B O X S C O R E A Publication of the Indiana High School Basketball Historical Society IHSBHS was founded in 1994 by A. J. Quigley Jr. (1943-1997) and Harley Sheets for the purpose of documenting and preserving the history of Indiana High School Basketball IHSBHS Officers Publication & Membership Notes President Roger Robison Frankfort 1954 Boxscore is published by the Indiana High School Basketball Vice Pres Cliff Johnson Western 1954 Historical Society (IHSBHS). This publication is not copyrighted and may be reproduced in part or in full for circulation anywhere Webmaster Kermit Paddack Sheridan 2002 Indiana high school basketball is enjoyed. Credit given for any Treasurer Rocky Kenworthy Cascade 1974 information taken from Boxscore would be appreciated. Editorial Staff IHSBHS is a non-profit organization. No salaries are paid to Editor Cliff Johnson Western 1954 anyone. All time spent on behalf of IHSBHS or in producing Boxscore is freely donated by individual members. Syntax Edits Tim Puet Valley, PA 1969 Dues are $10 per year. They run from Jan. 1 – Dec. 31 and Content Edits Harley Sheets Lebanon 1954 include four newsletters. Lifetime memberships are no longer Rocky Kenworthy Cascade 1974 offered, but those currently in effect continue to be honored. Tech Advisor Juanita Johnson Fillmore, CA 1966 Send dues, address changes, and membership inquiries to Board Members IHSBHS, c/o Rocky Kenworthy, 710 E. 800 S., Clayton, IN 46118. E-mail: [email protected] John Ockomon, Harley Sheets, Leigh Evans, Cliff Johnson, Tim All proposed articles & stories should be directed to Puet, Roger Robison, Jeff Luzadder, Rocky Kenworthy, Doug Cliff Johnson: [email protected] or P.O. Box 401335, Bradley, Curtis Tomak, Kermit Paddack, Hugh Schaefer. Hesperia, CA 92340.

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EDITORIAL POLICY winter coat, open the front door and his 1960 black and gold Morocco The opinions expressed in walk down College Avenue or letter jacket on that Saturday night to Boxscore by individual authors do Lincoln Street, make their way past the Kankakee Valley-North Newton not necessarily reflect the views of the parked cars lining the streets, and game. On the right side was a patch IHSBHS as an organization. pause at the intersection. Once there, with "1959-60 KVT champs" Our IHSBHS website address is a person might be inclined to look up stitched onto a basketball, signifying Indianabasketballhistory.com. through the windows and catch a Morocco's Kankakee Valley You can also enter IHSBHS or glimpse of the scoreboard and fans tournament championship. As he “Boxscore” on any search engine. finding their seats in the bleachers. stood in the corner of the gym at the Step inside, grab a bag of popcorn, start of the game, Hammel, 76, could CONTENTS and stay awhile. "It’s like a time easily step back in time. Almost capsule," said Bob Gonczy, who everything, from the baskets, to the The Morocco Beavers……….... 1 lives two blocks from the school. brick interior, to the scorer's table, New Castle's Fieldhouse……… 3 "You walk in here, and it is like it's was the same as he remembered. "It History of Indiana's Largest 1952 again." is hard to believe that was 58 years BB Gyms, Courtesy of DJIA.. 7 For one night in this Newton ago," said Hammel, who went on to Lowell High School's 62-Game County community in northwest at South Central, North Losing Streak……………….. 9 Indiana, it felt like the yesteryear of Newton, and Hobart. "I can IHSBHS Membership Form…. 12 Hoosier Hysteria. For the first time remember this gym being packed for IHSBHS Member Profile Form..13 since 1967, a varsity basketball game the county tournament. 'I lived about Hall of Fame Membership…….. 14 was played in the Morocco gym, a four blocks away so I would walk relic of another era. It was built in here and walk home. 'There was lots THE MOROCCO BEAVERS 1936, allowing the Morocco Beavers of pride in this place and great First Varsity Basketball Game in to move out of the basement gym crowds. 'There was probably a little More Than Fifty Years Stirs known as "The Pit" and into more pride back then. 'In the 1950s Nostalgia in Indiana Gym something more modern. With a and '60s probably three-fourths of by seating capacity of more than 1,200, the students went to the games." Kyle Neddenriep, IndyStar it was the largest in Newton County. It felt that way again that Saturday Sportswriter, (published Dec. 19, In the decade after it was built, night. Dubbed the "Throwback 2018 in the Indianapolis Star) Morocco hosted the sectional six Basketball Experience," the game Morocco, Ind.--On one Saturday times. started as an idea from Gonczy, a night in this quiet community of Stewart Hammel does not go back Social Studies teacher at North 1,100, an individual could grab a quite that far. But he proudly wore Newton and former boys (2004-08)

