There are several reasons why a simple basketball tournament would be lost in the sea of high school hoops games each year.
One main reason is a more important tournament.
The one in Oklahoma City in March?
That one that every team hopes for?
But, it does not surprise me in the least that such is not the case around here.
The Stephens County Basketball Tournament wrapped up its 81st incarnation this past weekend, and I would dare say it is as popular as it has ever been.
The proof can be found in the Velma-Alma boys’ team.
The Comets left the tournament at 17-0, ranked No. 4 in Class A.
On Thursday of the tournament, just an hour before the semifinal round began, the Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association released the playoff pairings and assignments for Class A and B.
Velma-Alma coach Kenny Bare had the pairings in his hand that night, but he was more concerned with Marlow – his team’s Thursday night opponent.
Even though a trip to Turner is looming for the second week of February in the districts, his mind was on the county tournament.
Turner and Velma-Alma have a recent history. The two teams brawled inside the Great Plains Coliseum in Lawton during last year’s regional final. The tires on the V-A activity bus were even slashed.
But, that was not important.
Winning the Stephens County Tournament was most important at this moment.
Prior to Saturday’s championship game, I got the opportunity to talk to Kenny about that dynamic.
“I’m from Ada, and we didn’t have anything like this,” Bare said, looking around the Tommy Weast Gymnasium.
Bare coached three years at Cushing, and one at Apache before arriving in Stephens County for the 1997-98 season.
“When I got here, folks were telling me how big this tournament was,” Bare said. “After the first year, I realized what they were talking about.”
Bare has had plenty of success in the county bracket. His Comets have won nine championships, and appeared in seven of the last nine championship games.
He has also never lost a first round contest.
“I didn’t know that,” Bare said about that revelation. “I knew about the championships, but I didn’t know about the first-round thing.”
He does know how important the county tournament still is.
“This is a big deal,” he said. “I mean you look at the crowds. No matter where you have it, you are going to run out of room.
“There are faces in the crowd that you will not see at another game, maybe, unless you make the state tournament,” he added. “That is just how much the tournament means to this area.”
Bare said he honestly prepares for two seasons.
“The first part of the season is to prepare you to win the county tournament,” he said. “After the county tournament is over, then you look towards the playoffs.”
The Comets are the top-seeded team in Area II of the Class A playoffs, which could mean V-A is looking at that state tournament weekend as well.
81 years and counting. It was another great year at the county tournament, which, yes, is still a big deal.
Now to the playoffs.
Until next time I will see you on the fields of play.