Alright folks, here’s how I tackled getting ready for this year’s Marion County Tourney chaos. Started feeling that pre-tourney buzz and figured I better get my act together early.
The “Oh Crap, I Need Info” Phase
First thing, jumped on my laptop real quick. Searched for the “Marion County Boys Basketball Tourney 2025 schedule”. Scrolled past a bunch of old stuff until I found the official county schools athletics page.
- Schedules: Took forever to find the actual PDF. Clicked three different links labelled “2025 Tournament Info” before I got the right one. Saved that sucker immediately.
- Tickets: Clicked the ticket link, nearly choked seeing the prices online. Decided right then to buy at the gate for single sessions. Didn’t wanna commit cash upfront in case my plans went sideways.
The Parking Headache Research
Okay, parking. Knew this would be a nightmare. Dug deeper into the site. Found one measly paragraph buried near the bottom about parking. Basically said “Arrive Early”. Not helpful.
Pulled up the venue map. Zoomed in hard on the satellite view. Tried figuring out side streets and school lots nearby. Spotted a church lot a few blocks away that looked promising. Made a mental note: Scope out that church lot first. Plan B: Park way farther than I want and just hustle.
The Packing Reality Check
Looked at my old gym bag. Emptied it out onto the kitchen table.
- Wallet, Keys, Phone: Duh.
- Portable Charger: Knew I’d be texting folks or snapping pics, battery dies fast.
- Cash: Went to the ATM yesterday. Gotta pay for parking, snacks, maybe a shirt. Venues love cash only sometimes.
- Water Bottle: Filled it up right before leaving. Tourney prices for water are nuts.
- Hat & Light Jacket: Gym temp is always unpredictable – freezing one minute, sauna the next.
Forgot bandaids last year. Threw some in the front pocket this time. You never know.
The Actual Gameday Madness
Got there way earlier than planned. Like, stupid early. Glad I did. That church lot? Already jammed full. Circled the blocks near the high school like a vulture. Finally squeezed into a tiny spot near a fire hydrant… way farther out than I liked.
Walked over. Lines at the gate were already wrapping around. Bought tickets cash – smooth sailing. Inside, scanned the place fast.
- Found the main court entrance.
- Spotted the restrooms – always crucial.
- Checked out the concession lines – longest near the main gym entrance.
Sat my butt down early for the first game. Watched the gym fill up until it was wall-to-wall people. Noise got crazy loud. Remembered the earplugs I didn’t pack. Kicking myself.
Between games, tried grabbing a drink. Mistake. Concessions were mobbed. Ended up missing the first few minutes of the second game because I was stuck in line. Learned my lesson: get snacks EARLY or WAY late.
What I Learned (The Hard Way)
Overall, worked out okay, but man, some stuff just hits you.
- Parking REALLY means get there INSANELY early. Way earlier than “early”.
- Printing that schedule PDF was genius. Phone screens suck for quick glances.
- Bring earplugs if noise bugs you, seriously. It gets deafening.
- Snack timing is everything. Get it during lulls or you sacrifice game time.
- Wear stupid comfortable shoes. Walking + bleachers = sore feet city.
Was it fun? Yeah, loved watching the games, the energy was wild. Was it easy? Heck no. But knowing this stuff next year? Priceless. Beats figuring it out while running in circles like a headless chicken!