Note From the Editor Brown County Boys Basketball gets a Boost
drawing by Joe Lee
If you are a Hoosier, you know what basketball means to this state. Every little burg from every corner of Indiana buds young men and women who play hoops. Basketball goals dot the landscape in driveways, on garages, on barns, and at every school and park. The movie Hoosiers showed America how a winning Indiana team can energize a community. And for the first time in 17 years, our Brown County fans are feeling that excitement for the boys high school varsity basketball team.
A streak of seven straight wins( as of publication) has ignited the stands. The new head coach, Chuck Hutchins, assembled a team with both strong defensive and offensive skills. The bench is deep and Coach is able to switch out players easily without losing momentum. One win was in overtime, but the other wins were accomplished with healthy margins. The Eagles hold their leads well.
Parents of players jump from their seats when they see their sons carry out a strategic play or make an amazing basket. It is such a joy to see smiling faces at the end of the games— in the crowd and in the team— and to see confidence build. Some players that were not in the program last year, or didn’ t get to play on a varsity level, are back working hard and playing strong as team members. This team wants to win. You can see it in their faces and the way they encourage each other.
Small school basketball games are a great form of entertainment. There is so much energy on the court that you feel it in the stands. The action is fast-moving and unpredictable. You don’ t want to miss a move because it could be the gamechanger. What other winter sport can get your heart pumping fast without you moving a muscle?
The Brown County Eagles have a chance to shine this year in their conference competitions. These boys play smart and work hard. They are proving that you don’ t have to play mean and rough to be winners. Let’ s support our Eagles and Coach Hutchins by filling up the bleachers. Cheer them on and enjoy their moments of victory. It is really more fun than I ever imagined it could be.
— Cindy Steele
Jan./ Feb. 2015 • Our Brown County 13