IHSBHS 2019 WINTER ISSUE Page 2 and girls (2011-15) coach at the team, was in attendance that night coach Steve Brunes who went on to school. Gonczy is a Morocco native with many of his former players. a long career in coaching. North who grew up playing games at the "With all due respect, they were Newton has struggled mightily in old gym when he was an elementary probably going to fire me that year," recent years, winning just 33 games pupil. The elementary school sits Hoover said. "Then we won the first total since the 2006-07 season. A next to the old gym. "When I got sectional championship in the home game at North Newton, located into coaching, I'd walk into this gym school's history and it probably 7 miles north of Morocco on U.S. and it would just feel like delayed that." Hoover said he Route 41, might normally draw 250 "Hoosiers," said Gonczy, referring to coached only one game at Morocco, or 300 people. "We are not a strong the 1986 movie on Indiana high but he enjoyed the throwback basketball school, but we are a school basketball in the 1950s." "I atmosphere present that night. He strong community," Gonczy said. always wanted to play here, but it also enjoyed the chance to visit with "That's why we wanted to give the was hard to get another coach to some of the first players he coached, kids a taste of what this is like." agree. 'It is a shorter court, which who are now in their early 70s. "I Casey Ehlinger, a 1995 North can be kind of an equalizer." think of them every day," Hoover Newton graduate, was coaching the Paul Norwine, a social studies said. "They've all done very well in Spartans on an interim basis in 2018- teacher at Kankakee Valley, e- their lives." 'In Indiana at that time 19. North Newton, a class 2A mailed Gonczy in June last year to in coaching, if you didn't have some school, lost its fifth straight game of inquire about the possibility of success in your first or second time the season (86-39) to class 4A playing a varsity game in the around, you didn't get hired again. Kankakee Valley just before this Morocco gym. Norwine coordinated 'Winning that first sectional kept me article appeared in the Star. Like the side for Kankakee Valley, a 1970 going for a long time." Ehlinger, most of the North Newton consolidation of DeMotte and Wheatfield. Players from the 1950, '65, and '67 Wheatfield Red Devil sectional champions were in attendance, along with the 1964 and '70 DeMotte Indians sectional title teams. Graduates from the Fair Oaks Cherokees and Tefft Tigers were also invited to join the "red out" on the Kankakee Valley side. Two players from Wheatfield's 1950 sectional title team, Hank Ganzeveld and Firman Walker, watched the junior varsity game from a corner of the gym that Saturday night. Walker, a junior on its team in 1950, reached into his letterman jacket Gymnasium holds first varsity game in over fifty years. pocket and pulled out a pack of Juicy (Photo: Clark Wade /IndyStar) Fruit with two sticks of gum. "That's Morocco won only one sectional players grew up playing elementary been hanging in there for 50- {in the 1940s, 50s, and 60s-Ed.}, ball games in the old Morocco gym. something years," Walker said with a taking the 1956 title at Rensselaer It was saved in 2009 when the school laugh as the North Newton band with a win over the host in the board voted to build a new played on the stage at the other end championship game. Morocco elementary school at the site of the of the court. consolidated with Mount Ayr to old school in Morocco instead of Jerry Hoover, 85 years old and form North Newton in 1967. North next to the high school. "This is still coaching at Blackford High Newton has struggled in basketball where they cut their teeth playing School, was inducted into the over the years, winning only a single basketball," Ehlinger explained. Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame last sectional title in 1978. Those "The atmosphere was awesome. 'If March. Hoover, coach of the 1964 Spartans were in attendance also that your blood isn't pumping on a night DeMotte sectional championship Saturday night, along with then- like that, you don't have a heartbeat."

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Kankakee Valley coach Bill my destination took me to the much- state, but never as many as 1,400(!) Shepherd stood in the visitors' locker touted Walter P. Chrysler of them. In this case, I was told that room underneath the bleachers after Fieldhouse--or as it is better known, they were scattered (if that's the the game and marveled at the scene. the New Castle Fieldhouse. I had correct word to use) in various places Kankakee Valley had practiced in heard the capacity numbers repeated on the high school grounds. I spent the gym the day after Thanksgiving, in articles and books for decades but over an hour pursuing these seats but to see it with a full crowd was had personally never visited the which were situated in softball & yet another experience. Shepherd facility. Upon arriving, I stopped by stadiums, and soccer & had to explain the 10-second the office of the A.D. (Vance Meier) football fields. These seats were of and told him what my purpose for the 3-to-4-row aluminum- the visit was. I also advised him that constructed kind that could possibly I collected seating charts of hold 10 to 15 spectators per row. basketball gyms and arenas and This is the most common type of asked if I could obtain one of theirs. temporary seating. It can be easily He politely gave me a large (2 ft. x 3 transported because of the ft.) detailed engineer's seating chart. lightweight metal involved. But I proceeded to walk over to the even applying those seats, it was arena, and it was at that time I got impossible for me to account for the my first look at the famous facility. I 1,400 number. Stewart Hammel and his 1960 Morocco letter jacket. (Photo: Kyle Neddenriep) can vividly remember as if it were I've been fully aware of the yesterday as my eyes scanned slowly "underground bowl" design of gyms line that was common in the days of to the left and right. The first pioneered by Ralph Legeman of smaller gyms. "It felt like sectionals, thought that came to me was "Ain't Evansville. I also recall a detailed almost," Kankakee Valley senior no way (of being 9,325 seats here), article written about him that was Malik Hemphill mused. "To feel maybe eight thousand at most." By published a half-century ago that I everybody come together and then I had been in perhaps a hundred once read. The New Castle support us was really fun." or more gyms, so I could walk into Fieldhouse employs that design. If Before the game, Gonczy talked to nearly any one of them and within a the top two rows were to be a woman who told him that she was minute or so could guess (usually removed, say rows 23 and 24, the sitting in the same spot where her within about 90%) of what it seated. result would be a loss of 876 seats. parents once sat at games. Gonczy Nevertheless, I began a meticulous The overall seating capacity would received several pats on the back that count to ascertain the accountability therefore be reduced from 7,831 to Saturday night, even after the home of a sign there that proudly 6,955. team left with a loss. On that night, proclaimed, "The World's Largest I last visited the New Castle nostalgia was the big winner. "A lot Gymnasium." Fieldhouse in December 2018 for the of people have said, 'I'm so proud of Using the seating chart as a Hall of Fame Classic tourney. I you for putting this together'--but guideline (and it appeared quite counted the fixed seats once again what they really mean is 'It's so accurate), I walked around the entire and came up with 7,830 rather than awesome that I can sit here and think gym and through every section, then my earlier count of 7,831; almost the back to a different time."' totaled up my count. The total was same but not quite. One seat, as it 7,831, a figure very near (within turned out, was missing. For some NEW CASTLE'S FIELDHOUSE 97.9%) the 8,000 seats I had casually unknown reason, in row 6, Section CAPACITY estimated. I decided to return to the B, the numbered seats there skipped by A.D.'s office to ask Mr. Meier where from seat #17 to seat #19, with no Researchers Richard Tekulve, Jim the other 1,400 seats were that seat #18. Why? Your guess is as Brandyberry, and Doug Bradley brought its total to the 9,325 as good as mine. Anyway, while shown in nearly all the basketball- addressing the hidden temporary Tekulve assessments: Nearly a related literature. His answer was seats question, I determined that quarter of a century ago when I first "temporary seats." I was already perhaps the final time they were used started my journey to visit every aware of extra counts sometimes was in 1997 when Batesville brought single Indiana high school gym and being given for temporary seats three to four thousand fans with them count every single seat in every gym, during my travels throughout the to New Castle, along with a one-loss

