Clovers honor HOF member Chad Tucker, 1983 basketball team

Former Cloverdale coach Al Tucker speaks to the senior night crowd after donating the jersey for his son, new Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame member Chad Tucker, to the school. (Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN)

CLOVERDALE -- Senior Night in basketball is a celebration of one class' accomplishments and work over the previous four years. So when the Cloverdale boys' basketball team played its final home game of the season last Friday, the crowd cheered at halftime as athletes from all sports were recognized.

When the Class of 2013 was finished being introduced, though, the school honored another group of seniors. Though they're now closer to senior citizens than high school students, the 1983 Cloverdale boys' basketball team was announced on senior night this year.

It's been 30 years since the group made a run to the Indiana High School Athletic Assocation all-class semi-state.

The team finished the year 21-7, and prior to the state tournament, also won Putnam County and West Central Conference championships.

Members of the 2013 Cloverdale varsity basketball team meet the members of the 1983 semi-state team that was honored on Senior Night on Friday, Feb. 15. (Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN)

All the players and cheerleaders for the team were announced -- Dave Archer, Brian Wooldridge, Jon Kennedy, Bryant Lucas, Bryan Scott, Bob Speedy, Roger Shrum, Jerry Neese, Keith Welty, Doug Cundiff, Dan Samuels, Jill Whitaker Stewart, Debbie Stoltz Gieselman, Cheryl Whitaker Arnold, Karen Fidler Headley and Stacey Speedy Baugh -- but they saved the best introduction for last.

Chad Tucker, who will be inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame next month, died in 1996.

His father, Al Tucker, who was also the coach of the 1983 team, presented the school with Chad's 1983 all-star game jersey.

It will be hung in the school, and current Cloverdale Pat Rady said showing the new group of kids that a former Clover went on to become a professional, and Butler University's all-time leading scorer (among many other accomplishments) was a special moment for the school.

"It was great to honor the team of '83," Rady said. "It was great to see those guys come back and Coach Tucker to present that all-star jersey for Chad.

"I think that's great to be up on the wall for our school. Not only this year's team, but future players will see what tradition Cloverdale has here, which is great tradition."