January in Dodge

M. R. Byrd

M. R. Byrd

Well-known member
Two things come to mind of things happening in Dodge in January. First, of course, is some of the best times to hunt pheasant and quail, the, second is high school basketball at its finest.

Just finishing up the 67th Annual Tournament of Champions here in Dodge. It is the longest continuous running invitational high school basketball tournament west of the Mississippi. It has been a good tournament. One unique feature of the TOC is inviting some of the smallest school to the biggest schools, until this year and the small schools required their teams to stay in league tournaments. Over the years there have been some outstanding David vs. Goliath battles. This year all the teams were 5A or 6A. For the last twenty years the adult chapter of the FCA has held a breakfast on Saturday morning for all the teams, cheerleader and fans. This year Wayne Simien was the speaker.

Trying out a new camera, so here are some pics-

National Anthem-
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Drummers of the DCHS band
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Championship tip off between Wichita Heights vs. Gardner-Edgerton
#10 Bubba Starling 6'-5" junior Gardner-Edgerton
#34 Perry Ellis 6'-8" sophomore Wichita Heights
Both of these players are on the colleges' radar screens.
Heights won 75-60
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Perry Ellis dunk. This guy is a complete player. Can handle the ball like a point guard and shoot the trey and spectacular dunks.
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Wichita Heights Cheerleaders
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Dodge City High School Drill Team halftime show
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-to be continued-
 
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Another Perry Ellis dunk. Bubba Starling had some awesome dunks, but I missed getting photos.
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This tournament is run by a committee of six high school girls, two seniors, two juniors and two sophomores
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Coach's Sportsmanship Award
Joe Auer, Wichita Heights
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-to be continued-
 
Individual Sportsmanship Award
Bubba Starling, Gardner-Edgerton
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All Tournament Cheerleaders
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All Tournament Team

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Most Inspirational Player
Bubba Starling, Gardner-Edgerton

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There is also a free throw contest. One notable winner from 1970 was Lonnie Kruger.

There is an All Academic Basketball Team and an All Academic Cheerleading Squad made up of a player and cheerleader from each team.

There have been quite a few things tried over the years, such as raising the goals to eleven foot and a shot clock. Neither are in use today.

All in all, it was an outstanding tournament. If you like high school basketball, it is a fine tournament.

Well that is how I spent my last three days, now I need to spend some of the next eight chasing birds.

The new camera I was shooting is a Canon T1i, 55-250mm lens, shooting from the stands with aperture preferred, auto focus, f4, 3200 ISO. First two pictures were with EFS 18-55mm lens.
 
Nice pics M.R., always like to see the youth involved in school activities! Now gotta get that camera working on the birds while you shoot! LOL We will be waiting for your results of the next 8 days! Good luck!:thumbsup:

Rod
 
only a pointer said:
that gardner team is right by me
Click to expand...

They are a very good team. If you like high school basketball you should take in a game. I would sure like to see them play again. In the first game against Wichita East(ranked either 3rd or 4th in 6A coming into tournament), Gardner-Edgerton won 78-73, with Conner Langrehr 6'-4" Senior(Coach's son) scoring 32 points and Bubba Starling 6'5" junior scoring 30 points.

Another team close to you in the tournament was Shawnee Mission South. They lost the first game to Dodge 55-38, then beat Wichita East 74-68 in triple OT, then beat Manhattan to take 4th place.

My all time favorite team in the tournament was another team from your area, Blue Valley North, the 1991 winner. As I recall there were three from that team headed to Ivy League schools or maybe an academy. Names if I recall, Scott Novosel, Adam Peake. In the last forty-four years of the tournament, that in my opinion is the best ever team.

Of course, I enjoyed the 1995 tournament when my son was named to the All Tournament Team.
 
Looks like fun although I attend games all year and about this time of the year, I start to run out of gas. I get my second wind around playoff time. That looks like a small gym for such a big event?
 
Jeff Langehr(garnder coach) was my high school english teacher and the basketball coach of 2 back to back state championships my junior and senior years. Those were some exciting times. Great road trips and some awesome games.
 
I talked to Jeff and Conner and Bubba after the game and thanked them for coming to the TOC. That is a class team.

What was your school?
 
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