Fort Smith Public Schools to host Great American Conference Basketball Championships

FORT SMITH, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — The Great American Conference announced on July 23 that Northside High School and Southside High School in Fort Smith will be hosting its basketball championships in 2025 and 2026.

According to a press release from the GAC, Southside will host the tournament in 2025 and Northside will host the tournament in 2026.

Both schools’ arenas opened in 2021 and have a capacity of 2,300.

“Hosting the GAC Conference Championship not only brings visitors and spending to the Fort Smith area, it also showcases the community to potential workforce talent for future recruitment,” said Ashleigh Bachert, executive director of the Fort Smith Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB). “Events like this are more than sports. They raise the perception of the community in the eyes of thousands of people who are looking for places to play, work, and live. It’s also a great opportunity for our local community to experience high-quality sports in their own backyard.”

The release says the 2025 Championship will take place March 6-9. The 2026 event will run March 5-8, 2026. The tournament will feature the top eight men’s and women’s teams.

According to the release, Bruin Fieldhouse in Bartlesville, Oklahoma hosted the Men’s and Women’s Championships from 2012-20. The league held the 2021 Championships across various campus sites. FireLake Arena in Shawnee, Oklahoma served as the venue from 2022-24.

The schedules for both tournaments can be found below.

2025 GAC Basketball Championships Schedule – Games Played at Southside Arena

Thursday, March 6

• Women’s Game 1: Noon – Quarterfinal #1: No. 2 vs. No. 7
• Men’s Game 1: 2:15 p.m.– Quarterfinal #1: No. 2 vs. No. 7
• Women’s Game 2: 5:45 p.m. – Quarterfinal #2: No. 1 vs. No. 8
• Men’s Game 2: 8:00 p.m. – Quarterfinal #2: No. 1 vs. No. 8

Friday, March 7

• Women’s Game 3: Noon – Quarterfinal #3: No. 4 vs. No. 5
• Women’s Game 4: 2:15 p.m. – Quarterfinal #4: No. 3 vs. No. 6
• Men’s Game 3: 5:45 p.m. – Quarterfinal #3: No. 4 vs. No. 5
• Men’s Game 4: 8:00 p.m. – Quarterfinal #4: No. 3 vs. No. 6

Saturday, March 8

• Women’s Game 5: Noon – Semifinal #1: Winner G2 vs Winner G3
• Women’s Game 6: 2:15 p.m. – Semifinal #2: Winner G1 vs Winner G4
• Men’s Game 5: 5:45 p.m. – Semifinal #1: Winner G2 vs Winner G3
• Men’s Game 6: 8:00 p.m. – Semifinal #2: Winner G1 vs Winner G4

Sunday, March 9

• Women’s Game 7: 1:00 p.m. – Final: Winner G5 vs Winner G6
• Men’s Game 7: 3:30 p.m. – Final: Winner G5 vs Winner G6

2026 GAC Basketball Championships Schedule – Games Played at Northside Arena

Thursday, March 5

• Men’s Game 1: Noon – Quarterfinal #1: No. 2 vs. No. 7
• Women’s Game 1: 2:15 p.m. – Quarterfinal #1: No. 2 vs. No. 7
• Men’s Game 2: 5:45 p.m. – Quarterfinal #2: No. 1 vs. No. 8
• Women’s Game 2: 8:00 p.m. – Quarterfinal #2: No. 1 vs. No. 8

Friday, March 6

• Men’s Game 3: Noon – Quarterfinal #3: No. 4 vs. No. 5
• Men’s Game 4: 2:15 p.m. – Quarterfinal #4: No. 3 vs. No. 6
• Women’s Game 3: 5:45 p.m. – Quarterfinal #3: No. 4 vs. No. 5
• Women’s Game 4: 8:00 p.m. – Quarterfinal #4: No. 3 vs. No. 6

Saturday, March 7

• Men’s Game 5: Noon – Semifinal #1: Winner G2 vs Winner G3
• Men’s Game 6: 2:15 p.m. – Semifinal #2: Winner G1 vs Winner G4
• Women’s Game 5: 5:45 p.m. – Semifinal #1: Winner G2 vs Winner G3
• Women’s Game 6: 8:00 p.m. – Semifinal #2: Winner G1 vs Winner G4

Sunday, March 8

• Men’s Game 7: 1:00 p.m. – Final: Winner G5 vs Winner G6
• Women’s Game 7: 3:30 p.m. – Final: Winner G5 vs Winner G6

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