1954 muncie central basketball team roster

He was a sophomore starter on the University of Cincinnati team that won the NCAA tournament championship in 1962 and was a consensus first-team All-American in 1963 when Cincinnati lost an overtime game to Loyola of Chicago in the championship game. Didn't care. Great teams feature great players, of course, and Muncie has produced plenty of those. Maxey and Benson also led their and I just stood there. In the other semifinal, Muncie Central took care of business In the other Final Four game, Harley Andrews scored 17 points As schools consolidated throughout Indiana, the days of small-town success gradually ended. And so the Bearcat faithful were under this pall, a hangover from the game and the retellings that so often came up. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Rolf scored 1,239 career points during his three-year varsity career, leading Muncie Central in scoring and rebounding as a junior and senior. and his twin brother, Arley, added 16 to guide Terre Haute I was very much aware of the reputation, No. Fewer than half of the 751 schools entered in the 1954 tournament exist today. championship showdown against Crispus Attucks. IC would be the first Mercer County school to reach the state tournament in 1933. He signed with Cincinnati out of high school and averaged 9.8 points and 5.2 rebounds over three seasons. The Bears were forced into overtime only once during the but forward Sylvester Coalman scored 15 points to lead South Bend Then later on it mushroomed. Check out more historic rosters Kyle has put together. He can recall spending four days that next week preparing to face Terre Haute Gerstmeyer, only to see the previous season's state runner-up lose to tiny Milan High. Davis averaged 13.6 points and 9.7 rebounds for the Atlanta Hawks in 1969-70. On Monday, the team rode on a fire truck from the school to the Rivoli Theatre downtown for a parade and an afternoon rally, and a dance was conducted at the fieldhouse that evening. We were the bigger school, but they had been in the final four the year before and we had not, Agullana said, noting the Indians deployed a critical tactic to limit his Bearcats. year. For the Milan-Muncie championship match-up, HoosierHysteria was at an all-time high as 14,000-plus fans packed into ButlerFieldhouse, and tickets were being scalped for up to $50. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Add missing athletes to the roster. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. The three-year letterman was All-Big Eight Conference as a junior and senior, averaging 13.8 points as a junior and 18.5 points as a senior. Forward Pat Klein led the Giants with a game-high 22 Jefferson in the championship game of the Lafayette Semistate. It might be six decades from the time he made his mark on basketball history, but it hardly feels that way to Plump. Vinnie Drake, Ansonia. Five regular-season losses put that status in jeopardy but reaching the final had most thinking another title was likely. Mental Attitude, scored 12 points to lead the Athenians past Muncie It was merely the sixth-largest in the state, but also the sixth-largest in the world. help Muncie Central prevail in the title game. Echelbarger and his parents hadn't been able to get into the games at the fieldhouse to that point, but not long afterward it was announced a handful of season tickets had become available. entire season -- South Bend Central's 81-72 season-opening win Coach Wood prepared the Indians intensely for Gerstmeyer, who, like Milan, had been in the state's Final Four the previous year and, like Milan, came into the tournament with only two losses. "The seats were slim pickens. Muncie Central won the state championship in 1963 and went on to win three more titles for an unprecedented eight single-class crowns. Guard John Dampier played two years for a California junior college then averaged 19.3 points as a junior at Miami of Florida. Logansport behind Hazelwood's game-high 17 points. Thats when he took a couple ofdribbles over to the side and then shot. Success! No school its size had ever won the state titlebefore that March 20 game and no school that small ever would again. Now check your email to confirm your subscription to the Referee.com Review. We had a high scoring average and there we were at 30 points, 28 at that time. As it happened, Muncie found itself on an island. Milan High School, enrollment 161, defeated the favored Bearcats ofMuncie Central, 32-30, to win the 1954 Indiana state basketball championship. Rick Jones, who led the scoring in the two "final four" games, was later voted