Way back when

Back before Pacesetter,
Back before the trey,
Back before there were scoreboards that kept track of tenths of seconds,
Back before there were backboards with a red neon light that lit up to distract you when you were concentrating on the front of the rim,
Back before there were thirteen people on the court, when there were only four eyes searching for your mistakes and two whistles,
Back before there were "Guys out in the truck" who could replay every play from every angle,
Back before the high school shot clock,
Back before Coaches could throw the red challenge towel,
Back before the Head Referee sat at the score-keeping table between security guards,
Back before the retractable lid went over the basket the millisecond the red neon light came on,
Back before every bench had an Assistant Coach with a degree in Sports Law,

Oats LeGrand would have said
"Count it!"
"Ladies and gentlemen, from the Fieldhouse of Concordia College, this was Oats LeGrand, good night everybody."

Otter Tail County dairy farmers would go to bed.
The lights would go out.