Tonight marks the end of an era on the campus of Presentation College. When the Saints host Mayville State in a women’s and men’s basketball doubleheader, it will be the final home games ever for PC at the Strode Center as the school announced earlier this year that it will be permanently closing at the end of the summer.

I have covered many events at the Strode Center and it holds many fond memories for me.

The facility has an intimate feel to it which can quickly transcend into an intimidating feel. To be honest, I have never experienced a gym quite like the one on the north side of the city.

There is something about the acoustics of the Strode Center that make it unique and different. At certain moments, you can hear a pin drop. Literally.

I truly believe you could carry on a quiet conversation up in the corner of the bleachers and it could be heard like you were talking into a microphone.

Naturally, that can lead to some pretty interesting moments for fans, coaches, players and officials.

I recall one evening many years ago, I was sitting at the scorer’s table next to a radio announcer calling play-by-play Saints. He happened to have a big booming voice, so when play came to a halt, you could hear his every word like he was speaking into a megaphone.

I’m not sure if this was by design or by accident, but on this particular occasion an opposing player was preparing to shoot a free throw. The announcer explained that this individual was struggling from the charity stripe. I’m not sure of the exact verbiage, but it went something like this as the gym grew dead silent before the free-throw attempt: “Smith has had a tough time at the line this year, shooting just 53 percent from the stripe.”

I’m not sure how anybody could have concentrated on the basket at that exact moment. It was like plugging in a flashing neon sign that screamed this guy can’t make a free throw.

Of course, the player missed the free throw and I just smiled and shook my head. Talk about a home-court advantage.

When the place is full of fans, like hopefully it will be this evening, it can provide a raucous atmosphere. No matter where you sit, it seems like you are right on top of the court.

While I covered my share of PC games through the years, a pair of non-Saints events top my list of most memorable moments at the facility.

The first one is personal for me. The gym was the host site for the annual Knights of Columbus free-throw shooting contest. It always took place on a Sunday afternoon and would include the city championship first, followed by a regional competition where the winners would qualify for the state contest.

My son happened to participate in those events and one year won the city and regional competition at the Strode Center on the way to becoming a state champion at a contest in Chamberlain.

The second top memory involved one of the best high school girls’ basketball games I have ever witnessed in early March of 2010. The Strode Center hosted a region championship between unbeaten Ipswich and a Summit squad that was in the middle of a dynasty, having won a state title the year before, and was on its way to another two in the following two years.

Needless to say, the Strode was packed and the atmosphere was electric.

The game lived up to its billing and came down to the wire in front of a standing-room-only crowd.

Ipswich was holding on to a two-point lead in the final minute when Summit’s Alex Kneeland missed a game-tying field goal attempt. However, Ipswich was called for traveling while trying to secure the rebound giving the Eagles another chance.

As a point of reference, Kneeland was one of the best clutch performers I have covered in more than four decades as a member of the media.

Summit called time out and I remember saying to the person sitting next to me at the scorer’s table, “She might miss one, but she’s not going to miss another one.”

Everybody in the building knew who was going to get the basketball. The Eagles designed a set for Kneeland, but the play broke down and Kneeland found herself surrounded by a pair of Ipswich defenders as the clock wound down. In typical Kneeland fashion, she found a slight opening, and launched a three-point shot that found nothing but the bottom of the net with three seconds remaining to give her team a 49-47 victory.

Kneeland said following the game that she thought her attempt was going to be an airball.

“It was a prayer,” Kneeland said.

Who knows what will happen inside the Strode Center in the future. I hope that it will continue to be used for more high school events and that more memories will be made.

The one thing we know for sure is that tonight will be the curtain call for Presentation College basketball at the facility. Here’s hoping the Saints can add a few more lasting memories and bring down the house one last time.