That’s when I accompanied my uncle, Bob Lind, to War Memorial Auditorium in downtown Buffalo to watch Jamestown High School play for the title.

And even though I was only 8 years old, I remember it like it was yesterday.

The Red Raiders, who won the sixth sectional crown in school history that day (the number has since ballooned to 14) was led by Donn Johnston, a first-team all-state selection who was the first Jamestown player to score 1,000 points in a career. Thirty years after that championship — in 1999 — Johnston, who went on to play at the University of North Carolina for Hall-of-Fame coach Dean Smith, had his No. 50 jersey retired.

My point in bringing up all that hoops history is that there could very well be more special memories made this week as the sectional playoffs continue for area boys and girls teams, depending on the classification, at Jamestown Community College, Buffalo State University, and Lockport, Clarence and Kenmore West high schools.

George Sisson, Jamestown Community College’s director of athletics and recreation, has memories of this time of year too when, as a teenager, he would take road trips to Buffalo to watch Western New York’s top teams play for sectional supremacy.

“I remember back in the day at the Aud,” he said Sunday. “My dad and all of my buddies, we’d pack a cooler (with food) and be there for the 10:45 first game. It was ON!!!”

More than a generation later, Sisson is proud that schools in Class C and D will be squaring off this week at Jamestown CC’s Physical Education Complex on Jamestown’s northeast side.

“It’s singularly the best evening going,” Sisson said. “We pack our joint. It’s a great opportunity for the kids to play in a special environment.”

Tonight’s games will feature fifth-seeded Chautauqua Lake against No. 1 Middle Early College at 5:15 p.m., and No. 3 Tapestry vs. No. 2 East at 6:45 p.m. in Class C-1 semifinals; and then No. 3 Clymer will square off against No. 2 Panama at 8:15 p.m. in a Class D semifinal.

Three games a night all week?

That’s a pretty good deal, according to Sisson, who coached college basketball at various schools, including Jamestown CC, for more than 30 years.

“For us at JCC, we are beyond thrilled to host this week of playoffs for our young people and their families in our geographical area,” he said. “I’ve been to Ohio, Pennsylvania, Indiana and Michigan, and … I’ll be honest with you. I don’t think there’s a better environment for these young people to play in at the end of their season than what we have at JCC. … When you win, you’ll remember it for the rest of your life. When you lose, in due time, you’ll remember that event. We’re just really excited at JCC to be able to host it at our facility.”

While there will be parking on Curtis Street, Sisson strongly suggests that fans consider using the parking lot off of James Street, make the short walk to the Physical Education Complex and enter through its back door where tickets can be purchased.

“There’s a huge parking lot that runs the whole length of the campus,” he said.

A few extra steps won’t hurt when you’re almost guaranteed a lifetime memory.