IHSBHS 2019 WINTER ISSUE Page 4 team. After that, temporary seats on the front row. Overall, seating building any 6-to-8-thousand-seat were never again needed. This fact capacity in older gyms has gyms costing 10 to 20 million dollars mostly concluded my research on the diminished. This is mainly because or more. I've read a few articles fieldhouse's seating history. of the high costs to repair or about schools wanting to repair their Another gym that will drop in the maintain large sections of bleachers, outdated and overused bleachers, but rankings of high school basketball much of which could be 50 years old even those costs often run into a seating capacities is Marion's Bill or older and are often lightly used half-million dollars or more. As odd Green Athletic Arena. I have been to these days. Whole new replacement as it sounds, money is often saved this arena only one time, October 20, bleachers are often put in place today just by installing new ones. 1992. At that time, I counted 7,692 with the seats being wider now at 18 Regardless, I'm thinking that over seats which closely matched the inches, compliant with existing rules the years we possibly became overly Capacity sign that read 7,690. I and regulations on spectator proud that we could travel the remember talking to coach Green facilities. When I conducted my country and brag about the while he was testing tryouts for the visits to gyms (mostly between 1992 humongous sizes of our high school upcoming season. He had an awful and 1994), I noticed that the width of basketball gyms back home in the lot of good potentials on the floor at seats ranged from 14 to 19 inches. Hoosier state. But, like our two the time. He said to me "You pick Very few newer "large" arenas have decades of class basketball 'em, I don't know who to cut." Bill been built in the last 25 years experience to date, perhaps the and I also talked about the arena for (possibly reflecting the reduction in bragging has tailed off a bit. a short time and he remarked "they're ticket sales over that timespan). Brandyberry assessments: I was tight seats, ain't they?" The seats Before Anderson's Wigwam fell born in New Castle, graduated from were only 16 inches wide at the time into disuse, I counted 9,108 there, Muncie Central, and for years have and are still that width on the upper and in March 2015 I counted 8,228 questioned New Castle's claim to concourse which holds a total of at Seymour while at the regional. If having the largest high school 4,658 seats. The lower seats on both Seymour were to put up temporary fieldhouse. In fact, here are my the ends and the sides have been seats in the gym's upper corners, I calculations, based on the seating replaced with what looks like 18- estimate its capacity would be 9,400 chart (see page 6). The temporary inch molded plastic and that would to 9,700. I'm curious exactly what bleachers are shown on the eliminate enough ordinary seats to East Chicago's arena holds, as I have configuration, but I did not include cut the total to about 7,000. not been there in 25 years. Not those in my seat count. Columbus, as well, eliminated its much has been mentioned publicly lower level seats and probably lost about its facility--it seems almost Section Seating between 300 to 400 of them in the under the radar. I do know that A 330 process. Kokomo, years ago, lost Marion has installed all new lower B 550 well over a thousand seats when its section 18-inch molded plastic seats, C 612 Memorial Gymnasium was which will reduce the seating D 1056 renovated. capacity down to about 7,000 to E 612 From many of the clear, bright and 7,100. Columbus has lost perhaps F 550 sharp photos of Indiana gyms shown 300-400 seats. A recent count I G 384 on the internet these days, I would made at Southport came to only H 550 make a conservative estimate that 6,847, and Greencastle has lost 600- I 612 somewhere in the range of 30 to 40 700 seats. It's a trend that will J 1056 percent of them have had continue as more and more schools K 612 replacement bleachers installed are installing the new 18-inch L 550 sometime after the turn of the molded plastic type of seats, with all Total 7474 twenty-first century. Along with of the new A.D.A. compliance rules that, many have added an extra aisle and the local government-mandated This total is even smaller than other or two while sometimes eliminating fire marshal restrictions. recent calculations I've seen. Here is one or more rows. There is also now A new "big" facility is now a letter I received in 2013 from the an A.D.A. (American Disabilities considered to be in the 4,000 to New Castle High principal, Act) requirement that requires 5,000-seat range. It is now highly responding to my inquiry about the removal of seats previously situated unlikely that we will see schools temporary bleachers:

