Youth hunters (under age 18 on the day of the hunt) may apply for reserved turkey hunts during the special youth wild turkey hunting season on DNR properties from Monday, March 18 through Thursday, March 28.
The 2024 youth turkey season is April 20-21. In order to provide quality hunts for participants, a limit will be placed on the number of youth hunters allowed to hunt a respective property on each hunting day. Interested hunters or an adult representing them must register in person or by phone during the normal office hours for the property they wish to hunt. Hunters are allowed to register for only one property.
Participating Fish & Wildlife areas include Atterbury, Chinook, Crosley, Deer Creek, Fairbanks Landing, Glendale, Goose Pond, Hillenbrand, Hovey Lake, Jasper-Pulaski, Kingsbury, LaSalle, Pigeon River, J. E. Roush Lake, Sugar Ridge, Tri-County, Wabashiki, Willow Slough and Winamac. Two reservoir properties, Mississinewa and Salamonie lakes, will also take part in the hunts.
Those wanting to sign up for the Chinook or Wabashiki hunts may register at Deer Creek FWA. Those wanting to sign up for Fairbanks Landing or Hillenbrand hunts may do so at Goose Pond FWA.
A drawing will be held on Monday, April 1 at properties where the number of registered hunters exceeds the spots available. A youth hunter may be drawn for either or both hunt days, depending on the number of applicants. All applicants will be notified of drawing results by mail.
Applicants must possess a 2024 Youth Consolidated Hunting & Trapping License, a 2024 Nonresident Youth Spring Turkey License with a game bird habitat stamp privilege, or Lifetime Comprehensive Hunting License. Apprentice hunting licenses of the types named above also may be used.
Hunting hours are one-half hour before sunrise until noon at properties in the Central Time Zone, and one-half hour before sunrise until 1 p.m. on properties in the Eastern Time Zone.
Youth hunters who are selected for the hunt may check in at any time each day until the end of legal hunting hours for that property. Properties will not have a daily "no-show" drawing. Hunters interested in possible unfilled quotas at a property should call that property for more information before showing up.
Youth hunters can harvest one bearded or male wild turkey. The youth must be accompanied by someone 18 or older.
The youth hunter may use any legal shotgun, bow and arrow or crossbow. The adult accompanying the youth hunter must not possess a firearm, bow and arrow or crossbow while in the field. The accompanying adult must be licensed if they are assisting by calling or if the youth is using an apprentice license.
To register a youth for one of the hunts, the following information is needed:

Hunter's name
Type of license and license number
Date(s) in which applying
Mailing address
Phone number
Parent or guardian’s name, address, & phone number

For property contact information, visit on.IN.gov/dfwproperties. To purchase a license, visit on.IN.gov/inhuntfish. 

Today, the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum unveiled two limited-edition bobbleheads of legendary college basketball coach Bob Knight.

The first bobblehead features Knight wearing his signature red sweater, while the second bobblehead commemorates Knight’s iconic chair-throwing incident. The special edition bobbleheads are being produced by the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum in conjunction with Knight Legacy. Founded by Coach Knight’s son, Pat Knight, Knight Legacy’s mission is to honor, promote, and preserve the Coach Knight Legacy and the footprint that Hall of Fame Coach Bob Knight has made in the history of basketball.

Standing on a circular base bearing his name, the first Knight bobblehead is wearing a red sweater and dark pants. The top of the base features a facsimile of Coach Knight’s autograph. Standing on a replica hardwood floor base bearing his name, the second Coach Knight bobblehead is wearing a red and white striped short-sleeved shirt like the one worn during Indiana’s game vs. rival Purdue on February 23, 1985, when Knight threw a chair across the Assembly Hall court objecting to a call. The chair throwing incident which has come to be known as “The Chair Game” is still remembered and even celebrated today on its anniversary and when the Hoosiers face Purdue. Knight, who apologized for his actions the next day, joked about throwing the chair since the incident, saying that he saw an old lady standing on the opposite sideline and threw her the chair so she could sit down.