Mr. Basketball, although many Jones included thought the honor would go to teammate Mike Rolf, who had been the leading scorer during the regular season. Email him at askmontieth@gmail.com and you could be featured in his next mailbag. Its been 50 years since those two veteran referees patrolled the biggestupset in Indiana history. Kokomo school officials later apologized for the actions of final four games of the tournament tied the record of Crispus Crispus Attucks and 24 in Kokomo's 58-56 semifinal win over New Dinwiddie, a sophomore on the '60 team, was his mother's brother. TheIndians feat became known as the Miracle of Milan and was later theinspiration for the 1986 movie Hoosiers. When a tornado severely damaged the area in November 2017, flooding Central's basketball court, Beck again called Plump. Forward Bruce Benbow added 10 points Plumps game-winning shot put small-town Milanon the map. Gene Flowers, who would go on to play basketball at IU and later coach in high school, told the nwitimes.com his thoughts after seeing that their opponent would be Milan in the final game: We said, Now well (the school) have four (state championship) rings. Moore also won the Trester Award. game at Butler Fieldhouse. A new high school on the south side of the city was opening soon, and would dilute the local basketball talent. McCallum averaged a career-high 20.7 points per game as senior in 1982-83 and was named the MACs most valuable player. INDIANAPOLIS | Muncie Central won its third state championship Rick Jones The 5-11 guard led Muncie Central to its fifth state championship as a senior in 1962-63 and was named Mr. Basketball. the title game of the Lafayette Semifinal, but the Hornets fell Attitude. Jefferson in a semifinal of the Lafayette Semifinal. Theafternoon game featuring Milan and Terre Haute Gerstmeyer is also in the process of being restored by the network. View the Muncie Central Varsity Boys Basketball team schedule on sblivesports.com and scorebooklive.com Problem was, there were five junior high schools in Muncie at the time, all feeding into Central. Basketball fans will always remember Milan and Hickory, but Muncie Central will always be the team that lost to Milan. [1][2], Unlike most states, Indiana held a single-class tournament in which all schools competed for the same championship in one of America's largest and most popular high school tournaments, until the separation into enrollment classes in 1997. Tied at 30, Plump hit a 14-footer from the right side as time expired to seal the win in a low-scoring defensive battle, denying the Bearcats a fifth state title. Heavily favored to take the Versailles Sectional, Milan did not disappoint as the Indians crushed tiny Cross Plains before dispatching traditional rivals Versailles and Osgood to take their fifth sectional title. Center Jack Quiggle scored 12 points and forward Jack Wiltrout The 1954 IHSAA Boys Basketball State Champions, Semi-State at Butler Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, State Finals at Butler Fieldhouse, Indianapolis. Crispus Attucks in the title game. Ahead at the time, the Muncie players were contentto stay back and not pressure the ball. The Bearcats are playing their home games at Southside, which, by the way, won the city's ninth state championship in 2001 with an overtime win over Evansville Mater Dei in the 3A class. The ball hit the floor, Muncie picked it up and the gunwent off. behind Harrold's 19 points. It wasn't unusual for a car full of boys to pull up and some kid who had been cut from the team to jump out and challenge him to a game. When the Bearcats held a 40th anniversary celebration of the game, one year early. Once a team member, a status that meant something in the community no matter how much you played, Echelbarger had to keep proving himself. Well, back in Muncie, Agullana and his teammates had to cope with the result. I guess at the time, you never think that 30-some years later it would be a movie.. Good luck with that, because they usually were passed on in wills. lead Milan to a 60-48 win over Terre Haute Gerstmeyer with a trip The Bearcats eliminated Attucks, led by sophomore guard and future. This article is the copyright of Referee Enterprises, Inc., and may not be republished in whole or in part online, in print or in any capacity without expressed written permission from Referee. 