Anderson (Madison Heights) (3,164) Built 1956
November 21, 2023: Pendleton Heights vs. Anderson (Boys)
November 21, 2023: Pendleton Heights vs. Anderson (Boys)
When I was 9 or 10 my dad gave me a book he had since since the mid-80's called Hoosiers by Philip Hoose. (If you like this blog you will love that book) It's about some of the of the best basketball towns and players in Indiana at the height of Hoosier Hysteria. One of the first chapters was about Anderson. At that age, I had never heard of the town before, but I was mesmerized by the description of the Wigwam and the hoopla throughout the town about their basketball team. I had experienced unreal fervor over the local team growing up at Westview, but this felt different. Lotteries for sectional tickets, season tickets being contested in divorce court proceedings, and a 9,000 seat gym filled to capacity for regular season games. Anderson has one of the richest high school basketball traditions in a state full of them. Marion, Muncie, and very few others can rival it.
Like most places in the state, Anderson is not what it used to be. The school system itself consolidated high schools once in 1997 and again in 2010 from three high schools to one. With each closure, many fans felt they were losing a piece of their identity and pride in their individual school. To the current students, they were all Indians. To many of those who came before them, there was a big distinction between being a Scot, a Pirate, or an Indian. Coming together as one to cheer for a unified community team was a hard pill to swallow for many former rivals. While I totally understand that from a fan and historic perspective, I'm so grateful for those those who embraced the difficult change. The Indians today play in what was formally known as the "Pirate Palace" of Madison Heights. While it doesn't have the grandeur of the Wigwam, it has a storied past of its own. The court is named after the legendary coach Phil Buck who won his fair share of sectionals and more going toe to toe with Highland and Anderson year after year. A lot of people like to talk about what this gym isn't, I'd like to focus on what it is: a darn good place to watch a basketball game.
Whenever I walk into this gym the first thing that takes me aback is the beautiful stage on the opposite baseline that accomodates the pep band during the game. The color scheme of red and green everywhere is one of the sharpest in the state. I've loved it ever since I became a part of this community. The two sides of the gym are essentially mirror images of each other. The bottom sections have red plastic seats that are fairly inoffensive. The upper sections are what set this gym apart for me. They have fantastic permanent wood bleachers that ascend into the rafters. In general I like sitting closer to the action, but in this gym I prefer being at center court in the upper section on the home side. The Indian at center court sits prominently watching over the proceedings. The baseline wall where you enter the gym contains all of the school's athletic accomplishment banners which go on for miles. (The school has had athletic programs since the early 1900's, they've had some time to rack up some W's) Right beside these are one of my favorite displays in any gym in the state. Five Mr. Basketball winners have come through Anderson. The immortal Johnny Wilson, Roy Taylor, Troy Lewis, and Kojak Fuller (who you can still find at games today) for the Indians, and Ray Tolbert for the Pirates. Few if any school can match such a collection of talent over the years, and that history is displayed beautifully here. The only thing I don't love is the conference team banners. They're kind of hidden above the stage and the designs are a little lacking. In totality, there is a lot of character matched with an impeccable color scheme.
I moved to Anderson in 2017, about 5 years after the "other gym" in town closed. I never got to see a game in the cathedral of Indiana high school gym that I had read about when I was a kid. While I still hope that I'll get that chance someday, somehow, I'm not holding my breath. I don't go to this gym to watch a great game and think "Man I wish this was at the other place." At times I've felt like a bit of an outsider as I kind of just adopted this town, team, and their traditions as my own even though I didn't grow up in it or experience the glory days. I had just moved to a new town and missed going to basketball games, so I just kind of jumped in. Over time I've felt so accepted and welcomed by the people in the school and basketball community that I don't feel awkward about it anymore. When people find out I go to all the games and am invested in the team, the standard response is often "It's just not the Wigwam," and they're right! But that's okay. The heart of Anderson basketball is still alive and well. It may not look the same, but that's alright. I'm just grateful to be a part of it.
