Local News

Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame announces Class of 2015

 

 

Long-time Norwell Coach Jerry Lewis will be inducted into Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame (Photo contributed)

NEW CASTLE, Ind. (WOWO): An area team and a long time local coach is among the 2015  inductees to the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame.

The 54th annual class will be inducted Wednesday, March 25, 2015 in Indianapolis.

Jerry Lewis was a basketball standout at Reelsville H.S. and Indiana Central College before launching a wildly successful high school coaching career. Setting the NAIA single-season free throw percentage (.938) record and career free throw record (.846), Lewis scored 1,265 career points at Indiana Central. 

As a 25-year Indiana high school coach, Lewis’ teams at Roachdale, North Miami and Norwell won 354 games, 9 sectionals, and three regionals, twice reaching the semi-state finals. 

With 304 wins in 20 seasons at Norwell, he is the school’s and Wells County’s winningest coach.  He resides in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.

On the 30th anniversary of their undefeated state championship, the 1985 Marion Giants team will be inducted collectively, becoming just the eighth boys team to gain this distinction. 

The sixth undefeated team in the history of the Indiana boys high school basketball state tournament, the Giants went 29-0 en route to the school’s four state championship and the first of their three consecutive championships during their “Purple Reign” era.  Defeating North Central Conference rival Richmond in the 1985 championship game 74-67, the Giants were led by Hall of Fame coach Bill Green and led in scoring by senior Lefon Bowens and sophomores Lyndon Jones and Jay Edwards.

The Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame’s 54thannual Mens’ Awards Banquet will be held on Wednesday, March 25, 2015.  The day’s events will include a reception at the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame museum that afternoon with a banquet that evening.

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