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HickoryHusker
September 24, 2025NEW MARKET, Ind. -- The miracle of tiny New Market High School is bulletin board material for every coach in the state preparing for tourney time. The Purple Flyers limped through a miserable 2-17 regular season docket in 1967. However, they ran the tables come tourney time to capture the eight team Crawfordsville Sectional and write their own chapter in Hoosier hysteria lore...
1967 New Market Purple Flyers enter Sectional play 2-17
What didn't New Market have going against them that late February in 1967? Their first year coach, Jim Petty, had struggled all season with a lineup that returned limited experience. A 2-17 mark that left many impatient Purple Flyer fans more than frustrated.
Coach Jim Petty
For the record:
L New Market 43, Ladoga 44
L New Market 47, Covington 69
L New Market 50, Pittsboro 76
L New Market 44, Fountain Central 69
W New Market 62, Waveland 58
L New Market 64, Thorntown 70
L New Market 53, Seeger 63
L New Market 59, Coal Creek Central 75
L New Market 51, Waynetown 56
L New Market 70, Rockville 79
L New Market 58, Darlington 75 - County Tourney
L New Market 54, Darlington 86
L New Market 59, Cloverdale 92
L New Market 56, Turkey Run 70
L New Market 57, Linden 59
L New Market 62, North Salem 71
W New Market 71, Granville-Wells 55
L New Market 58, Roachdale 66
Their sectional draw was anything but a break. They would face Coal Creek Central, a squad that had long earned muffin status over the years, but had developed into quite an area power in recent years.
The Coal Creek Bearcats were the defending sectional champions, mid-season County Tourney title winners, sported the counties leading scorer, and had spanked the Flyers pretty well earlier in the season, 75-59 in a game not as close as the score would indicate.
New Market didn't sport much Sectional tradition either. Their lone title coming 17 years before in 1950.
Oh yeah, and heavy favorite county seat and Sectional host Crawfordsville would likely be waiting in the second round if the Flyers could muster the upset.
New Market did not have to play the opening night, and the early games went according to dope as predicted.
Scores from Wednesday night Feb. 22, 1967 - W/L records are listed pre-sectional.
(7-12) Waveland Hornets 76
(5-15) Waynetown Gladiators 71
(8-14) Ladoga Canners 63
(0-18) Alamo Warriors 61
The second night of first round contests arrived and little was expected of New Market. The Crawfordsville Journal-Review said at the time:
"New Market has the unenviable task of attempting to oust defending Sectional champion Coal Creek. The Flyers have only won two games all year and the losses include a pasting from the Bearcats ...it was going to be a short Sectional (for the Flyers)"
But prophetically another column during the week-long hype leading up to the tourney stated:
"The Flyers will not play dead. They will be in there fighting to the finish."
Few could imagine what that actual finish would mean.
Thursday night, however, the stars began to fall into line. New Market stunned the region with a solid outing and win over Coal Creek in the lid lifter.
(2-17) New Market Purple Flyers 78
(13-8) Coal Creek Central Bearcats 71
...and then it got really interesting. With the crowd of county school fans united behind upstart New Ross, the Blue Jays chopped down mighty Crawfordsville - a team who had been lauded for playing one of the toughest regular season schedules in the state.
(11-8) New Ross Blue Jays 78
(13-7) Crawfordsville Athenians 75
Purple Flyer coach, Jim Petty began telling any reporter that would listen, "We have not yet reached our peak and are growing stronger every day."
During this era Sectional final fours were all played on Saturday.
The curtain raiser Saturday afternoon pitted Waveland against rival Ladoga. The Canners jumped all over Waveland to start the contest and led 21-13 at the end of one quarter. However, Waveland would crawl back into it bit by bit forcing overtime before advancing to the championship.
(9-12) Waveland Hornets 81
(9-14) Ladoga Canners 76 OT!
When New Market took the floor for their afternoon game, they grabbed a quick lead over New Ross, 7-2. New Ross battled back to capture the lead at the end of one, 13-11.
New Market again came out hot and ran off 8 straight and would hold that edge taking a 3 point lead to intermission. A fired-up Purple Flyer squad then blitzed New Ross in the third and left little to doubt, leading by as many as 21 in the second half.
