Rich hoops history
Strong community, school support keeps Trib tourney thriving well into seventh decade
New memories will be made beginning today when Ontario’s oldest high school tournament tips off in south Niagara.
Qualifying- round action at three schools in Welland — Jean Vanier, Notre Dame, Welland Centennial — will determine who goes on to compete for the overall championship, as well as who will be bounced to the consolation side of the bracket.
Co- convener Don Larman, recalling the experience of competing in four tournaments for the former Welland High, said the No. 1 goal for the Tigers “back in the day” when only eight teams competed in the tournament was “to win it all locally.”
“You wanted to the top dog of eight teams at the end of the day,” said the Welland High graduate, class of 1973.
“We always wanted to win the Tribune Tournament, it was the highlight of your career.”
Wait a minute, wouldn’t winning an Ontario high school basketball championship trump that on a resume?
“That would be the icing on the cake, but locally for high school basketball in Niagara Region winning the Tribune Tournament was the place to be,” Larman, 63, said.
Rivalries, especially against schools in the same community, made the tournament so riveting when Larman competed from 1969 until 1973. He recalled Welland High would play Notre Dame twice during the regular season and could meet again in the playoffs for the Zone 3 championship.
“Notre Dame was our arch- rival, and everybody wanted to win the Tribune Tournament.”
Travel basketball, played by so many tournament participants today, was “virtually non- existent” in Larman’s hoops heyday before he went on to play at the collegiate level with THE University of Waterloo.
“Church league basketball was huge, very huge,” said Larman, who won a provincial championship with Holy Trinity.
It wasn’t unusual for Church league teammates to find themselves on opposite ends of the court at the Tribune Tournament.
“That’s why it was so interesting and very exciting to have bragging rights from the Tribune Tournament, especially for your school,” he said.
“School rivalries back in those days, there’s nothing like it today, although we’re starting to see it more and more at these types of tournaments.
“We see rivalries among teams,
DAY 1 ACTION
Following are today’s qualifyinground games at the 63rd Tribune Boys Basketball Tournament in Welland:
At Jean Vanier: Sir Winston Churchill at Jean Vanier, 3: 30 p. m.; Denis Morris at Port Colborne, 5 p. m.
At Notre Dame: Holy Cross at Governor Simcoe, 3: 30 p. m.; A. N. Myer at Saint Michael, 5 p. m.; Thorold at Eden, 6: 30 p. m.; Notre Dame at Westlane, 8 p. m.
At Welland Centennial: Lakeshore Catholic at Welland Centennial, 1: 30 p. m.; E. L. Crossley at Greater Fort Erie, 3 p. m. which is good to see again.”
Larman believes the Tribune Tournament, which over the years expanded into a 16- team competition, has been able to sustain so many compelling sequels because it has stayed true to the original.
“It’s the fantastic community support, from fans, from community businesses, schools, players, spectators, alumni and, certainly, the Tribune Tournament committee over the years, the decades really,” he said.
“Sixty- three years of commitment from all of those groups makes this thing last this long.”
Rick Podrebarac was playing hoops across town at Eastdale when Larman was earning his stripes with the Tigers.
However, his recollections of competing in the tournament are remarkably similar.
“Back then, we never had all these tournaments where the kids play now,” the 64- year- old Welland native said.
“Basically, we had one tournament every year, and this was it.
“This was the pinnacle, it was almost the Super Bowl for basketball season.”
Podrebarac was called up from the junior team in 1970, when the Eagles won their first and, to date, only tournament, and played in two more tournaments after that.
He majored in mathematics at University of Waterloo after graduating from Eastdale.
Since 1981 the chartered accountant has worked with Mountainview Homes taking care of the financial side of the business.
The Thorold- based homebuilder took over as the tournament’s presenting sponsor this year. In the past it has concentrated on sponsoring hockey teams, but supporting the Tribune Tournament is a homecoming for Mountainview Homes.
Literally.
“All these schools that participate are all based in areas where we have subdivisions,” he said.
“We build in Niagara Falls, St. Catharines, Fonthill, Welland, Fort Erie, Ridgeway.”
Podrebarac attends the tournament from time to time, taking in some hoops as well as catching up with old friends.
“A lot of my buddies are referees.”
Eastdale isn’t competing in this year’s tournament, so Podrebarac will be cheering for the Fighting Irish to defend their overall champion.
“My son ( Trent) went to Notre Dame, so did my wife, so I guess I will be rooting for Notre Dame.”
Teams from six Niagara centres are competing in the mid- season showcase that wraps up Saturday night with a championship doubleheader at Notre Dame.
In addition to the Irish, Centennial Cougars and Vanier Lynx, teams from The Tribune circulation area include the E. L. Crossley Cyclone, Lakeshore Catholic Gators and Port Colborne Blue Bears.
There are five teams from St. Catharines — Denis Morris Reds, Eden Flyers, Governor Simcoe Redcoats, Holy Cross Raiders, Sir Winston Churchill Bulldogs — and three from Niagara Falls — A. N. Myer Marauders, Saint Michael Mustangs, Westlane Spartans.
Rounding out the field are the Greater Fort Erie Gryphons and the Thorold Golden Eagles.