The standing bobblehead is individually numbered to 2,023 while the chair-throwing bobblehead is numbered to 19,850. The bobbleheads are currently available for pre-order exclusively through the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum’s Online Store. The standing Knight bobbleheads are $30 each, while the chair-throwing bobbleheads are $40 each, plus a flat-rate shipping charge of $8 per order. A set of two is available for $65 and both bobbleheads are expected to ship in December.

In his coaching career, Knight finished with an overall record of 902-371. The 902 NCAA Division I victories was a record at the time of his retirement, and currently ranks fifth all-time. He is best known for winning three national championships as the head coach of the Indiana Hoosiers in 1976, 1981 and 1987. In addition to coaching the Hoosiers from 1971 to 2000, he was also the head coach at Army from 1965 to 1971 and Texas Tech from 2001 to 2008.

Known as one of college basketball’s most successful and innovative coaches, having popularized the motion offense, Knight also won a National Invitation Tournament championship and 11 Big Ten Conference championships along with his three national titles. Knight received National Coach of the Year honors four times and Big Ten Coach of the Year honors eight times. In 1984, he coached the USA men’s Olympic team to a gold medal, becoming one of only three basketball coaches to win an NCAA title, NIT title and an Olympic gold medal. Knight was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1991 and was a member of the founding class of the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006. He was also inducted into the Army Sports Hall of Fame in 2008 and the Indiana Hoosiers Athletics Hall of Fame in 2009.

Born in Massillon, Ohio, on October 25th, 1940, the only child of Pat and Hazel Knight grew up in nearby Orrville. His life in athletics began as a tall first baseman for the Mizer Tykes. He switched to basketball in the sixth grade and became a local star. An excellent student, Knight once won the Orrville Library’s competition for what child could read the most books between June and September. Knight went on to Ohio State where he played for Hall of Fame coach Fred Taylor. He was a reserve forward on the 1960 NCAA championship team that featured future Hall of Famers John Havlicek and Jerry Lucas. The Buckeyes lost in each of the next two NCAA championship games, of which the sharpshooting Knight also played a part of off the bench. One year after graduating from Ohio State with a degree in history and government in 1962, Knight enlisted in the United States Army and served two years of active duty. Knight, who was a private first class, also served nearly four years in the Army reserves. While in the service, Knight was an assistant coach for the Army Black Knights basketball team. As a 24-year-old in 1965, he was named Army’s head coach and compiled a record of 102-50 in six seasons there before going to Indiana.

When asked about the bobbleheads, Coach Knight’s son and Founder of Knight Legacy, Pat Knight said, “We’re thrilled to be honoring my father’s legacy with these limited edition bobbleheads in collaboration with the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum. I think these bobbleheads are a great tribute to my dad’s legacy and the passion that he had for basketball and life.”

"We’re excited to team up with Knight Legacy to create these bobbleheads celebrating the legendary coach,” National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum co-founder and CEO Phil Sklar said. “One of the most successful coaches in the history of college basketball, and we think fans will love these new bobbleheads!”

About the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum:
The National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum, which is located at 170 S. 1st St. in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, opened to the public on February 1st, 2019. The HOF and Museum also produces high quality, customized bobbleheads for retail sale as well as organizations, individuals, and teams across the country. Visit us online and on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Line judges will be required to change sides of the court between sets when teams remain on the same bench. The change in officiating procedure highlights the 2024-25 high school volleyball rules changes.

In all, four rules changes were recommended by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Volleyball Rules Committee at its annual meeting January 7-9. All rules changes were reviewed and approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.

Rule 5-9-2b, which outlines line judge responsibilities, includes the new note requiring that they switch sides of the court when, by state association adoption, teams remain on the same bench throughout the match. The corresponding item on the state association adoption chart was also amended to add the requirement, which was added to promote fair officiating.

“Since the pandemic many state associations have adopted the rule to require teams to remain on the same bench throughout the match,” said Lindsey Atkinson, NFHS Director of Sports and liaison to the Volleyball Rules Committee. “The unintended consequence of this adoption is that the same line judge officiates the same lines for the same teams throughout the match. This change allows teams to see both line judges and promote equity in officiating.

In other rules changes, Rule 11-4-1b now allows teams to substitute for a replacement player during a referee’s time-out when the libero is injured or ill, allowing the team to avoid playing the replacement out of position.

