This heartfelt celebration of Hoosier State basketball captures the drama of the game and the dedication of the players, coaches, and communities. It is often said that while Dr. James Naismith invented basketball in Massachusetts, the sport was raised and ultimately came of age in the high schools of Indiana, the state where politics, religion, and sweet corn fall in line behind the game played with the round orange ball. Tales from Indiana High School Basketball centers on those who have played the game—their stories, their passion, their drive for excellence, their laughs, and their tears. Here you will learn about Lebanon schoolboy hero Rick Mount, the first prep basketball player ever featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated; Gene Cato, the phenomenal player whose father—and high school coach—would not put him into a game until the fans demanded it; Marion’s “Purple Reign” of consecutive state championships from 1985 to 1987; and much more. Tales from Indiana High School Basketball is not so much about statistics and winning streaks as it is about the personalities and emotions of those who created the phenomenon and way of life that is basketball in the Hoosier State.