Basketball: Minnesota celebrating 100 years of history; looking for mementos

The Minnesota high school boys and girls basketball seasons are in full swing and the 2012 state tournaments are a little more than three months away. At both the boys and girls tournaments this year, the Minnesota State High School League will be celebrating the 100th state basketball tournament, marking the first boys event in 1913.

The centennial milestone will be commemorated many ways. There will be recognition of players, coaches, games, shots, tournaments and teams throughout the first 100 years. History will be paramount and the public is invited to assist with contributions of mementos and memorabilia that will be displayed at both state tournaments.

An earlier appeal resulted in a few contributions already – an extensive scrapbook, a championship trophy and photograph of a girls team from the 1920s, and ticket stubs and uniform patches have been contributed.

Anything and everything is being solicited by the league. Items such as tournament programs, books about the tournament, newspaper clippings, balls and uniforms, trophies, photographs — anything related to either state tournament is needed to fill display cases for fans to enjoy while at Target Center for the 2012 state tournaments.

League staff will take great care in securing any contributed item and will make sure it is returned in the same condition in which it was received. The league can arrange for pickup or delivery of items if required.

Potential contributors may inquire by sending an e-mail to hoops100@mshsl.org or by leaving a message in the general mailbox at (763) 560-2262.

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