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"Mr. Brandyberry, general. As such, he's well-versed the temporary seats that could be on the history and seating capacity of squeezed into the facility whenever The bleachers that you are referring the New Castle Fieldhouse. His past needed. That fact triggered a to are no longer in existence. There efforts serve to dispel some of the question that has ever since lingered are other bleachers that we would commonly accepted and long- in the minds of some basketball pull out if ever needed, but standing myths surrounding its researchers seeking the truth. Should basketball games do not draw the seating capacity. He states: "I temporary seats be counted as part of crowds like they did 30 plus years counted the seats in late September the total? Bradley suggests they ago. We do sell close to 5,000 2010. There were 7,829 seats. could be, depending upon whether (tickets) for the Hall of Fame Classic When the Anderson School Board the temporaries are routinely used or (in 2011), but that is as close as I voted to close the Wigwam, I flew left in place most of the time. have witnessed to a full crowd in the back (from Florida) and counted Doug believes that the Fieldhouse last five years. Codes are different 9,122 seats there. I immediately is one of Indiana's simplest arenas in today and I am not sure many of the went to New Castle to beg for an which to count seats, because the gyms that were assigned seating original seating chart. Cheryl highest numbered seat in each row is specs 50 plus years ago are accurate Betten, the ticket , gave me easily visible and there have never with modern requirements. Best of a copy. A few days later in Florida I been any major changes. He says it's luck in your research." counted 9,249 seats on the chart. not quite as simple to count as is "the That count included the original World's Biggest Box Gym" at Gary Chris Walker, Principal temporary bleachers. But that's all West, but simple, nevertheless. New Castle High School there are. The originally publicized The New Castle Fieldhouse is larger figures of 9,325 and 9,314 are circular, symmetrical, and semi- Brandyberry recalls that in early lies, no controversy, no question underground, typical of the Ralph September 2019 an article appeared about it." Bradley's preserved Legeman design. But it isn't clear in the New Castle Courier-Times, numbers are as follows: whether temporary seats were written by sports reporter Darrel included as a part of his original Radford, declaring that word had The first "charted" seat count layout for such gyms. Doug believes spread that the old temporary (including temporaries) was 9,249 they weren't, but Legeman did bleachers no longer existed, but that (in 1959). include them in his prints for New replacements would be forthcoming The seat count with the upper corner Castle as well as for the L.C. Walker soon. Those would restore the seat temporary bleachers in place was Arena in Muskegon, Michigan. The count to its former level of 9,325. At 8,321. temporary seats in Muskegon stayed that point, New Castle could once The fixed seat count (excluding all on the concourse until a major again lay claim to having the world's temporary seats) was 7,841. remodeling ultimately did away with largest and finest high school A later fixed seat count after the the concourse itself. At New Castle, gymnasium. According to Radford, removal of twelve floor-level seats the temporary seats were seldom the Fieldhouse's seating capacity was 7,829. used. Most of the time, the arena today has shrunk to 7,829 (without The total seat count (including only had only 7,841 seats available for the temporaries), leaving the title of the corner temporaries) was 8,309. spectators. With the temporary world's largest high school gym to The total seat count (including all bleachers in place at the upper Seymour, where 8,228 seats are temporaries) was 9,237. corners, its capacity climbed to available. Brandyberry asserts that The present remaining seat count at 8,321. With all the temporary seats on Sept. 13, 2019 some extra present (no temporaries in place) is in place, the capacity rose to 9,249. bleachers appeared in the Fieldhouse 7,829. Doug points out that after the 1980 but had not yet been set up. New That first publicized seat count, regional and before the start of Castle seems determined to regain somehow altered to 9,325 at times the1980-81 season, two floor-level #1. and 9,314 at others, became the basis scoreboards took the place of twelve Bradley assessments: Doug for the contention that New Castle fixed seats. They were seat numbers Bradley is an IHSBHS Board had the "world's largest high school 3-8 at one end of the court and seat member and an avid researcher. He gymnasium." It undoubtedly was, numbers 4-9 at the other end. That is an acknowledged expert at Indiana but the publicized counts were left 7,829 by count most of the time, gym capacities and counts, in wrong. They were also inclusive of 8,309 whenever the temporary