(4-17) New Market Purple Flyers 81
(12-8) New Ross Blue Jays 63
More than a few wondered aloud how the Blue Jays could topple mighty Crawfordsville in their own hall, yet not muster a challenge to hapless New Market. ...But New Market was hardly helpless any longer. They were playing good basketball. In fact all five starters were now hitting for double figures in key tourney tests.
So onto Saturday evening. Certainly Waveland's five were not world beaters, themselves mustering a ho-hum regular season including giving-up one of the two New Market victories.
Still, that had been pre-Christmas, and common wisdom knew that 'New Market was New Market.' It would appear that the 'muffin status' baton had been passed, and while many appreciated the game effort shown by the Purple Flyers, most expected a Waveland coronation later that night. Besides, no team had ever won a Sectional with so few regular season wins in the history of Indiana basketball.
Until now.
(5-17) New Market Purple Flyers 57
(9-12) Waveland Hornets 50
In a game that was neither flashy nor stagnant, New Market exhibited remarkable resolve for a team that had made losing such a habit. Waveland looked to be ending the fairytale by out-scoring New Market 18-6 in the third quarter. However, the Flyers displayed all the poise of a true champion by answering with a 24-12 fourth quarter effort that produced the 7 point win.
Purple Flyer fans had their heroes finally as well. Senior Phil Thomas hit 8 of 10 shots from the field in the first half and would finish with 24. Fellow senior, center Mike Deck added 16 points - 15 during that critical fourth quarter.
New Market had captured their first Sectional in 17 years, and would advance to the Frankfort Regional the following weekend. The state's highest scoring team and eventual Sweet 16 member Bainbridge Pointers would martyr our heroes that Saturday morning, 79-42, behind Hoosier hardwood legend Larry Steele.
...But not before the Purple Flyers had written their own chapter in Hoosier hysteria history.
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HickoryHusker
September 11, 2025INDIANA -- A nationwide coal miners strike in 1946 had far-reaching implications. Activities around the country ground to a halt, and a coal-reliant Indiana was hit especially hard. Virtually all public gatherings nationwide were banned in an attempt to conserve energy. Virtually all.. Except high school basketball in Indiana.
The post-war coal miners strike of 1946 resulted in ground breaking changes for workers including higher wages, a five day work week, medical benefits, and pensions. However, in the short term, it was hell on Indiana communities. Still, these snapshots of newspaper accounts attest that Hoosiers had their priorities.
SOUTH BEND, Ind. Dec. 6 (U.P.) -- South Benders took in a last movie, said goodbye to their favorite bartender, took their last book out of the public library and prepared to sit out the blackout on non-essential activities. South Bend and Mishawaka high school basketball games will be played tomorrow night.
UNION CITY, Ind. -- National shortages of many staple products including paper continue to be aggravated by the crushing coal shortage. Nearly all aspects of daily life have been impacted. Winchester freshman defeat Union City, 32-27. It is the plan to continue freshmen games with other schools in order to give the first-year boys experience.
Union City "Kittens" Freshmen Team circa 1946
LOGANSPORT, Ind. -- All night activities except high school basketball in Logansport schools were banned tonight by Carl Zimmerman, city school superintendent. He said the action was required by the coal shortage.
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- Ramifications of the coal strike commanded more attention today in Indiana high school basketball than what happened in top games Friday night. All of the top state's prep fives got through Friday night's card without a cancellation, but the coal shortage forced some schools to play in unheated gyms.
ELKHART, Ind. -- A major northern Indiana industrial city is now under an emergency order. Elkhart has ordered all public gatherings cancelled and "froze" coal supplies at midnight. Elkhart's Blue Blazers will travel to Warsaw Friday night for their annual grudge match.
Elkhart Blue Blazer in action vs. FW North Redskins during December 1946
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- Virgil Stinebaugh, superintendent of Indianapolis schools, tonight ordered all night activities in school building cancelled because of coal shortage. The ban went into effect immediately on everything but high school basketball games. Stinebaugh said the order was necessary if essential school functions were to be maintained until the Christmas holidays begin December 20.
SUMMITVILLE, Ind. -- Massive shortages of iron and other materials now being blamed on the coal strike. Resources of every variety have been affected. The annual basketball tournament at Summitville is one of the outstanding basketball meets of the year and attracts a capacity attendance at all games. The first game will be played at 7 o'clock, with Fairmount and Gaston meeting, and this game will be followed by the Sweetser-Goblins game at 8:15 o'clock.
