Late 60's ISU Reserve G to be Inducted in IN Hoop HOF

[BankShot]

http://www.tribstar.com/sports/metr...cle_c538ec41-21d9-5154-be2d-6e25f889fc7f.html

In HS, Brett played for the legendary JACK BUTCHER @ Loogootee, one of the greatest "tacticians" in IHSAA coaching history. Near the end, Butcher & TH Gerstmeyer/THN's HOWARD SHARPE fought for #1 in wins among IHSAA coaches, but that's another story. Brett played for ISU's GORDON STAUFFER, usually in a reserve role for Danny Bush, Howard Williams and Paul Stroud.

I played HS Baseball against Wellemeyer @ Huntingburg. He was a 3-sport star (FB, BB, BA), who @ a muscular 6'3" 220 lbs was a bulldog. I'll never forget in '67 (my soph yr @ Castle HS), where he corked a HIGH HR over the CF fence in their park. At the "crack of the bat" (yes, we used WOOD back then) I turned a 180 for the fence, thinking of that infamous Willie Mays behind the back "basket catch," but that thing kept on sailing! Here's the park, which still has the same dimensions:

http://dcbombers.com/the-bombers-experience/league-stadium/

Yes, Wellemeyer along w/ neighboring Holland, IN native DON BUSE won a Small College NCAA Championship in '71 while playing for Evansville College. Many of you recall "The Whale" (Steve Welmer) inside on that squad! ISU had quite a RIVALRY w/ Evansville in those dayz, when both schools EXCELLED as "Small Colleges."

http://www.courierpress.com/story/s...-into-indiana-basketball-hall-fame/898241001/

 

[region rat]

Got to umpire softball and baseball as well as ref basketball for Steve Brett when was AD and basketball coach at Shakamak. He was a great coach as well as AD. He attends almost every men’s basketball game at ISU and is an avid ISU supporter. He has a lot of knowledge and can tell some great stories. Congrats Steve on your HOF election.

 

[Sycamore Proud]

Would be great to get some of the ISU stories posted here.

 

[Westbadenboy]

I also played against all these guys (Brett/Wellemeyer/Buse) while at Springs Valley. Brett was a very good high school player on an excellent high school team and was glad to see him get to player at ISU when I arrived there. Wellemeyer was a "man" among us boys -- very good basketball player -- little wild as a pitcher in baseball. He started against us at Huntingburg -- not sure what year. I was always a little "scared" at the plate (not sure why -- neither my body nor my bat ever seemed to make contact with a pitch) and I think Steve hit the guy batting ahead of me. It was threatening to storm ...lighting and thunder in the distance .....I remember hoping it would start to rain before I got to the plate. I dilly-dallied around as long as possible before stepping up .....then thank you God ....it started to come down ....the ump yelled get off the field and I was saved !
Holland was another very good high school team with Buse -- actually that whole Huntingburg Sectional in those days was about as good a representation of Indiana high school basketball as you could find. Folks in French Lick stood in line for a longtime waiting to get their tickets and most went to all the sessions, whether or not Valley was playing. I've heard Bob Knight took Nick Nolte to the Huntingburg Sectional when Nolte was preparing for Blue Chips.
But those three guys were great players and truly what the old days were all about in Indiana high school basketball.