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 16828 Fairburn Bradley, Curtis Tomak, Kermit Paddack, Hugh Schaefer. St., Hesperia, CA 92345. 2017 SUMMER ISSUE EDITORIAL POLICY champion in March of 1939, and it decided it could fill that role, and so The opinions expressed in was agreed among its high school set about making the detailed Boxscore by individual authors do administration, the news media, and arrangements in early spring. It was not necessarily reflect the views of state athletic officials that the presumed that this sort of contest IHSBHS as an organization. Hotdogs could be pitted in a special would appeal to fans, generate some summer event against the best gate revenue, and become an IHSBHS WEBSITE graduating players that the rest of the ongoing annual “classic” for years to Our IHSBHS website address is state had to offer, if a sponsor could come. As it turned out, that Indianabasketballhistory.com. be found. The Indianapolis Star presumption was proven correct, but You can also enter IHSBHS on your favorite search engine. CONTENTS OF THIS ISSUE 1939 Indiana All-Stars…………..1 Coaches’ All-Time Wins……….. 3 Evolution of Single Class BB….. 3 Green, Purple & Gold…………. 4 When Basketball Was King…… 9 Zionsville 1919………………… 10 Editor’s Remarks……………… 12 IHSBHS Membership Form….. 13 IHSBHS Profile Form……….... 14 Hall of Fame Membership……. 15 Zionsville Book Orders……….. 16 THE 1939 INDIANA ALL-STARS by Cliff Johnson, Editor The very first selection of the 1939 INDIANA ALL-STARS. Front row, left to right: Coach Tom Downey Indiana high school All-Stars was (Rossville), Don Frazier (Greencastle), George Crowe (Franklin), George Fields made by Hoosier basketball fans (Mooresville), Bud Goodwin (Bloomington), Fred Krampe (Shortridge). Back row, Asst. coach Doyle Plunkitt (Southport), Johnny Williams (Southport), George Taylor who submitted their votes at the (Greencastle), Roger Bundy (Salem), Howard Mitchell (Ind. Crispus Attucks), Wayne conclusion of the 1938-39 season. Payton (Spencer). Opponents were the state champion Frankfort Hot Dogs. The Frankfort had been crowned state series with the Kentucky All-Stars began the following year, 1940. IHSBHS 2017 SUMMER ISSUE Page 2 only by using a completely different 1925 and 1929. The Hot Dogs and guards Don Frazier from Greencastle format. their coach formed a superb and Bud Goodwin from After the initial 1939 event, the combination over the years, by any Bloomington. Other All-Star organizers realized that something account. Now, the latest edition of members included Howard Mitchell seemed inappropriate about the these players was to face those from Indianapolis Crispus Attucks state’s championship team having no considered by the Indiana voters to and Wayne Payton from Spencer at player being recognized as an All- be the best individual basketball stars forwards; George Taylor from Star in his own right. Besides, the in Indiana. What a challenge! Greencastle at the center post; with arranged match-up in talent and The Frankfort team was seriously Johnny Williams from Southport and athleticism was obviously tilted handicapped, however, with the Roger Bundy from Salem covering toward the All-Stars since they were absence of high-scoring forward Jim the guard spots. The coach, also as considered the best performers in the Laughner and pesky guard Dan selected by the Star readers, was state, apart from what one small city Davis. Laughner had not yet Tom Downey of Rossville, assisted had in stock. There were other graduated and thus was ineligible to by Doyle (Buck) Plunkitt of issues that materialized as well. For participate in the game, according to Southport. instance, the IHSAA ruled that high IHSAA rules. Davis could not By game time Friday evening, the school coaches were ineligible to attend the game either, because of city of Indianapolis was being coach post-season games, and that post-graduation commitments. besieged by a downpour of rain that players still enrolled in school could Lewis Cook, another big scoring continued on through the night. As a not play even if they were an integral threat, was ineligible to play as well consequence, most seats remained part of the championship team. because of his underclass status, but empty at Butler Fieldhouse. The Furthermore, the late date (August he suited up for the game and played paid attendance was counted at 5,200 17) that had been set by The Star to anyway. The logical thinking was which left nearly 10,000 seats stage the contest was problematic. that since he would turn 20 and thus vacant--in spite of the measly $1 Some of the players had already be ineligible for high school play the selling price for the choicest seats in moved out of state by that time, to next season anyway, it would surely the arena. The cheaper ones cost take up living quarters on various be OK to play him in this game. only a quarter. The turnout was college campuses. The higher mid- That decision, however, raised a disappointing, but the show had to summer temperatures in July and furor among IHSAA officials who go on. August were also a factor that promptly put Frankfort on probation Frankfort, while surprisingly ultimately contributed toward for the next season because of the having an edge in overall height moving the event up to mid-June, a apparent violation of its rule against against the All-Stars, was clearly few years later. But the major post-season play by an athlete still outclassed in speed, agility, and shot- revision and now familiar format enrolled in school. making right from the opening tip- began the next year, 1940, when Nevertheless, Frankfort was able off. They were also feeling the officials in Kentucky offered to take to put ten boys into uniform through absence of Laughner and Davis, their own All-Star team to Indiana to the use of four players from its “B” without a doubt. The All-Stars play in the “classic.” team graduates. Center Charles rushed to a quick 10-1 lead during In the meantime, the 1939 affair Johnson, the Hot Dogs’ leading the first quarter before the Frankfort was still scheduled to take place at scorer, and graduated stalwarts squad had taken a collective deep the specified time, 8:30 p.m. on Ernest McGill, Harold Pyle, Billie breath. Additionally, it came as a Friday, August 18, at the Butler Joe Wetzel, and Loren Brower shock that Crowe, Fields, and Fieldhouse. Everett Case, then accompanied Cook and the four B Krampe were overpowering the considered to be the dean of all team members to form a complete Hotdogs on the backboards. That Indiana high school coaches, had team for coach Case. continued throughout the first half guided his Frankfort team to the state The All-Stars, by comparison, which mercifully ended for Frankfort championship five months earlier in were formidable. The power of the with the All-Stars in command of a a repeat of the town’s previous 1936 squad was concentrated in forwards 24-12 lead. The third quarter was championship. Case had also George Crowe (Mr. Basketball) from essentially static, with coach advanced to Final Four appearances Franklin and George Fields from Downey substituting freely among at Frankfort in 1925, 1928, 1929, and Mooresville; 6-8 center Fred Krampe all ten of his players. Once the All- 1930, winning all the marbles in both from Indianapolis Shortridge; and Stars’ lead had escalated to 29-12 IHSBHS 2017 SUMMER ISSUE Page 3 during a lengthy defense-minded lost from the records, unfortunately. except during conscription for World period, they began to relax a bit on IHSBHS welcomes any information War I. School consolidations defense. Taking advantage of that, that may correct or contradict the reduced the number of entries to Frankfort initiated a late scoring numbers on our list. Our research is below 700 in 1960, below 600 in surge while belatedly exercising its tireless, but it isn’t the last word. 1964, below 500 in ’68, and below own sound defensive skills. The 400 in 1986. margin was reduced by nine points EVOLUTION OF THE SINGLE After the first four tourneys, it with about a minute left to play, but CLASS TOURNAMENT: 1911-97 became necessary to institute the margin buildup earlier in the by sectional eliminations to reduce the game would not be overcome.