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IHSBHS 2019 WINTER ISSUE Page 7 bleachers went up in the corners, and 9,237. But whether that is possible Hamilton’s book is available at 9,237 when all the temporaries were remains to be seen. Once they Amazon.com for $17-$18 or you can set up. arrive, the Foundation intends to ask your local library to obtain a To explain the function of the donate the temporaries to the school. copy. Perhaps our readers can give temporary seats, Bradley uses a Some of them are apparently already us up-to-date information on the "Kitchen Table" analogy: He says on site, but no timetable for status of these monuments to a "For 363 days a year, my parents installation, to Bradley's knowledge, bygone age. Frankfort tore down its have a kitchen table that has two has yet been agreed upon. 1922 gym after building a new one chairs. They have had no kids at in 1963. The 1924 Anderson home for over ten years. One sister HISTORY OF INDIANA'S Wigwam burned down in 1958. At comes back for Thanksgiving dinner LARGEST BB GYMS,-- Martinsville and Vincennes, the with her husband and my parents put "COURTESY" OF DOW JONES original gyms are now used by a leaf in the table so that four chairs by middle school and junior high can be placed around it. The leaf is Roger F. Robison students. taken out of the table the day following Thanksgiving so that the Purdue and Indiana built new Table 1: Largest Indiana Gyms 1922-29 1. 1922 Frankfort 3,500 table again needs only two seats, On gymnasiums (gyms) in 1912 and 2. 1924 Martinsville 5,200 Christmas day, both my sisters and 1917 respectively. They both seated 3. 1924 Anderson 5,001 their husbands are at my parents' 2500 fans, with standing room for 4. 1926 Vincennes 6,200 house, so two table leaves are another 1000-1500. These were the 5. 1928 Lafayette 5,000 installed so that six chairs can be largest gyms in Indiana until 1922 6. 1928 Muncie 7,500 7. 1928 I.U. 8,000 used at the table. The next day, it's when Frankfort, with a student body 8. 1928 Butler 15,000 back to no leaves and only two of 600, dedicated Howard Hall 9. 1929 Indpls.Tech 6,000 chairs. That's the way the which accommodated 3500 fans; See Fieldhouse seating worked over the Table 1. Martinsville and Anderson All these old gyms, and more, years. Almost every game needed followed in 1924 with over 5000 were built when the school no extra seats. Now and then seats. At the time of their corporations were flush with cash though, seats were set up in the dedications, none of these three due to the prosperity of the "Roaring corners (the rarest configuration), but schools had won a state title. Twenties" and the booming stock also now and then, especially for the Vincennes won the title in 1923 and market which was reflected by the regionals, ALL the temporary seats made the final four in 1925, Dow Jones Industrials Average were set up. prompting the locals to construct the (DJIA). The bull market of the The fixed seats at the Coliseum with its magnificent pipe 1920s reached its zenith on Fieldhouse were refinished this past organ and 414 loge-chair seats. September 3, 1929, when the DJIA summer. As of September 19, new After winning the title in 1928, reached a level of 381. It then fell seat numbers had not yet been Muncie Central built its 7500-seat slowly to 298 by October 26. On stenciled on them, but the Fieldhouse which served as the Black Monday, October 28, it fell to Community School Board largest gym in the state, if not the 260 and then on Black Tuesday the Corporation states that they should country, for 30 years. It is still one 29th it fell another 30.57 points to be given the same numbers as before of the largest high school gyms in 230. By November 13th, the DJIA which add up to the presently the USA. At the tail end of this seemed to stabilize at 198--down accepted figure of 7,829. The seat construction era, Indianapolis 48%! It rallied in April of 1930 to numbering issue hasn't been fully Arsenal Technical dedicated its gym 294 and then began a relentless slide settled yet since there could be in October and November of 1929. to its nadir of 41 in July of 1932-- justification to alter some of the seat This coincided with the stock market down 89% from its previous zenith. number designations. Bradley says crash and the beginning of the Great A slow recovery from then until that the Henry County Community Depression. All of these gyms, and 1937 brought it back up to 190, but it Foundation is raising money for new more, are beautifully illustrated in fell back to 100 in 1938. This was temporary bleachers that New Castle Donald Hamilton’s Pictorial History the Great Depression of 1929-39. wants in order to restore the total of Indiana High School Basketball The stock market & DJIA oscillated capacity to at least the same Gyms, entitled “Hoosier Temples, back and forth between 100 and 150 historical figure as is now accepted, published in 1993”; See Fig. 1. until the end of World War 11 in

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1945. See Table 2. brought the DJIA back to 381 by II, new construction was limited to During the Great Depression large November of 1954. It had taken 20 war-related projects only. This limitation affected Kokomo where the Wildkats lost the 1944 state title game on 18 March after which their gym burned down on 21 March. Due to the war-time restrictions the city had to wait until 1947-49 to build its new gym, which today remains an architectural gem. The small town of Huntingburg, population 5376, then built a 6214- seat gym in 1951. The continuing post-war prosperity brought on construction of 14 more of the nation’s largest high school gyms, as tabulated by Hamilton in 1992/3--see Figure 1 Table 3. Attendance at the IHSAA TABLE 2: DJIA LEVELS DURING SPECIFIC PERIODS tournament peaked in the 1960s, but Date Yrs. Gain Low to High the construction of large gyms with 8/1921—9/1929 8.0 317 64 to 381 over 7000 seats continued during the 7/1932—3/1937 4.8 149 41 to 190 stable economy of 1965-71. World War II stable 150-190 Building then ceased in 1971 as 6/1949—2/1956 7.1 369 161 to 530 8/1982—8/1987 5.0 1923 777 to 2,700 attendance continued to dwindle 1990—2000 9.5 9020 2,700 to 11,720. below pre-1950 levels, as noted by Hamilton. and expensive new gyms were no years for the stock market and the The bull market of 1982-87 longer an option, and during World economy to improve enough to persuaded two schools to build gyms War II new buildings were restricted to war projects. However, throughout 1933-41 small gyms usually seating anywhere between 1000 to 2000 spectators were built by the WPA [Works Progress Administration] and the PWA [Public Works Administration]. These were government make-work projects involving construction and jobs for the unemployed or underemployed. Donald Hamilton found at least 25 such gyms at small schools from the shores of Lake Michigan at Porter County [Kouts High] to the Ohio River at Jefferson County [Madison High]. Larger schools like Peru, Jeffersonville and Figure 2 Richmond built larger gyms by resume building large gyms. See in excess of 8000 seats despite the camouflaging them as Community Fig. 2. continued drop in in attendance. By Centers or Civic Auditoriums. In In 1941, unemployment had then (1987), Indiana had 15 of the 1937, Jeffersonville’s new structure dropped below 10% and many nation's 16 largest high school gyms. seated 6000 spectators. The post-war considered the Depression to be The only out-of-state "intruder" on bull market of 1949-56 finally over. However, during World War Hamilton's chart was the 7500-seat

