Earl H Bogle:
CLASS OF 1967
Brownsburg High SchoolClass of 1967
Brownsburg, IN
Central Elementary SchoolClass of 1967
Lebanon, IN
Harney Elementary SchoolClass of 1967
Lebanon, IN
Stokes Elementary SchoolClass of 1962
Lebanon, IN
Ferguson Elementary SchoolClass of 1962
Ferguson, KY
Earl H's Story
1967 SECTIONAL BASKETBALL GAME HIGHLIGHTS
(WHAT CLASSMATES NEVER KNEW)
By Earl H Bogle
My Brownsburg High School greatest moment is the 1967 Indiana State Tourney's Brownsburg Sectional semifinal basketball game against 1966 defending Sectional champion Mooresville Pioneers.
At 4:00am I sold 79 daily and 129 Sunday Indianapolis Star newspapers. Award winner salesmanship increased deliveries by 44% and 122% from 52 daily and 55 Sunday papers. It became Central Indiana's largest paperboy route. For 2 hours I biked from home to a downtown alley newspaper shack off N Green Street. I returned to toss newspapers along S Green Street and zigzag Southtown and Sunny Knoll subdivisions for 6 miles. Sport days I walked over a mile to or from the gym. Thursday, Friday nights and Saturday morning I walked 24 total miles to collect 25¢ for Sunday and 45¢ for daily papers to pay a $52.84 bill and to earn $13.21 plus tips minus unpaid bills.
My week
Hours: School 38, route 26, study 24, sports 20, church 8, meals 7, rest 3 sleep 42
Miles: walk 10 + route: bike 44 and walk 24
Coach Rollin Cutter's 1964-66 2 seasons, Brownsburg set a 24 consecutive loss record by lopsided scores. I and 6 other substitutes mostly sat and watched in disgust. Early 2nd quarter of our 1966 Basketball Sectional game I substituted at Center being 6' 5" tall, 170 pounds. Promptly, I scored 2 field goals. I caught over 20 rebounds. Defensively, my opponent didn’t score. The Bulldogs surged ahead briefly to lead the Warriors. I blocked shots and hustled until the final horn. Senior Bulldog Guard, Ron Grimes’ last second long shot bounced off the backboard. Danville won 62-61. Weeping Senior friend, Jeri York stood on rollout bleachers to say, “Earl, Brownsburg will always be a loser.” On court I choked back tears, “I promise we'll win next year.” Her last words to me, “No you won’t. Quit hoping."
"I can't."
The 1966-1967 basketball season I started at Center. The 1st half season, we won 6 and lost 4 games. I was 3rd in points, 1st in rebounds and assists. Defensively, I won every jump ball tip and blocked more shots.
At practices, Junior, Tim Young, 6’ 9” over 210 pounds bully constantly elbowed me. Coach Vince Myer did nothing. Midseason we fought after repeated hard blows hit my head. We ran the bleachers as punishment. I ran more. Hence, Myer started Tim most games reducing my game time. Our team's 2nd half win/loss record flipped to 4-6.
Subbed early into Decatur Central (DC) and Greenwood, games 10 and 15, I led our team to 2 wins. 1st 9 scoreboard minutes, DC guard Dana Burroughs scored 18 of his 20 points. Behind 16 points Coach yelled, "Bogle get in! Stop him!" I did. It remains the Greatest Revenge Game Ever©, score 65-64.
Brownsburg Guide newspaper editor Don Richer chose Mooresville to win the Sectional again. It caused a town uproar against his disloyalty.
Coach said, "Leave your car at home. Get a ride to the gym." I walked. Our 1st Sectional game we beat weak foe Plainfield Charlton 68 to 37. I was substituted a token last 21 seconds. The least I played in 3 years. Insulting!
Our last practice was 7 days before the semifinal game. Very early before anyone came to the gym, I hoped to take practice shots to prepare to play. High school custodian Bob Banks heard a knock on our gym's main door. He unlocked it to wave me inside from Artic subzero weather. He said, "Early, aren't you?" We went to the opposite end by the Bulldogs locker room. I laced basketball shoes on a bench by my locker. A rattle came from the caged equipment room. Surprisingly, Coach Myer was inspecting uniforms. He turned to stare with steely eyes aglare. He tersely said, "You're here? It's only 8 o'clock! The team meets at 11 not 8." I thought, "You're here, too!" Replying, "I came to take some practice shots before anyone arrives." He explained, "IHSAA rules forbid team drills before games on Sectional gym floors. You wasted effort and could be home resting." I almost said, "You didn't tell us." He paused with teeth clinched while scowling then turned away to ignore me. He kept piddling with uniforms. Delaying a response I fearfully spoke, "I haven't shot any baskets in the gym since practice." A futile hint.
