By NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The NJCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament makes its annual appearance in Hutchinson next week and the town works together to make the event happen.
"It is a community effort," said Jerry Ricksecker, Chairman of the American Legion Tournament Committee. "The American Legion has been the host of this tournament since 1949. We have approximately 200 volunteers that are on the tournament committee. In addition to those people, we have paid workers that work the tournament, ticket takers, ticket sellers, people that work at parking lots and so forth."
It's a reasonable way to see great basketball for the community.
"There are tickets available," Ricksecker said. "You hear every year that it's a sellout and everything. It's not a sellout at this point. Tickets are available. We'd like to have you come to the tournament. General admission seats are $13 for each session."
An all-session pass is $65. Youth single session tickets are $7 for ages 4 to 12. Under 4 is free. Reserved seats for evening sessions are $16 for adults.
"It's a one and done situation," said tournament director Joe O'Sullivan. "The two teams that get the first game at 10:00 on Monday morning, somebody will be going home by noon. There are people who liked the double-elimination, because the teams stayed in the community a little bit longer and they got to see them in restaurants. There are others who think playing where every game is a championship game, they like that format a little bit better."
If you can't make it out to every game, tip to buzzer coverage of all the games will be available on KWBW, with the evening sessions on KHUT as well, here in Hutchinson.