As the Indiana High School Athletic Association begins its 100th annual boys basketball state tournament, it's time to celebrate.
Celebrate the legends. Celebrate the rivalries. Celebrate the drama.
Celebrate the lovable madness known as "Hoosier Hysteria."
From set shots to high-flying dunks, from a single-class system to a four-class format, this tournament serves as a living history of the game's evolution.
It's a fairy tale filled with unknown heroes and famous stars.
And it's taken generations of fans on a roller-coaster ride of a journey with improbable upsets and miraculous, buzzer-beating shots around every turn.
The Athenians, Alices, Cardinals, Hatchets and Hot Dogs -- yes, the Hot Dogs! -- are just some of the teams that have captured the hearts of cities and towns throughout the state during their quests for glory.
From Wingate and South Bend Central battling to a 15-14 score after five overtimes in 1913 to Greg Oden and Co. creating a dynasty at Lawrence North in the mid-2000s, the classic moments of this tournament are well worth savoring.
The following year-by-year capsules -- with a "Region connection" included if a team from Northwest Indiana did not make an impact at the state finals level -- chronicle those memories and countless others throughout tournament's history.
So, sit back, enjoy and remember to celebrate.
Note: Capsules were compiled by Times sportswriter Nate Ulrich. Sources: Books -- "Hoosier Hysteria: Ninth and Final Edition"; "Indiana High School Basketball Tournament Record Book: 1995 Edition." Web sites -- www.ihsaa.org; www.indianassa.org; www.indianahsbasketball.homestead.com; www.ihigh.com/100/section_160.html.
YEAR 1 {1911}
'Hoosier Hysteria' begins
BLOOMINGTON | Crawfordsville started it all.
The term "Hoosier Hysteria" might never have been brought to life if the Athenians didn't kick off one of the most storied high school tournaments in the land with legendary style.
Forward Carroll Stevenson scored a game-high 14 points to lead Crawfordsville to a 24-17 victory against rival Lebanon in Indiana's first state championship game.
Center Ben H. Myers had six points, and forward Orville Taylor, a transfer from Lebanon, added four to help the Athenians (16-2) and coach Dave Glascock prevail before an estimated crowd of 1,200 at Indiana University.
Myers scored a game-high 16 points, and Stevenson and Taylor added 12 apiece to lead Crawfordsville into the championship game with a 42-16 win against Bluffton.
Lebanon advanced to the title game with a 28-10 triumph against New Albany.
Though Crawfordsville won the state's first crown, it wasn't recognized as the first official state champion until several years later. The IHSAA Board of Control did not officially sanction the 1911 tournament, but it did rule on the eligibility of the players involved.
In 1957, the IHSAA formally recognized Crawfordsville as the state's original champion instead of Lebanon, which made amends for its loss to the Athenians by winning it all the following season.
The Region connection
Valparaiso suffered a 23-11 defeat against eventual state runner-up Lebanon in a quarterfinal of the state finals.
YEAR 2 {1912}
Lebanon seizes top honor
BLOOMINGTON | Lebanon showed no mercy in its quest to redeem itself after losing in the state championship game the year before.
Forward Dick Porter scored a game-high 26 points to lead Lebanon to a 51-11 pounding of Franklin in the state title game at Indiana University.
Porter's 26-point performance stood as the record for most points scored by an individual in a championship game until 1946.
Lebanon (16-3) also received solid offensive production from another player -- center Lowell Dale. He had 22 points to help his team complete its mission with conviction in the title game.
Dale also scored 20 points in Lebanon's 28-13 thrashing of Orleans in the semifinal game leading up to the championship game. Franklin defeated Whiting 29-21 in the other semifinal.
Lebanon finished as the runner-up in the first state title game. The Tigers suffered a 24-17 defeat against Crawfordsville.
However, coach Claude Whitney and his Lebanon players came back with a vengeance in the 1911-12 season. Among their regular-season wins was an unbelievable 101-14 dismantling of Frankfort.
