TERRE HAUTE —
It occurred to me late last month, as I opened my morning newspaper to read up on the draw for this year’s Pizza Hut Wabash Valley Classic, that when I walk through Terre Haute South’s doors on Wednesday it will be the first time that I won’t find my old buddy Dean Kendall sitting at one end of the gym, a smile on his face a good while before the first whistle is blown or the first shot is taken.
Dean’s name was hardly synonymous with the PHWVC, but he rarely, if ever, missed a game. Instead, those who have memories of the old Wabash Valley Tournament are probably more familiar with him. He compiled the definitive book about the Valley’s history in 1997, and from the very first game of the very first Classic you could find him at a table near a doorway, selling a book or two and reacquainting himself with all the friends he’d made over the years — myself, I am happy to say, among them.
Dean died last March; he was 88. He enjoyed driving over to Terre Haute from his Indianapolis home, always taking a short detour south to Pimento, where he grew up as a boy, always happy that the classy guys who ran the Classic had taken the time to invite an “old codger” like him to the draw. If there ever was a man who appreciated his seat and a slice of pizza at the Classic, it was Dean.
Like most of us, I suppose, Dean thought his childhood was special. He was primarily a scrawny bench-warmer for his Peppers’ teams, and he graduated in 1942 with hardly a basket to his name. I don’t believe his team ever made it to Terre Haute for a Valley finals while he wore the uniform — after all, the odds were against the Peppers, who entered the tourney 39 times but advanced to the final round only four times. I found that out, by the way, in Dean’s book.
I think that what I liked the most about Dean wasn’t his basketball knowledge; it was his eternal optimism. More than once the old boy beat the odds, particularly after several bouts with cancer, and for years he published a little circular he called “The Cheer-Up News,” a photocopied and stapled handout that he’d slip in the mail to his friends from church or, in my case, to someone he’d met at the Classic. He did it all on his own dime, too, because — as he told me once — he just like to “see people grin.”
Not many people who go to the Classic are going to notice that Dean isn’t there. I’m not going to be able to attend as many games this year as I usually do, but for those I watch, I know it won’t be quite the same when I head out the door past those tables. A few years ago, Dean told me that he appreciated the fact that I’d always come by to talk to him. “You always remember me,” he said more than once.
How could I ever forget him?
Now, as customary, I have prepared the dreaded “Wabash Valley Pizza Hut Classic Quiz.” Nothing much has changed in the quiz’s format over the past 13 years; I ask the questions and you answer them. I almost always slip in a few questions about the PHWVC’s predecessor to appeal to those readers who have a few extra seasons under their belts. As to prizes for the highest score, don’t be ridiculous. You’ll lose your amateur status!
Lunsford’s Classic Quiz
1. Just about every Classic buff knows that Hamilton Southeastern won the very first PHWVC 13 seasons ago, but very few can remember the small Illinois school the Royals defeated in the first game to get their tournament roll started. Who was it? a. Palestine, b. Hutsonville, c. Red Hill, d. Westfield.
2. Now, one to honor Dean: We know that Kendall’s Pimento Peppers played in the Valley 39 times, but another team called the Peppers was in the field 23 times. Name that long-gone school. a. Solsberry, b. Decker Chapel, c. Roachdale, d. Wallace.
3. Only one school in PHWVC history has placed a player on the all-tournament team every single year, and that is Terre Haute North. Who was that very first North player to make the all-PHWVC team (in the first few years, only five players made it.) Sorry, no multiple-guess on this one!
4. Duane Klueh, legendary basketball player and coach, can now say that he not only drew the names for the 13th annual tournament, he played in a few of the Valleys, too. For what local school was Klueh an outstanding player? a. Glenn, b. Blackhawk, c. State High, d. Wiley.
5. On last year’s final day of play, the four games that decided sixth place through the championship all had something in common. Was it a. each of the winners trailed at halftime, b. each of the winners were ahead at halftime, c. each of the four winners were tied with their opponents at halftime, or d. each of the four winners were visitors on the scoreboard?
6. In what year of the Valley Tourney were players first given a fifth foul before being disqualified from play? a. 1927, b. 1936, c. 1945, d. 1955.
