40,000 Attend High School Game

[Gimlet25id]

Came across a great video on Youtube. This is what it used to be like in Indiana before we switched to Class basketball. Make sure to watch the whole clip to get a idea of how big the crowd was for this State Final Game.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNjF1XIebdA

[jsblanton]

Single class basketball was a great thing that we had in Indiana. I am not totally against class basketball but I sure do miss the single tournament format. That clip brought back great memories. Thanks!!!

[canuckrefguy]

Wow - Damon Bailey, the one and only....I remember reading about him in Feinstein's "Season on the Brink" book.

Who were the lucky 2-person crew to work that game?

[tomegun]

If I'm not mistaken, the team Bedford played was the school where Shawn Kemp went - he graduated before that game. BTW, Kemp did not win Mr. Basketball - a guy I went to school with named Woody Austin won it.

Too bad Bailey didn't have the kind of career at IU everyone thought he would.

Do you think there are any gray-haired basketball coaches with red sweaters willing to coach IU? Sampson has got to go!

[Coltdoggs]

That was the year I graduated HS in Indy.

Sectionals in Indy at that time were played at Hinkle Fieldhouse at Butler University. It was so much fun. Sectionals started on Tuesday night and you had about 10-12 area high schools in that one sectional.

Then Hinkle became the Regional and Semi State locations and the teams advancing had to play 2 games on the same Saturday at 10:30a and 1p then the winners played at 8p.

Indiana HS hoops was a different game back then.

[tomegun]

Indiana HS hoops back then was Indiana HS hoops. Now it is similar to many other states.

[Gimlet25id]

Originally Posted by tomegun

Indiana HS hoops back then was Indiana HS hoops. Now it is similar to many other states.

No doubt!!! On a side note.. Damon Bailey ended up coaching the VB @ Bedford North Lawrence for a couple of years. I actually officiated one of his last home games. Shortly there after his season ended and he resigned.

[Coltdoggs]

Bailey had a nice HS career but he became a victim of the hype machine starting in his 8th grade year.

I can't fault the guy....he got his education paid for and played at the school that and for the coach he coveted most. That in itself is living the dream if you ask me.

I can't help but wonder if he came along now if he would have had an NBA career? The game from HS to NBA is so much different now than it was back than in terms of the AAU system, exposure to play other great HS players from across the country....I think he did play overseas for a couple years and maybe played in the states for a team outta Ft. Wayne....can't remember the league it was....some sort of D-league for the NBA before it got backing by the NBA.

[observer]

I could not identify the two officials working the game
although I officiated back in those years, in fact, still do.

[Bearfanmike20]

No visual counts.....

No signals for 3??.....

wow.. things were different...

[Mark Padgett]

Where was Gene Hackman?