“Our very own “Duke v. UNC,” Wellsville hosts this legendary competition of Allegany and Steuben County teams
By Andrew Harris
The spirit of competition becomes more meaningful when your playing for a trophy dedicated to a guy like Dan Barkley. This will be the tenth year that local high school basketball squads have played for this special “showcase” tournament.
Starting Friday, it’s a night of Wellsville playing Hornell, a generational rivalry that is just as intense in 2024 as it was in 1968. These two towns love playing each other and the fans really get into the game.
The Lady Lions will play first at 6:15, followed by the boys game at 8pm. The Wellsville Secondary School gym will be packed so come early for a seat.
On Saturday, three epic contests are planned, each pitting the two neighboring counties as rivals on the hardwood. The schedule can be found below and admission to these high energy games are only $5 or just $8 for all the Showcase games.
The coaches are gearing up for the serious play that comes with the Dan Barkley Showcase. We asked them all for some thoughts on the games ahead:
Dundee/Bradford Coach Bailey- “The showcase has created great rivalries between Steuben and Allegany county. Being in the Showcase as a player was a great experience, as it gave us sectional atmosphere games, while still being in the regular season. Now coming in as a coach, it gives a whole new meaning.”
Wellsville Coach Halladay: We are lucky to have a rivalry like this one. One we can genuinely say goes back generations deep even though this tournament is only in its 10th year. It’s been our very own “Duke v. UNC” and the product stands for itself. These games are always one of the best basketball games around to be a part of.
Andover/Whitesville Coach Joyce: This game is huge as far as setting our team up for sectionals. It allows us to play a tough team in front of a large, loud crowd which is typically what you will see moving throughout the sectional tourney. Again, last years game was a turning point in our season that really propelled us forward. The showcase is such a huge honor for our program to be a part of and we do not take it lightly.
