Barbourville High School finished the final game to ever be played in their 1937 gymnasium with an exciting victory on Tuesday evening, February 19, 2002. The BHS Lady Tigers defeated the Lady Cardinals of Red Bird by a final score of 39 to 36. The last point to ever be scored by a Barbourville High School athlete was by Sophomore point guard Jamie Brown with 5.2 seconds remaining in the game. Her endeavor sealed the finale of both the game and the gym. The evening before (February 18, 2002), the high school boys played their last game in the old gym against Cawood High. Richard Tye became the last male basketball player to ever score in a regulation boys’ game with 1 minute and 22 seconds remaining in that game. It was estimated that there have been between 1,300 and 1,500 boys’ and girls’ high school games played in the gym during the past sixty-five years in addition to the elementary and junior high games played there.
     As the clock ticked down the last seconds in the final game, Pat (Johnson) Phipps (an elementary teacher who has possibly attended more games in the gym than anyone on the current staff) remarked that she “had a lot of pleasant and wonderful memories in our old gym”. Superintendent Warren said, “There have been many talented students who have played in the gym down through the years. The building has character that will continue to be impressive to everyone for years to come”. Teresa Foley and Bill Hammons officiated the game. Larry Mills, high school principal, did the television broadcast. He joined Superintendent Warren, Janet Jones, our girls’ coach, our players, cheerleaders, and others for pictures after the final game. It took a long time for everyone to finally accumulate the desire to leave the old gym.
     The 1937 very well-constructed gym was built with stones from the Elbert Turner property and put into place by the Ellis brothers: Harry, Tim, and Minor. The gymnasium will continue to be used for practices and school functions.