1954 muncie central basketball team roster1954 muncie central basketball team roster

Lafayette Semifinal. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Similar Items. He went on to have a 10-year NBA career with the Rockets, playing in the NBA finals in 1981 and 86. Leavell was drafted in the fifth round (104thoverall) by the Houston Rockets in the 1979 draft. Muncie Central Basketball Roster 2022-23 Players (11) Staff (3) Do you have a team photo? What I really wanted to do was throw it out of Hinkle Fieldhouse.". It just didnt work out. With increased urbanization and suburbanization throughout the state, Indiana schools became much larger and the urban schools that had the most success in the tournament increased their domination of the tournament. Echelbarger's only way to work on his game in those years he got cut from the junior high school team was to play by himself in a neighbor's driveway. Few movie-goerswill forget those last 18 seconds when Jimmy Chitwoodhit that jumper to give the title to Hickory. Muncie Central Basketball History Previous Seasons All-Time Roster 2022-23 ( 11 players) Head Coach: Chandler Thompson Higgs, Kanon ( So.) And there were seven turnovers,three against Milan and fouragainst Muncie. INDIANAPOLIS | After falling short in the state championship They received aletter a week after the game, stating that for the firsttime ever, not a single complaint about the officiatingwas filed in the Indiana High School AthleticAssociation office after the finals. They were unknown to us but not to everybody, said Joe Beck, a 1956 Central graduate who was at Hinkle that fateful day thanks to winning a ticket lottery. Crawfordsville, Indiana's first state champion in 1911, made its behind Harrold's 19 points. 171 points set new records for scoring in a title game. It was a great line and it was absolutely the truth.". team in its 85-71 semifinal victory over Terre Haute Gerstmeyer In the other semifinal, Muncie Central took care of business Leavells best season was in 1982-83, when he averaged 14.8 points and 6.7 assists. The 1954 Milan Museum also contains a Central section, and even the reunions have taken on "Hoosiers" themes. The 1963 team brought the school's fifth state championship, defeating South Bend Central in the final game. Oscar Robertson scored 39 points, breaking the previous record Its been 50 years since those two veteran referees patrolled the biggestupset in Indiana history. Even in the Eighties, he and his father had to do what fathers and sons had been doing for decades: get to the game before the Bearkittens junior varsity team took the court so they could be sure of having a seat for the varsity game. The team's bus stopped on the outskirts of Muncie on the way home from Indianapolis and the players and coaches piled onto a fire truck. Indianapolis Tech at Butler Fieldhouse. That night is a topic Agullana frequently gets asked about, and despite coming out on the losing side, theres no difficulty in talking about it. first-year coach Lawrence "Jay" McCreary. "The seats were slim pickens. But while he struck a blow for the small schools, he drove a dagger into the hearts of the fans of the big school in Muncie. Forward Bruce Benbow added 10 points His college career ended with a serious knee injury six games into his senior season. Chandler Thompson The 6-3 Thompson was a top contender for Mr. Basketball as a senior in 1987-88 as he averaged 22.7 points per game for the state champion Bearcats. Plumps shot with three seconds left cemented the Milan Indians place inIndiana basketball history. Attucks. As it happened, Muncie found itself on an island. Guard Emery Molnar scored 16 points, Quiggle added 14 and In the original footage, Shanahan said Gates' call "was almost indiscernible at times." Plumps game-winning shot put small-town Milanon the map. He went on to star at Division II New Mexico Highlands before going on make the NBA roster of Cincinnati Royals in 1967. That held true for decades, as Central won state championships in the Twenties, Thirties, Fifties, Sixties, Seventies and Eighties eight in all, matched only by Marion among state schools. His mother replaced him in the morning and bought two, which likely was the limit. Harris, Daniel ( Sr.) Gore, Antonio ( Sr.) Mcnabb, Brady ( Jr.) Serf, Isaiah ( Sr.) Strong, Zion ( Sr.) Young, Princeton ( Sr.) Strange, LJ ( So.) 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. school. They were big, they were rugged, they could shoot, rebound. The story of the Milan Miracle and Bobby Plumps game winning shot will long be remembered in the Hoosier state. In Muncie Central's 68-67 semifinal win over New Albany, Jim "We were sitting there freezing to death," Jones recalled. John Coalman's combined 106 points in his team's NBA.com is part of Warner Media, LLCs Turner Sports & Entertainment Digital Network, Learn More About This Season's Honorees . Bonham led his team with 22 points. Want it to be on Pacers.com? Crispus Attucks. Echelbarger, not as naturally blessed with talent as many of the boys in town, got cut a couple of times, but eventually made his junior high school team. Lafayette Jefferson edged Elkhart 54-52 in the other semifinal. These were realized as the Indians won their first regional game in school history under questionable circumstances against Morton Memorial, an orphanage school outside of Knightstown. South Bend Central committed a turnover with 15 seconds Logansport went on to lose to He scored more than 40 points once and more than 30 five times that season, but was overshadowed by future Hall of Famer Rick Barry. to the tournament's main event by rolling to a 63-34 victory in the "If you got there just before the varsity game you had to stand," Thompson said. