Why teams love the Neosho Holiday Classic

NEOSHO, Mo. — For 70 years, high school basketball teams have traveled from across the nation to spend Christmas in Neosho.

Why? That’s the question we asked them, and they say there’s one very simple answer — because nobody does it better.

In the case of Cornerstone Christian Academy, Cleveland, Ohio:

"We really believe this — this is the best high school basketball tournament in the country," said Babe Kwazniak, Cornerstone Christian Academy basketball coach.

Cornerstone coach Babe Kwazniak says his first trip to the Neosho Holiday Classic was with his father in 2018.

"He’s kind of a legend in Ohio. He won seven state championships. He has more state championships than any coach in Ohio," said Kwazniak.

Kwazniak says his father was impressed by the tournament for several reasons.

"The hospitality, the way the tournament’s run," said Kwazniak, "From the officiating, the crowds."

And in the crowd, Tyson Carriger from St. Joseph, Missouri.

He’s in Neosho watching his son, a senior, play.

Carriger says they’ve been to tournaments across the country…

"Anywhere from Chicago, to Colorado, Utah," said Tyson Carriger, St. Joseph, MO.

Along with watching his son play his final year of high school basketball, this trip to Neosho came with an added bonus.

"So, I went to Braum’s, just because I know further south there’s tons of them in Oklahoma, I believe, so to see one here and not far from home, I was pretty excited about that," said Carriger.

So, in between games, he checked that off his "to do" list.

"Uh, it was ok, it was ok," said Carriger.

Whether it’s the food, the hospitality, or just the love of the game — Kwazniak says the "Neosho Holiday Classic" is something the teams playing in it will never forget.

"When you say why, I say why not, because it’ll last them the rest of their lives," said Kwazniak.