1925 Eastern States Basketball Tournament — Selection process

It was big news a century ago when Passaic High School of New Jersey, a national scholastic basketball standout team, accepted an invitation to compete in the sixth annual Eastern States Basketball Tournament at Glens Falls.

“Most readers of sports columns already know that Passaic High School has been attracting nation attention during the last three years by winning 159 straight games,” The Post-Star reported on Feb. 27, 1925.

The team had lost one game earlier in the present season but had won every other game since.

The local tournament, April 2–4 at the Glens Falls Armory on Warren Street, would be the first time Passaic had competed against teams from outside New Jersey.

The Eastern States Tournament, held annually from 1920–1955, with the exception of a few years during World War II, was conducted to generate publicity for Glens Falls and to raise funds for the Glens Falls High School, St. Mary’s Academy and Glens Falls Academy athletic programs.

Other teams that had already accepted invitations to the 1925 tournament, at that point, were St. John’s Military Academy of Manlius, in Onondaga County, and Christian Brothers Academy of Syracuse.

St. Joseph’s Academy of Pittsfield, Mass., Lennox High School of Lennox, Mass., and St. Mary’s Academy of Glens Falls had accepted invitations, as of March 17.

Portsmouth High School of New Hampshire and Montpelier High School of Vermont were considering invitations.

On March 20, The Post-Star reported that Lanston High School of New Hampshire accepted an invitation to the tournament, in place of Portsmouth, which turned down an invitation, leaving one spot still open.

It would be the first time a team from New Hampshire competed in the tournament.

The eighth team was Salem High School of Massachusetts.

The tournament was shaping up to be a boon for the local economy.

“It will interest fans to read that Passaic High School will bring a hundred rooters. … Another word comes from Christian Brothers Academy that fifty people will accompany the Syracuse team.”

One Passaic fan went to great lengths to attend the tournament.

“Angelone Zingone of Myrtle Avenue left early this morning on a hitch-hike trip to Glens Falls, where he is hopeful of seeing the Passaic High School basketball team in the tournament to be held in Glens Falls Thursday, Friday and Saturday,” The Passaic News reported, in an article republished April 2 in The Post-Star. “Fortune favored the Red and Blue follower, for no sooner had he left his home that he secured assistance from the driver of an overnight truck to Albany, and, as a result, he will make the first leg of his journey in comfort.”

Zingone had arrived at Glens Falls, The Post-Star reported.

He was not the only basketball fan that hitchhiked to Glens Falls.

“Many student enthusiasts have come to Glens Falls by the new ‘hitch’ method route,” The Post-Star reported on April 3. “Coach McClellan of the Salem, Mass. team said that several boys from his school that started for Glens Falls yesterday caught but three rides and arrived in Glens Falls last night,” about the same time it would take to travel by train.

The Post-Star furnished trophies.

“Trophies to be presented teams finishing one-two-three in the local championship basketball tourney next week have been placed on exhibition in the display windows of the Floyd jewelry store on Ridge Street,” The Glens Falls Times reported. “A large trophy, a replica of a basketball, will be awarded the winner of the tournament.”

The Glens Falls Chamber of Commerce was planning a luncheon for tournament players at noon April 3, the second day of the tournament, at the Episcopal Parish House, The Post-Star reported on March 28.

“After the luncheon, which will be served of proper type for men in strict training, all of the visitors will be taken on automobile rides to Bolton.”

About 30 chamber members volunteered as drivers.