Harold Harmon

It was a long time coming and even after Thursday night’s open house, it’s hard to believe.

Colbert High School’s new gym is on line and out of sight.

If everybody who toured the new Bryan County showplace had taken one of the chairback seats, there would have been a dandy crowd for a basketball game.

The first thing you notice is the room — there’s lots of it. Then you notice how clean it is — someone could make a commercial for the good life.

Young ladies from the school escorted visitors through the building and pointed out highlights.

My first stop was the sparkling trophy case, which shows off the five gold balls signifying five state championships.

The Leopardettes/Lady Leopards of coach Wayne Merryman accounted for four titles and his Leopards added the fifth.

Colbert through the years has been a basketball powerhouse, not just in Bryan County, but the entire state.

Two of the girls’ teams went undefeated with wins in the Tournament of Champions, Mid-America Classic and State Tournament.

THE TRADITION is legendary for Colbert basketball.

The players who will open the 2008-09 season in the new gym are clearly proud of the facility.

Some of them will have first-hand knowledge of the old gym where so much history was made, but all of them can compare the two by taking a short walk.

Lots of fans and former players were at the open house and one lady said she wished Merryman could have coached just one game in the new gym.

Players from this season on have much to be proud of and much to live up to in following those earlier footsteps.

THE SEATING capacity makes Colbert a logical choice for hosting district, regional and area tournaments.

The dressing rooms are absolutely outstanding. Everything is first class and much of the credit should rightfully go to superintendent Jarvis Dobbs.

A facility like this doesn’t just happen. Voters have to step up and Colbert voters did just that. In many cases, just saying ‘Let’s do this,’ doesn’t get the job done.

Untold hours of checking every little detail, then double-checking every little detail is how something like this happens.

COLBERT OPENS the 2008-09 season Friday and Saturday in the Achille Festival.

The home opener is scheduled for Monday night when the Leopards and Lady Leopards host the Red Bears of Soper.

Game time is 6:30 p.m. for the gals. Go early, settle into one of those neat chairbacks, suck down a soda, eat some popcorn and hot dogs, and think about Colbert basketball over the years.

If you have to miss Monday’s home opener, try to make it Friday for the Homecoming games against Bennington.