BASKETBALL
Front: Dale Ritts, Merle Henry, Dennis Stewart, Jim McClary,'Buck' Bean, Roger Fisher, John Linsily
Back: Danna Carter, John Pinkerton, Larry Britian, 'Butch' Hooper, Hugh Terrell, Mike Cast, Bob Hooper, Dave Roberts, Coach Vernon Hooper
Back: Danna Carter, John Pinkerton, Larry Britian, 'Butch' Hooper, Hugh Terrell, Mike Cast, Bob Hooper, Dave Roberts, Coach Vernon Hooper
1961 - 1962 Basketball Team
Front: Sandy Vineyard, Karen Gullet, Janet Hawk, Sylvia Bond
Second: Don Hock, Steve Bernard, Paul Luteral, David Roberts, Bob Hooper, Merle Henry, Jim McClary, David Carter
Third: Dick Bowermaster, Roger Bentley, Larry Britian, John Roberts, Bob Channel, Charles Smith, Vernon Hooper Jr, Coach Vernon Hooper
Note from Merle Henry:
Team finished First in the county and First in the county Tournament.
We were defeated in the District Tournament at Dayton.
Was the first year Vernon Hooper coached at Simon Kenton
We never lost a League game.
The County Tournament was held at the Xenia Fieldhouse.
We beat Clarksville, Martinsville and New Vienna in winning the Tournament.
The Championship was the first for Simon Kenton.
Front: Sandy Vineyard, Karen Gullet, Janet Hawk, Sylvia Bond
Second: Don Hock, Steve Bernard, Paul Luteral, David Roberts, Bob Hooper, Merle Henry, Jim McClary, David Carter
Third: Dick Bowermaster, Roger Bentley, Larry Britian, John Roberts, Bob Channel, Charles Smith, Vernon Hooper Jr, Coach Vernon Hooper
Note from Merle Henry:
Team finished First in the county and First in the county Tournament.
We were defeated in the District Tournament at Dayton.
Was the first year Vernon Hooper coached at Simon Kenton
We never lost a League game.
The County Tournament was held at the Xenia Fieldhouse.
We beat Clarksville, Martinsville and New Vienna in winning the Tournament.
The Championship was the first for Simon Kenton.
Jim Polk led the county in Basketball scoring in his senior year.
He averaged 23 points a game and scored 48 points in one game, long before the 3-point shot was added.
Below is some Clinton County Basketball Background from Jim:
He averaged 23 points a game and scored 48 points in one game, long before the 3-point shot was added.
Below is some Clinton County Basketball Background from Jim:
Clinton County in the 50’s had about 11 county schools. There were no football programs because the schools were not big enough, consequently basketball was the big thing. During games, the gyms would be standing room only and sometimes chairs were set up almost on the out-of-bounds lines, making it difficult to put the ball in play. Gymnasiums at these schools came in all different sizes. Some were long and narrow, some were short with the foul and center circles overlapping. Blanchester played on a stage with hot-water radiators along the sidelines. Jefferson had two big beams that were so low that any long-range shot could not be arched. At Clarksville, you had to dress in one building and then run outside to the gym, even in rain and snow.
The playing floors were all different; Kingman had a tile floor, most had wooden floors. Backboards were sometimes wood, sometimes metal, some were square, some were oblong. Home teams had a definite advantage being used to their own court. But the basket was still round and was still 10 feet in height, which was about the only common trait of the gyms.
In the early 50's, the county basketball tournament was held at the Wilmington College gym which was not large enough to accommodate all the basketball fans. Fans would start lining up outside the doors in the middle of the afternoon to be assured of getting in and having a seat. This is why the county tournament was moved to the Xenia Field House to accommodate all those who wanted to go, and it was usually packed despite the drive. Unlike the local school gyms, the Xenia Field House sat thousands and had glass bank boards, which we had never seen before. New Vienna was No. 1 in the state in their class and entered the county tournament with only one defeat. They had new uniforms, warmed up with a blue and white basketball (school colors) and then lost their game to Clarksville and their season was over. Martinsville won the tournament.
In the early 50's, the county basketball tournament was held at the Wilmington College gym which was not large enough to accommodate all the basketball fans. Fans would start lining up outside the doors in the middle of the afternoon to be assured of getting in and having a seat. This is why the county tournament was moved to the Xenia Field House to accommodate all those who wanted to go, and it was usually packed despite the drive. Unlike the local school gyms, the Xenia Field House sat thousands and had glass bank boards, which we had never seen before. New Vienna was No. 1 in the state in their class and entered the county tournament with only one defeat. They had new uniforms, warmed up with a blue and white basketball (school colors) and then lost their game to Clarksville and their season was over. Martinsville won the tournament.
Won second place in the Clinton County tournament. Front: Frank Priest, Carl Custis, Wayne Morris, John Hamilton, Carey Hodson Jr., Bruce Taylor. Back: Coach John McClary, Max Taylor, Delbert Summers, Bill Bean, Dick Rolfe.
1931
Basketball Team - 1928-29
Kneeling: Harvie Flint, William Fender, Les Purtee, Harold Flint, Paul Miller.
Back: Leon Walls, Paul Fisher, Gene Shaeffer, Willard Henry, Delbert Bond.
Coach was Homer Fannon.
Kneeling: Harvie Flint, William Fender, Les Purtee, Harold Flint, Paul Miller.
Back: Leon Walls, Paul Fisher, Gene Shaeffer, Willard Henry, Delbert Bond.
Coach was Homer Fannon.
BOOSTER AWARD - Trophy for "Simon Kenton High School's Number 1 Booster" was presented to administrator William D. Myers, right, by Vernon Hooper, coach of the teams which won the 1962 and 1963 Clinton County Championships. Kenton Sports Banquet - News Journal 1963 April 16.
Fourth consecutive Clinton County Citizenship Cup in Basketball accepted by William D. Myers for Wayne Township School at the conclusion of the 34th Clinton County High School Basketball Tournament - Wilmington News-Journal 1 March 1949
Please tell us what you know about the special basketball game shown in the photos below.