Two rules dealing with uniforms and rosters were amended to address when a uniform is damaged or has blood on it. Rule 4-2-3 Note was added to allow a player to change uniforms and for the roster to be adjusted accordingly with no penalty when a uniform is bloodied or damaged. Rule 7-1-1 Note was also changed to specify that blood on or damage to the uniform are acceptable reasons to change uniforms.

The first referee’s responsibilities were modified in Rule 5-4-3c(1) to direct players to the end lines prior to the first set and then direct starting players onto the court for play. Previously, only starting players were directed to the end lines for prematch announcements. The rule now allows but does not require teams to include more team members in the prematch ceremony.

Language in the 2024 NFHS Football Rules Book will be changed in an effort to ensure consistent interpretation of the rule regarding requirements for home team uniforms in high school football. Next season, all home team jerseys must be the same dark color(s) that clearly contrasts with white. 

This uniform change in Rule 1-5-1b(3) was recommended by the NFHS Football Rules Committee at its January 14-16 meeting in Indianapolis and subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors. The Football Rules Committee is composed of one member from each NFHS member state association that uses NFHS playing rules, along with representatives from the NFHS Coaches Association and NFHS Officials Association.

Previously, the rule regarding home team jerseys stated that the jerseys of the home team “shall be a dark color that clearly contrasts to white.” The revised rule will state that the jerseys of the home team “shall all be the same dark color(s) that clearly contrasts to white.” 

“We kind of had a loophole in the rule that we didn’t specify that everyone on the home team had to wear the same color dark jersey,” said Richard McWhirter, chair of the NFHS Football Rules Committee and assistant executive director of the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association. “Even though you didn’t see a major issue with it, it was a loophole in the rule that could possibly be a major issue in the future if it wasn’t corrected.”

McWhirter noted that while this was the only rules proposal that was approved by the committee, there was considerable discussion related to the other eight proposals that advanced to the full committee. He said there was considerable discussion dealing with sportsmanship, particularly unsporting acts in dead-ball situations.

“There was solid agreement by the committee that the rules of the game are in good shape,” McWhirter said. “There was great discussion regarding the need for consistent enforcement of the existing rules specifically in regard to equipment and sportsmanship. Several proposals garnered substantial interest and discussion and may merit further consideration in future committee meetings.”

Three Points of Emphasis were identified by the committee for the 2024 season, including Player Equipment and Enforcement, Sportsmanship and Protocols, and Formation Requirements.

 A complete listing of the football rules changes will be available on the NFHS website at www.nfhs.org. Click on “Activities & Sports” at the top of the home page and select “Football.”

22 wins.

The program’s second ever sectional title.

And first regional title.

But the hope of extending the Caston Lady Comets historic run came to a close in the semi-state semifinal at Frankfort’s Case Arena. Seventh-ranked Marquette Catholic took a three point lead into the fourth quarter and then held Caston to just four points over the final eight minutes to end the Comets season, 41-34.

Head coach Josh Douglass said his team fought until the end but couldn’t overcome Laniah Davis. The sophomore guard scored 26 to pace Marquette Catholic.

Isabel Scales was Caston’s only double digit scorer with 13.  Annie Harsh scored nine points on three shots from beyond the arc.

Caston struggled from the field shooting 14-of-46 (30%). Free throw shooting also hampered the Comets scoring efforts finishing 4-of-12.

Douglass says there’s pain with the end.  But it’s a special memory that will bring more smiles than tears.

Marquette Catholic (24-4) went on to defeat second-ranked Clinton Central in dramatic fashion in the semi-state championship, 72-70. Freshman Marissa Pleasant sank a three-pointer with 1.1 second remaining to seal the win.

The Blazers will play top-ranked and defending state champion Lanesville in the 1A state championship at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

Rochester sophomore Brant Beck came up one win short of reaching the state championship wrestling match Saturday at the Ford Center in Evansville.

Beck, competing at 165 pounds, scored decision wins over Cowan’s Levi Abbott, 5-1, and Bloomington South’s Evan Roudebush, 4-3, to reach the semifinal round.

Warren Central sophomore Waylon Cressell knocked Beck out of state title contention with a 13-5 victory. Cressell went on to win the state title. 

