There’s nothing like class basketball in Indiana. The old David-beats-Goliath system generated some great mythology and a great movie (Hoosiers). And tons of heartbreak. Despair. Hopelessness. My high school alma mater - Hauser High School in Hope, Indiana - played more than 45 years in the Columbus Sectional with some teams several times their size, and in 45+ years never won it. We went every year knowing we wouldn’t win it. Our best hope every year was to draw another small school in the first round (Edinburgh or Waldron or Southwestern) and get one win before getting blown out by one of the big guys.

And today the Hauser Jets are playing in Conseco Fieldhouse in the state championship game. I get goosebumps just typing that. Seriously. Check this out (rivals.com subscription required):

Since class basketball has started the 1A fans is where the school and town spirit has blossomed. Just ask Shawe Memorial, a school of 90 who brought over 1,000 fans to the Franklin regional. Orleans also had at least 2000 at Franklin, and Lanesville had at least 1500. The Jets had around 2500 at Franklin. At the semi-state last week most of the fans were from Hauser and Shakamak. Lawrence North and Bloomington didn’t have as many as the 2 small schools. Teams like Blue River Valley, Lapel, Tri-Central, Loogootee, Barr-Reeve, Tecumseh and many others have great fans who even follow their team on the road.

When the Hauser Basketball team returned to Hope Saturday night after wining the Semi-state at Southport they where met at the edge of town by 8 fire trucks and the ambulances from Hope, Clifford and Hartsville. Also there was a least 75 cars that went all over town with players hanging out of the buses windows beeping their horns and celebrating all over town. The whole county of Bartholomew county has gotten behind the Jets including The Republic newspaper at Columbus. There are signs all over town and also on the way to Edinburgh, Franklin and Southport. There are streamers and names and numbers of the players on every telephone poll around even a big satellite dish is painted in the Jets colors over by St. Louis crossing. Sheets are hung with the Jets player numbers and emblems on them.

A great Basketball season for the town of Hope and THE HAUSER JETS!!!! God Bless class Baskeballl in Indiana! Hauser sure Loves it!

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE PLAYERS, FANS, AND COACHES. ONE TEAM ONE DREAM! ONE MORE STEP ON THE LADDER TO A STATE 1A CHAMPIONSHIP!

Hauser’s enrollment is around 300. Hope’s total population is 2140 with a land area of 1 square mile. And they travelled 2500 strong for the regional. I’m sure they travelled more for the semistate (my brother was there and confirms that the small schools out-drew the big schools by far, including megaschool Lawrence North and national superstar prospect Greg Oden). And they’re travelling huge for today’s state championship game. School buses, firetrucks, and a long line of cars driving up I-65. Man I wish I could be there. The game is being carried on the radio by ESPN950, and I’m listening now.

Go Jets!

UPDATE: Hauser leads 26-23 at the half. Hauser senior center Bobby Jolliff has 7 blocked shots, and my second cousin Justin Baute hasn’t been on the floor yet. Tune in for the second half to hear some real Hoosier Hysteria and to catch a Baute on the floor for Hauser in the state championship game. Crazy.

UPDATE 2: It’s a final, and Hauser ran away with it in the second half. The Jets held Tri-Central without a field goal in the 3rd quarter and outscored them 15-2. Bobby Jolliff finished with a triple double (10 points, 15 boards, 11 blocks; the 15 boards are a 1-A state championship record, and the 11 blocks are an all-time Indiana state championship record). Gabe Miller poured in 24 points, and Justin Baute banked in 3 with less than a minute to go (and the radio announcer mispronounced his name, saying “bah-TAY” rather than correct “rhymes with howdy”). Final score 64-36. GO JETS!

UPDATE 3: Jordan Perkins (son of my high school history teacher) received the Mental Attitude Award. The game was the largest margin of victory in Indiana 1A state championship history, and Tri-Central’s 36 points is the lowest point total in 1A history. After leading by three at the half Hauser outscored Tri-Central 38-13 the rest of the game. Tri-Central was held to 16.4% shooting for the game and was 3-for-37 shooting in the second half. Here’s the newspaper special section celebrating the team.