This magnificent perpetual award is the " The Cincinnati Enquirer Trophy” with marvelous additional raised lettering, “Basketball Championship Cincinnati High Schools." First awarded in 1922, it is a miracle that a trophy of this quality was for high school basketball, but just watch the 1986 film “Hoosiers” and you will understand completely. At this time and place, high school basketball was more popular than college and the NBA was merely a sparkle in Ossie Schechtman’s eye. The mere existence and creation of this resplendent piece makes these facts that much more evident as the quality is simply extraordinary and the detail is incredible - from the hand spun silver wire baskets to the deep, rich lines of the piquet, to the musculature of the players and the creasing of their jerseys. Simply, this is one of the finest sports trophies known to exist, let alone in the sport of basketball. The piece is accompanied by two vintage photographs (Type I) from the files of the Cincinnati Enquirer newspaper, both by the top staff sports photographer of the day, Lawrence J. Neumann, with his stamps on versos. One is conveniently dated April 30, 1929, the same year this was last presented. The back of the base is engraved “Awarded To Woodward High School For Championship In Basketball" with the names of the winning schools engraved below starting in 1922 and ending in 1929. In the later years (up to 1934) there are no engraved winning schools, as it was likely not awarded. Unmarked, as this was a custom job and obviously a top, top silversmith. In Mint condition, an amazing find and the first time this has been publicly offered, as it has been in a top flight Cincinnati area collection for decades. Measures 27” long, 12” across and 18” tall, weighs a full 25.5 lbs. minus a thin walnut board on the bottom.