Friday - you're on a roll. Your South Decatur Cougars are 13-0 and playing well. High paced offense and at times a stifling defense. You've beaten sister school North Decatur twice, are ranked #3 in some statewide 2A polls, have been written about in the Indianapolis Star and cautious fans have started to pack the gym on game nights. Your fellow students are pumped. Tonight is 3-9 Centerville and if all goes as expected, a 14-0 record by Saturday morning. And then, Greensburg. The #5 ranked 3A, two-time state champion, 14 miles up the road Greensburg. But that's tomorrow. Tonight is a packed house, a 31-8 first quarter lead, a celebration of junior Lane Lauderbaugh's 1000th point and some rest for the starters. Final score, 67-36. 14-0.
Saturday - this is a different game, in more ways than one. In a gym that holds 5000, an empty seat is hard to find. South Decatur faithful (and some from North Decatur) arrive early and fill the visitors side. They believe in 14-0. Pirate fans stroll in more leisurely, confident in their history. The JV game is unexpectedly close, with SD making a late run before losing, and then it's game time. Team introductions are not just announced, they are Vegas/NBA. And then tip time. As the minutes roll by it becomes obvious - South Decatur is quick, Greensburg is quicker; SD plays aggressive defense but Greensburg has height and great passing. South Decatur's long jumpers are not falling, but layups come easy for the Pirates. It remains close for awhile and then it all vanishes. In the end, 108-73.
Sunday - the undefeated season is over. For the Cougars eight more games to tournament time remain. Time to dig deep and look to the past to see the way forward. © Chris Smith
Whenever questions about the health of Hoosier high school basketball begin to surround me, I know that answers are not far away. In this case a two hour trip north to Tipton, home of the Blue Devils and their beloved gym the "Inferno" put my fears to rest. The 2A Devils, coached by 500 game winner Cliff Hawkins, are currently 11-1, ranked #6 in statewide polls and on this Friday night taking on a tough Yorktown team. But, as we found out, a trip to the Inferno is more than just an evening of good basketball. There is history and tradition here, a talented cheerleading squad, an imposing Blue Devil mascot, a color guard, a baton twirler, a flag corps and yes, a great band - perched on the stage driving the tempo of the night. When the action on the court comes to an end (Tipton 70, Yorktown 56) all is not over as students & fans pack the court at the foot of the stage and dance to a medley of hits from the Blue Devil band. And dance & dance. This happens at every home game, win or lose. So, if the winter weather has you feeling a little down, buckle up and get yourself to a gym like Tipton to remember what Friday and Saturday nights are supposed to feel like. © Chris Smith
Historic gym for sale. School closing. Local landmark burns. These are just a few of the headlines we've encountered in the last six years during our photographic journey to Hoosier high school gyms - at last count, more than 300. Shrinking populations & budgets have taken a toll on these old buildings - more so every year. Does it matter if these places become parking lots for the newest Family Dollar store? And if so, why should we care? Their disappearance won't affect global warming (I don't think), animal extinction or iPhone reception. These are just places where a game is played, right? When we started out to "photograph a few old Hoosier gyms" in 2013 I'm not sure we had a full understanding about the task at hand. At first we simply saw brick, mortar and maple. And then there were the trophy cases - filled with memories of long past games, teams and schools now gone. There were always stories to hear and people to meet. And games to watch. So what does it matter if another old gym disappears? These were just places where communities gathered, rivalries played out and children grew into adults. Dances were held, graduations too. Lifelong memories were made. So what does it matter? We have the newest phones and apps to watch games - do we really need to sit on old wooden bleachers, either too hard or too cramped? Suffice it to say, I don't have an answer to these questions but I understand the arguments that surround the debate. I'm not sure how to save these old buildings, I only know how to do my part - to pull out a camera and record what I see. And hope that by sharing these photographs others with influence might care.
