It’s time to recognize women who played basketball over the last 46 years. Read More
Tag: Indiana basketball
A Water Bucket & Long Johns: Playing basketball for the Modoc HS Indians – Warren Jones
Indiana high school basketball is a major component of Hoosier heritage, yet few people have stopped to record the diverse history and the game’s impact on peoples’ lives. Let’s capture Hoosier history while we can! Oral history is an excellent way for us to do this before it’s gone and lost forever.
Do you know somebody who played, coached, cheered, or worked as a student manager in Indiana before 1960 (especially pre-1950)? If so, grab a recording device, whether it be a video camera or your cell phone (audio works just fine), and ask them about their experience. Afterward, spread the word and encourage other people to do the same thing. If you need help with questions, or preparation, send me a message at mwerner97@gmail.com and I’ll be glad to help.
Below is an excerpt of my 2016 interview with Warren Jones. A 1939 graduate of Modoc High School, here Jones described his Indiana high school basketball playing days. Their practice gym had no heat and his brother coached at a rival school, but the good memories never failed this nonagenarian. Read More
Indiana Basketball Roots Aren’t Where You Thought They Were
Nicholas McCay, general secretary of the Crawfordsville YMCA, learned the game of basketball from the game’s founder, James Naismith, and brought it to Crawfordsville, Indiana. Subsequently, the first basketball game in Indiana was played on March 16, 1894 between the Crawfordsville and Lafayette YMCAs. Crawfordsville won, 45 – 21. That is why Crawfordsville is the birthplace of Indiana basketball.
Every good Hoosier knows it. We have repeated it a thousand times. But what if it weren’t true? Would that make you angry? Read More
LaPorte County Basketball Tourney – Can It Be Resurrected?
Hoosiers are a little happier these days. Varsity girls and boys basketball are now in full swing. Decades ago, the happy feelings peaked with excitement during the LaPorte County Sectional. Every community wanted to see its team win, or to see David topple Goliath, but it was about communities meeting in one place and watching basketball together as much as anything. As the winner advanced to the Regional, everyone hoped they’d represent LaPorte County well. Read More