The 59th annual Hettinger Holiday Classic boys basketball tournament kicks off Monday with only four teams.
From the sounds of it, the tournament won’t make it to it’s 60th anniversary. Hettinger and Scranton are two of the four teams in the tournament, and they are set to co-op next year.
This is a fine example of how much of a population decrease we’ve seen in southwest North Dakota over the years.
This used to be one of the best holiday tournaments around. Numerous state tournament teams won the whole thing, including a few state champions. Then, about 10 years ago, after co-ops and school closures eliminated a few teams, Hettinger had to begin inviting Class A junior varsity teams just to round out the tournament. Finally, in 2008, Williston’s JV won it.
This year’s tournament will have Hettinger, Scranton and South Dakota schools Harding County and Lemmon. It will be held Monday and Friday at Roberts-Reinke Gymnasium. Be sure to check it out if you live in the area.
Hettinger County Classic
At Roberts-Reinke Gymnasium, Hettinger
Games Monday
Harding County vs. Scranton, 6 p.m.
Hettinger vs. Lemmon, 7:30 p.m.
Games Friday
Third place: Monday’s losers, 6 p.m.
Championship: Monday’s winners, 7:30 p.m.
PAST CHAMPIONS
1952 ………….. HETTINGER
1953 …………………LEMMON
1954 ………….. HETTINGER
1955 ………….. HETTINGER
1956 ………….. HETTINGER
1957 ………….. HETTINGER
1958 ………………F T. YATES
1959 ……………………….MOTT
1960 ………….. HETTINGER
1961 ……………………….MOTT
1962 ……………………….MOTT
1963 …………… ST. MARY’S
1964 ………….. HETTINGER
1965 …………… ST. MARY’S
1966 ………….. HETTINGER
1967 …………… ST. MARY’S
1968 ………….. HETTINGER
1969 ……………………….MOTT
1970 …………………. TRINITY
1971 ……………………….MOTT
1972 …………… ST. MARY’S
1973 …………………..MOTT
1974 ………….. HETTINGER
1975 …………… SCRANTON
1976 …………………. TRINITY
1977 ………………….REEDER
1978 ………………..BOWMAN
1979 ………………….REGENT
1980 ………….. HETTINGER
1981 ………………….REEDER
1982 …………………. TRINITY
1983 …………………. TRINITY
1984 ………….. HETTINGER
1985 ………..NEW LEIPZIG
1986 ……………………..MOTT
1987 ………….NEW LEIPZIG
1988 …………… SCRANTON
1989 ………………..REEDER
1990 ………….. HETTINGER
1991 ………….. HETTINGER
1992 ………….. HETTINGER
1993 ………….. HETTINGER
1994 …………………. RHAME
1995 …………….. BISON, SD
1996 …………… SCRANTON
1997 …………… SCRANTON
1998 …………… SCRANTON
1999 …………… SCRANTON
2000 …………… SCRANTON
2001 ……… MOTT-REGENT
2002 ………….. SCRANTON
2003 …….. MOTT-REGENT
2004 ………….. HETTINGER
2005 ………….. HETTINGER
2006 …….. MOTT-REGENT
2007 …….. MOTT-REGENT
2008…………… WILLISTON
2009… HARDING COUNTY
