Published by The Evansville Courier

Starters were Jerry Southwood, Gene Lockyear, Gary Grieger, Ed Rakow and John Wilson. The Bulldogs eliminated Madison's favorites 79-75 in the afternoon in Butler Fieldhouse and held off East Chicago Washington 84-81 for the title.

Madison, featuring future Evansville Aces Larry Humes and Buster Briley, were coached by Bud Ritter, a star on Bosse's two previous state champions.

Grieger, Lockyear and Southwood were named to the Indianapolis News' all-state team. In the last four tourney games Grieger scored 78 points and Southwood 75, ranking 4-5 among the top five scorers.

Five years later, 1967, the south rose again behind Bob Ford and the North Huskies, edging Lafayette Jefferson 60-58 for the crown.

Ford led all scorers in the tourney's last four games with a record 128 points and was named to the all-state team. He eclipsed the previous record of 114 held by Jimmy Rayl from Kokomo.

Ford later enjoyed a distinguished career at Purdue, played in the National Basketball Association a couple of years and now is a television executive in West Lafayette. He's worked Purdue games on TV the past several seasons.

North's march to the championship was mostly a Ford show - he ruled the backboards and basket - but Jim Hildebrandt and Ron Jesop were his steady flankers, blocking foes off the boards and contributing timely baskets.

Guard Steve Holland supported Ford with 15 points in the championship match and did most of the ball-handling. Preston Smith manned the other guard post and Mark Mason served as sixth man.

Jim Rausch coached North and called winning the title "the thrill of a lifetime."

While Ford led the all-state five, Larry Weatherford of Bosse also made the team and later performed well for Purdue.

Orlando "Gunner" Wyman, one of the more colorful coaches in Southern Indiana before his retirement, guided Vincennes Lincoln to the 1981 championship, with his Alices beating Anderson, 54-52.

Doug Crook led the point parade with 25 and all scorers in the tournament's last four games with 103, yet was overlooked for the all-state team. Tim Vieke contributed 12 points for the Alices in the title match.