Beck returned to the mat and defeated Crown Point’s Anthony Rinehart in the third-place match. Beck finished the season with a 46-2 record.

Rochester senior Brady Beck closed out his career with a fifth-place finish at the state finals. He scored a 7-3 win Friday night over Leo’s Isaiah Coolman in the opening round matches at 285 pounds.

On Saturday, Beck was defeated by Center Grove’s Nate Johnson, who went on to capture the state title. Beck rebounded to get wins over Heritage Hills’ Hayden Smith and Bluffton’s Juan Cruz to secure fifth place in the bracket.

Beck went 46-2 this season.

Three more Rochester wrestlers lost opening round matches Friday in Evansville. Freshman Grant Holloway was defeated by Delta’s Jensen Boyd at 106 pounds. Sophomore Layne Horn lost to Jay County’s Cody Rowles at 126. And senior Alex Deming’s career ended with a loss to Cathedral’s Jackson Weingart.

The Indiana High School Athletic Association announced the sectional pairings Sunday for the 114^th Annual Boys Basketball State Tournament.

Sectional games will be played Feb. 27-28 and March 1-2.

Regional championship games follow on March 9. Teams will be assigned to one of eight regional sites following the conclusion of the sectional round.

Northern regional host sites this season are Michigan City, Logansport, South Bend Washington, New Castle, North Judson-San Pierre, Lapel, Triton and Frankfort.

The semistate semifinal and championship games are March 16.

The state championship games will be played a week later this year due to Gainbridge Fieldhouse, site of the IHSAA championship games, hosting the NCAA Men’s Basketball First and Second Round tournament games.

The 2024 IHSAA state champions will be crowned on March 30.

Lewis Cass Sectional

Rochester (8-11) drew the only team in the Class 2A, Sectional 36 field with a winning record in the tournament opener. The Zebras face Wabash (16-5) on Feb. 27. The winner advances to take on Pioneer (8-12) in the semifinal round on March 1.

In the other half of the six-team bracket, North Miami (3-18) gets Winamac (10-11) in the other quarterfinal matchup. The winner gets the host, Lewis Cass (8-11), in the semifinal round.

The sectional championship game is March 2.

Tippecanoe Valley Sectional

The host Tippecanoe Valley will wait until March 1 for its first sectional game.

On Feb. 27 in the Class 3A, Sectional 18 opener, Culver Academy (7-12) takes on John Glenn (10-11), with the winner returning March 1 to face Bremen (8-12) in the semifinal round.

In the other semifinal, Tippecanoe Valley (14-7), the only team in the sectional with a winning record, will battle Knox (6-13) for a spot in the March 2 championship game.

Triton Sectional

Class A, Sectional 50 features seven teams competing at No. 8-ranked Triton.

In the sectional opener on Feb. 27, Trinity Greenlawn (6-13) faces Marquette Catholic (8-13). The winner advances to meet Oregon-Davis (4-16) in the semifinal round on March 1.

On Feb. 28, quarterfinal games are Triton (14-5) taking on Culver (8-11) and Argos (10-10) battling Westville (10-12). The winners return March 1 for a semifinal contest.

The championship game is March 2.

Caston Sectional

The host Comets drew a bye in Class A, Sectional 51. Caston (9-11) will take on either West Central (3-16) or North White (5-16) in a semifinal round contest on March 1.

In the other quarterfinal, South Newton (3-17) opens against Tri-County (10-11). The winner meets Frontier (6-14) in the semifinals on March 1.

The sectional championship game is March 2.

The NBA, in partnership with Pacers Sports & Entertainment, has commissioned a statue to honor Indianapolis Crispus Attucks legend and Naismith Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver announced at The Tip-Off at Bicentennial Unity Plaza.