Verner "Bud" Laughner was a standout player for Lebanon during the regular season, but he was forced to quit the team for an unknown reason and did not compete in the tournament.
Still, the Tigers managed to roll without him.
YEAR 3 {1913}
Wingate wins in five OTs
BLOOMINGTON | Wingate and South Bend Central combined to create one of the most interesting box scores in tournament history.
Wingate prevailed 15-14 -- after battling through a whopping five overtimes.
Wingate (22-3) claimed its first state title with its victory over South Bend Central at Indiana University.
After the score was tied 13-13 at the end of regulation, game officials declared the first team to score two points in overtime would win. Each overtime period lasted two minutes.
South Bend Central made a foul shot as it inched closer to that elusive second point. But Wingate won it all when forward Forest Crane made a field goal shortly after center Homer Stonebraker missed an attempt near the free-throw line.
Crane finished with six points, and Stonebraker, Wingate's captain, scored a game-high nine.
Wingate advanced to the title game after Crane scored 14 points and Stonebraker added seven in its 23-14 triumph over Lafayette Jefferson. In other semifinal, South Bend Central defeated Crawfordsville 19-11.
The Region connection
Gary fell victim to South Bend Central as it lost 16-8 in a quarterfinal of the state finals.
YEAR 4 {1914}
Wingate first to repeat
BLOOMINGTON | Wingate survived a brutal schedule in the final two days of the tournament to become the first team to capture consecutive state championships.
Center Homer Stonebraker scored a game-high 18 points as Wingate demolished Anderson 36-8 in the state title game at Indiana University.
Wingate (19-5) had two play two games on a Friday and four, including the state title game, the next day to win the tournament. After prevailing against Milan 42-14 and Westport 44-12 on Friday, Wingate had to face tournament favorite Crawfordsville at 8 a.m. Saturday.
Despite the grueling schedule, Wingate hammered Crawfordsville 24-1. Then, Stonebraker, Wingate's captain, made four field goals and nine free throws to account for all of his team's points in a 17-13 win against Clinton.
Wingate later defeated Lebanon 14-8 to advance to its title game against Anderson.
In the other semifinal, Anderson easily held off Rochester 19-9.
The Region connection
Whiting suffered a 17-15 loss to Lebanon, which then won two more games to advance to the Final Four.
YEAR 5 {1915}
Keewasakees roll
BLOOMINGTON | With the stellar scoring ability of center Al Smith, Thorntown (22-5) rolled to a 33-10 victory against Montmorenci in the state championship game at Indiana University.
Smith scored a game-high 19 points to help his team cruise in the championship game. Orville Hall added eight points, and fellow forward Andy Riggins rounded out the Keewasakees' scoring with six.
In Thorntown's 30-16 victory against Indianapolis Manual with the right to advance to the state title game on the line, Smith scored a game-high 19 points. Hall contributed with 10, and Riggins added two to complete Thorntown's scoring.
In the other semifinal, Montmorenci edged Fairmount 35-32 with a berth in the title game hanging in the balance.
Thorntown coach Chester Hill was a standout player at Paoli, where he graduated from in 1910. After winning a state title with the Keewasakees, he would go on to coach at Martinsville, Lebanon and Kokomo.
The Region connection
East Chicago suffered a lopsided, 21-7 defeat against Indianapolis Manual in the quarterfinals of the state finals.
YEAR 6 {1916}
Lafayette Jefferson takes top honor
BLOOMINGTON | Lafayette Jefferson captured its first state championship by holding off previous titlist Crawfordsville 27-26 in overtime at Indiana University.
Guard Donald Tilson and center Ray Campbell scored 11 and 10 points, respectively, to help Lafayette Jefferson prevent Crawfordsville from repeating the success it experienced in 1911, the tournament's first year.
