Rock n' roll, it's Yellow Sucker time

In what will be the 40th edition of the Yellow Sucker Game, the East Carter Redbirds will aim to make it three wins in a row in the series and even up the rivalry’s ledger tonight when the teams tip off in Elsinore.

East Carter trails the Bulldogs 20-19 in the longstanding series and when things get going at approximately 7:30 p.m., the two rivals — who may not be as salty towards each other as in years past — will once again do battle.

The teams will play for the traveling trophy of a Yellow Sucker fish — or Golden Sucker or Golden Redhorse — which can be found in the Current River.

Tonight it will be teenage boys battling out on the hardwood at East Carter to stake a claim of Current River supremacy.

According to Van Buren head coach Jacob Black, who has played and coached in this event over the course of its life cycle, says just based on the history of the event and the Carter County bragging rights it may be bigger than anything else either program battles for.

“From that point on (from the first game) it started becoming a major thing or something that is more valuable than state championship trophies,” Black said. “East Carter and Van Buren both have state championship trophies. We have family in both communities and it’s a very cool thing not many kids get to experience the atmosphere that that game brings.

“I know on our behalf, most kids attend that game. It has meaning as far as that goes and it has tradition. I would put the rivalry against any in this area for high school sports.”

East Carter head coach Jordan Penn has experienced the event as the leader of the Redbirds for the past seven years.

“It’s a fun game and I have been around basketball in the bootheel where people like their basketball,” Penn said. “But then I got here and started hearing about the Yellow Sucker game and I was like, ‘I’ve played in big games, I’ve been around them, blah, blah, blah,’ but it surpassed all my ideas of what a big game would be. It’s a big game for the county. People come to this game when they wouldn’t go to any other all year long. It means a lot to the communities on either side.

“I’ve seen it change each team’s season for the good or the bad. It’s an outstanding high school basketball atmosphere to play and coach in.”

With both teams being placed in the same district this year, the game has even more meaning because it can play a big role in seeding for postseason bracketing.

“We used to play them one time a year now we have the option to play them a couple of times,” Black said. “I think back in the day when I played in this game, it was pretty heated. Now with modern technology, there are more kids on their social media and they are friends. It’s a friendly rivalry and they love the atmosphere and lead-up of it. Both teams probably play the hardest against each other.

“I don’t think there is any ill will between us. I am thrilled as a coach to be a part of this. I don’t see anything heated from it.”

Penn agrees that off-the-floor rival players are much friendlier due to today’s social norms.

“Man, I tell you, when you get on the floor, you are either bleeding black and gold or red and white,” Penn said. “(The rivalry animosity) has worn off a little bit from the social media aspect, but you won’t be able to tell when you are in that gym (tonight).”

Penn said the past few years of success in this game have helped the increasing enthusiasm for East Carter basketball and the sport in general.

“I bet I answer more questions about when is the Yellow Sucker game than any other question throughout the year,” Penn said. “It means a lot to the town and even people who don’t care about basketball will come to the game and expect you to win because you are representing the town.”

Despite the importance of this game locally, Black only puts so much weight into this one game.

“I want to play in the district and I want to play in the playoffs,” Black said. “As a coach, I want the fish and bragging rights. But for me, the legacy of playoff basketball or state championships lives forever.”

Van Buren enters this contest at 4-9 overall and Black likes his chances in the rekindling of the rivalry.

“We haven’t been healthy all year,” Black said. “Right now, other people have stepped up — junior Benjamin Hawkins has played some good basketball for the past few weeks — and everyone on our team is starting to find our spot and how to help benefit the team. I like the direction in which we are going.

“The records are just numbers. It’s about who is playing the best basketball at the moment. It’s going to be a competitive game and whichever way the ball bounces the most … key rebounds … it will be the team to come out on top. The pressure is on them because on paper you would think they should take us. We are the underdogs and excited to play that spoiler.”

Penn agreed that his Redbirds might be favored, but records should be thrown out the window.

“They will play their best basketball and hopefully we will play our best game of the year,” Penn said. “If we can dominate the paint area will be a key for us. If we can handle that, things could go our way.

“But we will have to fight tooth and nail for it.”