7. The PHWVC welcomes the Robinson Maroons to the field for the first time in its 13-year history, but the Maroons were a steady force in the Valley years ago. Which of the following statements is true about RHS? a. Robinson is one of five Crawford County schools to have won the tourney, b. Robinson won the Valley three times, c. Robinson won the tourney more than any Illinois school, d. Robinson held an opponent to its lowest scoring total in Valley championship history.
8. In what year did the old Valley Tournament field over 100 teams for the last time? a. 1956, b. 1958, c. 1960, d. 1965.
9. In last year’s quiz, I asked a question about who was the only player besides R.J. Mahurin to have scored 15 field goals in a single PHWVC game, and the answer was Shakamak’s Billy Newton. Now three players share that record. Who is the most recent player to hit 15 field goals in a game? a. Sullivan’s Rhett Smith, b. Terre Haute South’s Jeffrey Turner, c. Casey-Westfield’s Brandon Wolfe, d. Terre Haute North’s Calvin Blank.
10. What school in the PHWVC field has the most popular nickname/mascot in its respective state (there are three Illinois schools in the tourney)? Just so you’ll narrow the field, let’s go ahead and drop the Miners, Rox, Lakers, Golden Arrows and Maroons. That leaves the Warriors, Lions, Knights, Panthers, Wildcats, Patriots, Bulldogs, Braves and Vikings from which to choose.
Lunsford Classic Quiz answers
1. c. Red Hill played in the first two years of the Classic.
2. d. The Wallace Peppers were from Fountain County.
3. Steve Weatherford
4. c. Coach Klueh started out as a Young Sycamore.
5. b. Every team that led at the half won the game.
6. c. Until 1945, players fouled out after their fourth foul!
7. For those of you who thought, “It could be any of those answers,” well you’re right. You couldn’t miss the question; all the answers are correct.
8. c. There were 110 teams in the Valley in 1960; 88 remained in 1961.
9. b. Turner came up big for coach Scott Ridge’s first PHWVC.
10. It’s Turkey Run. The Warriors join 21 other schools to have the most popular nickname in Indiana, tied with “Eagles” for the top spot. Riverton Parke isn’t far behind at 19, making “Panthers” the second-most popular name. By the way, there are 30 schools in Illinois — Casey-Westfield included — that are Warriors, but that places them fourth (behind Eagles, Wildcats and Panthers).
High School
Old friend missing as Pizza Hut Wabash Valley Classic begins
- High School
-
-
West Vigo softball ‘has what it takes’
Ice cream was enough of a reward Monday night after the West Vigo Vikings beat eight-time defending champion Edgewood 6-2 in extra innings in the opening game of the Class 3A softball sectional at Edgewood High School. But that’s not what Vikings want.
-
THN girls look dominant at regional
Terre Haute North might need an off night for anyone to catch them in the girls track regional at Evansville Central.
-
South tennis ready for potential challenge in regional
Terre Haute South and Northview take respective records of 10-5 and 11-5 into the Greencastle Regional today.
-
Patriots’ offense stifled in sectional loss to Mooresville
Jack Kirchner chose to give credit Monday night to Mooresville pitcher Taylor Chitwood, not to the Greg Maddux-size strike zone she seemed to enjoy.
-
Softball sectionals up for grabs
All three Vigo County high schools and Northview appear to have a realistic chance of winning sectional championships in softball this week.
-
West Vigo softball holds off nemesis Edgewood in softball sectional
Ice cream was enough of a reward Monday night after the West Vigo Vikings beat eight-time defending champion Edgewood 6-2 in extra innings in the opening game of the Class 3A softball sectional at Edgewood High School. But that’s not what Vikings want.
-
Terre Haute South, Northview vie for tennis regional title
Terre Haute South and Northview take respective records of 10-5 and 11-5 into the Greencastle Regional today.
Coach Bill Blankenbaker’s Braves will play Seeger at 4:30 p.m., while coach Emily Goff’s Knights will take on Crawfordsville about 6 p.m. -
Terre Haute North offense unable to get going in loss to Mooresville
Jack Kirchner chose to give credit Monday night to Mooresville pitcher Taylor Chitwood, not to the Greg Maddux-size strike zone she seemed to enjoy.