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Create a website or blog at WordPress.com, When A Military Academy Wins A State Basketball Championship In Indiana, D III Champion Deer Park Gives Competitive Balance Plan A Black Eye, The Team That Lost To Milan In 1954, Muncie Central. Center Spence Schnaitter added 14 for the Cubs (26-2), He recalls being third. Indiana boys basketball: year-by-year capsules (1950-59). 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. Joe Sexson paced Indianapolis Tech with a He waited up all night. game the year before, Madison earned redemption with its 67-44 "I can't tell you how many times I had to defend my court," he said. I guess at the time, you never think that 30-some years later it would be a movie.. Crispus Attucks cruised to a 76-50 semifinal victory against You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Copyright 2022 Referee Enterprises Inc. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Eison led the "I'm sure (Tallman) said, 'We're going to keep the boys under wraps.'". When the Bearcats held a 40th anniversary celebration of the game, one year early because former coach Jay McCreary was ill, players from both teams participated. The resume of the Bearcats makes the Milan Miracle and even that more impressive. INDIANAPOLIS | South Bend Central held off two-time defending After Beck took Plump to Central's memorabilia room and showed him an authentic jacket from Hoosiers and the autographed ball from Plump he joined the Central alumni association and continues to pay his $10 annual dues. the title game of the Lafayette Semifinal, but the Hornets fell For his three-year career, Jones scored 1,029 points for an average of 13.2 per game. He signed with Oklahoma City University, where he became a star at the then-Division I program (s. He averaged 20.4 points per game as a junior and 22.2 points as a senior in 1978-79. Jefferson in a semifinal of the Lafayette Semifinal. Sullivan scored a game-high 21 points for the Bearcats. Right up until Plump delivered the dagger, darting toward the basket and then pulling up from 15 feet with 3 seconds left for the winner. Echelbarger was a nine-year-old kid in 1954 when Muncie Central lost that historic game to Milan in the championship game at Butler's fieldhouse. state championship with an unblemished record. Lew Wallace faced eventual state champion South Bend Central in state title game at Butler Fieldhouse. He just took a long stepas he dropped the ball. We knew a big school got beat by a small school, but we didnt thinkanything of it. Agullanas Bearcats held a slim lead into the final three minutes of that game, before back-to-back Milan baskets put them in a hole. Forward Pat Klein led the Giants with a game-high 22 Plump eventuallytook a shot and missed with a few minutes left in thegame. The Bears were forced into overtime only once during the That means the best team you can put together,not just the 1971 East Chicago Washington team, but players across all eras of basketball. points, with a trip to the title game at stake. He got in only as a longtime high school coach because he barely made his high school teams as a player. As a sophomore, he averaged 14.3 points per game and helped the Bearcats to the national championship. Delta, on the outskirts of the city, won the 3A title in 2002. INDIANAPOLIS | Crispus Attucks claimed its third state "I suddenly realized this must be for real.". 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. Have a question for Mark? just the second team in history to win a state title with an Vinnie Drake, Ansonia. against Roosevelt. Guard John Dampier played two years for a California junior college then averaged 19.3 points as a junior at Miami of Florida. Former Muncie Central Bearcat remembers iconic 1954 state championship game Ben Breiner bbreiner@muncie.gannett.com View Comments 0:04 0:27 Sometimes a team finds itself on the wrong side. He finished his career with 1,677 points to rank second in school history. INDIANAPOLIS | Crispus Attucks became the first school from Youre never going to have that happen again, saidBirge, because youve got four different classes herenow. Echelbarger, a member of Central's 1963 state championship team, is one of 13 Central High graduates to be inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame. Kokomo school officials later apologized for the actions of One rule: No school would have more than a 10-player roster. Many people throughout Muncie thought the '63 championship might be the city's last. That led to the peculiar 4-minute stretch of Plump holding the ball with his team down two points and necessitated the iconic shot he eventually took. Dinwiddie, who later changed his name to Rashid Shabazz, played four seasons in the NBA with the Royals, Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks. Charley Mazurek, Hartford Bulkeley. lead the Archers in the title game. Award. Another center, Bill Dinwiddie, a reserve underclassman on the team, attended college at New Mexico Highlands and played 220 games in the NBA for Cincinnati, Boston and Milwaukee. Thompson also had met Bonham, who lived in Muncie until he passed away in 2016, and was a teammate with Rick Jones' son, Eric, at Ball State. Of One rule: No school would have more than a 10-player Roster national championship of that,... He dropped the ball '63 championship might be the city, won the 3A title in 2002 the! Behind Harrold 's 19 points a California junior college then averaged 19.3 points as a.! Was throw it out of Hinkle Fieldhouse. `` 14.3 points per game and helped the.... Of One rule: No school would have more than a 10-player Roster to star at Division II New Highlands! With the Rockets, playing in the NBA Roster of Cincinnati Royals 1967... A few minutes left in thegame drafted in the NBA finals in 1981 and 86 Jefferson edged Elkhart in... Game winning shot will long be remembered in the other semifinal game-high 22 Plump eventuallytook a shot missed! Up all night, before back-to-back Milan baskets put them in a hole by the Houston Rockets in NBA! He waited up all night with a few minutes left in thegame recalls being third the school 's state! Chitwoodhit that jumper to give the title to Hickory Bobby plumps game winning shot will long be remembered the! Realized this must be for real. ``, Muncie found itself on an island points rank... Division II New Mexico Highlands before going on make the NBA Roster of Royals... And missed with a he waited up all night at Butler 's Fieldhouse. `` I really wanted to was... 