By Chris May
Contributing Writer
No, Iâ??m not talking about Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Yearâ??s. Iâ??m talking about the days I look forward to more than my birthday, Christmas, and New Yearâ??s all combined: the first practice, the first games, and the early season rivalries.
November is here and sooner or later itâ??s going to get cold in this great state, and that means one thing â?¦ itâ??s basketball season!!!
While, by no means, am I a fan of the weather of late autumn and winter in Indiana, one thing should be made crystal clear: The falling leaves, the first snowflakes, the wind chill, and the accumulating snow over the next few months are all worth it because of one of the greatest sports traditions in the world, â??Hoosier Hysteria.â?
By now the basketballs have been aired up, the hardwood floors polished for the season, the players sized up for jerseys and shoes — and numerous coaches probably already have lost sleep worrying whether their point guard are going to be able to handle the full-court press or if their big man needs help double teaming in the post.
There is nothing like Indiana high school basketball, the way the sport and culture blend into one in so many schools and communities across the state.
Part of the lore is sensory. The smell of the buttery popcorn, the taste of the hot dog or nachos, the sound of the pep band, the heat in the building while youâ??re sitting in the top row of the gym on a Saturday night are all parts of it. The familiar face of the ticket taker, the distinct smell of particular ball halls, and even the hard, uncomfortable wooden seats add to the experience as well. My favorite is the squeaking of sneakers on the floor during the junior varsity game as I walk in the door.
And donâ??t forget the public address announcer that has perfected that somewhat cheesy and homer-ish microphone voice! If you time your entrance just right, these wonderful things combine to hit you all at once. The popcorn smell, the warmth from stepping inside out of the cold, the sneakers, and the band striking up a familiar tune as the crowd cheers, then a timeout with the public address announcer chiming in.
Part of the greatness is tradition:
â?¢ Friday and Saturday night games for boys, midweek and Saturday afternoon games for girls
â?¢ Holiday tournaments and pre-game routines with mascots like Connersvilleâ??s Spartan and the New Castle Trojan
â?¢ And one of the most dependable traditions of all, the annual snow the week of boys sectionals
And individuals have their own unique traditions, too. I may be ridiculed for this, but Iâ??ll admit it anyway — no season can start for me before a viewing of â??Hoosiers.â? I could watch that film three times a day, every day of the year and not get tired of it. But that is far from my only fanatical tendency.
The day each fall I get my hands on my copy of â??Hoosier Basketball Magazineâ? is like Christmas coming a month and a half early. And I canâ??t ignore the great books that tell the tales of the history of this great game. Bob Williams, Herb Schwomeyer, and Wendell Trogdon are just three of the many authors that recap some of the great action of seasons past as I pick through my library each year.
But without a doubt, the one card that trumps all others is the people. Well, not just the people, but their stories as well.
Itâ??s the superfan decked out in school colors that hasnâ??t missed a game for the past 25 years. The old man who started for the team five or six decades ago and now sits in the front row each Friday night to watch his grandkids. The high school students who show up to support classmates and sit behind the basket to razz opponents each game.
Perhaps the greatest storytellers are the coaches, the ones who have been around for 20 or 30 years and have soooooooo many stories it would literally take days to get through them all — the great players they coached against, the great players they coached, the amazing finishes, the opposing coaches who have become great friends, the opposing coaches they wouldnâ??t acknowledge outside of a gym. And every coach, whether young or old, has a story about meddling parents complaining about Johnnyâ??s playing time.
And I canâ??t leave out the players. Whether it is the freshman phenom folks have been talking about since sixth grade whoâ??s now drawing fans out in flocks, the senior who rarely plays but maintains loyalty and dedication six days a week in practice, or the players in between â?¦ they are the ones who make â??Hoosier Hysteriaâ? what it is.
These players, you see, arenâ??t playing for their next contract, arenâ??t going to be driving their $100,000 Bentley or Hummer or Escalade home after the game, and certainly arenâ??t going to go flying into the stands to punch a fan. (In fact, the only time youâ??ll see one of these players going into the stands is to chase down a loose ball.) And after the game, theyâ??re probably on their way to finish up some algebra work or an English paper.
That aspect is refreshing.
These are the reasons Indiana high school basketball is such a great thing, and thatâ??s why weâ??re here: to help tell the stories. And not only of the games and their final scores, but of the fans, coaches, players — everyone. Itâ??s about sharing their love of the game, the obstacles they have overcome, and the triumphs they have experienced.
While many may moan that â??Hoosier Hysteriaâ? is dead, ITâ??S NOT! It lives on in so many areas across the state. Whether itâ??s a packed house to watch Greg Oden and Lawrence North or fanatical boys fans in tiny Loogootee â?¦ whether itâ??s girls fans flocking to see North Centralâ??s 6â??5â? Amber Harris or Tri-Centralâ??s attempt at a fourth straight small school state title â?¦ a legendary coach like Basil Mawbey â?¦ a special event like the Hall of Fame tournament â?¦ a special gym like the Hatchet House in Washington.
All Things Indiana High School Basketball are alive and well.
If, like me, you travel to watch lots of games, then you donâ??t always chase the big names or big stories. Try this: Take some time to check out the local team you donâ??t know much about, or the small school a few miles down the road that youâ??ve never been to. Just continue your support of Indiana high school basketball in whatever fashion you prefer.
Whatever route you choose, stay logged on to HoosierAuthority.com. Weâ??ve got some great news coming very soon â?¦
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