IHSBHS 2019 WINTER ISSUE Page 9 gym in Dallas Texas, listed #7 gymnasium seats and have some new full years. Lowell's first loss during nationally. The only pre-war gym totals as noted in Table 3. The big that period was to East Gary 45-65 was the 1928 Muncie Fieldhouse, news is that New Castle's vast arena and its final one also to East Gary by which seats 6576, ranked at #16 (not has lost over 1500 in seating capacity the nearly identical score of 45-69. shown in Table 3). Hamilton's over the past several years! After that loss, a tight home-game complete chart in his book shows win the following week, on Jan. 24, that only seven of the 36 largest References: (1) Hoosier Temples, by 1954, against Michigan City St. gyms in the U.S. were located out- Donald Hamilton, 1993, (2) Doug Mary's High, ended the record- of-state. Bradley, IHSBHS researcher, 2019. setting loss streak which eclipsed Today, the marvelous structures in three years by a single day. Coach Cy Bowman's 1950-51 Red TABLE 3 Devils squad began its season by

POST-WW II LARGE HIGH SCHOOL GYMS winning three of its first four starts. But then a six-game losing streak In Order Year School 1993 Seats* 1993 Rank* 2019 Seats** quickly followed to leave the Red Devils at 3-7 midway through the BULL MARKET (1949-66) season. A 63-60 home upset win 1 1949 Kokomo 6604 #15 2 1951 Huntingburg 6214 #19 against Hobart on Jan. 19 would be 3 1954 Elkhart 7373 #8 the team's final victory for almost 4 1954 Columbus North 7071 #14 6066 three long and disheartening years. 5 1957 Southport 7124 #12 After the loss to East Gary to start 6 1959 New Castle 9325 #1 7809 the streak, Lowell would lose 7 1961 Anderson 8996 #2 Vacant 8 1965 Dallas, Texas 7500 #7 another eight games to finish the 1950-51 season at 4-16. Without STABLE MARKET (1966-82) that upset win over Hobart, the three- 9 1967 Washington 7090 #13 year losing streak would have totaled 10 1968 Gary West 7217 #10 69 rather than 62. 11 1969 Marion 7560 #6 12 1969 Lafayette Jeff. 7200 #11 The losing streak stood at 9 games 13 1970 Seymour 8110 #3 8228 to open the 1951-52 season. After 14 1971 Michigan City 7304 #9 bowing to Kouts on opening night, 15 1975 Bedford N Lawr. 6347 #18 coach Bowman's team nearly ended the streak on Nov. 30 when visiting BULL MARKET (1982-87) 16 1984 Richmond 8100 #4 7786 Calumet Twp. narrowly defeated the 17 1986 East Chicago 8050 #5 Red Devils 37-36. Lowell had an opportunity to end the streak at its *Hamilton numbers **Bradley numbers 11th game of the season, too, when the winless Eagles of East Gary came to town hoping to end its own losing streak. The Eagles' hopes were realized while the Red Devils' Indiana are less than half-full on LOWELL HIGH SCHOOL'S aspirations for a turn-around at mid- Friday nights and have been 62-GAME LOSING STREAK season were dashed in a 51-37 East compared to the northbound Amtrak Jan. 23, 1951 Thru Jan. 19, 1954 Gary victory. Lowell finished the from Florida which carries more by Sean Bell season with a 0-20 record while coffins than live customers. And Sources: Lowell Tribune, Lowell extending its losing streak to 29 since 1993, some of the gym seats Library, The Lowellian Y'book games. have disappeared owing to Lowell High School has the With further losses to Rensselaer reconfigurations, new fire marshal dubious honor of having a 62-game and Calumet Twp. to begin the 1952- regulations, budgets, and losing streak recorded in its history 53 season, Lowell and coach deterioration. IHSBHS's Doug annals. The streak started on Jan. 23, Bowman were now eager to end its Bradley and Richard Tekulve have 1951 and continued through Jan. 19, 31-game losing streak with a home been studiously counting various 1954, just four days short of three victory over the Kouts Mustangs, a