Still facing away, he gruffly stated, "This is a very important game for you. It might be your last game at Brownsburg." A long pause followed. I stood stiff and anxious to stop this confrontation. Turning while pointing, he emphasized, "This game is in your hands to decide its outcome. Whether we win and play for the championship tonight or lose to end our season. You are the only player on the team who can make that difference. Frankly, I don’t know what will happen. Go sit someplace in the stands." His typical uninspired curtness felt harsh even with a small dose of encouragement. With squinty eyes, he spoke in a tone to make me cringe.
Bob mopped the tunnel beside our locker room door. He must have overheard us talk. Holding school keys he said, "Earl follow me, I have a place for you to rest until the games begin." He unlocked and opened accordion metal gates in a school hallway and door to a teacher lounge that was prohibited to students. Several sofas, chairs, vending machines, 2 metal tables and extra plastic chairs sat inside. He softly requested, "Be quiet. Shut the door when you leave. I'll lock it and the gate later." He stepped towards me to say words that resonate still, "I like how you play basketball." Pausing, he stared at me, "Today you will be a hero." Walking away, he peered over his shoulder with a last glance to say, "I'm cheering for you."
The custodians were the most uplifting, encouraging and appreciative people I met within our school. They had far better characteristics than did students, most teachers, principals or administrators. It wasn't an only act of kindness. They helped students best they could. I'll never forget them.
My nervous rest lying on a couch felt too brief once the gym doors opened. Danville Warriors' spirited team hooted inside a nearby locker room. Awake, I sat on bleachers to await teammates. Meanwhile, I contemplated Bob's actions and words.
The Bulldogs team sat in the stands until the 1st game's 3rd quarter ended. In our locker room Coach Myer wrote pregame defense and offense chalkboard strategies. He announced a starting lineup. Secretly, I was furious when excluded as a starting player after our conversation. Would my High School career end seated on the bench? Overwhelmed, despair and emptiness absorbed me.
Inside our locker room we heard jubilant cheers. Our team went into the tunnel to see this game and to wait for our game. Plainfield Quakers easily led Danville. The 11 points spread seemed too large to overcome. Surprise. the Warriors scored 5 quick goals. Then Sophomore Audrey Wiggam stole the ball and scored with seconds to play. Danville had rallied to lead by 1 point. The crowd screamed hysterically. Unbelievably, Quaker Guard, Gregg Conwell scored a buzzer desperation shot to win. Instantly, rowdy yells shook the gym!
Mom heard our game's radio broadcast at work on Danners Discount Store's intercom. Pop always stayed home. My brothers roamed. Uncle Clay Halsey saw our game. Mooresville trailed until a momentum shift favored them. I felt a loss will end my high school basketball days without playing another second. The Pioneers scored to lead. The scoreboard read 26 to 25. I recalled the season's 1st game. I led the team in scoring, rebounds, assists, blocked shots and jump balls. Yet, Mooresville won by 1 point.
Once again, Mooresville overcame our stale Butler style Guard offensive plays. I saw how Mooresville Coach's strategy changed. He signaled for 3 instead of 2 defensive players in the backcourt. It stopped our Guards' lateral basket drives off pick plays. This formation interrupts wing passes to Forwards but, it left the foul lane open. Our Forwards and Center were guarded outside the free-throw lane by a 2 men half-zone. Our offense playbook had the Center set picks away from the basket. It kept the Center out of position to either score or rebound and caused an open midcourt. A countermove is the Center should not set picks. Offensively, he stands atop the free throw lane to allow Guards to pass the ball to the Center to score. It makes the opposition defend 3 not 2 players.
Behind 11 points, I was finally sent into the game with 3 minutes remaining in the 2nd quarter. Knowing their strategy, offensively I became mobile to score baskets. A shot almost bounced out of bounds at the southwest corner. I rebounded the ball near our dressing room tunnel. Angled behind the backboard, I turned, jumped and shot from the court’s worst slant. The basketball stripped the net. 2 points! I made a very difficult 24' field goal from 1 of 4 deep corners.
Between 6 rebounds I was fouled and made a free throw. Then I scored a 16' turnaround jump shot field goal at the free throw line's left side. A mini-second later the horn sounded while I floated at the apex of a sky-high leap. The crowd's pulsating roar vibrated the floor. It tingled my body. Both teams ran into opposite tunnels to their locker rooms. We were 2 points behind. During halftime briefs, Assistant Coach Jim Acton said, "Bogle has 7 rebounds and 5 points." Defensively I kept Pioneer star Center Meredith Trusty from scoring or rebounding.
