branson 54
End 3Q Ozark 53 Branson 47
Halftime Ozark 31 Branson 31
End 1Q Ozark 17 Branson 16
Final Sparta 43 Greenwood 40
Greenwood misses a pair of free throws. Jacob Lafferty go-ahead bucket. He gets the steal. Dunks in the exclamation point. Wowzers.
More:Why the Blue and Gold brings out the heroics in Sparta star Jacob Lafferty
4Q :22.8 Greenwood 40 Sparta 39
Greenwood misses a pair of free throws but gets the offensive board. Back to the line.
4Q 0:40 Greenwood 40 Sparta 39
Jacob Lafferty for 3.
4Q 1:04 Greenwood 40 Sparta 36
Collin Clark with a late bucket to give the Jays a two-score lead. Lafferty fouled at the other end.
4Q 1:32 Greenwood 38 Sparta 36
4Q 2:03 Greenwood 38 Sparta 34
4Q 3:23 Greenwood 36 Sparta 34
4Q 3:57 Greenwood 36 Sparta 32
The excitement is starting to pick up after a Sparta 3 and a stop at the other end.
End 3Q Greenwood 31 Sparta 26
A 5-0 run over the final minute of the third quarter gives the Blue Jays a somewhat comfortable lead in a low-scoring game. Only two players have scored for Sparta still.
3Q 4:34 Sparta 21 Greenwood 21
More scoring! Logan Sanders has a pair of 3's this quarter.
Halftime Sparta 17 Greenwood 12
Jacob Lafferty has nine points and Jacob Loveland has eight for all of the Trojans' points. Collin Clark leads Greenwood with four points.
2Q 3:18 Sparta 12 Greenwood 10
Each team has scored a bucket through the first four-plus minutes of this quarter.
End 1Q Sparta 10 Greenwood 8
A matchup between two district opponents has the Trojans leading by a bucket after a quarter. Back-and-forth quarter has Jacob Lafferty leading the game with seven points.
Final Central 86 Ash Grove 43
The Bulldogs are good. Bryce Walker scored 21 points. Tyrique Brooks with 17 with Keion Epps adding 15.
End 3Q Central 79, Ash Grove 35
The MVP of the game will be the running clock in the fourth quarter.
Halftime Central 49, Ash Grove 19
As dominant of a performance as you'll see. Central is putting on a show and will cruise to the Gold Division semifinals.
2Q 4:40 Central 39, Ash Grove 12
Brady Nicholson just picked up his fourth foul.
End 1Q Central 23, Ash Grove 10
Bryce Walker has six points for the Bulldogs.
1Q 1:09 Central 20, Ash Grove 6
The most overwhelming team in the Ozarks is at it bright and early. Five different Bulldogs have scored.
Welcome!
Quarterfinal day at the 2023 Blue and Gold Tournament begins at 9:30 a.m. with Gold Division action.
Yes, that's right — it's Gold Division action instead of Blue going first. Not sure why they made that decision but whatever!
We'll be in Great Southern Bank Arena all day for the winner's bracket quarterfinal action. We're not going to be running between gyms.
The first game of the day features No. 1 Central taking on No. 8 Ash Grove.
Coverage from Tuesday's first round
More:The top performers from Tuesday's opening round matchups
First half:Takeaways from the 2023 Blue and Gold Tournament's first half of opening-round games
Second half:Takeaways from the 2023 Blue and Gold Tournament's second half of opening-round games
Chase Branham:Why Logan-Rogersville freshman Chase Branham has chance to be special in his coach's eyes
Blue Division results and schedule
- Mountain Grove 65, No. 8 Lebanon 62
- No. 1 Nixa 72, Reeds Spring 19
- No. 5 Fair Grove 77, Aurora 64
- No. 4 Logan-Rogersville 71, Camdenton 45
- No. 7 Catholic 61, West Plains 49
- No. 2 Republic 71, Buffalo, 51
- No. 6 Willard 69, Bolivar 53
- No. 3 Hartville 53, Stockton 25
Gold Division results and schedule
- No. 8 Ash Grove 82, Willow Springs 80
- No. 1 Central 86, Skyline 51
- No. 5 Greenwood 64, Crane 40
- No. 4 Sparta 61, Spokane 24
- No. 7 Branson 45, Ava 24
- No. 2 Ozark 75, Clever 32
- No. 6 Strafford 57, Mount Vernon 46
- No. 3 Glendale 48, Marshfield 40
Blue Division quarterfinal schedule
Winner's bracket games in Great Southern Bank Arena
- 5 p.m. — No. 1 Nixa vs. Mountain Grove
- 6:30 p.m. — No. 4 Logan-Rogersville vs. No. 5 Fair Grove
- 8 p.m. — No. 2 Republic vs. No. 7 Catholic
- 9:30 p.m. — No. 3 Hartville vs. No. 6 Willard
Gold Division quarterfinal schedule
Winner's bracket games in Great Southern Bank Arena
- 9:30 a.m. — No. 1 Central vs. No. 8 Ash Grove
- 11 a.m. — No. 4 Sparta vs. No. 5 Greenwood
- 12:30 p.m. — No. 2 Ozark vs. No. 7 Branson
- 2 p.m. — No. 3 Glendale vs. No. 6 Strafford
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Wyatt D. Wheeler is a reporter and columnist with the Springfield News-Leader. You can contact him at 417-371-6987, by email at wwheeler@news-leader.com or X at@WyattWheeler_NL. He's also the host of the weekly "Wyatt's World Podcast" on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and other podcasting platforms