IHSBHS 2019 WINTER ISSUE Page 10 team lightly regarded within the Devils' ongoing losing streak for the Lowell Red Devils Rosters local surroundings. But it was not to first time. The article described the 1950-51 be. The Mustangs squeaked by, with streak as 37 games while it really Cy Bowman, Coach a 55-53 win against the now was only 36 games, counting the Stan McGehee, Soph disconsolate Red Devils. That two- Morocco loss. Another interesting, Carl Nelson, Jr point game loss, incidentally, proved and possibly more accurate, piece in Don Frederick, Sr to be one of the two closest losses in a later Tribune edition headlined the John Doolittle, Sr Lowell's 62-game streak. After a following: "Red Devils Try Stall Pat Sharkey, Jt Dec. 12, 1952 loss to Morocco, the against Portage (Twp.) Indians--It Dean Ruley, Sr Lowell Tribune mentioned the Red Didn't Work!" The attendant article Ricjard Koslowski, Jr Duane Ashton, Jr Lowell's 62-game Losing Streak Wally Webb, Sr 1950-51 Russell Tuttle, Sr 1. Jan. 23, 1951 @East Gary 45-65 Kenneth Johnson, Manager, Soph 2. Jan. 26, 1951 @Gary Wirt 59-85 Dean Childress, Manager, Sr 3. Jan. 30, 1951 Dyer @home 51-63 4. Feb. 2, 1951 @ Crown Point 47-57 1951-52 5. Feb. 6, 1951 @ Gary Edison 51-57 Cy Bowman, Coach 6. Feb. 9, 1951 Portage Twp. @home 32-36 Bill Elliot, Jr 7. Feb. 13, 1951 Hammond Noll @ Civic Center 41-71 Pat Sharkey, Sr 8. Feb. 16, 1951 @ Merrillville 34-43 Richard Koslowski, Sr 9. Feb. 20, 1951 Griffith (sectional) @ Civic Center 23-59 Dick Norlin, Jr 1951-52 Bob Feddeler, Fr 10. Nov. 23, 1951 @ Kouts 36-44 Reggie Brown, Soph 11. Nov. 30, 1951 Calumet Twp. @home 36-37 Jim Rust, Sr 12. Dec. 4, 1951 Hebron @home 36-55 Charles Larson, Soph 13. Dec. 7, 1951 @ Crown Point 32-60 George Schutz, Soph 14. Dec. 11, 1951 @ DeMotte 40-67 Leon Sirois, Soph 15. Dec. 14, 1951 Morocco @home 44-50 Stan McGehee, Jr 16. Dec. 20, 1951 Merrillville @Crown Pt. tourney 50-78 Tom Burgess, Soph 17. Jan. 11, 1952 @ Griffith 29-80 Carl Nelson, Sr 18. Jan. 16, 1952 @ Merrillville 31-63 George Sharp, Soph 19. Jan. 18, 1952 @ Hobart 46-61 Leon Clinton, Jr 20. Jan. 22, 1952 East Gary @home 37-51 Paul Hutton, Manager, Fr 21. Jan. 25, 1952 Gary Roosevelt @ Gary Memorial 14-55 Kenneth Johnson, Manager, Jr 22. Jan. 29, 1952 @ Dyer 37-75 Roger Parks, Manager, Fr 23. Feb. 1, 1952 Crown Point @home 29-38 24. Feb. 6, 1952 Gary Edison @ Gary Memorial 35-85 1952-53 25. Feb. 8, 1952 @ Portage Twp. 23-42 Cy Bowman, Coach 26. Feb. 12, 1952 Hammond Noll @ Civic Center 28-70 Tom Burgess, Jr 27. Feb. 15, 1952 Merrillville @home 35-75 Dick Norlin, Sr 28. Feb. 19, 1952 Gary Wirt @home 31-36 Marvin Miller, Jr 29. Feb. 28, 1952 Hamm. Noll (sect.) @ Civic Cent. 44-59 Jack Hawkins, Soph 1952-53 Bill Elliot, Jr 30. Nov. 14, 1952 @ Rensselaer 30-82 George Sharp, Jr 31. Nov. 21, 1952 @ Calumet Twp. 38-58 Norbert Jung, Sr 32. Nov. 25, 1952 Kouts @home 53-55 Leon Sirois, Jr 33. Dec. 2, 1952 @ Hebron 36-65 Leon Clinton, Sr 34. Dec. 5, 1952 Hammond Morton @home 45-61 Charles Larson, Jr 35. Dec. 9, 1952 DeMotte @home 55-81 Kenneth Johnson, Manager, Sr (Continued on next page) James Allison, Manager, Fr

