The Baer Facts
Basketball coaches with College, Pro Experience Taking Over the Programs
Third place game at the state basketball tournament needs to be eliminated.
Columbia--Some random thought on the state basketball tournament. From a historic perspective, my very first trip to the state basketball tournament was way back in 1972. That’s a very long time ago. The record books show that Bud Lathrop and his Raytown South Cardinals beat Denver Miller’s Kirkwood Pioneers, 52-48 in the large school title game. That was long before “Show-Me Showdowns” were ever conceived. Miller made it to the championship game four times in a 43-year career, having never won the first-place prize including one sudden death overtime loss. As a sports writer, I was greener than green at that stage of my career. That title game was held in musty old Brewer Field House, presently converted to a lavish student recreation …
