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Little Giants: Small High Schools in State Tournament Play

by A. Wayne Sterrett

192 pages; quality trade paperback (softcover); catalogue #07-0914; ISBN 1-4251-2678-2; US$16.95, C$16.95, EUR11.58, £8.75

Several states had high school basketball tournaments that allowed tiny high schools to compete against their largest. Milan*s upset of Muncie Central was mirrored throughout the country creating amzing enthusiasm.

About the Book

My first contact with the electricity of state tournaments came in 1946 when a little Danbury five knocked off the tournament favorite in the second round. This is a tale of other little Cinderellas in Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, as well as Iowa, and throughout the country taking home hardware against overwhelming odds. Many state divided their tournaments when the small schools were still winning, or at least doing very well. My primary question, presented throughout the book, is 'Why?' We know it was not to give the small schools a chance to win. Perhaps it was to prevent the embarrassment to some of the giants, or… Whether the littlest schools could still compete, we'll probably never know. My concern was that it seems that in most states the split was premature. To those who never had a single class tournament, I suggest they missed out on a ton of thrills. The thrill of the Milan upset win was repeated many times and many places. Milan just had better publicity.

About the Author

Wayne Sterrett is retired from education and living with his wife of 46 years. Alma was also an educator. The couple have two children and one grandson. Daughter Linda lives in the D.C., and son, Craig is a city editor in Central Illinois. The author won over eight hundred games as a coach of basketball and baseball at all levels.