Journal Star sports editor
@kirkwessler
PEORIA — The basketball at the state tournament stands on its own. You could play the games on a playground at Carver Center, and the competition and quality of play would be every bit as intense as at Carver Arena.
But the spectacle of the IHSA boys state basketball tournament experience would not be the same without a legion of volunteers. One veteran among them is missing this weekend, as he has been from Bradley games since November.
Andy Loyd was a junior in high school when he started working for Glen McCullough's event-support crew at Bradley games, back when the Braves still played in Robertson Field House.