Page 78 - The History of Lafayette Area Boys Basketball

Northern State Conference

The Northern State Conference was organized in 1954 w/ schools largely from northern Indiana. The
conference will be in existence until 1963. This conference is widely known as the “Old Northern State” conference.
A modern version of the conference was resurrected in the 1980s w/ schools primarily from the South Bend/Elkhart
area.
Northern State Conference Timeline
1954: The Northern State Conference is formed.
Membership: Delphi, Knox, Morocco, North Judson, Rensselaer-Central
1956: Delphi drops out of the Northern State to re-join the Hoosier Conference.
1958: Morocco leaves the conference to join the Kankakee Valley conference, while Rensselaer-Central drops out to
become an independent. Bremen, Jimtown (known as Baugo Twp. until 1961), & Washington-Clay (later
known as South Bend Clay) join the Northern State.
1962: Bremen withdrawals from the NSC to return to the Marshall County Conference.
1963: The NSC disbands after the 1962-63 school year. Knox & North Judson will become independents, Jimtown
will return to the Elkhart County Conference, & Washington-Clay will re-join the St. Joseph County
Conference.

Northwest Hoosier Conference

The NW Hoosier Conference was started by five schools from Starke, Pulaski, & White counties in 1968.
Northwest Hoosier Conference Timeline
1968: The Northwest Hoosier Conference is formed.
Membership: Knox, North Judson, Rensselaer-Central, Twin Lakes, Winamac
1972: Kankakee Valley joins the NW Hoosier.
1974: Lake Station Edison joins the NW Hoosier. Twin Lakes withdrawals from the NW Hoosier.
1975: North Newton & West Central join the NW Hoosier.
1980: West Central withdrawals from the NW Hoosier.
1981: Winamac withdrawals from the NW Hoosier.
1982: Knox withdrawals from the NW Hoosier.
1985: River Forest joins the NW Hoosier.
1993: Lowell joins the NW Hoosier.
1998: Rensselaer-Central, River Forest, Lake Station Edison, & Lowell withdrawal from the conference & it disbands
after the 1997-98 school year. Kankakee Valley, North Judson, & North Newton choose to be independents.

Prairie Conference

The Prairie Conference was formed in 1955 and remained active until 1968.
Prairie Conference Timeline
1955: Prairie Conference is formed.
Membership: Ambia, Boswell, Goodland, Montmorenci, Otterbein, Oxford, Remington
1961: Chalmers joins the Prairie Conference.
1965: Chalmers withdrawals from the Prairie Conference.
1966: Montmorenci & Otterbein consolidate to form Benton Central. Benton Central joins the Prairie Conference.
Goodland consolidates into South Newton.
1967: Remington withdrawals from the Prairie Conference.
1968: Ambia, Boswell, & Oxford consolidate into Benton Central. The conference disbands after the 1968 year.

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