Tiger Cub legends take their place on wall at local eatery

Discussing the history of Greencastle High School basketball, Richard Hurst (left) and Dick Crawley admire the newly-placed photo of 1933 GHS team that finished as state runners-up. Both men have a family connection to the team, as Marion Hurst was a senior guard and Marion Crawley was an assistant coach. (Banner Graphic/JARED JERNAGAN)

EDITOR'S NOTE: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated that a fundraiser for GHS athletics was to take place at Buffalo Wild Wings on Tuesday. The fundraiser is actually set for 6-9 p.m. on Wednesday, April 6 at the restaurant on Greencastle's east side. A portion of all proceeds excluding alcohol sales will be donated to the school's athletic program.

Jerseys, helmets, photos and other memorablia from the four Putnam County high schools and DePauw University dot the black walls in the spaces between televisions at Greencastle's Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant.

It can be a nice trip down memory lane for long-time local sports fans or a history lesson for the uninitiated.

However, until recently, the east-side restaurant did not have a tribute to the best boys' basketball team in Greencastle High School history.

That changed when Richard Hurst presented a photo of the 1932-33 Greencastle team to Buffalo Wild Wings general manager Cory Welty.

In an effort to pay homage to the Greencastle basketball teams of the early 1930s, Richard Hurst (at left in photo below) presents the 1932-33 team picture to Buffalo Wild Wings general manager Cory Welty. Hurst is the son of Marion Hurst (above, seated far right), an all-state guard for the Tiger Cubs. The photo, restored and reproduced by Wilson's photography, now hangs in the restaurant's entryway, near a photo of another great Greencastle-area team, the DePauw women's basketball 2013 NCAA Division III national championship team.

Having discovered the lack of such an homage about a month ago, Hurst, the son of GHS all-state guard Marion Hurst, decided to change things.

With the go-ahead from Welty and the restaurant, he had the print reproduced and restored by Wilson's Photography. The framed photo was then ready for presentation, which took place Friday.

Besides putting the photo on display adjacent to the team photo of the 2013 DePauw women's basketball national championship team, Buffalo Wild Wings is also supporting GHS athletics financially.

A Wednesday evening fundraiser at the restaurant will benefit the athletic program. From 6-9 p.m. on Wedneday, a portion of all sales excluding alcohol will be donated to GHS athletics.

Tiger Cub supporters can feel free to not only support their team, but check out the new addition to the restaurant's entryway.

Greencastle's basketball program in the early 1930s was something special. Boasting two future Indiana Basketball Hall of Famers in center Jess McAnally and assistant coach Marion Crawley, the 1933 Tiger Cubs capped a three-year run of final four appearances with a runner-up finish to Martinsville.

The Tiger Cubs topped Indianapolis Shortridge 31-28 in the early afternoon game before falling to Martinsville 27-24 in the championship game.

That Greencastle team went 25-5-1 (including a strange double-overtime tie with Shelbyville) and boasted three all-state seniors: center McAnally and guards Hurst and Rodney Godfrey.

Over the three years McAnally, Hurst and Godfrey played varsity, the Tiger Cubs won an astounding 73 games.

It was a different era in Indiana high school basketball. Roaming the state over the course of its 24-game regular season, Greencastle played some pretty far-flung opponents.

"If you look at the teams Greencastle played back then, they played Gary Roosevelt," Hurst said. "They even went to Evansville and played Bosse."

From that gauntlet, a battle-tested team emerged. Even with more than 700 entrants in the state tournament at that time, Greencastle made the top four three straight years, finishing as state runners-up in 1931 and 1933.

Now, perhaps, a younger crowd can also learn a bit more about Greencastle's legendary team.