But if there were no excuses forthcoming from Kirchner and his Terre Haute North High School softball team, it wouldn’t have been hard to find a spectator or two to come up with extenuating circumstances about the Patriots’ 4-1 loss at the Class 4A Martinsville Sectional. -
Terre Haute North looking strong going into girls track regional
Terre Haute North might need an off night for anyone to catch them in the girls track regional at Evansville Central.
The Patriots are as well-rounded as they’ve ever been, and two relay teams are state contenders with times ranking No. 2 in Indiana among times recorded all spring.
Terre Haute South, Northview and Sullivan have athletes among the contenders in multiple events as well. -
PREP ROUNDUP: Shakamak's Green hits two homers in win over West Vigo
Shakamak improved to 22-3 on the season behind a complete-game effort from Brett Yeryar, and Patrick Green hit two solo home runs in a high school baseball game Monday.
-
Vikings win in extra innings at Rockville
West Vigo scored six runs in its first two innings Saturday, then needed a ninth-inning single by Lucas Fagg to escape with a 7-6 extra-inning win in nonconference high school baseball at Rockville.
-
TH South beats Northview in Big Four makeup baseball game
Terre Haute South wrapped up a share of the MIC baseball title and finished up the Big Four Classic with an 8-1 victory over Northview in less than 24 hours on Saturday morning.
-
Olds pitches South to share of MIC baseball title
Friday night, winning the second game 5-0 and earning a share of the Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference high school baseball title.
Damon Olds was dominant on the mound for the Braves, striking out 14 and walking just one while pitching a three-hit shutout. -
South wins first half of doubleheader against Lawrence North
Host Terre Haute South kept its Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference high school baseball title hopes alive — and clinched no worse than second place in the process — by downing Lawrence North 4-1 in the first game of a doubleheader Friday night.
The second game, which started after Senior Night festivities between games, ended past the Tribune-Star deadline. -
PREP ROUNDUP: Calleja pitches West Vigo past South Vermillion
Brandon Calleja had 13 strikeouts to lead West Vigo to a 5-1 victory against South Vermillion in high school baseball Friday.
Brandon Behringer went 2 for 4 with two RBI for the Vikings, who secured second place in the Western Indiana Conference.
Kaden Lawson had double for South Vermillion (15-7), which finished 4-2 in the WIC. -
Seibert returns from injury to win three events as Braves win sectional crown
His baseball equivalent might be Rick Sutcliffe of the 1984 Chicago Cubs.
When Tyler Seibert returned to the Terre Haute South track and field lineup Thursday for sectional action at Terre Haute North, it was like the midseason trade the Cubs made for Sutcliffe that earned them a playoff spot. -
South switches up lineup to defeat North in tennis sectional
Terre Haute South coach Bill Blankenbaker said two weeks ago that he would change the Braves’ lineup after the 3-2 dual-meet loss to Terre Haute North.
The Patriots knew it was coming, but they couldn’t do anything to stop it. -
PREP ROUNDUP: North slips past Northview in eight-inning baseball game
Colton Pittman drew a bases-loaded walk to score Zach Milam with the winning run in the bottom of the eighth inning as host Terre Haute North edged Northview 8-7 in high school baseball Thursday at Jennings Field.
-
PREP ROUNDUP: North and South to face off for tennis sectional title
The winner of the Terre Haute sectional for girls high school tennis will come down to Terre Haute North and Terre Haute South.
-
Terre Haute North gets 10 event victories to claim 12th straight sectional crown
Terre Haute North won 10 events Tuesday night while winning the Indiana High School Athletic Association girls track and field section at South Putnam High School for the 12th straight year.
-
North, South to meet in first round of baseball sectional
The Indiana High School Athletic Association announced pairings for the baseball state tournament Tuesday and the draw offered up a Vigo County battle in the opening game.
-
PREP ROUNDUP: West Vigo softball clinches share of WIC title
West Vigo clinched at least a share of the Western Indiana Conference softball title with a 6-4 victory over Edgewood on Tuesday.
Jacy McClain and Bailee Waters had RBI singles in the fourth inning to break the game open for the Vikings. -
Track sectional titles on the line
Expect one heck of a high school dual track meet Thursday night when Wabash Valley boys visit Terre Haute North for sectional action.
-
Prep report: Patriots, Braves favored to advance from tennis sectional 1st round
Persons attending this week’s girls tennis sectional championship match at Terre Haute North might want to pack a lunch.