The Commissioner welcomed Robertson to the stage and shared the news before thousands of fans celebrating the official beginning of NBA All-Star 2024.
From design to completion, the statue will take approximately one year until it is unveiled to the public. Once finished, it will be permanently placed at Crispus Attucks High School in Indianapolis and will be unveiled during a ceremony in 2025.
“Oscar Robertson’s legendary basketball journey began in Indianapolis where he led Crispus Attucks High School to the first state championship in the country won by an all-Black team,” said Adam Silver, NBA Commissioner.  “We are thrilled to join the Pacers in commissioning a statue in recognition of Oscar’s extraordinary impact on the game and his hometown.”
Indianapolis artist Ryan Feeney has been commissioned to create the statue, which depicts Robertson in his NBA All-Star jersey atop a basketball-shaped base made by scanning the actual 1955 Crispus Attucks State Championship Trophy. The metal for the bronze piece was sourced from Casting Art & Technology in Cincinnati, where Robertson was a three-time NCAA All-American at the University of Cincinnati and where he began his professional career with the Cincinnati Royals.
Robertson, widely considered one of the NBA’s all-time great players, is the first Indiana high school basketball player to be named an NBA All-Star. He was selected to the All-Star team 12 straight times during his 14-year career, earning All-NBA honors 11 times and winning the League MVP for the 1963-64 season. Robertson has also been credited with revolutionizing the point guard position, holding the record for most triple-doubles in League history until 2021 and being the first-ever NBA player to average a triple-double for an entire season.
For many Hoosiers, Robertson’s most significant legacy is the important impact he and his Crispus Attucks teammates had on Indiana high school basketball history. In 1955, the Tigers became the first all-Black team in the country to win a state championship, following it up with a second-consecutive IHSAA state championship in 1956. Robertson was named Indiana Mr. Basketball and the ’56 team was the first in state history to finish undefeated, posting a 31-0 record with a 22-point championship game victory over Lafayette Jefferson High School.
“It is important to immortalize the impacts Oscar has had on the court and well beyond the game of basketball, and this wonderful tribute will ensure generations to come can celebrate his remarkable legacy,” said Rick Fuson, PS&E’s Chief Executive Officer. 
The Robertson statue adds to an impressive list of commissioned pieces Feeney has created for landmarks throughout Indianapolis and beyond, including the impressive 9-foot sculpture of Indianapolis Colts Hall of Famer Peyton Manning that sits outside Lucas Oil Stadium. His other works include the bronze eagle atop the Indianapolis 9/11 memorial, the metal piano for the Hoagie Carmichael statue on Indiana University’s Bloomington campus, and the bronze cast of a sheriff deputy located outside the front doors of the Sheriff’s Department.
“It is an honor to have been chosen to sculpt a lasting tribute of the greatest basketball player ever to come from Indianapolis, Oscar Robertson,” said Feeney. “My hope is to make Mr. Robertson and the city of Indianapolis proud.”

The Pairings Show, hosted by Bob Lovell and Greg Rakestraw, will stream exclusively at IHSAAtv.org and air on affiliates of the IHSAA Champions Network which includes the GIANT fm radio station in Rochester (92.1 FM or the GIANT fm app).

Rochester will be part of the six-team Class 2A sectional at Lewis Cass. In the field are Wabash (15-5), Pioneer (7-11), Lewis Cass (8-11), Rochester (8-10), Winamac (9-11) and North Miami (2-17).

Wabash is 3-0 against teams in Sectional 36.

The Zebras’ last sectional title came in 2021.

In Class 3A, Sectional 18, Tippecanoe Valley is the host school for the five-team sectional that includes the host Vikings (13-6), John Glenn (10-10), Culver Academy (7-11), Bremen (7-12) and Knox (6-11).

The Vikings are 3-0 against potential sectional foes. They last cut down the sectional championship nets in 2019.

In the Class A Caston Sectional (52), the Comets (9-10) will battle Tri-County (10-9), Frontier (6-13), West Central (3-15), North White (4-15) and South Newton (3-16).

Half of Tri-County’s wins this season are against teams in Sectional 52. Frontier is 4-1 against sectional teams.

The Comets are seeking their first sectional title since 2021.

Argos will travel to Class A, Sectional 50, hosted by Triton. The seven-team field features No. 8 Triton (14-4), Marquette Catholic (7-13), Argos (9-9), Culver (7-10), Oregon-Davis (4-15), Westville (10-11) and Trinity Greenlawn (6-12).

Triton is 4-0 against potential sectional opponents.

Argos’ last sectional championship came in 2020.

The Caston Lady Comets had to wait until mid-afternoon Sunday for the IHSAA draw to find out where, who and when they would play at this Saturday’s girls basketball semistate.

