Thursday, December 31, 2015

union (modoc)

Head north on US 27, take a westerly turn in the town of Lynn and before long you touch down in Modoc, the home of the Rockets. With an enrollment of only 132, Union (Modoc) High School is one of those places we love to visit - where their passion for the game towers over their stature.  Although the school has only won five Sectional titles since consolidation, the girls had a dominant 2015 season (22-4 & Sectional Champs) and are hoping that hard practices, like the one we saw, will lead them to the next step on the tourney ladder in 2016.  CGS.









Tuesday, December 29, 2015

the fieldhouse, winchester

It's big (2300), it's old (1953) and they call it a fieldhouse - and those things all contributed to our smiles as we walked into the home of the Golden Falcons at Winchester.  Throw in a tourney type atmosphere as the Lady Falcons were hosting Union City for bragging rights & a traveling trophy and you have all the ingredients for a great night of basketball.  Although I'm sure that Falcon fans weren't happy with the outcome (they lost 48-46), we were treated to a great high school jazz band, a healthy dose of school round ball history (combined 40 Sectional titles, 8 Regional and 3 Semi-State crowns) and another important chapter in the book of Hoosier Hysteria. CGS.












Tuesday, December 22, 2015

the wonder of franklin

Winning is hard to sustain.  When you capture three high school state championships in succession (1920, '21 & '22) and, according to some sources, a collegiate title the following year (1923), a standard has been set.  And for many places, a bar too high to reach.  But Franklin is not like any other place.  Named for their famous coach (Ernest "Griz" Wagner), the Grizzly Cubs (boys & girls) have won 52 more Sectionals, 14 more Regionals and 3 more Semi-State crowns since their championship run in the early '20's.  Basketball runs deep in this community, from barns at the edge of town to youth leagues in the old gym. And lest young players & visitors forget where they are, the Wonder Five look down from above, reminding them all that this is Franklin.  CGS.


















Wednesday, December 16, 2015

martinsville

Welcome to Martinsville - or maybe, Title Town.  That name seems to fit the small community that has won 45 Sectional crowns, 18 Regional, 2 Semi-State and 5 State Championships (boys & girls).  And while we're at it - maybe we should include local product John Wooden and his 10 National Championships. This is a place with a proud past, a gym steeped in history and currently, very good boy's and girl's teams.  As we found out, no story of Indiana high school basketball is complete without a journey to Martinsville.  CGS.