BB Clinton Central Inv.: State’s longest-running holiday tourney turns 50

Regardless of the scenario, four teams have gathered each season for 50 years at Clinton Central High School over the Christmas holiday to battle for the championship of the Clinton Central Invitational. For the past 28 years, it has been the same four squads. 

The host Bulldogs, county rival Clinton Prairie, Tri-Central, and Carroll (Flora) compete each year in the longest-running holiday tourney in the Hoosier state.

Hoosier Authority traveled to the home of the Bulldogs Dec. 29 to witness the first night of this annual bloodletting. We saw a full house and rabid support for four teams, three of which have losing records. 

We also saw two intense basketball games and at least one team come of age.

The evening’s first contest saw Tri-Central under first-year coach Kyle Zahn battle Carroll, one of the state’s tallest teams. It was a contest that featured a little of everything, including both excellent and incredibly frustrating play. 

The two squads battled through a well-played and even first half that saw Tri-Central take a 28-26 lead into intermission. The Trojans did an excellent job of controlling Carroll’s 6’11” center, Riley Johnson, while the Cougars responded with long-range bombing from a trio of guards.

The third quarter was a nightmare that set up the exciting finish. Tri-Central completely controlled play in the period, holding the suddenly frigid Cougars scoreless for more than four minutes midway through the stanza. 

There was only one problem. During that stretch, Tri-Central committed seven turnovers and missed countless opportunities to put a stranglehold on the contest. Instead, the Trojans managed only a 6-0 run that gave them a 38-31 margin. 

The lead disappeared in a split second. 

Carroll finally connected on a 3-point field goal, and Tri-Central was whistled for a foul off the ball during the shot. The ensuing one-and-one gave Carroll a five-point play. It cut the margin to two points, and the battle was on.

The fourth period started with the Trojans still clinging to the same two-point lead they had enjoyed at halftime. The final eight minutes were a possession-by -possession battle that saw the contest tied at 59 with 1:41 remaining. 

It was at that point the young Tri-Central squad took a huge step in maturity. Junior Brock Robertson made a steal on the next Carroll trip down the floor and streaked to the other end for the go-ahead score. That was followed by a stop and a bucket from junior Brock Tew to stretch the lead to four. 

In all, Tri-Central outscored the Cougars 8-5 down the stretch to garner the 58-55 victory. As a young team coming off two disappointing seasons, it was a mammoth step in learning how to win for the Trojans (3-5). For Carroll (3-3), it was a frustrating loss.

The second contest featured the host Clinton Central Bulldogs and county foe Clinton Prairie. Anybody familiar with Clinton County knows that is all that is needed for civil war. 

Both teams have struggled this season. Central entered the game just 1-3, while Prairie had yet to taste victory in seven outings. The first half was, quite frankly, an example of why the squads have suffered those fates. 

Central controlled play in a ragged (to say the least) two quarters that saw Prairie miss countless opportunities at point-blank range. The score at intermission was a paltry 16-12 in favor of the Bulldogs.

The third quarter changed all of that. The Gophers, who had struggled so mightily to score in the first half, put 20 points on the board in the first four minutes. The blast took them from four down to a 10-point lead. 

They were never seriously threatened down the stretch in a 55-41 triumph.

Tri-Central and Clinton Prairie advance to battle for the championship on the 30th. Anyone who frequently visits Hoosier Authority knows we are big on tradition. This tourney is another of the hidden gems our state features almost every day during the school year. 

The records didn’t matter. The power of the teams didn’t matter. At Christmas time, only one thing matters to these four communities – and it has been that way for 50 years.

Tri-Central 58, Carroll (Flora) 55

Clinton Prairie 55, Clinton Central 41

Carroll (Flora) vs. Clinton Central, 6:30p (consolation)

Tri-Central vs. Clinton Prairie, 8:15p (championship)