MUNCIE, Ind. -- Seven Delaware County games carded despite shortage of coal as the sector teams wind up one of the busiest weeks on the winter's schedule. The current coal shortage resulted in the closing of the Dunkirk schools. The Speedcats home games have been moved to Royerton.
HAMMOND, Ind. -- How much electric power does the Hammond Civic Center use during the three hours necessary for a basketball double-header? Will all those 5000 plus fans who attend tonight's Tigers-Wildcats game leave all the home lights burning while they're away? If as many as a thousand homes turn off a floor lamp or two while the occupants are at the Civic Center, we're actually saving, not wasting, electricity.
MARTINSVILLE, Ind. -- Indiana Red Cross is preparing to house coal-bereft families in public buildings and hospitals. Meanwhile Evansville officials are predicting an industrial blackout within the next few days. An inter-county tilt will be staged at Eminence tomorrow night as the Paragon Panthers invade the goalery of the Eels.
Paragon Panthers circa 1946 -
HickoryHusker
September 4, 2025JEFFERSONVILLE, Ind.-- Arguably the most heated rivalry in all of Hoosierland comes by it honestly. There's enough venom among old foes New Albany and Jeffersonville that historians will swear vinegar, not river water, spans the stretch of the Ohio between the two historic river towns. ...And incidents like this 17 timeout game in 1948 helped build such genuine emotion between the two heavyweights...
Jeffersonville's Nachand Fieldhouse - Site of the 1948 Sectional!
To tell the full tale of such a story, the reader must have a bit of background. Jeff and New Albany began their wrestling match over Sectional in 1925 when NA first hosted. The Bulldogs, having bragging rights to the larger gym at the time, hosted the majority of early sectionals - the exceptions going to Jeff in 1926 and 1933.
Jeff then took over hosting honors for many, many years, with one or two exceptions.
This particular season, 1948, Jeff was hosting, but that's about all they had going for them. First year head coach Ed Denton had guided the Red Devils to a lackluster 8-8 regular season record. Red Devil boosters, just as today, held much higher expectations for their fighting five, and pressure within the community was nearing a boiling point.
New Albany on the other hand was enjoying high times that season. Second year mentor Gordon Raney had the Bulldogs barking at 15-3 and drawing much statewide attention as they entered the sectional as heavy favorites. - A fact that further ignited emotions among the Jeffersonville faithful. As a matter of record, NA took their regular season meeting with Jeff, 41-31, earlier that winter.
The first round of Sectional went somewhat as expected for the 16 team field:
Jeffersonville 107, New Middletown 23
Laconia 45, Mauckport 24
Scribner 38, Borden 33
Henryville 58, New Amsterdam 26
New Albany 62, Georgetown 16
Corydon 50, Charlestown 36
Silver Creek 69, Elizabeth 29
Lanesville 63, Taylor 35
The second round played out as well with much fanfare, but few upsets.
Jeffersonville 73, Laconia 39
Henryville 43, Scribner 41
New Albany 57, Corydon 28
Silver Creek 68, Lanesville 41
This is where it gets interesting.
In those days the final four was all played on a Saturday. Jeff was to play Henryville in the morning game, and New Albany was pitted against Silver Creek upon the completion of the first contest. The winners then would meet that evening for the title.
Now enter the third player in our story: The Henryville Hornets.
The Hornets were enjoying a fine season of their own, tallying a 16-4 regular season record. However, the majority of their docket of games had been played against smaller conference schools, and when the reality hit the hardwood, the Hornets were far out-manned by the Red Devils. It was apparent early on as Jeff established a commanding lead that would never be in doubt.
It was at this point that Jeff's Coach Denton began what was to earn him a spot in Hoosier hysteria folklore...and where he acquired the nickname Dirty Ed.
With the Bulldogs and Dragons waiting in the hallway for their chance on the court, and with a seemingly insurmountable lead in the waning moments of the game, Coach Denton called timeout.
Then he called another. And another. In a matter of moments his allotted timeouts were used.
Then he called one more which resulted in a technical foul. The practice then proceeded - timeout followed by technical foul. The only real break in the rhythm was the snail's pace at which the entire Jeff squad would make it's way to the huddle and then to the floor.
The crowd, officials, and New Albany coaching staff quickly sized up the situation.
Coach Denton was purposely trying to delay the start of the second game so as to limit the time the Bulldogs would have to rest before playing Jeff for the title later that evening.
