moving on

Some decisions are just plain tough, and the final outcome - just not what you had hoped for.  Take Bourbon and the Triton School Corporation for example.  For a number of years they have struggled with maintaining their old gymnasium and eventually put the building up for sale.  Lots of interest, but no offers.  Lots of ideas, but no one stepping up.  So this summer the corporation made the decision to raze the building and in a couple of weeks the site of the old Bourbon school (at least two iterations) and gym will be a vacant lot.  End of the story?  Well not according to Jeremy Riffle, superintendent of Triton Schools, "if Bourbon was about a building, or bricks and mortar, we would have been done a long time ago.  Leadership and people within our community are committed to continue to improve and keep our community alive and looking to a brighter future.  A piece of history may be coming to an end, but Bourbon, Triton and the people that love this area are strong and looking for ways to make sure we display pride in our past but also keep the faith alive in our future."  And for preserving that past you need look no further than Larry Lemler & his wife Sharon who have collected, cataloged, and displayed the history of Bourbon and Marshall County at their home just up the road from the old gym.  Maybe in the end, all we have are memories and the road ahead.  © Chris Smith

happy birthday

On May 22, 1920 Glen Estal Smith was born in Versailles, Indiana.  He survived the Great Depression, World War 2, graduated from Indiana University, thrived in the furniture industry, and in 2013 a photo of his high school basketball team, the 1937 Versailles Frenchies, inspired the Hoosier Hardwood Photo Project.  Thanks to that image we have been able to share Indiana's game with the rest of the world and in August Indiana University Press will publish a collection of our photographs & essays. Happy 100 dad. © Chris Smith

another story

On Saturday March 2, 1935 the Aurora Red Devils boys basketball team defeated Guilford 33-19 in a morning sectional matchup, followed that off with an afternoon victory over tourney favorite Lawrenceburg 24-23 and capped off their championship day with a win over Vevay 23-18.  All of this took place in the newly christened Aurora Fieldhouse "witnessed by 2500 persons."  How do I know this?  Well, buried deep in my mom's Happy School Days, A Memory Book are three newspaper clippings - one entitled "Where Tourney Will Be Played," a second one showing the Aurora Red Devil squad and a third "Aurora is Winner." Since my mom, a freshman at Aurora, lived a short walk from the new fieldhouse I can only imagine that she & her friends sat through all three games on that Saturday.  She graduated in 1938 from Aurora High School, moved on to Western College for Women (now part of Miami University) before graduating from Depauw University in Greencastle.  Although Happy School Days is filled with photos, notes and other newspaper clippings there are no other references to the basketball team or the players.  The Red Devils lost in the first round of the regional to Rushville the following week but would follow-up their 1935 success with another sectional championship in 1936. Did my mom's interest in basketball end on that Saturday in early March 1935 only to be picked up by her son 78 years later?  I guess I'm the only one who can imagine an answer to that question.  © Chris Smith

one shining moment for the history books

For the first time since the 1910-11 season Indiana will not have a high school boys basketball state champion.  On the bright side - 64 teams ended their seasons with a victory. Treasure those nets boys.  © Chris Smith

corydon central, scenes from a sectional final

Silver Creek moves past rival Madison 70-53 to begin their defense of the 2019 3A State title. © Chris Smith      

into the hornet's nest

The birthplace of the King of Cool, the home court of Miss Basketball - what more could a small corner of Indianapolis ask for?  Unfortunately Steve McQueen didn't stay in Beech Grove long enough to make much of an impression - that would come years later as the star of films like The Great Escape and Bullitt. Katie Gearlds, on the other hand, stuck around the home of the Hornets long enough to lead her team to the 2003 3A State Championship and claim the Miss Basketball crown. After starring at Purdue and playing in the WNBA, Gearlds coached Marian College to back to back Division 2 National Basketball Championships (2015-16, 2016-17). Although her time at Beech Grove is now past, round ball success continues.  This years varsity boys squad is currently ranked 16th in 3A play, sporting a record of 13-6, and if the upcoming Sectional draw is kind to them they may be able to pull off their own great escape and come away with another Sectional crown.  © Chris Smith

Saturday night in Jay County

In our attempt to "remember how things were" we often overlook how things are.  Take Hoosier high school basketball - a great game many believe to be diminished by classification, school consolidation, and dropping attendance.  Some say Indiana's winter sport, linking fall to spring, has been pushed into the background by Netflix, video games and cell phones.  The days when whole communities packed into a gym to watch local rivalries play out on a basketball court are long gone, right?  Well, maybe not.  Case in point - this past Saturday night in Jay County when Blackford brought their oft repeated story of the "old coach" (Jerry Hoover) and "young sharpshooter" (Luke Brown) to the home of the Patriots for a full night of hoops.  As the evening unfolded it was all there - a packed house, colorful mascots, flag totting cheerleaders, a spirited pep band and three games of basketball (Freshman in the auxiliary, JV & Varsity in the big gym).  The main event was close for awhile, until quick passing, state scoring leader (PPG average) Brown took over.  Final score - Bruins 79, Patriots 53.  But, wait a minute, forget the score - could it be that our beloved sport is just as good as we remember?  Wouldn't that be something to talk about. © Chris Smith