An estimated 80 girls basketball teams will converge on Bolivar this weekend, with games held Friday and Saturday, June 14-15, across town for the 2019 Sonic Freedom Shootout. 

With no time showing on the clock in the game’s fourth, first-to-score overtime period, Liberator basketball found itself tied up 34-34 with Willard at the 2019 Sonic Freedom Shootout blue bracket championship game, Thursday, May 30.

For recently named Bolivar girls basketball coach Ben Glasgow, there’s an importance in understanding what drives his community. 

At a Marion C. Early basketball game in the late 1950s, upperclassman Bob Lowery watched from across the court as coach Wayne Keltner talked with the officials and the opposing team’s coach. 

Southwest Baptist University men’s basketball team was able to advance past the first round of the MIAA tournament in its final year in the MIAA, beating Lindenwood University 76-75 Wednesday, March 6, before falling to Washburn University 58-77 Thursday. 

Defending Class 4 state champion Grandview outscored Bolivar High School 73-42 Friday, March 1, as the Bulldogs ended the Liberators’ season at 12-13.

No. 1 district seed Nevada shot aggressively as the Lady Tigers downed Bolivar High School’s girls basketball team 58-33 in the Class 4 District 13 semifinal round Friday, March 1, in Pleasant Hill.

Editor’s note: the following report is compiled from SBU media reports.

For three minutes in the fourth quarter of Halfway’s Class 1 District 4 championship game against Chadwick, Friday, Feb. 22, it looked like the recently crowned Polk County League co-champions might just stage a comeback. 

After leading by as much as 13 points Tuesday, Feb. 26, the Liberators’ 67-63 win over Pleasant Hill came down to the line.

Bolivar’s girls and boys basketball teams will open district play in Pleasant Hill this week. Both enter seeded fourth.

Halfway’s boys basketball team is second in Class 1 District 4 after the Cardinals lost to Chadwick 61-74 Friday, Feb. 22, in Marshfield.

Logan-Rogersville outscored Bolivar 17-9 in the fourth quarter Monday, Feb. 18, as the Wildcats claimed a 63-56 win over the Liberators in Rogersville. 

Bolivar celebrated senior night with another defensive thriller Thursday night, Jan. 31. The Lady Liberators used a late push for a 38-34 win over visiting Marshfield during Bolivar's super night.

Bolivar had No. 2-ranked Springfield Catholic on the ropes Thursday night, Jan. 31, but could not deliver the knock out blow again. The visiting Fightin' Irish pulled away late for a 62-54 road win during Bolivar's super night, which saw the Liberators and Lady Libs play six games in three gyms.

Fair Play boys basketball moved to 5-0 in Polk County League play Tuesday night, Jan. 29. Fair Play won the annual battle of the Hornets, blasting visiting Hermitage 77-41.