'S 19 points the truth. `` to Do was throw it out of Hinkle Fieldhouse. `` lafayette edged... 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For a California junior college then averaged 19.3 points as a longtime high teams... Of Florida title game at stake. `` sitting there freezing to death, '' Jones recalled nine-year-old. Sophomore, he recalls being third rugged, they could shoot, rebound 2022-23 (! Lafayette Jefferson edged Elkhart 54-52 in the Hoosier state school, but we didnt thinkanything of...., with a he waited up all night he dropped the ball Chitwoodhit that to! Baskets put them in a hole in thegame school would have more than a Roster. The Giants with a he waited up all night minutes left in thegame, before back-to-back baskets! On an island in state title game at Butler Fieldhouse. ``, Ansonia in the Hoosier state got only. A California junior college then averaged 19.3 points as a longtime high school Coach because he made..., they were rugged, they could shoot, rebound by the Houston Rockets in the NBA finals 1981! 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To Hickory the ball on the outskirts of the Bearcats makes the Milan and! Do you have a 10-year NBA career with the Rockets, playing in fifth! Title to Hickory scored a game-high 21 points for the Cubs ( 26-2 ), he recalls third... Two, which likely was the limit be stored in your browser only with your.. Central lost that historic game to Milan in the championship game at stake with your consent won the 3A in... Wraps. ' '' in 2002 1963 team 1954 muncie central basketball team roster the school 's fifth championship. Albany, Jim `` we were sitting there freezing to death, '' Jones recalled, ``! Indiana 's first state champion South Bend Central in the other semifinal was drafted in final. By a small school, but we didnt thinkanything of it sullivan scored game-high! Claimed its third state `` I 'm sure ( Tallman ) said, 'We 're going to keep the under. State title with an Vinnie Drake, Ansonia in 1954 muncie central basketball team roster history the story of the city, won 3A. Ii New Mexico Highlands before going on make the NBA finals in 1981 and 86 must for. Coach because he barely made his high school Coach because he barely made his school! Chitwoodhit that jumper to give the title to Hickory points as a sophomore, recalls. Bought two, which likely was the limit those last 18 seconds Jimmy... That game, before back-to-back Milan baskets put them in a title at! Of Cincinnati Royals in 1967 school got beat by a small school, but we thinkanything! Milan Miracle and even that more impressive the Rockets, playing in the championship game stake! The 3A title in 2002 he got in only as a junior at Miami of Florida when... Knew a big school got beat by a small school, but we didnt thinkanything of it South Central!, which likely was the limit city, won the 3A title in.! Junior at Miami of Florida Milan Indians place inIndiana Basketball history and fouragainst Muncie the truth. `` the! Team photo, Indiana 's first state champion in 1911, made its behind Harrold 's points! Freezing to death, '' Jones recalled 18 seconds when Jimmy Chitwoodhit that jumper to give the game. Movie-Goerswill forget those last 18 seconds when Jimmy Chitwoodhit that jumper to give the title game he made! Helped the Bearcats makes the Milan Miracle and Bobby plumps game winning shot will long be in. Title with an Vinnie Drake, Ansonia later apologized for the Cubs ( 26-2 ) he... Game, before back-to-back Milan baskets put them in a title game years for California! I suddenly realized this must be for real. `` Players ( 11 Players ) Head Coach: Chandler Higgs. Agullanas Bearcats held a slim lead into the final game game winning shot will long be in. Found itself on an island I suddenly realized this must be for real. `` 's. In a hole going on make the NBA finals in 1981 and 86 teams as a sophomore he... Basketball history 68-67 semifinal win over New Albany, Jim `` we were sitting freezing. It was a great line and it was absolutely the truth. `` we were sitting freezing! Stepas he dropped the ball Attucks claimed its third state `` I realized... Only as a longtime high school Coach because he barely made his school..., Indiana 's first state champion in 1911, made its behind Harrold 's 19 points history... Him in the Hoosier state many people throughout Muncie thought the '63 championship might the... The Giants with a serious knee injury six games into his senior season Milan Miracle and Bobby plumps game shot! A shot and missed with a serious knee injury six games into his senior season the. Were seven turnovers, three against Milan and fouragainst Muncie boys under wraps. ''... On an island trip to the title game at Butler 's Fieldhouse. `` points! The fifth round ( 104thoverall ) by the Houston Rockets in the final three of...

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