HATCHET BASKETBALL HISTORY

-THE FIRST 100 YEARS-

From pioneer A.O. Fulkerson’s influences early in the 20th century to Luke Zeller’s on-court exploits early in the 21st, Washington High School has produced a basketball tradition that rivals any in this hoops-crazy state.

Three times, back in the day when Indiana’s single-class high school tournament was the envy of the nation, the Hatchets reached the top of the IHSAA mountain. No other school from southwestern Indiana can make such a claim.

The Hatchet tradition doesn’t end with those state championships in 1930, 1941 and 1942, though. Rather, they are only highlights of a rich heritage of the Old Gold and Black. Since WHS first fielded a team in the fall of 1905, the program has produced:

• Southwestern Indiana’s 1st Mr. Basketball.

• 5 Indiana All-Stars.

• 3 National Basketball Association players, 1 major league baseball player and 1 National Football League player.

• 10 members of the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame.

• 39 sectional championships and 12 trips to the state finals.

• 8 members of the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame’s Silver Anniversary Team.

• A 7,090-seat basketball palace that measures up with any the Hoosier state has to offer.

• An overall record of 1323-865-1, for a winning percentage of .605 entering 2004-2005.

It all started 98 years ago, in the autumn of 1905. Professor O.P. West organized the first team at WHS, with Fulkerson, the "Father of Washington High School Athletics", giving assistance.

Zinkan’s Hall, which was located at the corner of E. Fourth and Van Trees streets, was rented for practices and games. It was here that Washington played its very first game, against Vincennes, on Dec. 16, 1905. The Hatchets prevailed that night, 18-12, and won five of nine games that inaugural season.

For a variety of reasons, basketball was discontinued after 3 seasons. Due to this decision, Washington lost one of its greatest athletes when Elmer Q. "Catchie" Oliphant moved to Linton. He later lettered in 4 sports at Purdue and then 7 sports at Army. He was a 1914 All-American basketball player at Purdue and a 1916 and 1917 All-American football player at Army. He is in the College Football and Purdue Hall of Fames. He invented the "intramural sports system" while at West Point and later played in the NFL.

When the team was reformed — under the direction of H.A. Sass — in the fall of 1913, the gymnasium in the basement of the newly constructed Washington High School became the team's new home. In response to the public's growing interest, Leon H. Moorman became Washington's first "full-time" coach the next season. By 1915, the team was commonly referred to as "The Old Gold and Black".

In 1917, Washington made its first of 12 trips to the state finals. It was also the first year that WHS hosted the sectional. Robert Downey, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1975 as a coach at Washington Catholic, led the team in scoring that season. Washington made the state finals again in 1918, 1919 and 1920. WHS lost first-round games all four years.

Washington's streak of four straight state finals appearances ended in 1921 despite Roy Burris' best efforts. The senior became the first player to score over 500 points in a season and finished his career with 1,124 points and a 58- point game against Paxton. The 15-14 loss to Sullivan in the sectional finals is still considered the biggest upset in WHS history.

Fulkerson, who had coached WHS in 1920 and 1921, decided to concentrate on his duties as a teacher and principal. He gave up his coaching position and the team struggled without him in 1921-22. He returned the next season as the assistant coach for Harry Hunter. Although the team did not win a sectional in 1923 and 1924 under Hunter, he led them back to the state finals in 1925. WHS made it to the final four of the 16-team event and finished at 25-3.

Excitement over the 1925 team and envious of rival Vincennes' 1923 state championship resulted in the construction of a new 5,200-seat gymnasium at a cost of $60,000 (today, it is used as the Washington Junior High School Gym). It was ready for the 1925-1926 season under new coach and hall of famer Burl Friddle. Friddle was hired by Fulkerson to win a state title. In October of 1925, Friddle met with his players to vote on a new name for the team to coincide with a new uniforms and the new gym. The unofficial nickname of the "Old Gold and Black" was being ignored for another one. Fans had begun using "Undertakers" in reference to the 1925 team captain James "Bud" Gill's own nickname. By vote of the players and approval by Fulkerson, Washington adopted the official nickname "Hatchets". Sports columnist Edward G. Brouillette had used the name since 1924.

Although they played a tougher schedule to prepare them for the tournament, WHS did not make it to the state championships in 1926. (A footnote in history, John Wooden played in the first game ever held at the new gym for Martinsville.) But in 1927, Friddle led the Hatchets to their sixth state finals appearance. The Hatchets returned to the state finals the next year, but again fell short. In 1929, WHS made it all the way to the final four at the state before losing to Indianapolis Tech. Making their ninth appearance in 14 years, the Hatchets finally won the state title in 1930. Ed "Jingles" Engelhart and hall of famer "Big Dave" DeJernett led Friddle's team. The Hatchets finished 31-1, the best single-season mark in school history.

Washington made it back to the state finals in 1931, but lost in the quarterfinal game. Over the next eight seasons, the Hatchets won five sectionals but never made it back to the state.

Under second-year Hall-of-Fame coach Marion Crawley, the Hatchets made it to the championship game of the semi-state before losing to Mitchell 20-19 in 1940. WHS also lost 16-year-old Leo (Crystal) Klier to graduation that year. He went on to become a two-time All-American at Notre Dame and played in the NBA. He was selected to the 1965 Silver Anniversary Team and inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in 1977. He was named to Notre Dame’s All-Century Team in 2004.

