On Friday, the Windsor varsity boy’s basketball team had a special opportunity. 

The team took a trip up to Indiana to play in the Hoosier Gym, one of the most famous basketball courts in the country. It was featured in the 1986 film Hoosiers and has been a large tourist attraction ever since. The gym is now used as a community center in Knightstown, Indiana. 

The Owls traveled to play against Parkway South, where the Owls won 58-51. Max Hartmann led the way with 23 points, along with both AJ Patrick and Brenton Shirk scoring 12. 

Head coach Ryan McArthy had this trip planned for a while now.

He said, “Parkway South was looking for a team to play at Hoosier Gym last year because the previous team on their schedule canceled. Well, the trip got canceled last year so it just moved over to this year.” 

Senior Elliot Witte was glad he was able to go on a trip with the team before his high school career ends. 

He said, “I was extremely happy to travel with the team before my season ends. They are an energetic group and fun to be around.”

Witte enjoyed the experience. 

“The trip was fantastic; it was a great bonding time for the whole team. Being able to travel out of town and stay together as a team is great,” Witte said.

The court was definitely different from what the team is used to, considering how old it is and the way the court was built. The construction of the gym was completed in 1921 for a total of $14,400. The court is not regulation length, so it made for an interesting experience. 

Witte said, “The game felt faster-paced because the court was slightly smaller than normal, and the halfcourt was divided into two lines instead of the normal half court that we all know.”

Coach McArthy hopes that the players were grateful for this opportunity and have taken something away from it. 

McArthy said, “Not only did we play in a very cool gym and environment, but our guys got to experience some team bonding by staying at a hotel together as well. I thought we grew closer as a team getting the opportunity to build chemistry off the court in a different setting.”