Blackford High School - Reflections Yearbook (Hartford City, IN)

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when an errant shot misses the basket, three Bruins go for the rebound: Bill Johnson, Mark Brown, and Greg Jones. Varsity Basketball 95

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Determining what to do next to preserve their victo- ry. Coach Ion Stroup instructs his players at a break. Score: Bruins 79, Eastbrook 72. Bruins ' SO-SO start caused 500 year Returning three lettermen from last year ' s 20-5 squad, the roundballers stumbled at the start and never quite got on track, finishing the season 11-11. The season started below normal when the opening game was lost to Ad- ams Central, the Flying Jets ending a seven-year losing streak to the Bruins. Bad luck continued to prevail, as the team was 1-7 going into the January Grant County Tourney. In the tourney, Mississinewa fell to the scrappy Bruins, but Stroup ' s men, who had drawn the bye, lost for the second time to Madi- son-Grant in the finals. Four out of the first five games were dropped by a total of only eight points. Rarely were the Bruins blown off the court, even though there was a rash of injuries among other disturbing situa- 94 Varsity Basketball tions. Sectional time rolled around Bruin- land again, as Blackford hosted a four- team field. The Bruins drew Eastbrook the first round, and Delta ended up with rival Wes-Del. The Bruins were fa- vorites to win the four-team tourney, and beat Eastbrook 79-72 in the first game. Wes-Del squeaked past Delta, setting the stage for the Saturday night finals. At halftime it seemed that the Bruins were on their way to their sev- enth Sectional crown under Coach Stroup, but the Warriors came on strong to take their first title in the school ' s history, 65-58. Thus ended the five Bruin seniors ' high school career, and the stage for revenge was set for the upcoming year.

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As the final whistle blows, team members and fans celebrate the victory over Marion. The first Bruin win came over the 1976 state champion Giants. Bruins spedaCized in amazing upsets Even though the overall outcome of the year wasn ' t too pleasing, the Bruins, in the role of spoilers, pulled off the state ' s biggest upsets and played tricks with the conference race. Marion ' s Gi- ants, previously two-time state champs with a current record of 6-0, were the first victims of the Bruins. Before the game, Blackford was 0-5, and Marion held the rank of fourth in the state. The Giants, who humiliated the Bruins last year at Marion, were outplayed all over the court, and received what they earned. Huntington North, another state power, faced the Bruins the following week, but they took the game a little more seriously than Marion. The Vi- kings finally pulled it out in double overtime, 78-72 at Huntington. With Christmas over and the pre- vious upsets forgotten. Fort Wayne Wayne rolled into Blackford County sit- ting on the number-two spot in the polls. The Generals found themselves wondering what had happened, lost 62-56, outplayed everywhere on the court. Muncie North followed the next night, but two major upsets were too much for the Bruins to handle. With the season just about over and every- one looking to the Sectional, the Bruins hosted Alexandria, CIC leader and pos- sible champ if they could beat Black- ford. Stroup ' s men ' s record against oth- er conference foes had not been too remarkable. They were 1-3 going into the game and not considered much of a threat. The final score of the Tiger game was 95-80 — Blackford ' s victory. This marked the first time in Blackford ' s conference history that there was a three-way tie for first place in the con- ference among Alexandria, Peru, and Wabash. The Bruins and Tipton tied with 3-3 records and were awarded fourth and fifth places, respectively, while Madison-Grant and Elwood rounded out the standings. 96 Varsity Basketball