The Markleville Arabians won their only basketball sectional tournament in school history on March 4, 1933.
Before class basketball, the sectional tournament included every school in Madison County.
By far the largest school in Madison County, the Anderson Indians were favored to become sectional champs and possibly the state champions.
Anderson had a winning season, with only four losses. It was coached by Evert Case, an Anderson native who had two state championships while coaching at Frankfort.
Hopes were high as a fine center, Joe Hallinan, had transferred from Akron, Ohio.
Anticipation and excitement began building as the sectional tournament drawing neared.
Feb. 24 brought the devastating news that Anderson High School had been suspended because Joe Hallinan was ruled ineligible by the Indiana High School Athletic Association.
Arthur Trester, commissioner of the IHSAA had knowledge that not only Joe was ineligible but other violations were sited.
It seemed an outrageous scheme was being played by the board of trustees. The basketball coach and the athletic director were each paid a $1,000 bonus, and other coaches were paid a lesser amount.
The IHSAA ruled that none of Anderson High School’s athletic teams could participate in any contests that would count until they applied for re-instatement Feb. 1, 1934.
The fans were outraged. This took place in the middle of the depression when many families were struggling just to survive.
The following Monday a group of 1,000 plus gathered at the high school gym. They marched to the Madison County Court House to protest the local business interests and Anderson school officials who had allowed this to happen.
At some point the Anderson gym floor was damaged by protesters taking axes to the floor. The location of the sectional tournament was moved to Ball State University gymnasium.
Imagine the excitement of small high school players being able to play on a college floor.
Remember the movie “Hoosiers”? Markleville drew the Frankton Eagles in the first round. The score was 21-15 with the Arabians victorious.
The next game the “Arabian Midgets,” as they were regarded in local newspapers, upset the Alexandria Tigers 25-19. This game was reported as the biggest upset in the state.
The final game against Elwood was a nail-biter.
With seconds remaining, Harold Lovett stood at the free throw line and tossed in a pair of baskets to tie the game. The final score of the overtime was 30-25 Arabians.
The team was coached by H.J. Anderson. Team players were Cleo Padgett, Richard Marsh, Joe Main, Harold Lovett, Ernest Vest, Halford (Jock) Poore, Joe McCormack, Charles Stohler, Taylor Tupps and Woodrow Lovett.
This side note was recalled by my father, Horace Hays: He was around 8 and could not get a ticket to the sold-out games. He sat on the floor of the farmhouse in front of the radio listening to the game.
His father, my grandfather, Walter Hays, was the Adams Township trustee. At that time, trustees were like the school superintendent.
It seems Coach Anderson had become ill and was unable to coach the final game. Walter Hays stepped in to coach. At one point he became so excited while yelling instructions to the players that his false teeth flew from his mouth and skidded across the gym floor. Time out was called, teeth recovered and victory was achieved.
The Arabians lost the first game of the regional tournament, but, oh, what a ride.
The 1933 Markleville school newspaper reported they held a pep session every day the week prior to the regional tournament.
I can only imagine how much pride the small community felt and the conversations at the barber shop.
Jan Hays Fox is a member of the Pendleton Historical Museum board.
