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Byline: Steve Mims The Register-Guard

Growing up on the corner of 18th and Onyx streets, Nick Robertson needed only to walk a couple of blocks to watch the 4A boys basketball state tournament at McArthur Court.

He was joined by spectators from throughout Oregon at the 1965 tournament, which attracted 95,717 fans to set an attendance record that still stands.

Yet, despite thriving crowds and strong, vocal support to keep the tournament in Eugene, it was announced that the event would be moved to Portland in 1966.

"Everyone was irate when it went to Portland; people were booing Oden Hawes, the head of the OSAA," Robertson recalled. "Eugene did such a good job with it, but the OSAA figured there were so many schools in the Portland area that they could make a change and save money."

Nearly four decades later, the Oregon School Activities Association may once again make a change in an attempt to save money.

On Monday morning, University of Oregon athletic director Bill Moos will present a proposal to the OSAA executive board that would bring the Class 4A boys basketball tournament back to Eugene in March of 2004. The board will vote on the offer following Moos' presentation.

"It's time for a change," said Robertson, who has won nearly 700 games in a 39-year coaching career that has included the past 20 years as head coach at Beaverton High School.

The OSAA already has made one drastic change this year by cutting the size of the state tournament. Eight teams will play over three days, as opposed to the longtime format of 16 teams in a five-day tournament.

Now the OSAA will decide to move back to Eugene or stay in Portland.

"I think it would be awesome at U of O," said Kelly Bokn, a 1983 Willamette High graduate who coached Redmond to the state title this year. "I was a coach at Creswell when we played the 3A tournament at the University of Oregon, and we have been to the tournament in Portland the last six years.

`There are a lot of things I like about the Memorial Coliseum, but I...

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