Fifth annual Sophie Cunningham Classic sends KC hoops teams to Columbia this weekend
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Sophie Cunningham Classic stages 21 girls high school basketball games in Columbia.
- Event runs Friday through Sunday at Columbia College with marquee matchups and times.
- Cunningham and family founded the event in 2022 to showcase Columbia and national talent.
The annual Sophie Cunningham Classic, a series of 21 local high school girls basketball games, will be held Friday through Sunday at Columbia College
.Cunningham, after whom the event is named, went to Rock Bridge High and Mizzou and now plays for the Indiana Fever of the WNBA. She and her family, including her sister, Lindsey, created and have run the classic every year since 2022.
Cunningham is looking forward to once again showcasing the high school athletes in Columbia in addition to some of the nationally ranked girls from outside of the area.
“They’re elite-level athletes,” Cunningham said an interview with ABC 17’s Nathalie Jones. “They deserve the very best, and I think that this year will be the best year yet.”
Battle will kick off the event in the first game against Blue Valley North at 11 a.m. Friday. Rock Bridge will make two appearances: The Bruins will start at 9:30 p.m. Friday versus Olathe South and then close out the event at 4 p.m. Sunday against Liberty North.
Hickman will compete in one game in the tournament, taking on Troy Buchanan at 11:30 a.m. Sunday.
Several more matchups, including various national games, will take place as well. Lift for Life takes on Faith Family Academy from DeSoto, Texas, at 6:30 p.m. Friday, while Staley faces Faith Family Academy at 1 p.m. Saturday.
Ahead of that game, Staley will match up Friday at 8 p.m. against one of the top players in the country, Duke commit Sanai Green, from Long Island Lutheran in New York.
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