Tilson scored 11 and forward Claude Draper contributed with 10 points to carry Lafayette Jefferson to a 29-17 victory against Martinsville with a trip to the state championship up for grabs. In the other semifinal, Crawfordsville defeated Vincennes 33-17.
Lafayette Jefferson finished the season with a record of 20-4. It suffered losses to Montmorenci, Monticello, Lebanon and Kokomo during the regular season. Lafayette Jefferson, however, avenged its loss against Monticello by winning a sectional game between the two teams 29-22.
Lafayette Jefferson's yearbook, "The Nautilus," included a summary of the entire 1915-16 season. The team's victory celebration and parade was also chronicled.
The Region connection
Valparaiso suffered a 22-16 defeat at the hands of Vincennes in a quarterfinal of the state finals.
YEAR 7 {1917}
Gary Emerson falls to Lebanon
BLOOMINGTON | Gary Emerson entered the state championship game with a perfect record, but it couldn't win when it mattered most.
Lebanon (26-2) defeated Gary Emerson 34-26 at Indiana University, capturing its second state championship and first since 1912.
In the title game, guard Don White scored a game-high 12 points to lead Lebanon, which had an obvious size advantage over Gary Emerson.
Center Bob Ball scored 14 points and forward Fred Adam added 10 points to help Lebanon crush Martinsville 36-12 with a berth in the state championship at stake.
In the other semifinal, Gary Emerson defeated Rochester 27-17.
During its run in the state finals, Gary Emerson earned victories against Rockville, Vincennes and Rochester.
In 1916, Jake Gimbel of Vincennes proposed the IHSAA should honor players who display outstanding attitudes. Thus, the Gimbel Medal for Mental Attitude was created. In 1917, Claude Curtis of Martinsville became the first player to receive the honor.
YEAR 8 {1918}
Tigers repeat as champs
BLOOMINGTON | Lebanon was favored to win its second consecutive state championship, and the Tigers didn't disappoint those who believed in them.
With three returning starters from the previous season, Lebanon avoided a scare and defeated Anderson 24-20 in overtime, prevailing in the state championship game at Indiana University.
Guard Donald White scored a game-high 14 points for Lebanon (28-2). Tigers center Fred Adams added eight points in the title game.
White had nine points as Lebanon handled Bloomington effectively in its 17-4 semifinal triumph. The Tigers' defense had a reputation for being merciless. Lebanon allowed just 33 points in its four state finals games, and 20 of those were scored by Anderson in the title game.
In the other semifinal, Anderson defeated Huntington 29-24.
With the Tigers' victory, coach Glenn Curtis earned his first state title. He would later win three state championships while at the helm at Martinsville.
The Region connection
Gary Emerson suffered a 30-9 defeat against eventual state runner-up Anderson in the first round of the state finals.
YEAR 9 {1919}
Bloomington prevails at Purdue
WEST LAFAYETTE | Bloomington took the state title to the southern portion of the state by topping Lafayette Jefferson 18-15 before a crowd of 2,500 in the lone state title game held at Purdue University's Memorial Gymnasium.
Bloomington (23-3) was the first school away from the Crawfordsville area -- Montgomery, Boone and Tippecanoe counties -- to bring home a state championship.
Guard Donald Robinson scored a game-high six points to lead Bloomington in the title game. Forward Donald Rogers scored a game-high 10 points to pace Bloomington in its 27-17 victory against Thorntown.
In the other semifinal, Lafayette Jefferson defeated Crawfordsville 18-15.
Coach Cliff Wells starred as a forward for Bloomington until he graduated in 1915. He became Bloomington's coach the following season and guided his team to the state championship at the age of 22. He's the youngest coach to win guide a team to a state title, and the only man to coach his own brother -- Lloyd Wells -- on a state titlist.
Wells would never win another state title with Bloomington, but he eventually would guide Logansport to a state crown in 1934.
The Region connection
Gary Emerson suffered a 21-18 defeat against Lafayette Jefferson with a berth in Final Four at stake.
