Timeline From The Past: Basketball History
From the Files of the Kosciusko County Historical Society
Editor’s note: This is a retrospective article that runs a few times a month on InkFreeNews.
Jan. 14, 1991 — Whitko’s Bill Patrick became only the 39th coach in Indiana high school basketball history to win 400 games as his Wildcats rolled to an easy 83-58 victory over Bluffton in a non-conference matchup Saturday night.
Another claim which Patrick has earned is 24 winning seasons in a row.
Jan. 11, 1965 — The town of Claypool is still celebrating today, and well it should after its beloved Knights copped the championship of the 48th annual Kosciusko County high school basketball tournament Saturday.
Claypool won its second consecutive tourney championship by defeating Silver Lake 60-45 Saturday night before a capacity crowd at the Warsaw High School gym.
Team members include cheerleaders sponsor Mrs. Wayne Harshberger; players Dave Shively, Coye Conley, Charlie McKenzie; cheerleaders Beth Frantz, Joyce Palmer and Jo Merkle; players Alan Sands, Steve Ault, Doug Ault, James Patrick, Larry McKenzie; principal Carl Sands; team managers Max Evans, Steve Curtis and Gary Hurd; timekeeper Kenneth Baker; coaches Larry Evans and Tom Miller; Clay township trustee Raymond Reed; and player Hal Gunter.
Jan. 10, 1958 — Seven students of Leesburg High School, in a letter to the newspaper, challenged officials of the school to meet with them and learn the truth about why some 11 members of the Leesburg basketball squad have quit the team.
They accused Coach John Lozier of using profane and abusive language in speaking to them and gave this as their principle reason for leaving the squad. Some of the boys were on the varsity, some on the second team.
– Compiled by InkFreeNews reporter Lasca Randels