JEFFERSONVILLE, Ind. -- Arguably the most heated rivalry in all of Hoosierland comes by it honestly. There's enough venom among old foes New Albany and Jeffersonville that historians will swear vinegar, not river water, spans the stretch of the Ohio between the two historic river towns. ...And incidents like this 17 timeout game in 1948 helped build such genuine emotion between the two heavyweights...
Memorabilia displayed in Jeffersonville's Nachand Fieldhouse, host of 1948 Sectional
First year head coach Ed Denton had guided the Red Devils to a lackluster 8-8 regular season record. Red Devil boosters, just as today, held much high expectations for their fighting five, and pressure within the community was nearing a boiling point.
New Albany on the other hand was enjoying high times that season. Second year mentor Gordon Raney had the Bulldogs barking at 15-3 and drawing much statewide attention as they entered the sectional as heavy favorites. - A fact that further ignited emotions among the Jeffersonville faithful. As a matter of record, NA took their regular season meeting with Jeff, 41-31, and the Bulldogs had actually climbed all the way to #2 in the state rankings earlier in the season.
The first round of Sectional went somewhat as expected for the 16 team field:
Jeffersonville 107, New Middletown 23
Laconia 45, Mauckport 24
Scribner 38, Borden 33
Henryville 58, New Amsterdam 26
New Albany 62, Georgetown 16
Corydon 50, Charlestown 36
Silver Creek 69, Elizabeth 29
Lanesville 63, Taylor 35
Photo of Jeffersonville vs. New Albany Sectional title game tip
The second round played out as well with much fanfare, but few upsets.
Jeffersonville 73, Laconia 39
Henryville 43, Scribner 41
New Albany 57, Corydon 28
Silver Creek 68, Lanesville 41
This is where it gets interesting.
In those days the final four was all played on a Saturday. Jeff was to play Henryville in the morning game, and New Albany was pitted against Silver Creek upon the completion of the first contest. The winners then would meet that evening for the title.
Now enter the third player in our story: The Henryville Hornets.
The Hornets were enjoying a fine season of their own, tallying a 16-4 regular season record. However, the majority of their docket of games had been played against smaller conference schools, and when the reality hit the hardwood, the Hornets were far out-manned by the Red Devils. It was apparent early on as Jeff established a commanding lead that would never be in doubt.
To tell the full tale of such a story, the reader must have a bit of background. Jeff and New Albany began their wrestling match over Sectional in 1925 when NA first hosted. The Bulldogs, having bragging rights to the larger gym at the time, hosted the majority of early sectionals - the exceptions going to Jeff in 1926 and 1933.
Jeff than took over hosting honors for many, many years, with one or two exceptions.
This particular season, 1948, Jeff was hosting, but that's about all they had going for the
It was at this point that Jeff's Coach Denton began what was to earn him a spot in Hoosier hysteria folklore...and where he acquired the nickname Dirty Ed.
With the Bulldogs and Dragons waiting in the hallway for their chance on the court, and with a seemingly insurmountable lead in the waning moments of the game, Coach Denton called timeout.
Then he called another. And another. In a matter of moments his allotted timeouts were used.
Then he called one more which resulted in a technical foul. The practice then proceeded - timeout followed by technical foul. The only real break in the rhythm was the snail's pace at which the entire Jeff squad would make it's way to the huddle and then to the floor.
The crowd, officials, and New Albany coaching staff quickly sized up the situation.
Coach Denton was purposely trying to delay the start of the second game so as to limit the time the Bulldogs would have to rest before playing Jeff for the title later that evening.
Game accounts report debris of every shape and size having to be repeatedly removed from the playing floor as the process repeated itself - 17 times.
When the dust and popcorn boxes had been cleared Jeffersonville was in the championship game with a 53-41 win over Henryville. Their lead shrunk but still never in question. Reports indicate that Hornet charity tosses were pretty accurate for that era, but that Henryville couldn't convert their offensive possessions during the bizarre stretch of the contest.
A flustered New Albany had their hands full with an unfazed Silver Creek squad in the second game, but netted a 51-40 win to set up the much anticipated match-up between the two bitter rivals.
As the story goes, Jeff Coach Denton had ordered his charges directly to beds for a restful nap following their morning-turned afternoon game.
The strategy worked as much as New Albany was left with but enough time to shower, eat and collect themselves prior to the championship that night.
The Sectional title game proved a bit anti-climactic, however. A New Albany team, who on this particular year was arguably already a better basketball team, now had their flames of hatred fanned by the shady actions earlier in the day. The Bulldogs made short work of the Devils, taking the championship 53-31.
New Albany Co-captains Orval Stone and Jo Jo Dean celebrate with Coach Gordon Ramey
New Albany proved their worth by taking the Jeffersonville Regional title the following weekend by besting #1 ranked Bedford 58-44 and Seymour 39-29.
The Bulldogs had their season ended when they were martyred the following week at the Semi-finals. The Wildcats of Jasper topped them in the afternoon game 53-50.
