In the early 2000s, the Kickapoo High School girls basketball program won a pair of state championships, and among the standouts was Laura (Granzow) Buetow, a center who went on to star for Canisius College in New York.
Now her career will soon be recognized by the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame during its upcoming Basketball Tipoff Luncheon presented by Mercy. Buetow has been named to the Hall’s Filbert Five, a group of former high school, college and professional basketball players. The Filbert Five is named in honor of the late Gary Filbert, who coached high school and college basketball teams and, in 2011, was bestowed the Hall’s highest honor, the Missouri Sports Legend award.
The ceremony is at 11 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 10 at the University Plaza Convention Center in Springfield. For tickets, call 417-889-3100.
“When I look back on my high school career, one of my most cherished memories is coach Stephanie Phillips,” Buetow said, referring to the Kickapoo High School girls basketball coach who later passed away in June 2010 and was inducted posthumously into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame. “She was an inspiring coach and a wonderful person. She knew how to motivate her girls to love the sport and want to work harder and play better.
“But, more importantly, she cared about us as people. Her relationship with us moved beyond the court, and she showed us, by example, how to become the women we wanted to be: women with integrity, work ethic and a strong relationship with God.”
A 6-foot-3 center, Buetow won Miss Show-Me Basketball in 2003 and was a key member of the Lady Chiefs’ 2001 and 2003 Class 5 state championship teams. She was All-State, All-Ozark Conference, all-district, was nominated for the Gatorade Player of the Year award and the McDonald’s High School All-American game. She eventually signed with the University of Denver, where she made five starts as a freshman. Buetow played her final three collegiate seasons at Canisius College (N.Y.), where she still ranks in the top 10 in career blocked shots after leading the team in blocks all three seasons.
…………………………………………………………………..
Want to go?
What: Basketball Tipoff Luncheon presented by Mercy
When: 11 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 10
Where: University Plaza Convention Center, Springfield
Inductees: Parkview High School’s “Jolly Green Giants” of 1964-1966; Missouri State’s 1952 and 1953 NAIA national championship men’s basketball teams; Jefferson City and Lady Bears standout Karen Rapier; and high school and college coach Gary Stanfield.
Filbert Five men’s team: Chris Harville (Rogersville/Missouri State), Steven Hill (Branson/Arkansas), Sam Singh (Ozark/Bradley), Mark Sparks (Neosho/Mizzou/Drury) and Kevin Williams (Nevada/Mizzou).
Filbert Five women’s team: Sara Bos Barnhart (Billings/Drury),Terianne Wolford Brown (Nixa/Mizzou), Laura Granzow Buetow (Kickapoo/Denver/Canisius), Alyson Young Hooten (Rogersville/Avila) and Anita Rank Oplotnik (Lincoln/Missouri Southern).
Tickets: Individual tickets are $40. Tables of eight are $400 and include associate sponsor recognition in the printed program. Call the Hall of Fame at 317-889-3100.