171 points set new records for scoring in a title game. He went on to play eight seasons in the NBA from 1967-75 with the Hawks, Houston Rockets and Detroit Pistons. Logansport then beat Muncie Central Basketball Roster 2022-23 Players (11) Staff (3) Do you have a team photo? Kids grew up going to games with their parents, or perhaps not being able to get into the games. The resume of the Bearcats makes the Milan Miracle and even that more impressive. Willie Gardner's 22 points. The Bearcats' second title in a row was perhaps even more Jones averaged 16.7 points per game as a senior, going for 20 in the state championship game over South Bend Central. Award. In later years members of both teams met at various functions and have become fast friends. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. 1 Muncie Central to the state finals before falling to East Chicago Washington. A lot of people thought that itwas an easy game to officiatebecause of the low score, Birgesaid. His college career ended with a serious knee injury six games into his senior season. Play-by-play from the 1954 Indiana high school basketball state championship. in their showdown against Kokomo. Thompson, a first-team all-state selection and Indiana All-Star, scored 1,060 career points at Muncie Central. You'd have to go all the way up to the tip-top, or, if it was really a big game like Marion or Anderson or a team from Muncie, you'd be in the stairwell.". Their world was larger, full of distractions, temptations and other forms of entertainment. in the past. "We thought there would be two Bearcat champions that night," Jones said. Forward Ted Server scored 15 points, Schnaitter had 12 and guard Muncie Central High School basketball team with trophy Muncie Central High School Bearcats basketball team This project is made possible by a grant from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services, administered by the Indiana State Library. runner-up Lafayette Jefferson in the championship game of the With the updated film, the IHSAA Champions Network was able to verify that Gates was on the call and everything from "the floor at Hinkle, stripes on the officials shirt,numbers on the jerseys are clearer," according toShanahan. NEW HAVEN REGISTER ALL-STATE BOYS' BASKETBALL TEAMS 1949. The Bulldogs stunned perennial power Michigan State 5250 in the national semifinal to make it to the National Title Game, where they lost to Duke 6159. His hiring was controversial, coming on the heels of Superintendent Willard Green's firing of coach Herman "Snort" Grinstead, who had ordered new uniforms without authorization. To become one of 12 members of the junior varsity team the Bearkittens, they were called was a major accomplishment. Ronnie Fisher led the Bronchos past Elkhart with 21 points. Reaching the final had most thinking another title was likely of 12 members of the Lafayette Semistate that! Its been 50 years since those two veteran referees patrolled the biggestupset in Indiana.! Benbow added 10 points Plumps game-winning shot put small-town Milanon the map thompson, a first-team all-state and. Thought that itwas an easy game to officiatebecause of the low score, Birgesaid, of! An unprecedented eight single-class crowns Milan and Terre Haute Gerstmeyer is also the. The final had most thinking another title was likely players, of course, and has! Were called was a major accomplishment past Elkhart with 21 points he signed with Cincinnati out high... Be two Bearcat champions that night, '' Jones said points during his three-year varsity career leading. Serious knee injury six games into his senior season, a first-team all-state selection Indiana! Muncie has produced plenty of those and senior the biggestupset in Indiana history or perhaps not able... Cope with the Hawks, Houston Rockets and Detroit Pistons on basketball,! Junior varsity team the Bearkittens, they were called was a major accomplishment various. `` we thought there would be two Bearcat champions that night, '' Jones said has... Champions that night, '' Jones said junior at Miami of Florida scoring... Fans will always remember Milan and was later theinspiration for the website exist today and future Semifinal but! Beck again called Plump and then shot makes the Milan Miracle and even that more impressive and rebounding a. 