Game accounts report debris of every shape and size having to be repeatedly removed from the playing floor as the process repeated itself - 17 times.
When the dust and popcorn boxes had been cleared, Jeffersonville was in the championship game with a 53-41 win over Henryville. Their lead shrunk but still never in question. Reports indicate that Hornet charity tosses were pretty accurate for that era, but that Henryville couldn't convert their offensive possessions during the bizarre stretch of the contest.
A flustered New Albany had their hands full with an unfazed Silver Creek squad in the second game, but netted a 51-40 win to set up the much anticipated match-up between the two bitter rivals.
As the story goes, Jeff Coach Denton had ordered his charges directly to beds for a restful nap following their morning-turned afternoon game.
The strategy worked as much as New Albany was left with but enough time to shower, eat and collect themselves prior to the championship that night.
The Sectional title game proved a bit anticlimactic, however. A New Albany team, who on this particular year was arguably already a better basketball team, now had their flames of hatred fanned by the shady actions earlier in the day. The Bulldogs made short work of the Devils, taking the championship 53-31.
New Albany proved their worth by taking the Jeffersonville Regional title the following weekend by besting Bedford 58-44 and Seymour 39-29.
The Bulldogs had their season ended when they were martyred the following week at the Semi-finals. The Wildcats of Jasper topped them in the afternoon game 53-50.
However, it was that Sectional marathon and all the trappings that went along with it that are most remembered from that post season. Just one more brick in a rivalry that towers to this day, and another true chapter in that wonderful folklore of Hoosier hysteria. -
HickoryHusker
August 20, 2025INDIANA - Thanks to the research of good basketball steward, Pat McKee, 1974 Terre Haute North grad Nate Mills is now correctly added as the Patriot's all-time career scorer at 1643 points. This replaces previous record holder Terry Dischinger's 1455 total from now consolidated Terre Haute Garfield in 1958.
Please drop me an email if you can offer a correction or addition... This list attempts to document every Indiana high school's all time career leading scorer. Obviously this will be another evolving list that will need your input to keep it accurate. However, I think it will be a wonderful resource to refer to.
Thanks to the hundreds of email submissions I've already received. No doubt I'll be busy editing this one for a long time, but you have to start somewhere! Looking for player's name, point total, and year graduated. If they graduated from a school that was absorbed by consolidation, it is noted as well.
Schools lost to consolidation listed at bottom.
Drop me an email at HickoryHuskeratyahoodotcom if you help add to this project!
A
Adams Central(B) – Ethan Poling 1289, 2023
Adams Central(G) – Natalie Young 1516, 2004
Alexandria(B) – Chris Hahn 1790, 1996
Alexandria(G) – Jodi Howell 2026, 2005
Anderson(B) – Kojak Fuller 2060, 1993
Anderson(G) – Tyra Ford 1940, 2021
Anderson Prep(B) – Jack Scott 1155, 2021
Anderson Prep(G) – Savannah Prewett 1045, 2020
Andrean(B) – Shane Power 2110, 2000
Andrean(G) – Tori Allen 1430, 2023
Angola(B) – Charlie Wills 1602, 1997
Angola(G) – Hanna Knoll 1526, 2021
Argos(B) – Doug Jennings 1522, 1980
Argos(G) – Courtney Dunlap 1527, 2017
Attica(B) – Josh Smith 1827, 2001
Attica(G) – Brittany Rayburn 2337, 2008
