For some basketball fans spring means “March Madness” and some of the finest basketball of the year as teams compete for the national championship through a single elimination tournament. Although one of the national championships is called the “Big Dance,” here in Branson, Missouri, celebrating 50 years of live music shows this year, it would almost seem appropriate to call the national basketball championship it is hosting the “Big Show.
Branson’s basketball “Big Show” is the NAIA Division II Men’s Basketball Championship which will be played at the College of the Ozarks Keeter Gymnasium March 11-17. The single elimination tournament will feature 32 NAIA Division II teams that have either won conference championships or been granted an at large berth because of their quality of play.
The tournament, one of the many events connected with Branson’s Ozark Mountain Spring, will start the First Round of play on March 11 and 12 with eight games per day being played. The 16 winners will play the Second Round on Friday, March 13.
The surviving eight teams will compete in the Quarter-Finals on Saturday March 14 with the final four teams competing in the Semi-Finals on Monday March 16. The NAIA Division II Championship Game will be played at 8:50 p.m. on March 17.
Tickets may be purchased through the College of the Ozarks by calling 417-335-NAIA (6242). As of March 2, there was good availability for General Admission and Reserve Tickets to each of the individual sessions and General Admission Tournament Passes, good for all 31 games. It was pointed out that there are still a very few of the Reserved Seat Tournament Passes guaranteeing the same seat for all 31 games left.
Paul Miller, General Manager, Branson Tourism Center said the NAIA Division II Championship Tournament is a great event and brings a lot of people to the Branson area. He also reminds visitors to Branson that this year, in addition to the NAIA tournament, here are two national level Bass Tournaments, the Walmart FLW Tour on Table Rock Lake and The Bass Federation National Championship on Bull Shoals Lake, going on at the same time and advises them to plan accordingly.
