Daily Herald editorial

Congratulations to the Packer boys, who on Friday locked up their first Big Nine conference championship in more than a decade — and in the process staged a basketball game that will long be remembered.

Fueled by the possibility of a conference championship and by rumors that rival Owatonna was preparing to send busloads of fans to the game, Packer fans began pouring into the high school gym hours before tip-off. So many showed up that, due to fire regulations, about 200 of the latest arrivals couldn’t be fitted inside.

The enthusiastic crowd showed great sportsmanship and an excitement for Packer high school sports that hasn’t been seen here in quite some time. The game itself lived up to the fans’ hopes — competitive, but an eventual win for the Packers.

Let’s hope that the Packers stage more such events — and in many more sports — in coming seasons. And that the fan support keeps on building.