However, it was that Sectional marathon and all the trappings that went along with it that are most remembered from that postseason. Just one more brick in a rivalry that towers to this day, and another true chapter in that wonderful folklore of Hoosier hysteria.
Memorabilia displayed in Jeffersonville's Nachand Fieldhouse, host of 1948 Sectional
First year head coach Ed Denton had guided the Red Devils to a lackluster 8-8 regular season record. Red Devil boosters, just as today, held much high expectations for their fighting five, and pressure within the community was nearing a boiling point.
New Albany on the other hand was enjoying high times that season. Second year mentor Gordon Raney had the Bulldogs barking at 15-3 and drawing much statewide attention as they entered the sectional as heavy favorites. - A fact that further ignited emotions among the Jeffersonville faithful. As a matter of record, NA took their regular season meeting with Jeff, 41-31, and the Bulldogs had actually climbed all the way to #2 in the state rankings earlier in the season.
The first round of Sectional went somewhat as expected for the 16 team field:
Jeffersonville 107, New Middletown 23
Laconia 45, Mauckport 24
Scribner 38, Borden 33
Henryville 58, New Amsterdam 26
New Albany 62, Georgetown 16
Corydon 50, Charlestown 36
Silver Creek 69, Elizabeth 29
Lanesville 63, Taylor 35
Photo of Jeffersonville vs. New Albany Sectional title game tip
The second round played out as well with much fanfare, but few upsets.
Jeffersonville 73, Laconia 39
Henryville 43, Scribner 41
New Albany 57, Corydon 28
Silver Creek 68, Lanesville 41
This is where it gets interesting.
In those days the final four was all played on a Saturday. Jeff was to play Henryville in the morning game, and New Albany was pitted against Silver Creek upon the completion of the first contest. The winners then would meet that evening for the title.
Now enter the third player in our story: The Henryville Hornets.
The Hornets were enjoying a fine season of their own, tallying a 16-4 regular season record. However, the majority of their docket of games had been played against smaller conference schools, and when the reality hit the hardwood, the Hornets were far out-manned by the Red Devils. It was apparent early on as Jeff established a commanding lead that would never be in doubt.
To tell the full tale of such a story, the reader must have a bit of background. Jeff and New Albany began their wrestling match over Sectional in 1925 when NA first hosted. The Bulldogs, having bragging rights to the larger gym at the time, hosted the majority of early sectionals - the exceptions going to Jeff in 1926 and 1933.
Jeff than took over hosting honors for many, many years, with one or two exceptions.
This particular season, 1948, Jeff was hosting, but that's about all they had going for the
It was at this point that Jeff's Coach Denton began what was to earn him a spot in Hoosier hysteria folklore...and where he acquired the nickname Dirty Ed.
With the Bulldogs and Dragons waiting in the hallway for their chance on the court, and with a seemingly insurmountable lead in the waning moments of the game, Coach Denton called timeout.
Then he called another. And another. In a matter of moments his allotted timeouts were used.
Then he called one more which resulted in a technical foul. The practice then proceeded - timeout followed by technical foul. The only real break in the rhythm was the snail's pace at which the entire Jeff squad would make it's way to the huddle and then to the floor.
The crowd, officials, and New Albany coaching staff quickly sized up the situation.
Coach Denton was purposely trying to delay the start of the second game so as to limit the time the Bulldogs would have to rest before playing Jeff for the title later that evening.
Game accounts report debris of every shape and size having to be repeatedly removed from the playing floor as the process repeated itself - 17 times.
When the dust and popcorn boxes had been cleared Jeffersonville was in the championship game with a 53-41 win over Henryville. Their lead shrunk but still never in question. Reports indicate that Hornet charity tosses were pretty accurate for that era, but that Henryville couldn't convert their offensive possessions during the bizarre stretch of the contest.
A flustered New Albany had their hands full with an unfazed Silver Creek squad in the second game, but netted a 51-40 win to set up the much anticipated match-up between the two bitter rivals.
As the story goes, Jeff Coach Denton had ordered his charges directly to beds for a restful nap following their morning-turned afternoon game.
The strategy worked as much as New Albany was left with but enough time to shower, eat and collect themselves prior to the championship that night.
The Sectional title game proved a bit anti-climactic, however. A New Albany team, who on this particular year was arguably already a better basketball team, now had their flames of hatred fanned by the shady actions earlier in the day. The Bulldogs made short work of the Devils, taking the championship 53-31.
New Albany Co-captains Orval Stone and Jo Jo Dean celebrate with Coach Gordon Ramey
New Albany proved their worth by taking the Jeffersonville Regional title the following weekend by besting #1 ranked Bedford 58-44 and Seymour 39-29.
The Bulldogs had their season ended when they were martyred the following week at the Semi-finals. The Wildcats of Jasper topped them in the afternoon game 53-50.
However, it was that Sectional marathon and all the trappings that went along with it that are most remembered from that postseason. Just one more brick in a rivalry that towers to this day, and another true chapter in that wonderful folklore of Hoosier hysteria.
