Sights and sounds from the Pleasantville Blue Streak Classic
PLEASANTVILLE -The efforts of Lonnie Todd and members of the Pleasantville and surrounding communities put into the Pleasantville Gym Restoration Project culminated in last Saturday's Pleasantville Blue Streak Classic, which was staged here at the reconditioned Pleasantville gym.
At 12:30 p.m. the gym opened to the public and that time was designated as Grill Time. Cheeseburgers and grilled jumbo hot dogs were served while folks mingled and ate in the entry lobby.
Meanwhile, the Dugger Union Bulldogs were conducting a pregame practice on the Pleasantville court.
At 1:45 p.m. a public address announcement was made recognizing several organizations who contributed in some way - Hoosier Hit, Save-a-Lot stores, Wabash Valley Correctional Facility, News Barb, and the Greene County Daily World. Special thanks were extended to Jerry Shepard and the countless donors to the Building Fund.
Next, a group of Pleasantville High School graduates took the floor as Anjuli/Brenda Smith performed the Pleasantville school song, to the tune of the Indiana fight song.
Jerry Carmichael then gave the invocation before Smith sang the National Anthem.
Then the Dugger Union Bulldogs took the floor, outfitted in blue and white replica uniforms of the Pleasantville Blue Streaks.
Just before tipoff Brandon Risner, the Superintendent of Bear Run Mine, presented the game ball to the officials.
The Blue Streaks built a 25-19 halftime lead over the Living Water Marlins behind 16 first-half points from Parker Lovelace.
At halftime, Lonnie was presented with a special edition Blue Streak Classic basketball to commemorate the day's games because without Todd's efforts and dedication the event would not have been possible.
Todd was also presented with a copy of Indiana Basketball History magazine, a publication of the Indiana Hall of Fame. The magazine featured the efforts of Todd and the community toward the gym restoration project in its Fall 2014 quarterly publication.
The Dugger Union Dance Team then performed a three-minute dance routine to "Hey Baby."
The Blue Streaks held on for a 53-45 win as Melidian Maze tossed in 15 second-half points.
After the final buzzer, the Pleasantville school song was again performed with the entire crowd singing along.
Next, the Booster Club sponsored a one-minute challenge. Participants were required to make a layup, a free throw, and a 3-pointer within one minute's time. The one-minute challenge was followed by the Booster Club's free throw contest.
The nods to Pleasantville's history and tradition, the daylight streaming in through the side windows and the wooden backboards all lent a nostalgic feel of yesteryear to the occasion - small-town high school basketball as it might have been experienced half a century ago.
Terry Schwinghammer is a sports writer for the Greene County Daily World. He can be reached by telephone at (812) 847-4487, ext. 27. He can also be reached via email at tschwing32@yahoo.com.
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