Austin(B) – Anthony Winchester 2256, 2002
Austin(G) – Katy McIntosh 2195, 2010
Avon(B) – Rick Etienne 1339, 1993
Avon(G) – Heather Farrell 1322, 1990
B
Barr Reeve(B) – Addison Wagler 1527, 2015
Barr-Reeve(G) – Jennifer Wirtz 1415, 2003
Batesville(B) – Colt Ryan 1794, 2009
Batesville(G) – Cindy Lamping 2048, 1991
Bedford North Lawrence(B) – Damon Bailey 3134, 1990
Bedford North Lawrence(G) – Jorie Allen 1930, 2019
Beech Grove(B) – Mike Renfro 1855, 1995
Beech Grove(G) – Katie Gearlds 2521, 2003
Bellmont(B) – Seth Colclasure 2207, 2002
Bellmont(G) – Grace Hunter 1571, 2019
Ben Davis(B) – Damon Frierson 1452, 1995
Ben Davis(G) – Shyra Ely 2004, 2001
Benton Central(B) – Ben Anderson 1541, 1996
Benton Central(G) – Caitlyn Tolen 1648, 2013
Bethany Christian(B) – Tyson Chupp 1487, 2024
Bethany Christian(G) – Zoe Willems 1659, 2024
Bethesda Christian (B) – John Krueger 2818, 1995
Bethesda Christian (G) – Maddi Fulks 1947,2020
Blackford(B) – Luke Brown 3011, 2021
Blackford(G) – Jill Chapman 1476, 1998
Bloomfield(B) – Shane Miller 1476, 1994
Bloomfield(G) – Lindsay Secrest 1788, 2000
Bloomington North(B) – Sean May 1664, 2002
Bloomington North(G) – Mia Robbennolt 1231, 2024
Bloomington South(B) – Darwin “Dee” Davis Jr.1582, 2011
Bloomington South(G) – Beth Morgan 1645, 1993
Blue River Valley(B) – Kyle Cox 1987, 2002
Blue River Valley(G) – Ally Madden 1632, 2022
Bluffton (B)- Brad Bounds 1607, 1963
Bluffton (G)- Abby Salscheider 1917, 1998
Boone Grove(B) – Larry Kubal 1513, 1973
Boone Grove(G) — Cortney Flanigan 1328, 2007
Boonville (B)- Glen Rouch 1518, 2018
Boonville (G)- Alaysha Brandenberger 1848, 2022
Borden (B) – Kasym Nash 1627, 2024
Borden (G) – Erin Mikel 1330, 2012
Bowman Academy (B) – DeJuan Marrero 1678, 2012
Bowman Academy(G) – Princess German 1811, 2012
Brebeuf Jesuit (B) – Alan Henderson 2419, 1991
Brebeuf Jesuit (G) – Ta’Shia Phillips 1939, 2007
Bremen(B) – Corey Reed 1262, 1994
Bremen(G) – Ellia Foster 1366, 2022
Brown County(B) – Rick Hoskins 1913, 1988
Brown County(G) – Mara Freshour 1340, 2005
Brownsburg(B)- Craig Brunes 1778, 1992
Brownsburg(G)- Stephanie Mavunga 1739, 2013
Brownstown Central(B) – Jack Benter 2550, 2024
Brownstown Central(G) – Heidi Rochner 1401, 1998
c
Calumet(B) – Clarence Harper 1435,1965
Calumet(G) – Juaneice Jackson 1422, 2010
Cambridge City(B) – Ray Isom 1448, 1967
Cambridge City(G) – Jesica Hildebrand 1323, 2005
Cannelton(B) – Bill Dickerson 1544, 1975
Cannelton(G) – Kendall Hale 1523, 2023
Carmel(B) – Billy Shepherd 2465, 1968
Carmel(G) – Chrissy Steffen 1427, 2009
Carroll Ft. Wayne(B) – Chandler White 1429, 2015
Carroll Ft. Wayne(G) – Abby Noll 1417, 2003
Carroll Flora(B) – Owen Duff 1392, 2023
Carroll Flora(G) – Alli Harness 2134, 2024
Cascade(B) – Darryl Peterson 1438, 1991
Cascade(G) – Abby Parsons 1237, 2023
Castle(B) – lex Hemenway 1765, 2019
Castle(G) – Leah Phillips 1380, 2005
Caston(B) – Eric Walsh – 1437, 2002
Caston(G) – Amanda Wentzel 1541, 1996
Center Grove(B) – Trayce Jackson-Davis 1802, 2019
Center Grove(G) – Nikki Anderson 1347, 1987
Centerville(B) – Darren Lawler 1520, 1987
Centerville(G) – Kinsey Siler 1301, 2012
Central Christian Academy (B) – Michael Roberson 1744, 2018
Central Christian Academy (G) – Madison Shearer 1989, 2017
Central Noble(B) – Connor Essegian 2526, 2022
Central Noble(G) – Sydney Freeman 1741, 2019
Charlestown(B) – Jerry Johnson 1497, 1977
Charlestown(G) – Abby Conklin 2616, 1993
Chesterton(B) – Zack Novak 1791, 2008
Chesterton(G) – Jackie Campbell 1212, 1999
Christian Academy of Indiana (B) – Joshua Renfro 1485+, 2025
Christian Academy of Indiana (G) – Alli Stumler 1245, 2018
