upstate: justene, lacrosse & the lonely game

The great writer David Halberstam said that basketball was a "sport for the lonely."  "A kid did not need five or six other friends;  he did not need even one.  Because this was Indiana, there was nothing else anyone even wanted to do. This was the land of great pure shooters, and the true mark of an Indiana high school basketball player was hitting the open shot."  And hit the open shot is exactly what Justene Charlesworth does day after long summer day.  Inside the historic LaCrosse gym (that has seen many great shooters) Justene has already made her mark in two seasons on the varsity squad, totaling 816 points (a career high for a Lady Tiger).  And if she remains healthy who knows what the ceiling is for a young player who understands what it takes to live in the land of pure shooters.  CGS.

upstate, laporte civic auditorium

We've noted on more than one occasion that this game, the "Hoosiers' game", is more than just sport.  At its core, it's a story about community, told through tales of team work, friendship, rivalry and history.  And, no place exemplifies that more than the LaPorte Civic Auditorium.  Dedicated in 1930, the Auditorium was a gift to the city from local philanthropist Maurice Fox and has hosted thousands of events.  From proms to class reunions, basketball games to pop concerts, this old building has seen it all.  The folks in LaPorte are proud of their auditorium & rightfully so.  We were just thankful that the doors are open to all.  CGS.

upstate, elston

By the time the 1965-66 season rolled around it had been 30 years since a Red Devil team had won a Regional. Make no mistake, Elston had always fielded good teams - they had won 14 straight Sectional titles starting in 1952;  but advancing to the next rounds of the state tourney by way of East Chicago had proved difficult.  1965-66 would change all of that.  After overcoming early season injuries the Red Devils rolled to a 26-3 record (with a 21 point average margin of victory) and a State Championship victory over Indianapolis Tech 63-52.  With the help of our friend & author Matt Werner ("How Sweet It Is - the 1966 Elston Red Devils") we were able to gather some members of that squad in the old Elston Field House on a warm June afternoon 50 years after their historic championship.  Except for the loss of Elston red adorning the gym not much has changed for these Red Devils - yes, they are older, but they still embody the word "team" and this game that brought them together all those years ago lives on within them.  Pictured in our photo is Harold Kennedy, Terry Morse, Jim Cadwell, cheerleader Nancy (Bobinski) White, Principal Warren Jones, Nate Gipson (class of '64), O'Neil Simmons, Larry Gipson, Rob McFarland and Assistant Coach Al Whitlow.  CGS.