PARKERSBURG -Special banquet speakers for the 100th West Virginia Boys Basketball Tournament next March will be announced at a press conference Jan. 10, 2013, at the Charleston Civic Center.
The speakers will help kick off the tournament celebration at an open-to-the-public banquet on Tuesday, March 12, at the Civic Center, the site of the tournament March 13-16.
"We plan to have speakers who have participated as players and/or coaches in previous tournaments and possibly videos from other tournament players," announced Gary Ray, the executive director of the West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission.
Besides the SSAC, the press conference will also have announcements from the Charleston Convention & Business Bureau and Civic Center representatives.
Banquet attendees will be given a limited-edition 100th tournament souvenir program which will include team photos of most, if not all, of the 229 past state champions as well as lists of all championship coaches, all-tournament teams, tournament trivia, feature stories, and many statistical lists and photos. Special guests also will be recognized at the banquet with Fred Persinger of MetroNews serving as toastmaster. Advance banquet tickets are available from the SSAC.
A 100th Tournament logo will be unveiled and used on the Civic Center court and elsewhere in the facility as well as on programs, event publicity, shirts and other tournament materials.
Also, state tournament memorabilia will be featured in the lobby areas at the Civic Center -Class A on March 13, Class AA on March 14, and Class AAA on March 15. All schools who have participated in a state tournament can display items with contributions welcome from schools, coaches, alumni or community members. Ray Londeree, of the SSAC office, heads the memorabilia committee and information is available on the 100th Year login at www.wvssac.org
