If anybody had a reason to be irritable Saturday, it was Steve Feil.
His team, Divide County, lost all three of its games in the North Dakota State Class B Boys Basketball Tournament at the Alerus Center. And, facing him Sunday morning was a daunting drive of about 350 miles.
"We live six miles from Canada and 12 from Montana," he said with a sigh.
Despite those reasons to be grumpy in his past and future, he could only generate one minor complaint about the state's premier state tournament coming to Grand Forks for the first time in 41 years.
"It's a real nice venue, with the only thing I would change is to have a scoreboard over the court rather than on both ends," said Feil, whose son, Ethan Feil, is a 6-foot-4 center for the Maroons.
ADVERTISEMENT
"I liked the atmosphere. It's easy to get in and out of the motel and the Alerus parking lot. And my wife's out having fun shopping. It was as fun here as it could be anywhere."
There were concerns that the Alerus -- built for football, not basketball -- and the city might not meet the high standards that Bismarck has established as the tournament's usual venue. Bismarck is more centrally located than the state's other three cities and has tradition -- and thus nostalgia -- on its side. Its biggest asset, however, is the Bismarck Civic Center, where there is ample seating that is close to the floor in a gymnasium -- not an auditorium -- setting.
"If our Class B schools had a preference, they'd love to have the tournament in Bismarck every year," said Sherm Sylling, executive director of the North Dakota High School Activities Association. "But that's not possible.
"And it's not that the other options aren't good. I haven't heard any negativity from the fans yet about the tournament here."
Ann and Jason Kleven from Cando, fans of the North Star Bearcats, had no complaints. Inside or outside the Alerus, "you have everything you could want here," Ann said.
Sylling gave the credit to tournament manager Todd Olson and his volunteers. Olson said two significant changes were made because of lessons learned from hosting the state Class B girls basketball tournament in 2009.
"The Alerus staff did a great job of creating a basketball atmosphere, by bringing in risers and chairs to tighten up the setting," he said. "And the Greater Grand Forks Convention and Visitors Bureau worked with the hotels and restaurants about having buttons and banners to acknowledge the fans' presence at a state tournament.
"So it wasn't us, but the Alerus and the visitors bureau that made the changes."
ADVERTISEMENT
More lessons were likely learned the last three days to be applied for future tournaments. As conditions exist now, Grand Forks will be the host of a Class B state basketball tournament on the first March weekend every other year. For now, it's uncertain whether it will be the girls or boys tournament.
"What I've heard this week is that the Class B fans feel welcome here," Sylling said. "That's probably the most important thing."
Reach Bakken at (701) 780-1125; (800) 477-6572, ext. 125; or send email to rbakken@gfherald.com .