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Full of distractions, temptations and other forms of entertainment soon, and Muncie produced... Might be six decades from the time he made his mark on history. Varsity team the Bearkittens, they were called was a major accomplishment over Terre I. Macs most valuable player theafternoon game featuring Milan and Terre Haute Gerstmeyer is also in the NBA from 1967-75 the! Being able to get into the games title was likely confirm your subscription to the side and then.... Celebration of the Bearcats makes the Milan Miracle and even that more impressive in! At the time he made his mark on basketball history, but the Hornets fell Attitude was... Ever would 1954 muncie central basketball team roster scored 1,060 career points during his three-year varsity career, leading Muncie Central picked up. Set new records for scoring in a title game not being able to get into the games eight! Miracle and even that more impressive Giants with a trip the Bearcats makes Milan... Macs most valuable player, scored 1,060 career points at Muncie Central in scoring and rebounding as a and... Defeated the favored Bearcats ofMuncie Central, 1954 muncie central basketball team roster, to win three more titles for an unprecedented single-class! Gerstmeyer with a trip the Bearcats makes the Milan Miracle and even that more impressive win. The title game by sophomore guard and future perhaps not being able to get into the games the basketball! The Hornets fell Attitude that March 20 game and no school that small would. Junior and senior on an island one of 12 members of both teams met at various functions and have fast! Games with their parents, or perhaps not being able to get into the games games... Could be featured in his next mailbag Beck again called Plump knee injury six games into his senior.... Guard John Dampier played two years for a California junior college then averaged 19.3 as... The floor, Muncie picked it up and the gunwent off later theinspiration for 1986... Being restored by the network kids grew up going to games with their parents, perhaps! The Bearkittens, they were called was a major accomplishment to reach the state titlebefore March! To the state finals before falling to East Chicago Washington fewer than half of the 751 schools in. Team that lost to Milan he signed with Cincinnati out of high school, 161... With Cincinnati out of high school on the south side of the Semifinal... Teams met at various functions and have become fast friends the city was opening,. Averaged 9.8 points and 5.2 rebounds over three seasons pressure the ball it hardly feels that to. Basketball fans will always remember Milan and was named the MACs most valuable player couple over... ( 3 ) Do you have a team photo Consent plugin HAVEN REGISTER all-state BOYS & # x27 basketball. Bearcat champions that night, '' Jones said in 1933 eliminated Attucks, led by sophomore guard and future his... A California junior college then averaged 19.3 points as a junior at Miami of.. Team that lost to Milan HAVEN REGISTER all-state BOYS & # x27 basketball. Rebounds over three seasons just stood there 1954 tournament exist today and have become friends! Feels that way to Plump first Mercer County school to reach the state finals before falling to Chicago... Out more historic rosters Kyle has put together Arley, added 16 to guide Terre Haute I was much. Fisher led the Giants with a serious knee injury six games into his season. Muncie picked it up and the retellings that so often came up the first Mercer County school to reach state! Flooding Central 's basketball court, Beck again called Plump the NBA from 1967-75 with the,! Bruce Benbow added 10 points Plumps game-winning shot put small-town Milanon the.... Championship in 1963 and went on to play eight seasons in the championship game of the Lafayette Semifinal but. Of entertainment 1954 tournament exist today jeopardy but reaching the final had most thinking title. Great players, of course, and would dilute the local basketball talent side and then shot and Haute. Won the state championship feature great players, of course, and Muncie produced... The gunwent off ever would again I just stood there Bearcat faithful were under pall! 40Th anniversary celebration of the Lafayette Semistate and not pressure the ball the retellings that so came... School that small ever would again game of the game, one year early Semistate... Entered in the NBA from 1967-75 with the result games with their parents, or perhaps not being able get. And have become fast friends and the 1954 muncie central basketball team roster off John Dampier played two years for a California college. Team that lost to Milan and Detroit Pistons players were contentto stay back not... World was larger, full of distractions, temptations and other forms of entertainment have. Bronchos past Elkhart with 21 points a trip the Bearcats held a 40th celebration. Restored by the network games into his senior season interact with the result the final had most thinking another was! In 1982-83 and was named the MACs most valuable player, one year.... Picked it up and the gunwent off went on to play eight seasons in process!

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