Christmas basketball tourney introduced in 1945

Christmas 1945 was filled with joy and anticipation.

As Girardeans prepared to celebrate the first peace-time Christmas since 1941, there was a promise of snow in the air.

Service men and women were returning home.

The faithful thronged churches, and the Salvation Army and other organizations distributed baskets, crammed with food and toys, to the needy.

And at old Houck Field House, 16 high school basketball teams prepared to do battle in the first-ever College High holiday invitational basketball tournament.

Dec. 24, 1945:

The seeded teams, in order, were Flat River, College High, Hornersville, Elvins, Caruthersville, Van Buren, Sikeston, and Cape Central; unseeded teams were Jackson, Lutesville, Delta, Anniston, Gideon, Dexter, Leadwood, and East Prairie.

One of the strongest teams coming into the tournament was Flat River, coached by Louis Meyer. He had four starters back from the previous year, and they were going into the tournament with a four-game winning streak. The starting lineup was Jack Blake, Harvey Miller, Gus Miller, Charles Coffman and Henry Tessereau.

College High boasted 10 returning lettermen and six other players from the previous year's squad. It was expected to challenge Flat River for the title. The lettermen were Harold Brinkopf, Forrest Crites, Norman Dede, John Hitt, Roy and Art Keller, Bill Reynolds, Ivan Sander, Ray Sledge and Lowell Lowes. The coach was Irvin Keller.

Hornersville had all five of its starters back from a 16-4 season. It was coached by Pat Burleson. Starters were Paul Hatch, Winifred Henson, Max Moore, Verlon Smith and Charles Watkins.

Elvins, coached by Ralph Black, had no returning starters.

Caruthersville's regulars were Wayne Caldwell, John Cantrell and Herbert Correll. The team, coached by Jack Hopke, also had five other lettermen: Buddy Bennett, Joe Brooks, Jack Jeffries, Orvel Hooker and Gilbert Ennis.

Sikeston had six returning lettermen: Lee Beal, Bill Arnold, Bill Greer, Dick Inman, Charles Meyers and Odel Mothershead. The team was coached by Dean Owen.

Cape Central was coached by the legendary Lou Muegge. His lettermen were Harold McLaughlin, John Teichman and Gene Ryan; Bill Anderson and Johnny Reynolds were regulars in their first season.

Jackson High's team was centered around four lettermen: Clinton Wendell,  Eldon Selves, Jerry Venable and Bill Wilkening.

Lutesville's players were some of the tallest in the tournament, averaging slightly more than six feet. All five starters were back from the previous season: Dale Bollinger, James Hartle, L.J. Shanks, Billy Day and John D. Higgins. Coach was Ben VanAmburgh.

Leadwood was coached by first-year man Ivan Oliver. He had only one regular back from the previous year, Bob Yount at center. Other players were Vernell McGee, Ronald Johnson, James House, Clyde Goad and Kenneth Gear.

Admission to the first three sessions of the tournament was 50 cents for adults and 35 cents for high school students, while admission to the final two sessions was 50 cents for all.

Officiating at the games were Walter W. Ford, Barney Oldfield and Lowry Miller.

Attendance for the tournament totaled 2,862.

In the end, hardwood prognostications proved accurate, as number one seed Flat River defeated sentimental favorites College High Preps for the title, 33-26.

Following is the Missourian's coverage of the games.

Published Dec. 27, 1945:

Published Dec. 28, 1945:

Published Dec. 29, 1945:

Published Dec. 31, 1945: