In spite of a six-point loss to Republic, Kickapoo holds one of the No. 1 seeds in this year’s Pink and White Lady Classic.

The Chiefs fell 65-59 at Republic on Monday night, but the seeds and bracket for the Pink and White Lady Classic had already been set. Kickapoo holds the No. 1 seed in the Pink Division and opens the tournament Dec. 28 against Central at 9:30 a.m. at Weiser Gymnasium.

Strafford (6-1) grabbed the No. 4 seed as the second-highest rated local team in the field. Only a loss to Class 2 No. 1 Crane dots Strafford’s season.

In the Pink and White Lady Classic, the No. 2 and No. 3 seeds are reserved for teams from outside the Southwest Missouri area. The seeding rule helps the visiting teams with travel accommodations and scheduling.

The 2014 White Division champions from Ft. Smith, Arkansas return to Springfield to compete in the Pink Division of this year’s Pink and White Lady Classic.

Northside High School enters the Pink bracket 11-1 and holds the No. 3 seed, one season removed from a 27-2 finish and a quarterfinal appearance in Arkansas’ Class 7A playoffs. Northside’s girls basketball program produced more than 70 college basketball players in the past 22 years.

The Grizzlies are led by 6-foot senior Aahliyah Jackson, who signed with Texas A&M. Jackson can play guard or forward. She is equally adept at driving the lane and shooting 3-pointers, and can distribute the ball when she draws double teams.

Ft. Smith Northside defeated Kickapoo in the White Division finals of last year’s tournament.

The No. 2 seed belongs to Pickerington Central of Pickerington, Ohio.

Super sophomore Bexley Wallace leads the Tigers into Springfield. Wallace is a 6-foot-3 forward who recently played for the United States under-16 national basketball team. Her list of college basketball suitors features Kentucky, Louisville, Michigan, Ohio State, Michigan State and Dayton.

Bracket for the Pink Division of the 2015 Pink and White Lady Classic, set to open Dec. 28 at Weiser Gymnasium at Drury University

2015 Pink and White Lady Classic

Schedule for Monday, Dec. 28

Pink Division

All opening round games are played at Weiser Gymnasium.

9:30 a.m. (1) Kickapoo vs. Central

11 a.m. (8) Spokane vs. Marshfield

12:30 p.m. (4) Strafford vs. Purdy

2 p.m. (5) Branson vs. Miller

4:30 p.m. (2) Pickerington Central vs. Ozark

6 p.m. (7) Camdenton vs. Willard

7:30 p.m. (3) Ft. Smith Northside vs. Catholic

9 p.m. (6) Aurora vs. Buffalo

White Division

All opening round games played at O’Reilly Family Event Center.

9:30 a.m. (1) Crane vs. Hillcrest

11 a.m. (8) Nixa vs. Rogersville

12:30 p.m. (4) Republic vs. Clever

2 p.m. (5) Fair Grove vs. Parkview

4:30 p.m. (2) North Little Rock vs. Glendale

6 p.m. (7) Skyline vs. Mt. Vernon

7:30 p.m. (3) Rock Bridge vs. Bolivar

9 p.m. (6) West Plains vs. Stockton