Churubusco(B) – Jeff Perlich 2019, 1988
Churubusco(G) – Tara Dice 1302, 2004
Clarksville(B) – Steve Hatton 1401, 1990
Clarksville(G) – Candice Bain 1521, 2004
Clay City(B) – John Heaton 1788, 1972
Clay City(G) – Carmela Roeschlein 1511, 2012
Clinton Central(B) – John Shoup 1477, 1987
Clinton Central(G) – Kendall Davison 1025, 2022
Clinton Prairie(B) – Jordan Brewer 1867, 2005
Clinton Prairie(G) – Kourtney Mennen 2191, 1999
Cloverdale(B) – Cooper Neese 2496, 2017
Cloverdale(G) – Ann Hutcheson 1534, 1989
Columbia City(B) – Mitchell Wilson 1769, 2020
Columbia City(G) – Connie Myers 1629, 2000
Columbus East(B) – Lance Barker 1735, 1991
Columbus East(G) – Koryn Greiwe 1656, 2022
Columbus North(B) – Josh Speidel 1512, 2015
Columbus North(G) – Ali Patberg 2026, 2015
Concord(B) – Shawn Kemp 2134, 1988
Concord(G) – Alana Burns 1440, 1993
Connersville(B) – Matt Howard 1463,2007
Connersville(G) – April McDivitt 1908, 1999
Corydon(B) – Kyle Savely 1526, 2004
Corydon(G) – Ava Weber 1849, 2023
Covenant Christian(B) – Jordan Webb 1368, 2018
Covenant Christian(G) – Kayla Thompson 1544, 2007
Covington(B) – Drew Switzer 1499, 2002
Covington(G) – Brenda Summers 1498, 1982
Cowan(B) – Rodney Thomas 1454, 1996
Cowan(G) – Carli Skinner 1215, 2017
Crawford County(B) – John Key 1538, 1978
Crawford County(G) – Bianca Haverstock 1745, 2004
Crawfordsville (B) – Matt Petty 1608, 1989
Crawfordsville (G) – Mandi Johnson 1255, 2009
Crothersville (B) – Josh Thomas 1427, 2020
Crothersville (G) – Katrina Christian 1665, 2017
Crown Point(B) – Sasha Stefanovic 1347, 2017
Crown Point(G) – Jessica Carrothers 2331, 2022
Culver(B) – John Szponar 1451, 1969
Culver(G) – Stacy Stevens 2004, 2003
Culver Academy(B) – Jackson Atoyebi 1431, 2001
Culver Academy(G) – Patricia Babcock 2199, 1990 -
HickoryHusker
August 20, 2025FRANKLIN, Ind. – Hoosiers love a good Indiana high school basketball story, and this tale from Johnson County deserves not to be forgotten. A mass, school-day, student walk-out, a homemade coffin, a power outage, and a King Arthur Trestor IHSAA team suspension. This 1918 tale had it all…
County seat and early basketball power Franklin had just made its way through a tough 1918 Sectional title only to be disqualified from the next stage of the tourney. ..But not to get ahead of the glorious details..
Shelbyville flew high into 1918 Sectional fresh-off a lopsided win over highly touted Manual Training of Indianapolis. Franklin faithful lay claim to favored status for no less than two victories over Shelby that year, and tiny Hopewell High School was enjoying a flat-out terrific season. The highlight of which included a rare regular season drubbing of that very same county seat and early basketball power, Franklin.
Other teams that cast their lot in the Franklin Sectional that year included Boggstown, Mt. Auburn, Waldron, Trafalgar, Union Township, Whiteland, Nineveh, Morristown, Fairland, and Edinburg.
Early contests were heated, but went fairly according to the dope buckets. Hopewell routed Boggstown, 33-10, Waldron made easy work of Mt. Auburn, 26-9, and Union had little trouble with Trafalgar, downing them, 27-15.
Second round and/or bye games were similarly without drama. Hopewell dispatched Edinburgh, 43-12, Morristown eliminated Nineveh, 24-16, Shelby drubbed Whiteland, 33-8, and Franklin walloped Fairland, 44-18.
In the semi-finals Franklin made it three in a row over Shelbyville for the season having little trouble downing the Bears, 38-17. Meanwhile favorite Hopewell also advanced with a rather pedestrian win over Morristown.
