The year 2024 has been a good one for the Montgomery County boys basketball team.

The Wildcats qualified for the state tournament for the first time in 50 years and placed fourth. Three weeks ago, they won their first Montgomery County Invitational Tournament in 11 years.

Now, they’re looking to wrap up 2024 with a championship at the Joe Machens Great 8 Classic in Jefferson City, which starts on Dec. 27 and ends on Dec. 29. MCHS is participating in the Great 8 Classic for the first time.

The Wildcats will take on the Capital City Cavaliers in a first-round game at 5:30 p.m. on Dec. 27. The winner takes on the winner of Eugene-Union (Okla.) in the semifinals the following night.

Win or lose, MCHS will be going up against a tough opponent in the second game. Eugene, a Class 2 team, won over 70 games in the last three years. Union, a school from Tulsa, Okla., has over 3,000 students and won 24 games last year.

The Wildcats also will be playing in the mid-Missouri area for the second time in two weeks. They played in the Norm Stewart Classic in Columbia on Dec. 12 and defeated Columbia (Ill.) 55-40 in their first appearance in that event.

Nine months ago, MCHS competed in the Class 3 Show-Me Showdown at Mizzou Arena and placed fourth. Eight players return from that state-placing squad, including Morehead State University-bound Clayton Parker.
MCHS won its own tournament title on Dec. 7 after beating Mexico 70-56 in the championship game. It was the first time the Wildcats won the Montgomery County tournament since 2013.

At the Great 8 Classic, MCHS will take on a Capital City team which is a Class 5 school and finished 14-14 last year. The Cavaliers also competed in the Norm Stewart Classic, defeating Blair Oaks 57-53 on Dec. 11. Capital City is in its sixth year of competition.

“I’ve seen film on them,” MCHS coach Scott Kroeger said. “They’re very athletic. They have a tall kid (Grady Payton) who can hoop, so they’re going to be a tough play in Jefferson City. I know it’s at Jefferson City’s gym, not at Capital City, but it’s basically a home game for them. It’s going to be a very tough game and obviously every game after that.”

Besides Capital City, Jefferson City and Helias are the other Jefferson City-area schools that will compete in the Great 8 Tournament. Jefferson City will play Lausanne Collegiate of Memphis, Tenn., at 7 p.m. and Helias will take on Charlotte High School of Punta Gorda, Fla., at 8:30 p.m. in first-round games on Dec. 27.

The championship game is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Dec. 29.

All eight teams – MCHS – are guaranteed three games in the tournament, which will be played at Jefferson City High School.