Page 33 - The History of Lafayette Area Boys Basketball

1940s

1942: Paul Lostutter (former Head Coach @ Frankfort & Delphi) is named the Head Coach of the Indiana All-Star
Team.
State Finals Appearance: Crawfordsville, Frankfort
1 Team All-State: Bob Clements (Crawfordsville), John Clossin (Frankfort)
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1943: Mellott & Newtown consolidate to form Richland Twp. H.S.
1944: Ralph Capehart’s Waynetown Gladiators complete an undefeated regular season. They will win the Sectional
& Regional, before being defeated by Whiteland in the Semi-State. The Gladiators finished the season w/ a
26-1 record.
1 Team All-State: Bill Gosewehr (Frankfort)
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a. Bill Gosewehr (Frankfort) will lead the state in scoring w/ a 13.6 ppg average. He will be named
to the Indiana All-Star Team (the team was not named until 1994, due to WWII) & will later
play basketball @ Purdue.
1945: Ralph Capehart’s Waynetown Gladiators complete their second consecutive undefeated regular season. They
will win the Crawfordsville Sectional, before losing to Covington during Regional play. The Gladiators
finished the season w/ a 26-1 record.
1946: Robert Cripe (Flora) wins the Arthur L. Trester Award for Mental Attitude.
State Finals Appearance: Flora
a. Dick Oyler (Flora) & Jerry Stuteville (Attica) are named to the Indiana All-Star Team.
b. Rossville (Head Coach: Larry Hobbs) complete an undefeated regular season, will finish the
w/ a 26-1 record, & will win the Frankfort Sectional. They will lose in the Regional to
Lafayette Jeff.
1947: The Hoosier Conference is formed.
a. Don Bol (Lafayette Jeff) & Phil Buck (Rossville) are named to the Indiana All-Star Team.
b. Rensselaer-Central finishes w/ a 23-1 record & an undefeated regular season. Charles Franklin’s
Bombers only loss of the season came in the morning game of the Hammond Regional to Gary
Emerson.
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1 Team All-State: Phil Buck (Rossville)
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1948: Lafayette Jeff wins its 2 State Championship, defeating Evansville Central 54-42.
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1 Team All-State: Bob Masters (Lafayette Jeff)
a. Bob Masters (Lafayette Jeff) is named Mr. Basketball.
b. Martin Horn (Rossville) is named to the Indiana Star Team.
1949: John Toeppe (Frankfort) is named to the Indiana All-Star Team.
a . Harry Tobin’s Sugar Creek Twp. Crickets complete an undefeated regular season & finish 18-1.
Their lone defeat was to Frankfort in the opening round of the Frankfort Sectional.
Area Leading Scorer: Bob Kriebel (West Lafayette) 18.2 ppg
1950s

1950: Lafayette Jeff finishes the season 17-12 & state runner-up to Madison.
a. Bob Kriebel (West Lafayette) finishes his career w/ 1151 points to move him to the #1 spot on
the area career scoring list.
Area Leading Scorer: Bob Kriebel (West Lafayette) 20.8 ppg
1951: Burrows consolidates into Deer Creek Twp. H.S.
State Finals Appearance: Lafayette Jeff
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1 Team All-State: Denny Blind (Lafayette Jeff)

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