St. Charles East Thanksgiving tournament stands test of time

Fifty years ago, the average price of a home was $30,000; the average income per household was $30,000.

In 1958, a gallon of milk costs approximately $1, a gallon of gas was $. 24, a first-class stamp was $. 04, yearly tuition at Harvard was $1,250, and Dwight D. Eisenhower was serving as the 34th President of the United States.

According to Wikipedia, the average price of a home today is slightly above $206,000, while the average income per household is $51,765.

In 2008, a gallon of milk has nearly tripled in price to $3, a gallon of gas is around $2, a first-class stamp is $. 42, yearly tuition at Harvard is $32,557, and earlier this month Barack H. Obama was elected to become our 44th President.

While a great deal has changed over the past 50 years, some things remain constant.

One in particular is the St. Charles East Thanksgiving basketball tournament.

Now celebrating its 50th anniversary, the annual tournament tipped off Monday night with games pitting St. Charles North vs. East Aurora and Proviso West vs. Downers Grove South.

"I think it's a great way to start the season," said Saints athletic director Jerry Krieg. "I've always felt that Thanksgiving tournaments offered coaches a chance to learn more about their teams and see what they have.

"There's not a ton of pressure involved. Plus, some college kids and former players usually come back to watch, so it's nice to see them again. It's a good opportunity to show off your program."

Krieg vividly remembers his first tournament experience at then-St. Charles High School.

"It was my first game as Saints head coach," he recalled. "We played Machesney Park Harlem and they dogged us pretty good. I remember almost every play of that game.

"There were probably people in the stands wondering what the heck this guy (Krieg) was doing. However, we came back and won our next two games. It was difficult because I was trying to replace a legend."

That legend - former longtime Saints coach Ron Johnson - will be honored Friday night at St. Charles East.

"We're renaming it the Coach Ron Johnson Tournament and we'll have a special ceremony Friday night between the St. Charles North (vs. Proviso West) and St. Charles East (vs. St. Joseph) games (at approximately 7:30 p.m.)," Krieg said. "He's very deserving of the honor."

Johnson, the state's 12th winningest boys basketball coach (710-406), posted a 663-336 mark at St. Charles High School from 1963-98.

His teams, which included all-staters Mark Vitali (1973) and Jeff Surges (1985), captured 20 regional titles and a pair of sectional crowns.

"I heard about it last week and was quite surprised," said Johnson, whose son Jeff is an assistant coach at Lyons Township. "It's quite an honor."

According to Johnson, the original Thanksgiving tourney was a four-team event until the field grew to eight in the mid-60s.

"It gave every team an extra game to play," said Johnson, who remains an avid high school basketball fan and attends a few games every week. "It has always been an excellent way to start the season."

Johnson remembers early Thanksgiving tournament fields which included Prospect, Marian Central Catholic, Marmion, Geneva and East Aurora.

"I think East Aurora missed the tournament the first few years but has been at almost every one since," said Johnson. "We won a few tournament titles but East Aurora has probably won the most."

Tom Poulin has experienced the tournament both as a player at St. Charles (1989-90) and as a coach at St. Charles North.

"I remember us beating Rockford Jefferson and then New Trier, which was state-ranked at the time, before losing to Waubonsie Valley for the championship," he said. "Last year was my first experience as a coach and it was one of appreciation. I told my players about the tournament's history and prestige.

"I still feel fortunate to be a part of it and hope we can continue to be a part of it for a very long time."

Poulin also feels fortunate to be attending Friday's tournament-renaming ceremony for Johnson.

"To me, he is St. Charles basketball and always will be," said Poulin. "I watched his games when I was a kid at Little Woods School and Thompson (then Junior High). He's a legend."

"Coach Johnson has been an institution in St. Charles for so long," said Saints assistant coach Rob Klemm, who played center during Johnson's final season at St. Charles in 1998.

"There's always been a crazy amount of talent in the tournament. One of my favorite memories was when we played Homewood-Flossmoor and T.J. Cummings. His dad, Terry, was in the stands because of the NBA lockout."

This year's tourney field also includes Downers Grove South, East Aurora, Prospect and Proviso East.

"I'm just worried about our baskets and supports," said Krieg.