IHSBHS 2019 WINTER ISSUE Page 11 stated that the first quarter score was their first win of the season, 1953-54 2-0 and that Lowell actually held a defeating the hapless Red Devils 48- Paul Schuyler, Coach 10-9 lead late in the second quarter. 41. Lowell suffered its second Tom Burgess, Sr Charles Larson, Sr 36. Dec. 12, 1952 @ Morocco 35-51 Bob Hall, Fr 37. Dec. 18, 1952 Hobart @ Crown Pt. tourney 47-69 Don Holth, Fr 38. Jan. 9, 1953 Griffith @home 56-67 Jack Hawkins, Jr 39. Jan. 16, 1953 Hobart @home 47-69 Jerry Sund, Jr 40. Jan. 20, 1953 @ East Gary 46-65 Dave Adam, Soph 41. Jan. 24, 1953 Griffith @ Hamm. Morton tourn. 37-62 Donnie Wietbrock, Soph 42. Jan. 24, 1953 Hamm. Morton at same tourney 58-64 Bob Greathouse, Soph 43. Jan. 27, 1953 Dyer @home 42-56 Jim Bevins, Soph 44. Jan. 30, 1953 @ Crown Point 38-83 Bob Feddeler, Jr 45. Feb. 3, 1953 Gary Edison @home 41-64 Dick Morrison, Soph 46. Feb. 6, 1953 Portage Twp. @home 28-51 Marvin Trueblood, Soph 47. Feb. 13, 1953 @ Merrillville 43-61 James Allison, Manager, Soph 48. Feb. 17, 1953 Gary Wirt @ Gary Memorial 41-48 Ted Coons, Manager, Soph 49. Feb. 25, 1953 Hamm. Noll (sect.) @ Civic Cent. 29-54 1953-54 and didn't mind at all when the 50. Nov. 13, 1953 Rensselaer @home 30-78 contest was decided on a technicality 51, Nov. 20, 1953 Calumet Twp. @home 38-77 in the final seconds. 'Trailing 37-36 52. Nov. 24, 1953 @ Kouts 38-81 with only time enough left for a 53. Dec. 1, 1953 Hebron @home 48-87 couple of shots, Tom Burgess fired 54. Dec. 4, 1953 @ Hammond Morton 57-75 one from the side. 'Jim Kintzele, 6-6 55. Dec. 8, 1953 @ DeMotte 44-66 Michigan City center, leaped into the 56. Dec. 11, 1953 Morocco @home 33-52 air to block the ball, but in doing so 57. Dec. 17, 1953 Griffith @ Calumet tourney 37-65 his hand struck the netting, and 58. Dec. 18, 1953 Dyer @ same tourney 53-63 Lowell was awarded the two points 59. Jan. 8, 1954 @ Griffith 48-71 they needed for the most important 60. Jan. 12, 1954 Chesterton @home 58-72 victory ever won at L.H.S. 'Burgess 61. Jan. 15, 1954 @ Hobart 40-91 shot, although it didn't go through 62. Jan. 19, 1954 East Gary @home 45-69 the hoop, touched off the biggest display of enthusiasm ever witnessed It went on to say that Portage then consecutive 0-20 season. The streak here, and will probably never be started pushing the pace and ended now stood at 49 games. equaled again--even if the Devils the third quarter with a 32-16 lead. Paul Schuyler took over the were to win a state championship." It continued, "the five starting coaching duties to start the '53-'54 The five starters for Lowell played (Portage) players were sent to the season. The losses continued the entire game. They were showers early when the coach unabated through Jan. 19, 1954 with sophomores Dave Adam and Ronnie decided he had a safe lead, but he a loss to East Gary. It came almost Wietbrock, junior Jerry Sund, and hadn't planned on one of his exactly three years after the first loss seniors Tom Burgess and Charles remaining five boys being tossed out of the streak. On Jan. 22, Lowell Larson. Despite ending the streak, by the officials." Despite Portage eked by St. Mary's of Michigan City the Red Devils would lose their next having to play the final three minutes 38-37 to end the streak. The weekly four games. A win over Gary Wirt with only four players, it managed to Lowell Tribune exclaimed in a just before the sectional would leave further widen the game score margin headline on its front page (no, not the '53-'54 season record at 2-19. At and won going away, 51-28. just the sports page) "L.H.S. Red last, perhaps the worst was over. On Feb. 17, 1953, the Lowell team Devils Break Record Losing Streak Loyal L.H.S. basketball fans were traveled to Gary's Memorial Gym to With 38-37 Win." The win didn’t destined to experience somewhat take on the winless Gary Wirt come without controversy, though. better years in the future, once that Troopers in the final game of the The Tribune gave this account: long and historic losing streak ended. regular season. The Troopers got "Lowell wasn't particular how it won The End

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BECOME AN IHSBHS MEMBER (Indiana High School Basketball Historical Society)

Join a statewide group of sports-minded individuals who have a common interest in the history of high school basketball, Indiana’s favorite sport. Membership dues are currently just $10 per year. Established in 1994, and loosely associated with the Hall of Fame in New Castle, IHSBHS (pronounced “ish-bish”) publishes four seasonal newsletters for its members, each issue usually 12 to 16 pages in content, known as Boxscore. This newsletter contains diverse items, including short stories that recount tales of former Hoosier ballplayers and their schools’ teams. Members are invited, but not required, to submit their own personal stories for inclusion in Boxscore.

Membership Application

Name:______

Mailing Address:______

E-Mail (optional for receiving Boxscore)______

Telephone No. (optional)______

High School and graduation year______

Check or money order to IHSBHS for $10 enclosed?______

Mail to: IHSBHS Treasurer Rocky Kenworthy, 710 E. 800 S., Clayton, IN 46118

Board of Directors: Roger Robison (Frankfort ’54), Harley Sheets (Lebanon ’54), Cliff Johnson (Western ’54), Rocky Kenworthy (Cascade ’74), Tim Puet (Valley, PA ’69), Leigh Evans (Castle ’86), John Ockomon (Pendleton ’60), Doug Bradley (Columbus East ‘77 ), Jeff Luzadder (Dunkirk ‘74 ), Curtis Tomak (Linton '59), Kermit Paddack (Sheridan ’02), Hugh Schaefer (Freelandville ’61).

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IHSBHS MEMBER PROFILE FORM (Tell us about yourself) Complete this form and mail to: Rocky Kenworthy, IHSBHS, 710 E, 800 S, Clayton, IN 46118. Profiles may appear in Boxscore from time to time. Today’s Date ______Member’s Name ______Phone No.______Email ______Address ______Occupation/Profession ______Retired? ______Major Interests/Hobbies ______Past Sports Activities ______Where Born? ______Year Born ______High School ______H.S. graduation year ______College or Univ.______Area of Study ______Degree(s)/Year ______Additional Comments You’d Like To Share: ______

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