Coach Myer repeatedly said, "Earl shoot from outside keep Trusty from scoring." I had done both. He said, "Earl starts the 3rd quarter at Center." At our courtside huddle, he selected Tim Young to resume play. I was befuddled and angry at his forgetfulness or deception. On the bench I wondered, "What does he want from me to play after my terrific performance?" Coach Myer never admitted he had favorite players. He did. I wasn't included. The 2nd half-season was mostly frustrating for me with unexplained reduced game time. Starters would be based upon statistics he claimed to "use to ma...Expand for more
ke lineup decisions." Season's end, I was 4th in total points scored, 3rd in assists and rebounds. His Butler offensive strategy is designed primarily for Guards, secondarily for Forwards, not Centers. Further, I had the season's best free throw percentage. The highest result in years. The best field goal percentage I barely missed first by the 4th decimal position, that is 10,000th of a decimal point. This proves who was our team's best all-around basketball shooter that season.
Mooresville won the second half tip. Feeling ostracized, I deliberately sat at the bench's far end. Momentarily, I almost quit after our team quickly fell behind 10 points. Time to end a high school basketball career. I rose from the bench and walked into the tunnel towards the locker room. Thinking after the door opened, "This isn't me." A desire to prove his decision wrong, if I was put into the game again, kept me from leaving.
Mooresville kept scoring. The Bulldogs missed another shot before I was resubstituted with less than 3 minutes remaining in the 3rd quarter. I was fouled and scored 2 free throws. Later, I scored another buzzer beater 15' jump shot field goal towards the free throw line's right side. Read it in the Brownsburg Guide's March 1, 1967 edition. The highest octave roar the crowd could shout vibrated the gym's air and floor. I felt it. This sensation consumed and tantalized my every inch. The Bulldogs were behind by 2 points as each team huddled before the last quarter.
In the final quarter, I shot a dramatic sweeping 15', left-to-right, left-hand hook shot (I'm right-handed) across the free throw line. A very difficult shot to make on your "weak" side. A maneuver I practiced for 5 years to gain another shot skill. Confident I could make it at this right moment, I scored! This unusual shot so far away from the basket surprised the Pioneers. Soon, I swooshed 2 more free throws, too. Seconds remained as teammate Steve Neimeier's flat jump shot ricocheted off the rim's opposite side. Blocking Trusty, I leaped to rebound the ball. Time seemed to slow again during my flight. Airborne, the ball appeared to float like an illusion. It weakly bounced off the rim. I tipped the ball off the backboard and into the basket to score a 2 point field goal. Brownsburg was finally ahead of Mooresville again, but by 1 point. Another tremendous cheer rattled the rafters.
The Danville Republican and Plainfield Messenger newspapers printed I scored the last shot. They differ substantially as to time on the game clock. Both err when the last Bulldogs points were scored. The clock's time is imprinted in my brain permanently. Hardly any time remained. Only 7 seconds to tick on the scoreboard's clock.
Victory seemed assured when substitute forward Rob Anderson stole a Pioneer's midcourt pass. But, he traveled by taking too many steps without dribbling the ball. Steve Burlingame, Mooresville's All-Star Guard, caught their inbound pass. His determined stare locked onto my eyes as a target. He dribbled fast up court with 6 seconds on the clock. I had a last gambit. Defensively, I peddled my feet backward into the center of the free throw lane. 5 seconds. Immediately I thought, "Oh God, please don't make me a goat!" I and surely Steve knew it was between us 2 competitors to determine who would win. Steve easily flew past our 2 Guards at mid-court. He dribbled fast and furious between them. 4 seconds. He faked left then drove right of the free throw arc. Neither of us broke our stares. 3 seconds. Into the free throw lane he quickly dribbled. I positioned in front of and by the left side of the basket for his scoring attempt. 2 seconds left. It was a destined moment. He confidently charged fast. We met near the baseline inside the free throw lane. 1 second. "Do not foul him!" came into my mind. He leaped towards and leaned into me for a lay-up. Steve shot the ball. I jumped with both hands straight up to block his shot with arms extended. I felt my fingertips flick the ball up and over. Steve landed under the basket out of bounds. Twisting my neck, I watched the ball hit the backboard and go over the rim.
I prayed not to hear my worst basketball moment, a referee's whistle to call a foul on me. A seemingly endless partial second kept me in suspense and fear while I floated. No whistle. Instead, the horn blasted at 0 seconds to end the game. Still no whistle. I landed by the backboard and stood staring at Steve. Disbelieving, he saw the ball ricochet off the backboard past the rim. The crowd’s humongous roar pierced my ears, body and soul. No whistle, no points, no loss, no goat!
