It started with the question, how are we going to cover this? The Missourian had covered the Norm Stewart Classic, 48 hours of high school basketball games, before so we needed to do something different, something special. After brainstorming with fellow editors, Nicole Gutierrez, we settled on black and white photography covering 24 hours of basketball hour by hour. In order for that to work, we’d need two photographers who could own the project, be invested and were up for 12+ hours of photography. We found Cara Penquite. And we needed another photographer, so I volunteered.
In the span of 24 hours, Cara and myself captured a variety of moments, emotions, action and a creative behind the scenes look at a tournament unlike any other.
Not many people can say they've been in a college basketball arena at 3:00 a.m. Well I can and it was nothing short of a blast.
Norm Stewart watches from court side on Friday, Dec. 10, 2021 at Mizzou Arena. The Norm Stewart Classic consists of 26 games over the span of almost 48 hours.
12:01 a.m. - Battle’s Maliyah Miller, left, and Nautica Washington dance before the game on Friday, Dec. 10, 2021 at Mizzou Arena. Battle beat Fr. Tolton 72-27 in the third game of the Norm Stewart Classic.
1:16 a.m. - Kaelyn Johnson sits for an after game interview on Friday, Dec. 10, 2021 at Mizzou Arena. Johnson had 16 points in the game against Fr. Tolton.
2:56 a.m. - Capital City coach Darrin Young talks to players during a time out on Friday, Dec. 10, 2021 at Mizzou Arena. Capital City beat St. Elizabeth 69-39.
3:32 a.m. - Lift for Life players practice drills on Friday, Dec. 10, 2021 at Mizzou Arena. Lift for Life defeated KC Central in the fifth game out of 26 at the Norm Stewart Classic.
4:52 a.m. - Ke’lyjah Carter laughs on the court on Friday, Dec. 10, 2021 at Mizzou Arena. Carter participated in a halftime 3-point competition.
5:42 a.m. - Tre Brown, left, and Anthony Caldwell Jr. watch a teammate be interviewed after the game on Friday, Dec. 10, 2021 at Mizzou Arena. Caldwell Jr. scored 12 points during the game against KC Central.
6:32 a.m. - Waynesville’s Kaylee Gambill shoots a free throw on Friday, Dec. 10, 2021 at Mizzou Arena. Waynesville fell to Lincoln College Prep 68-31.
7:08 a.m. - Lukas Parrish, left, and Denny Bond wait at the front desks for fans to enter on Friday, Dec. 10, 2021 at Mizzou Arena. “I’’m going to get five hours of sleep and then come back,” said Bond.
8:06 a.m. - South Callaway’s Sam Buckner looks to pass the ball on Friday, Dec. 10, 2021 at Mizzou Arena. South Callaway beat New Bloomfield 52-37 during game seven of the Norm Stewart Classic.
9:10 a.m. - South Callaway’s coach Seth Thomas talks to his team during a time out on Friday, Dec. 10, 2021 at Mizzou Arena. South Callaway’s Trynnen Gray won the MVP award for the game.
10:35 a.m. - The North Shelby marching band performs during the game on Friday, Dec. 10, 2021 at Mizzou Arena. Shelbyville, where North Shelby is located, is the home town of Norm Stewart.
11:17 a.m. - The North Shelby Raiders played the Crane Pirates in the eight game of the Norm Stewart Classic on Friday, Dec. 10, 2021 at Mizzou Arena. North Shelby beat Crane 62-61.
12:43 p.m. - Carson Orr watches the ball on Friday, Dec. 10, 2021 at Mizzou Arena. JD Rich won the MVP award for the game against Crane.
Norm Stewart watches from court side on Friday, Dec. 10, 2021 at Mizzou Arena. The Norm Stewart Classic consists of 26 games over the span of almost 48 hours.
12:01 a.m. - Battle’s Maliyah Miller, left, and Nautica Washington dance before the game on Friday, Dec. 10, 2021 at Mizzou Arena. Battle beat Fr. Tolton 72-27 in the third game of the Norm Stewart Classic.
1:16 a.m. - Kaelyn Johnson sits for an after game interview on Friday, Dec. 10, 2021 at Mizzou Arena. Johnson had 16 points in the game against Fr. Tolton.
2:56 a.m. - Capital City coach Darrin Young talks to players during a time out on Friday, Dec. 10, 2021 at Mizzou Arena. Capital City beat St. Elizabeth 69-39.
3:32 a.m. - Lift for Life players practice drills on Friday, Dec. 10, 2021 at Mizzou Arena. Lift for Life defeated KC Central in the fifth game out of 26 at the Norm Stewart Classic.
4:52 a.m. - Ke’lyjah Carter laughs on the court on Friday, Dec. 10, 2021 at Mizzou Arena. Carter participated in a halftime 3-point competition.
5:42 a.m. - Tre Brown, left, and Anthony Caldwell Jr. watch a teammate be interviewed after the game on Friday, Dec. 10, 2021 at Mizzou Arena. Caldwell Jr. scored 12 points during the game against KC Central.
6:32 a.m. - Waynesville’s Kaylee Gambill shoots a free throw on Friday, Dec. 10, 2021 at Mizzou Arena. Waynesville fell to Lincoln College Prep 68-31.
7:08 a.m. - Lukas Parrish, left, and Denny Bond wait at the front desks for fans to enter on Friday, Dec. 10, 2021 at Mizzou Arena. “I’’m going to get five hours of sleep and then come back,” said Bond.
8:06 a.m. - South Callaway’s Sam Buckner looks to pass the ball on Friday, Dec. 10, 2021 at Mizzou Arena. South Callaway beat New Bloomfield 52-37 during game seven of the Norm Stewart Classic.
9:10 a.m. - South Callaway’s coach Seth Thomas talks to his team during a time out on Friday, Dec. 10, 2021 at Mizzou Arena. South Callaway’s Trynnen Gray won the MVP award for the game.
10:35 a.m. - The North Shelby marching band performs during the game on Friday, Dec. 10, 2021 at Mizzou Arena. Shelbyville, where North Shelby is located, is the home town of Norm Stewart.
11:17 a.m. - The North Shelby Raiders played the Crane Pirates in the eight game of the Norm Stewart Classic on Friday, Dec. 10, 2021 at Mizzou Arena. North Shelby beat Crane 62-61.
12:43 p.m. - Carson Orr watches the ball on Friday, Dec. 10, 2021 at Mizzou Arena. JD Rich won the MVP award for the game against Crane.