Towns used to pack the gyms back then. Now days, it seems very few show up to watch games. I can remember being a high school sophomore, and playing the JV game against Mullens and the gym was packed at the tip off of our game. Then left that game with a few minutes left to change uniforms to ride the pine during the varsity game, and remember us coming onto the floor and the place was a madhouse. I think Mullens was undefeated and probably ranked #1 in the state, and we were awful. They beat us like 90 some to 50 some. Greg White must have scored around 40-45 for Mullens. Their JV team would have beat our varsity team. Southern coalfield basketball was King back then. Now they're lucky to get enough to field a squad. If it weren't for schools combining, they probably wouldn't be able to field teams.
Edit: I take back what I said about Mullens being #1, but they were close to the top. I had forgotten about the Northfork Blue Demons. They were the best in AA during that era. Of course, Mt. Hope was #1 in Single A during the late 70s, with Big Earl, although I don't think they ever won a state title.