By CHUCK GODBY
Carmel High School’s brand-new gymnasium hosted the 1923 Hamilton County Boys’ Basketball Tournament. However, the change of scenery failed to snuff out the Arcadia Dragons’ fire.
Arcadia and Fishers were pre-tourney favorites and they showed up for the championship game with Arcadia prevailing, 48-25.
Carmel’s new basketball facility featured a hardwood floor and upper and lower galleries. More than 1,000 fans were able to see the championship game.
Fishers’ Paul Butz won the mental attitude award.
Noblesville did not compete in the tournament, as the team had disbanded prior to the start of the tourney.
The tourney came back in Carmel in 1924, and once again Coach Fred Anderson guided another Arcadia squad to the county championship. This time the Dragons won their fifth straight by besting host Carmel in the finale, 36-20.
John Noble of Arcadia won the mental attitude award, but not before suffering a broken collarbone in the championship game when he collided with a Carmel player.
The winning team’s players received a gold basketball watch charm.
Yes, Noblesville was back together in ’24, losing to Arcadia in the semi-finals.
The tourney moved from Carmel to Cicero’s new gymnasium in 1925. A thousand tickets were divided among the 10 competing schools and it was announced the county champion would be awarded a pennant, game ball and silver loving cup that was sponsored by the Cicero Commercial Club.
Defending champ Arcadia eliminated Boxley and Atlanta before finally being knocked out by Carmel, 34-18.
With an estimated crowd of 1,000 to 1,200 people on hand, Carmel and Noblesville engaged in the closest county championship game yet. Ralph Cotton’s game-winning bucket lifted Carmel to a 28-26 triumph over Noblesville.
Sheridan’s Cyrus Gunn won the mental attitude award.
It was also reported that Sheridan’s girls defeated Noblesville’s girls, 18-15, to win the girls’ county championship.
The 1926 tournament went back to Noblesville. Noblesville, Cicero, Sheridan and Westfield all weighted in as favorites to bring home the championship silk banner.
Arcadia was considered the weakest team in the field, but the Dragons fought their way back to the title game where they lost to Cicero, 26-14. It was the Red Devils’ first championship and Arcadia’s seventh appearance in the final game where it had won six of the first nine.
Fishers’ Keith Emery won the mental attitude award.
Two interesting facts were mentioned from the ’26 tournament:
Cicero’s players, coached by C.E. Gaskins, were not allowed to watch any other tourney games. After the Red Devils played they returned to Cicero for a meal of eggs and toast and a nap.
Before the championship game, 4-year-old Charles Floyd “Buddy” Hunter of Walnut Grove was on the playing floor putting on a show of athletic stunts for the fans. Someone in the stands tossed a dime at the younger, starting a flurry of coin tossing that resulted in $1.46 for Buddy to put in his bank.
The Hamilton County Tourney, in its original form, would come to an end after the 1965 tournament. It came back later for a short time. Stay tuned for a tourney wrap-up.