union county

Just east of Connersville, nestled along the Ohio border, the intrepid basketball fan will find Union County. A one time home to four high schools, the county can claim not only a state semi-finalist (1967) but possibly the only gym in the country located in two states (the center court stripe at College Corner is also the Indiana/Ohio state line).  This year's Lady Patriot team has a senior laden roster and hopes to avenge their 2015 Sectional final loss & become the second girl's squad to hoist a championship trophy.  On this night, Randolph Southern fell victim to their experience.  CGS.

opening night

We first visited Lawrenceburg as the old gym came down and now, on the night before Thanksgiving, the new home of the Tigers welcomed fans for the first ever varsity boys game. I'm sure the new arena is everything they could have hoped for; the only downside of the evening - both the boys & girls lost to Franklin County.  CGS.

 

L & M

So, here was the plan - drive to Marion to catch a scrimmage at the old Marion Fieldhouse (where the Giants won 37 Sectional titles between 1921 & 1970) and on the way, stop at Oak Hill to photograph practice.  Sadly, we never made it to Oak Hill.  Why?  Well, in one word - Lapel.  For a number of reasons we stopped in the tiny hamlet (home to the 2A Bulldogs) and headed to what appeared to be the old gym, now surrounded by a newer elementary.  As good fortune would have it, the secretary (Angie Howell) was head coach Jimmie Howell's wife and told us that the boy's team was holding a rare practice in the old gym - where Jimmie played for his father and in 2005 coached Lapel to a 1A State Championship.  Wow.  For the next hour & 1/2 it became obvious why the Bulldogs, under the watchful eye of their coach, have seen so much success.  We reluctantly hit the road again, making our way through storms & sunsets and arrived at the old Marion gym just before tip-off.  Did I say old?  Well, there are some of the original bleachers and a framed section of the floor but thanks to a forward thinking community the "old" gym is now a new YMCA.  Lapel & Marion - both preserving history in their own ways.  CGS.