Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Tourney keeps Prescott busy

Prescott has been a busy town of late because of the Class A State Basketball Tournament at Prescott High School.

Residents may have noticed the increased traffic in town, especially around PHS. The tourney, showcasing some of the best high school talent in the state, began Tuesday, Feb. 28, and concluded Saturday, March 4, with the semifinals. The finals will be in Little Rock.

Before the tourney got under way local businesses were contacted about sponsoring the hospitality room. Tuesdays room was sponsored by the Bank of Delight, with the Flamingo Grill putting on the feed. Wednesday it was the Bank of Prescott and Broadway Restaurant. Thursday saw the Prescott Athletic Booster Club sponsor the room, offering up Subway sandwiches. Friday the Prescott-Nevada County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors did the food, with the room sponsored by the Chamber and Prescott-Nevada County Economic Development Office. The tourney wound up with Hollys Pharmacy and Mike Ross sponsoring the room, with Garden Getaway preparing the food.

Mary Godwin, executive director of the Chamber, said the Prescott School Districts lunchroom staff helped out with the Chamber Boards night.

All restaurants were asked to prepare enough food for about 50 people per night. The hospitality room was open from 5-8 p.m. and organized by the Chamber. This hospitality room was for the visiting superintendents, their families, coaches, bus drivers and officials.

The Partnership, the Chamber and EDO, provided a table in the gyms foyer with maps of Prescott showing visitors different places of interest and how best to get to other restaurants and dining establishments.

The tourney couldnt occur without plenty of help. PHS students pitched in to help with the parking situation, directing visitors to the different lots at the PHS campus. The workers had their own hospitality room, which was in the Prescott Sports Arena. Karen Jobe was in charge of it.

The Prescott Police Department had officers at the games each night. Prescott Police Chief Brian Russell said there were no problems during the tourney.

The tournament saw literally thousands of visitors pass through the doors of the Sports Arena daily, as fans and families flocked to see their teams and children hit the hardwood.