For much of the 20th century, the McLean County Basketball Tournament was the highlight of the area’s sports calendar. The tournament featured the smaller high schools outside of Bloomington-Normal vying for bragging rights as the county’s best. Today “The County” (as the tournament is known by old timers) doubles as a mid-season tournament for the Heart of Illinois Conference (this year the boy’s and girl’s tournaments run January 17-24).Seen here is a typical tournament scene back in 1950, as standing-room-only crowds packed Illinois State Normal University’s McCormick Gymnasium to root their hometown boys on to victory. Who won that year, you ask? Check out Bill's column in The Pantagraph to find out: http://www.pantagraph.com/…/article_fc4541bc-f913-5230-a4cd…