On Saturday, Caston didn’t allow for much mystery or drama in defeating Bethany Christian, 44-29.

Caston’s defense dominated the defending 1A state runners-up. Senior leading scorer Zoe Willems reached her season average of 20 points but she got little offensive help.  Fellow senior Mariah Stoltzfus scored six and Morgan Chupp made a late-game three pointer to round out the Bruins scoring.

Caston held Bethany Christian to 9-of-38 shooting from the field (23%) and outrebounded the Bruins by 10, 29-19. 

Up by ten at halftime, Caston increased the lead to 18 at the end of the third quarter, 37-19.

Caston head coach Josh Douglass said after holding down the Bruins offense the fourth quarter became a game of keep-away.

Douglass won a regional at Riverton Parke in 2012. He said winning the regional at Caston is extra special.

Addison Zimpleman led the seventh-ranked Comets (22-3) with 14 points. Madisyn Douglass scored 11 and Isabel Scales added 10.

On Sunday, Caston was slotted into the 1A brackets at Frankfort’s Case Arena for Saturday’s semistate. The Comets will play in the second semifinal and will face fifth-ranked Marquette Catholic (22-4).

The first semifinal at Frankfort will feature second-ranked Clinton Central (24-1) and Union City (14-12).

The Caston Lady Comets have had a week to get back to work after capturing the program’s second ever sectional title last Saturday at South Newton High School.

Now, the defending 1A girls basketball runner-up is coming to town to play the Comets for a berth in the semistate.
Seventh-ranked Caston (21-3) will host Saturday’s 1A regional against #15 Bethany Christian (18-6). Last year, the Bruins made their first state championship game appearance and lost to top-ranked Lanesville, 60-41. The 24-4 season by Bethany Christan provided the program with its first sectional title since 2016 and first ever regional title.

The Bruins defeated Tri-County at the Caston regional, 38-30.  Caston just edged Tri-County by a point last Saturday to win the program’s only other sectional title since 1985.

Caston was scheduled to play Bethany Christian near the end of the regular season but it was canceled by weather. Comets head coach Josh Douglass isn’t disappointed that game failed to happen.

Bethany Christian returns its top scorer from last season, 5’7” senior Zoe Willems.  Willems has upped her scoring average from just over 17 points per game last season. Now, Willems averages 20.6 ppg to go with 9.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists.

Senior Mariah Stoltzfus is the only other double-digit scorer at 11.5 ppg.

Bethany Christian won the Caston Regional last season but it was a neutral court game. This time, it’s expected to be anything but.

Comets head coach Josh Douglass.

Caston senior Addison Zimpleman.

Caston senior Isabel Scales looks forward to being on the home floor but does realize some pressures.

Even though this is a first for this class of Caston basketball players, several comparisons have been drawn to the softball run to the state championship last season. Coach Douglass says this offers some different daily challenges.

GIANT fm Sports WROI coverage of Saturday’s regional begins at 6:30 p.m. The game is scheduled to tip at 7 p.m.

At 4 p.m., the Caston gym will host a 3A regional between #7 Benton Central (25-3) and #2 Norwell (20-4). It’s the first meeting between the programs since a Norwell regional victory over Benton Central in 2021.

A 70^th anniversary celebration of Milan High School’s legendary 1954 Indiana Basketball State Championship will be held on Saturday, March 23 in the town of Milan.

Festivities will take place in the Milan High School gymnasium beginning at 11 a.m. and admission is free and open to the public.

The celebration will include remarks from dignitaries and feature a panel discussion with the Milan players. Greg Rakestraw, of the ISC Sports Network in Indianapolis and the 2023 “Indiana Sportscaster of the Year”, will moderate the discussion.

Following the formal ceremony, the Milan players and actors from the movie Hoosiers will sign autographs and food trucks will be on hand. Merchandise from the Milan ’54 Hoosiers Museum will be available for purchase and the museum, located at 201 West Carr Street, will be open to the public prior to ceremony from 8 - 10 a.m. and then following the ceremony from 2 - 4 p.m.
 

