HISTORY WITH HAYES: Area Coach Makes Big Deal

After landing countless coaching jobs and moving around regularly, Brien Crowder earned the nickname “Briefcase” years ago. A briefcase recently brought him national fame.

The Johnson City native and long-time high school basketball coach appeared on NBC’s popular game show “Deal Or No Deal” with host Howie Mandel. Crowder took home $234,000 from the episode that aired Jan. 1.

A coaching lifer, Crowder might be best known locally for his stint at now-defunct Bristol College in the mid-1980s. He led the Bulldogs to the National Little College Athletic Association national title in 1986.

His career has been a constant carousel of coaching stops since then. He led Antioch (Tenn.) to a runner-up finish in the 2006 Arby’s Classic and has racked up victories at every spot along the way.

In a bit of irony, he told the Bristol Herald Courier’s Bill Vilona after he led Bristol College to a 72-70 win over Dyke (Ohio) College 22 years ago in the NLCAA title game: “I feel like I’ve just won a million dollars.”

He didn’t win quite that much on “Deal or No Deal,” during which briefcases are used as props, but he still took home a big chunk of change.

Now, for a look at historical moments that occurred this week in high school basketball history:

January 9, 1953
Paul Eblen and Howard Lambert combined for 21 of Marion’s 33 points in a 33-30 victory over Virginia High. Jimmy Joe Balthis scored 12 points for VHS … Despite 13 points from Dickie Thompson, Tennessee High suffered a 50-32 loss to Science Hill … Tom Bise fired in 33 points to lead Rich Valley past Sugar Grove, 55-49.

January 7, 1964
Alex Arnold led four players in double figures with 18 points as Tennessee High downed rival Virginia High, 64-59. Jim Beckham (17 points), Larry Weddington (13 points) and Bobby Elmore (10 points) also played well for THS. Virginia High was led by Dennis Malone’s 14 points … Fred Pippin scored 17 points off the bench to key Gate City’s 60-46 victory over Coeburn. Russell Baker led Coeburn with 27 points … Bill Hamilton and Damon Carter scored 16 points apiece to highlight Wise’s 58-48 win over Ervinton … Larry Castle collected 16 points in leading Norton past Appalachia, 59-51.

January 7, 1977
Derrick Hord had 34 points and 11 rebounds to highlight Tennessee High’s 83-64 trouncing of Greeneville. Olan Baker (16 points, seven rebounds), Todd Klutz (16 points) and Wes Reuning (12 points) also played well for the Vikings … David Webb (25 points) and David Salley (18 points) played well, but it wasn’t enough as Sullivan Central suffered a 79-75 setback against Johnson City … James Yates scored 24 points as Ervinton improved to 9-0 with a 67-55 victory over Clintwood … Tim Speaks scored 28 points in leading Jonesville past Rye Cove, 66-42. David Wampler led Rye Cove with 19 points.

January 9, 1981
Jeff Fields scored 23 points and hit the game-winning jumpshot with 12 seconds left in Sullivan Central’s 77-68 overtime victory over Sullivan East … Alonzo Mitchell and Bean Stringfellow combined for 29 points in Virginia High’s 63-47 victory over Grundy. Marty Stapleton led Grundy with 18 points … The duo of Kevin Johnson (23 points) and Tim Foster (16 points, 21 rebounds) teamed to lead Holston to a 73-61 win over Castlewood. Bobby Ring’s 21 points paced Castlewood … P.J. Catron had 33 points and 15 rebounds to highlight Rich Valley’s 80-65 win over Saltville. Tim Barbrow led Saltville with 20 points … Chris Jessee connected on two free throws with seven seconds left to clinch Lebanon’s 63-60 victory over Richlands … Trudell Hiller tossed in 30 points as Abingdon cruised past Graham, 72-54 … Clarence Hanley (33 points, 10 rebounds) starred in Marion’s 64-49 victory against Patrick Henry.

January 9, 1998
Brothers Shawn Witten (15 points) and Jason Witten (five points, 14 rebounds, three steals) combined to lead Elizabethton to a 62-54 win over Sullivan East. Jackson Simerly led East with 15 points … Kevin Springs scored 19 points in Tennessee High’s 73-55 win over South Greene. Brandon Carter (18 points) and John Sproles (14 points) also played well for THS … Jeremy Debusk converted a layup in the final seconds to clinch Holston’s 63-62 win over Chilhowie … Casey Ruff led a balanced attack with 13 points in Castlewood’s 80-55 victory against Ervinton … Nathan Breeding netted 21 points as Honaker demolished Whitewood, 71-39 … K.C. Carter had 20 points and 10 rebounds in Northwood’s 59-47 win over Patrick Henry.

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