Trent Ruble's Blog: The Other Way It Is - Posts Tagged "lightning-5"

Attending a high school basketball game in Indiana is a cultural experience. I feel lucky to have known Hoosier Hysteria first-hand. But, as my parents tell me, I just missed out on the real fun.

I entered high school in 1975 and, like almost everyone I knew, made sure to be in attendance at all the home basketball games. And then, at the end of the season, came the much-anticipated state tournament which began with the local Sectional. In those days all schools in Indiana were in the same class which meant a giant school like mine nearly always won the Sectional. Our Vikings' lop-sided, demoralizing victories were greatly celebrated. But, those triumphant feelings were usually short-lived. Even though our Sectional championships regularly earned our school a trip to the Regional, it was there that we played a team of our own size or bigger, which routinely spelled defeat for the mighty Vikings. The Regionals were usually our last games of the season. Now, with class basketball, our team generally doesn't even win the Sectional (how is that even fair?).

However, prior to 1968, there were more than a dozen high schools in the county where I grew up. These small schools, which eventually merged to form my giant high school, played each other during the season and then again at the county seat's Community Gym in the Sectional. Most all the kids knew each other (and their parents) even if they attended a different school, which led to a festive atmosphere that is unequaled today. The Sectional tournament was truly the event of the season.



That was certainly true in Warren. Way back in 1966 I began kindergarten at Salamonie Township School. No one called it that, of course. It was just known as Warren for that was the name of the town where it sat. The Warren Lightning 5, whose name was adopted from a sports writer's description of the team being "as fast as lightning," had a long history of great basketball, including a world record 158 point victory over nearby Converse in 1912. For decades the townsfolk lived for games against neighboring high schools from such great places as Jefferson or Rock Creek Townships. A basketball team from one of these small schools represented not just their school, but the whole community, creating a following most schools would envy today. What fun it would have been to be a part of those fierce rivalries! But, unfortunately, the Lightning 5 and most of their rivals play no more. There is now no high school in Warren and the people there must travel 15 miles to see games. And, even though they support the Vikings, there is still some resentment and even a little animosity. It's a confliction. On one hand they must support their children's school, especially if their child is an athlete. But, on the other, they still aren't over it. Nor am I.



The consolidation of schools was a money-saving idea and I've heard that, in that respect, it has been a success. But, in every other facet, it's been a failure. The consolidation has dealt a serious blow to our sense of community and has been an overall defeat to one of the greatest parts of our once-great Hoosier culture.

If you're not familiar with Indiana high school basketball, check out the Gene Hackman movie, Hoosiers, which, though fictional, is based on the true story of tiny Milan High School's unlikely and never to be repeated state championship in 1954.

Long live the Lightning 5!

Photos courtesy of Hoosier Hardwood.