One of the greatest basketball teams ever started almost 78 years ago in the DeKalb area.

Hinckley, Ill., hosted the first-ever professional basketball game of the Harlem Globetrotters against Hinckley’s hometown team.

The Harlem Globetrotters, with 20,918 games won and only 336 games lost, have an overall .984 winning percentage.

Jan. 7, 1927, was the day the circus on the court started. Hinckley Big Rock High School was its host.

The circus on the court started when the founder of the Globetrotters, Abe Saperstein, was talking with his friend and Hinckley native, Dr. A.L. Keyes.

Hinckley’s hometown team beat the Globetrotters in that game.

Hinckley has hosted several other Globetrotters games. Most recently, the 75th and the 60th anniversary games.

Ed King was honored at the 1987 60th anniversary game as the only living member of Hinckley’s 1927 basketball team.

During the 75th basketball anniversary game, King’s family allowed the basketball from the first game to be displayed in a case. A descendent of King’s family currently owns the basketball.

Sandi Frost, branch manager of Hinckley’s Fifth Third Bank, organized the 60th and 75th anniversary games. She is optimistic the Globetrotters will return.

“Last time they were here, they did say ‘see you at a hundred,’” Frost said.