*Note, those planning to attend must RSVP via the following link:
https://forms.gle/WQGtzm2jMnfWCB9D7

 
On March 20,1954, the Milan Indians became the smallest school in Indiana history to capture the state championship. With time running out, Milan guard Bobby Plump hit the game-winning shot to defeat powerhouse Muncie Central by a score of 32-30. The following day, 40,000 people descended on Milan (population: 1,150) as the team returned home from Indianapolis, lining State Road 101 for thirteen miles to congratulate the Indians.

In 2016, the Indiana Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association and Indiana Sports History Properties LLC – unveiled the 25 greatest stories in Indiana sports history. The “Milan Miracle” ranked number one on the list. In 1986, Milan’s state championship run was portrayed in the movie Hoosiers which is regarded as one of the best sports films ever made.
“As someone who was born and raised in Milan, Indiana, I find it hard to believe that we will be celebrating the 70th anniversary of the Milan Indians’ iconic victory in the 1954 Indiana State High School basketball championship game. We hope to have a tremendous crowd on hand to honor the team on March 23 in the Milan High School gymnasium. Featuring remarks from several dignitaries and interviews with players and actors from the movie Hoosiers, this day will also be a historic one for the town of Milan.  We welcome all who have a love for the "Milan Miracle", the movie Hoosiers, and Indiana basketball and look forward to seeing you on March 23!” said Tom Kohlmeier, Board Chairman of the Milan ’54 Hoosiers Museum.
 
 
“Indiana and basketball go hand-in-hand, and the sport is forever ingrained in our rich, historic proud past. The Milan Miracle of 1954 was key in solidifying Indiana’s reputation as the state that grew the game. From Bobby Plump to Bobby Knight, Oscar Robertson to George McGinnis and Larry Bird to Reggie Miller, Indiana’s history is full of Hoosier legends. While many theories exist on what is a Hoosier, to me the word Hoosier will always be tied a deep love and respect for the game,” said Eric Holcomb, Governor of the State of Indiana.
 “Growing up, I can recall that each year, prior to the state tournament, our local newspaper would pull out the story of the mighty Milan Indians vanquishing the Muncie Central Bearcats. No doubt our paper was not unique in this regard. Most other small or medium-sized towns were doing the same to inspire the local team that they, too, could pull off a miraculous tournament run. Of course, that game would become the core story representing the special relationship between the people of Indiana and basketball. As Milan’s mythic journey has inspired countless players and coaches in the past 70 years, it too inspired me 40 years ago to write the movie Hoosiers. I look forward to celebrating the 70th anniversary of the greatest game in Indiana high school history with the very special members of that team,” said Angelo Pizzo, Screenwriter for the movie Hoosiers.
"It's hard to believe that it's been 70 years since we achieved our goal of winning the Indiana State High School Basketball Championship. My teammates and I are thrilled to reunite in Milan on March 23rd to relive so many great memories and celebrate with our family members, friends, dignitaries, and others who appreciate our story and the rich history of Indiana basketball. It's most meaningful that the celebration will occur in Milan-it's where our journey began and remains a place that we hold dear to our hearts."  Bobby Plump, Guard on the 1954 Milan Indians team
For more information on the Milan ’54 Hoosiers Museum, please visit the website at https://milan54.org/

Last week, more than 390 girls’ basketball programs around the state began postseason play in hopes of something as simple as a single victory, or as complicated as a state title. By the time the dust settled late Saturday night, just 64 teams remained as sectional champions.

Meanwhile, in between the boys were entertaining as well, and below we will celebrate a 50-point outing, a 45-point outing, plus several records being set. All in all, seven hoopers have been selected as the Week-14 IBCA/Franciscan Health Players of the Week.

Maconaquah Junior Josiah Ball, Marquette Catholic Sophomore Laniah Davis, Wapahani Senior Isaac Andrews, Kokomo Senior Flory Bidunga, Eastbrook Senior Sophia Morrison, Providence Senior Noah Lovan, and Bedford North Lawrence Senior Madisyn Bailey have been selected For Jan. 29-Feb. 3 in the recognition program coordinated by the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association. Ball, a boys’ winner, and Davis, a girls’ winner, represent District-1. Andrews and Bidunga share boys’ honors, while Morrison picks up girls’ honors, in District-2. Lovan is the boys’ recipient, and Bailey is the girls’ recipient in District-3.

