I read an article in the NWI Times on some famous high school basketball coaches, Including John Molodet and Virgil  Sweet. The coaches moaned about the watering down of the basketball tournament, now a class tournament where once it was a single class free for all that kept the interest of the whole state during the month of March.

I, myself would watch the semi-state onTV (usually WTTW) and cheer for the region teams, no matter who they were. It was a big deal. Everyone would listen to the draw to see who their high school team would play in the opening round in the sectional. We would moan when your team got paired with a powerhouse; that meant an early exit from the tournament. If you beat the powerhouse, then dreams of a state championship would dance through your mind.

Today, there is no getting around it. Class basketball has hurt the tournament. The gyms are not filled anymore, there is still TV for the finals, but it no longer is a big thing. Who remembers the class champions from last year. Many of youremember the champs of 1970, Gary Roosevelt or 1971, EC Washington.

Yep, there’s little interest in basketball as it is played today. I understand the reason for class tournaments. But, still, I’d rather see a single class tournament in basketball. It was fun, it had interest, and perhaps a small school can still pull it off.

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