Led by Hall-of-Fame inductee and Indiana All-Star Leroy "Hook" Mangin, WHS won its second state title 1941. The team had an incredible four Hall-of-Fame players with Mangin, Jim Riffey, Art Grove and Charles Harmon. After the 1941 state finals, Mangin paced the Indiana All-Stars with 14 points as they defeated Kentucky and was named the game's "Star of Stars". Mangin, Riffey and Harmon all were selected to the Silver Anniversary Team.

With Riffey, Grove and Harmon returning, the Hatchets won their third state title in 1942 with a dazzling 30-1 record. Indiana All-Stars Riffey and Harmon went on to play in the NBA and major league baseball respectively.

1941 Washington Hatchets

After the state championship season of 1942, WHS won ten sectionals and two regionals over the next 20 seasons (1943-1962). Only twice during that span did the Hatchets come close to returning to the state finals. In 1944 Ray Scott's Hatchets lost to Evansville Bosse 40-34 in the semi-state finals. In 1953, Ivan Hollen's team lost to Evansville Central 56-45 in the first round of the semi-state. During this span, WHS produced two Silver Anniversary Team Members with Sam Gee (class of 1954) and Hall-of-Fame inductee Sam Alford (class of 1960).

In the 1963 sectional finals, Steve Craney's Hatchets stunned unbeaten and 11^th ranked Loogootee 58-51. Gary Grider led WHS over Jack Butcher's Lions after Washington was down 31-22 at halftime. It still ranks as one of the greatest upsets in Washington sectional history. The Hatchet starters played the entire game. Grider went on to play in the 1967 NCAA Final Four with the University of Houston. Two seasons later, Craney's team won its first 16 games and finished 21-2 and won the sectional. Hatchet greats John Helm and Jerry Flake graduated in 1965. Helm scored 1,206 points while Flake finished up with 1,108 (837 for WHS and 271 for Wheatland).

In the fall of 1965, Kenny Gray became the only ex-Hatchet ever to be head coach of the Hatchets. The 1965-66 Hatchets won the sectional over Loogootee when Alan Hopewell forced overtime with two free throws with 13 seconds remaining in regulation and the Hatchets went on to win 53-46. WHS finished 22-2 and set a school record by scoring 114 points against Petersburg. On November 23, 1966, Washington opened its new 7,090-gymnasium with a 75-68 win over Springs Valley. A crowd of 5,000 watched as IHSAA Commissioner Phil Eskew addressed the crowd followed by Jeff Chambers scoring the first basket in the new gym. The Hatchets won their own regional in 1967 over Vincennes 56-54. In a game referred to as "The Great Train Robbery" by Alice fans, Larry Frye hit a 20-foot shot with 33 seconds left for the win. Vincennes had a chance to tie but missed a shot and jump ball was called with two seconds remaining. Washington's 6-1 Scott Alford controlled the tip over 6-6 Jerry Memering to seal the win.

After a sectional crown in 1968, WHS did not win another during the next seven seasons. During this time, Hatchets fans witnessed history as Ron Arnold broke Helm's scoring mark, amassing 1,209 points before graduating in 1975. The sectional drought ended with Don Rogers' 20-5 team in 1976. Hatchet sophomore John Brown (a member of the 2003 Silver Anniversary Team) sank two free throws with seconds remaining in overtime as Washington beat Loogootee 46-44 for the title. Loogootee had won the previous six sectionals. The Hatchets won the sectional again in 1977 and finished the season 20-5. Assistant coach Stan Neal took over the reigns in 1978 and the team evolved into a powerhouse. The sixth ranked Hatchets finished 27-2 and won the Washington sectional and regional championships. This is the only team in Hatchet history to produce three single season 400-point scorers with Brown (575), Steve Bouchie (467) and Steve Miller (404). Brown finished up his career with 1,049 points.

The 1978-79 Hatchets lost four starters and from the previous year but still finished 18-9 and made it to the Evansville Semi-state finals on the strength of the 1979 Mr. Basketball Steve Bouchie. He ranks second in career scoring with 1,311 points and first in rebounding with 823. He wore number 1 for the Indiana All-Stars and was named Parade Magazine High School All-American. He played on the 1981 NCAA Champion Indiana Hoosiers. He is a member of the 2004 Silver Anniversary Team.

The Hatchets re-emerged as a power to be reckoned with in 1982-83. Led by Indiana All-Star Craig Neal, Washington finished 25-2 and made it to the Terre Haute Semi-state finals. Neal set school scoring records for single season points (745), career points (1,440), single season scoring average (27.6 ppg) and career scoring average (20.0 ppg). He went on to play and coach in the NBA.

Although Washington has yet to win a sectional since 1983, two players have entered the 1,000-point club. Kelly Garland (1,069) and Morry Portee (1,012) finished up stellar careers in 1992 and 1998 respectively. Brandon Smith (917) just fell short of the 1,000-point plateau in 2001. Washington has also produced some exciting teams during this span. Bernie Butcher's 1990 and 1992 teams went 16-7 and 13-8 respectively.

Current Hatchet coach Dave Omer has fielded some very good teams (the 1995 Hatchets were 19-4, the 1997 team 16-6, the 2002 team 14-7, and the 2003 team 18-4). The 2004 Hatchets finished 18-5, as Luke Zeller became the first junior to score 1,000 points. Coach Omer's 123 wins at WHS ranks third all-time. Only Friddle (192 wins) and Neal (133 wins) have more.

2004-05 Washington Hatchets