There's a 1976 book titled, "Southern Words and Sayings" that references the phrase as, "Church ain't over until...". This suggests that the phrase predates th

There's a 1976 book titled, "Southern Words and Sayings" that references the phrase as, "Church ain't over until...". This suggests that the phrase predates the 1970s basketball usage, though I don't think there is any actual recorded use of it before the mid 70s.