-
Local ADs happy to see spring come to a close
Brian Mancuso is the most experienced of the high school athletic directors in Vigo County — and that’s a very relative term — but even he wasn’t quite ready for the headaches that have accompanied spring sports the last few weeks thanks to rain, rain and more rain.
-
South baseball remains in first-place tie with Center Grove
Heading into Saturday’s Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference baseball doubleheader against Center Grove, coach Kyle Kraemer of Terre Haute South wasn’t completely optimistic.
-
Kehrt Award goes to Emily Bell, Lee Davis
Emily Bell of Terre Haute South and Lee Davis of Terre Haute North are the 2013 recipients of the Willard M. Kehrt Mental Attitude Award.
Bell and Davis were nominated by their schools and chosen in a vote by the Kehrt Award panel. Both will be recognized at awards assemblies later in the month at the schools.
Bell played varsity basketball four years at South and is competing in track this season, running the 800 and two relays. “I wanted something to do my senior year,” Bell said.
She plans to attend DePauw University and play basketball. DePauw is the reigning NCAA Division III champ in women's basketball.
Bell tore an AÇL playing in a basketball tournament the summer after her sophomore season. She missed most of her junior season but came back to play her senior year and was second leading scorer and leading rebounder her final season.
Bell also was leading rebounder her sophomore year. -
South softball's power display earns Braves share of MIC
The fun that the Terre Haute South high school softball team had Saturday — including those five home runs — was all the result of the hard work the Braves had put in before the game, coach Dwayne Stout said after the game.
-
Pirtle takes medalist, leads Sullivan to WIC title
Sullivan took team and individual honors in the Western Indiana Conference boys high school golf championships played Saturday at Idle Creek.
-
Prep roundup: Patriots drop doubleheader to Carmel baseball
Host Terre Haute North saw its Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference baseball championship hopes suffer what was probably a fatal blow on Saturday as the Patriots lost a doubleheader to Carmel by scores of 8-7 and 11-8.
- More High School Headlines
-
West Vigo softball ‘has what it takes’
Raw: Massive Funnel Clouds in Oklahoma
Raw: Widespread Destruction in Moore, Okla.
Raw: Rescue Workers Search Oklahoma School
Raw: Tornado on the Ground in Oklahoma
Raw: Aftermath of Massive Tornado in Oklahoma
Huge Tornado Kills Dozens Near Oklahoma City
Active Search for Utah Missing Mom Ends
Raw: Rescuers Pull Tornado Survivors to Safety
Voters Could Elect LA's First Female Mayor
Raw: Japan's WWII Atrocities Under Fire in Seoul
Oklahoma Gov: 'Hearts Are Broken' After Tornado
Raw: Aussie Zoo Shows Off White Rhino Calf
Raw: Walking in a Flattened Okla. Neighborhood
MLB Hoping for Large Replay Expansion in 2014
Horse Saved From Slaughter, Goes on to Win Big
Raw: Aerials Show Path of Oklahoma Destruction
Raw: Suspects Butt Dial 911, Lead to Arrest
Raw: Witness Describes Scene After Okla. Tornado
Raw: House Burns After Massive Oklahoma Tornado
Pug Life on Display at Wisconsin Festival
RAW: Massive tornado strikes Oklahoma
RAW: Xbox One debuts
VIDEO: Teacher reunites mother and son after tornado levels elementary school in Oklahoma City
Jennifer Lawrence Gets Naked and Painted Blue as X-Men's Mystique
Okla. tornado survivor finds dog buried alive under rubble
VIRAL: Baby makes epic soccer goal
Pickler's Dance Moves Cause A Stir
Obama to tornado survivors: The country stands beside you
Reporter Cries Over Devastation
Sneak Peek: 'Modern Family' Says Good Bye
Trailer: 'The Last Stand' Available on Blu-ray Disc, DVD, Digital Download
IWitness Look at Moore, OK Tornado
RAW: Moore, OK tornado touches down near school
Robert Pattinson Moves Out
RAW: Russian dash cam catches car 20 feet in the air
Oklahoma tornado survivor: "Everything is gone"
Khloe Lashes Out at Kim Kardashian's Critics
Couple Argues As Woman's Lover Crawls Out Window
RAW: Brad Paisley Forgets Lyrics To His Own Song
Justin Bieber Gets Booed