Maconaquah Junior Josiah Ball has put together an outstanding season, and it continued last week in a 98-78 victory over Western. The 6-5 forward erupted for 50 points on 19-35 shooting, which included a 4-8 performance from deep and an 8-10 outing from the free throw line. In addition to his explosive scoring effort, the Junior forward also managed to pull down 9 rebounds, he handed out a pair of assists, and he collected a pair of steals at the defensive end of the floor.

Sophomore Laniah Davis has been an explosive scorer for two seasons now, and last week she scored her 900^th point in just the 48^th game of her career. Additionally, the 5-8 guard helped Marquette Catholic to a Sectional 50 crown. Tuesday, Marquette took care of host Culver Community by an easy margin, Friday it was Oregon-Davis, 66-44, and while Saturday was a bit tougher, they knocked off Triton, 52-39. For the week, the youngster averaged 23.3 points, 8.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 5.7 steals per game, with a double-double against Oregon-Davis and 30 points versus Triton.

Wapahani Senior sharpshooter Isaac Andrews has been strong all four years of his career, and last week he set the school’s single-game scoring record with a 45-point effort in their hard-fought, 81-73 triple overtime win against Cowan Thursday night. The 6-1 guard added 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 5 steals, plus a blocked shot to his effort. Saturday, in an easy victory over Union (Modoc), Andrews managed another 30 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 4 steals in limited time.

 In his only game last week, Kokomo Senior Flory Bidunga reached the 1400-point plateau, plus he collected his 1000^th rebound, joining the rare 1000-point/1000-rebound club. Even more impressive, the 6-10 University of Kansas commit has done it in just three seasons. The Wildkats won their eighth game in a row by defeating Cathedral, 91-74. Bidunga finished 9-10 from the field, he scored 23 points, pulled down 17 rebounds, handed out 5 assists, and blocked 5 shots in the triumph.

Senior Sophia Morrison helped Eastbrook to their second consecutive Sectional 39 title, but it wasn’t all easy for the Panthers. Tuesday, they knocked off the host Elwood Panthers with ease. Friday, in the Sectional Semi-Final, it was more of the same against Madison-Grant. But in Saturday’s title game, it took Eastbrook four overtimes…yes, four…to avenge a loss to Blackford from the week prior, 62-58. All in all, Morrison, a Grace College commit, was outstanding, averaging 25.7 points, 2.3 assists, and 5.0 steals per game. She poured in 32 points versus Blackford, plus she surpassed the 1400-point mark.

Providence Senior Noah Lovan was critical for the Pioneers in a pair of games last week, but none more so than a 30-point performance in a 67-34 win over now 12-5 South Central (Elizabeth) on Thursday night. Lovan buried 14-19 shots, including knocking down two of his three 3-point attempts. He followed that Saturday with a 28-point outing in a 75-40 success against Henryville. The 6-3 guard was highly effective at the charity stripe this time, making 11-12 shots from 15-feet. He added 9 rebounds and 6 assists in the win, helping move the Pioneers to 14-3 on the year.

The Bailey name is synonymous with Bedford North Lawrence basketball, and last week Senior Madisyn Bailey helped the Lady Stars to a huge upset and a Sectional 15 crown. The Stars began their week Wednesday night with a 58-24 win against New Albany. It continued Friday, as they took care of a very good Silver Creek program, 60-41. But Saturday was the big one, as Bedford avenged a 17-point loss from earlier this season, this time using key defensive stops to knock off IBCA #6 Jennings County, 43-39. The 5-9 Bailey was a huge catalyst each game defensively, often defending the other team’s best player, limiting them to single digits. Additionally, the Marian University commit averaged 18.0 points, 2.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 3.7 steals per game,plus she was 19-29 from the field and an impressive 8-11 from downtown.

This is the 16^th season for the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association Player of the Week program, andthe fourth season it is being presented by Franciscan Health, a corporate sponsor of the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association.

Player of the Week winners are chosen each week from each of the IHSAA’s three districts. Girls’ winners will be chosen through the Monday following the IHSAA Girls State Finals. Boys’ winners will be chosen through the Monday following the IHSAA Boys State Finals.