Standing Room Only Rematch
This set-up a rematch for the title game, and the standing-room Sectional crowd of over 1300 was finally going to see the close game they were hoping for. The Franklin Democrat newspaper declared it the largest crowd to ever watch a basketball game in the College Gym. Franklin came out swinging and grabbed a hard fought, 11-8 halftime lead. However, the favorite Hopewell Tigers stormed back in the first ten minutes of the second half to take a 15-14 advantage.
At this, Franklin called a timeout, and things got weird. The lights went out in the Franklin College Gym and would remain so for over 40 minutes. A rare windstorm with gusts reaching a reported 40-50 mph had toppled a large brick smokestack and, in the process, took out power to the gym.
Players from both squads left the floor and had even dressed back into street clothes. The game official had no sooner announced to the crowd that the game would be postponed, then the power was restored.
The Franklin squad seemed re-energized by the long intermission and ran off a string of buckets to put the championship out of reach. Hopewell would toss in a couple near the end to make it seem a bit closer, but the damage was done. Franklin had claimed the prize, 25-18.
“Hopewell played a wonderful game, and scores of persons in the crowd declared that Hopewell would have won had there been no interruption.”
The Franklin Evening Star described the final seconds and gun as pandemonium among the Franklin students and fans. The paper went on to mention, “Hopewell played a wonderful game, and scores of persons in the crowd declared that Hopewell would have won had there been no interruption.”
Things became even worse for Hopewell
Salt in the wound no doubt, but things became even worse for the blue and gold of Hopewell.
The following Monday, just twenty minutes into the school day, Franklin students declared a holiday and walked-out in mass. Their parade through the streets of Franklin was contrary to a very direct order to return to school by Principal Williams. Upon growing weary of their local avenues, the student mob then made the fateful decision to march the three miles west to recently defeated Hopewell High School.
Hopewell High School
This would turnout to be their undoing.
In addition to their “venting of joy,” it would appear by reported accounts some of the cheers should’ve been “eliminated by common sense.” Newspaper reports indicate the yells and chants were “justly resented” by the farmers and townspeople they passed.
The nail in the coffin for Franklin might have been an actual coffin. Somehow several students got their hands on a coffin, and after draping it in black crape paper, delivered it to the front lawn of Hopewell High for their “vanquished foe.”
A Cordial Reception?
The Franklin Evening Star tried to put the best possible face on this mob-like march to Hopewell, going so far as to state,” The Hopewell students showed that they are good losers with a cordial reception.”
Other accounts differ sharply. One report goes so far as to say fist fights broke out between the two schools as Hopewell students met the visitors on their school lawn. Franklin School administration wasn’t having it either as ringleaders and their parents were summoned to the school to face repercussions.
However, this was nothing compared to the authority that IHSAA Secretary King Arthur L. Trester was about to lay down.
During this era, the winner of each Sectional advanced directly to a 20-team State Finals held in Bloomington on the campus of Indiana University.
The coffin mob was on Monday, and while modern Hoosiers may think things worked slowly in those days, Franklin was notified by telegraph on Tuesday that the IHSAA was banning them from the State Finals that were to take place later that week.
By Wednesday, the Associated Press had picked-up the story with headlines in many state newspapers proclaiming rather dramatically, ”Burning Indignation in Bosom of Franklin!”
In a bit of a surprise, several schools in the Sectional field, when asked to field a replacement for the disqualified Franklin, all voted simply for Franklin. For the record those schools included, Edinburg, Union, Nineveh, Whiteland, and Hopewell.
The Franklin team did indeed travel to Bloomington hoping against hope that their administration delegation could sway King Arthur, but a three-hour Thursday night session proved fruitless.
With all other teams refusing to take Franklin’s place, Columbus was awarded a 2-0 forfeit victory.
Addendum –
Columbus, which had split regular season games with Franklin earlier in the year, would be martyred by small school hope, Montmorenci, 16-13 in the State Finals. The tiny Tippecanoe County village of just 200 inhabitants, had advanced by downing Lafayette Jefferson in Sectional. In addition to taking out Columbus, Montmorenci would go on to best Muncie, 42-16, before bowing out in the final eight to Bloomington, 23-11.
Very special thank you to good basketball gentleman, Jim Higdon for pointing me in the right direction. Without his lead, I would’ve never known what date or teams to begin researching for details!
State Finals at IU
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