Basketball started outdoor in our local schools about 1908 and has changed radically in the past few years. When local school lads played the game a jump between the two center men took place after every basket made or after a successful foul shot. This made a slow game and even with two high scoring teams playing each other the scores would hardly ever exceed a 32-27. More often the score read 16-11. To the present day ball handler this is laughable but not "back when".
It is not the purpose in this short account to try and name every boy from Coatesville who played first class basketball but to name a few who were outstanding a long time ago. Among these were "Tubby" Draper, Ardith Phillips, Noble Masten, Harry Gilbert, Dick Walton, Happy Rollings, Jack Green, Tom McCammack and others.
In early days, one referee was a plenty. He was paid from two to five dollars a game and he usually let the boys "play ball" for that was what a crowd wanted to see. It was no common thing for two players on one team to literally ride and hound an out-standing hot shot on the opposing team and never be fouled. As someone once said in describing the game of 50 years ago, "One player had to be guilty of mayhem against his opponent to warrant a foul." At that early date one man on each team pitched all the fouls.
The greatest menace to any team that played in the old days was the "home referee" who fouled the position but seldom the home boys.
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Contact Town Hall at 4994 Milton Street
Coatesville, IN 46121 765-386-7205