I made all 5 field goal and 5 free throws attempted totaling 15 points. Both accurately reported in the Mooresville Times March 2, 1967 newspaper's scorebook. I scored 7 of our last 12 points, 10 of 23 second half points, 15 of our last 28 points plus grabbed 21 rebounds in just 14 of the game's 32 minutes. Certainly, my teammates contributions to a victory were essential. The February 27, 1967 Messenger edition wrote, "Bogle...in a fine sub role...earned him a final game starting berth" as team captain.
The Bulldogs won the semi-final Sectional game against the favored, defending Sectional champions! Fearful seconds became my greatest basketball play. Players maneuvered along the floor now flooded with fans. Deafening cheers and screams came from the crowd. Never would I feel a victorious moment again with these sensations in a sold out 4,087 seat arena.
Mooresville Times Scorebook
________________FGA_FG_FTA_FT_Points___________________FGA_FG__FTA__FT__Points
Bulldogs___________________________54_______Pioneers_________________________53__
Anderson_______________0__0___0_____0_______Burlingame_________2____9___9___13___
Bogle_____________5___5___5____5___15_______Curry_______________4____4___3___11___ Neimeier______________7___5____3___17_______Ferguson____________1____1___0___ 2___
Salmon_______________2___1____1____5_______Reed__________7____6____3___3___15__
Smith, Richard_________1___1_____0____2_______Simpson____________1____2___2____4 __
Williams______________6___3____1____13_______Trusty________12____3____4____2___8__
Young________________1___4____0_____2___________________________________________
Thrilled about 2 terrific games, the overstimulated crowd slowly departed the gym. Secretly, I sat inside the locker room until everyone left, or so I thought. Time came to walk home to rest for the evening's championship game. I climbed the stairs to cross the elevated walkway that routed the crowd around the basketball court's wood floor. Near the exit doors waited a Bulldog fan inside the empty gym. After several steps I saw a small, stout man wearing an unbuttoned winter coat. He anxiously paced by the stairs end. Seeing me, he ran up the steps onto the walkway. Elated, he smiled broadly about the team victory. We met near the middle.
Surprisingly, Robert Higdon, my Indianapolis Star morning newspaper customer, had waited. His outreached hand greeted and congratulated me. I stopped walking. Thrilled, he said, "That is the greatest game by any player I have ever seen! You are terrific!" Such a compliment I would never receive again. "I am so proud of you! You showed them!" I knew what he meant.
It wasn't the Pioneers he spoke about. Instead, it was coaches, players, students, and others during the 4 years I attended Brownsburg High School. We had talked about the frustrations of sitting on the bench during the 2 previous losing seasons. He knew I wanted a chance to compete for more than a few minutes
Calmly, I thanked Mr. Higdon. His right arm wrapped around my neck as we walked away. On the ramp, he excitedly read a notecard to rebroadcast the game and my performance. His congratulations continued outside. These few moments between us remain so special. I intended to tell him how much every word meant. It never happened before he died. He and the game's heroic moments remain a jeweled high school memory.
We lost by 1 point to Plainfield that night because of Coach Myer's mistake. We lead by 3 points with ball possession at 21 seconds left. He called timeout to substitute 5 bench players he dubbed “All Hands Team”. They never practiced as such nor played in this game. Two inbound passes in a row were thrown into the Quakers’ hands to score 4 points and victory. DUMB!
I was named as an alternate to the 1967 Brownsburg Sectional Tournament All-Sectional team. It figures.
Footnote, I led the 1966-1967 Brownsburg basketball team in free throw percentage at 78.7%, finished narrowly in 2nd place for field goal percentage by 4 ten-thousandths of a percent difference (.0004) at 45.58%. I was 2nd in assists, 3rd in rebounds, and 4th in scoring. So spoke Coach Myer at the 1967 Student Athlete annual award dinner. A self-appraisal is I was an unselfish team player too much who had many skills. I should have shot more often and pass less. I wanted to help the team win to end its loosing tradition. I was an excellent marksman with an array of shots, strong defensively, great passer and shot blocker.
My junior year’s 1966 Tempo yearbook has kind words written by a teammate. Quote, "You're a great guy who has taken a lot of s _ _ t from the seniors and juniors. I have big hopes for us next year in roundball. Keep practicing this summer and you will be starting. Best of Luck Always Your Buddy Eric" He nicknamed the subs "Hogie's Harriers". Eric’s best performance came in the 1967 Brownsburg Sectional final game. The Allstar Sectional team voters must have confused another Bulldog player selected for Eric. This player's stats and play were not better. Eric was another substitute who deserved recognition. He took this disappointment with charm and humility. A salute and high regards to Eric Hougland for team camaraderie plus his support. I enjoyed playing with him for 3 varsity basketball years.
© 2015, 2024 Earl H. Bogle, all rights reserved.
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