Tournament has changed since 1945

A lot has changed since the first College High Invitational Tournament, better known as the U-High Tournament, was played in 1945.

From the teams to the name -- which is now the Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament -- to the location, little is left from the early beginnings.

Of the 16 teams in the inaugural tournament, only three teams remain (Central, Jackson and Delta). Several of the schools no longer exist, including the tournament sponsor College High.

With the games played at Houck Field House with an admission cost of 50 cents for adults and 35 cents for students, an estimated 1,089 fans attended the opening day's games. They were treated to wins from Cape Central and College High.

College High made it all the way to the finals, but tournament favorite Flat River captured the first title with a 33-26 victory. A total of 2,862 fans attended the four-day event

Flat River won the tournament the following year as well but never won another. Charleston has the most titles with 15.

Tourney champs

1945 -- Flat River

1946 -- Flat River

1947 -- Leadwood

1948 -- University High

1949 -- Sikeston

1950 -- Puxico

1951 -- Puxico

1952 -- Morehouse

1953 -- Morehouse

1954 -- Morehouse

1955 -- Fisk-Rombauer

1956 -- Advance

1957 -- Puxico

1958 -- Advance

1959 -- Fredericktown

1960 -- Woodland

1961 -- Central

1962 -- Central

1963 -- Illmo-Scott City

1964 -- Oran

1965 -- Oran

1966 -- Oran

1967 -- Scott Central

1968 -- Delta

1969 -- Portageville

1970 -- Notre Dame

1971 -- Central

1972 -- Central

1973 -- Kelly

1974 -- Notre Dame

1975 -- Charleston

1976 -- Charleston

1977 -- Central

1978 -- Central

1979 -- Scott Central

1980 -- Central

1981 -- Central

1982 -- Charleston

1983 -- Charleston

1984 -- Charleston

1985 -- Charleston

1986 -- Notre Dame

1987 -- Scott Central

1988 -- Jackson

1989 -- Charleston

1990 -- Scott Central

1991 -- Charleston

1992 -- Charleston

1993 -- Charleston

1994 -- Central

1995 -- Charleston

1996 -- Central

1997 -- Charleston

1998 -- Charleston

1999 -- Scott City

2000 -- Advance

2001 -- Charleston

2002 -- Charleston

2003 -- Jackson