bsouthbball: Welcome

HOLMES USA TODAY'S NATIONAL COACH OF THE YEAR

By Rex Kirts

April 22

For leading South to a 26-0 record and the Indiana class 4A state championship, J.R. Holmes has been named by USA Today as the national Coach of the Year.

It capped off a tremendous season for Holmes and the Panthers. Since they finished ranked No. 3 nationally by USA Today, the coaching honor shows how much the paper respects Indiana high school basketball.

It has been a momentous year for Holmes, who wrapped up his 27th year at South and 38th year overall in coaching. He reached the 600 level in career victories and had the court at South named after hlim.

Holmes typically praised his staff and players for helping him earn the award. "It's the assistant coaches and the kids," he said, adding that support from the administration and fans was also important.

HULLS: ONE OF A FINE SENIOR CLASS

By Rex Kirts

April 15

Jordy Hulls was presented to a small gathering of teammates, cheerleaders and friends of the South basketball program Wednsday at the school. Officially, it was to honor him as being selected Mr. Basketball.

Coach J.R. Holmes gave Hulls a ball noting the honor, which is the first won by a Panther. "It's great to be recognized as the best basketball player in Indiana," Hulls told the group.

Holmes said a picture of the senior in his No. 1 All-Star uniform will got up on the wall outside the east entrance to the gym, joining the Mr. Football awards won by Bo Barzilauskas and Rex Grossman. Hulls will wear No. 1 at Indiana next year.

"You won Mr. Basketball because you worked for it," Holmes said. "You were in the right place at the right time in the right year." Hulls was the scoring, assist and steals leader for the 26-0 Panther state champions.

For the first time in several years Hulls doesn't have an immediate goal to work for - no South game, no AAU game, although he is playing in some all-star games in advance of the Indiana-Kentucky series. Still, he is working on his game.

"Conditioning, strength, a more consistant shot," he said. There will be a brief respite later this month when he has surgery on the nose that was knocked askew in the Decatur Central game.

Hulls is one of the shining stars of a very good senior class, one of the best in several years at South. Others who have earned college Division I scholarships are Aaron Price (IU) in football, Earnie Morris (Eastern Illinois) in football, Marcus Etnier (Indiana State) in football, Ben Stancombe (Iowa) in track, Joe Holahan (IU) in cross country and Caleb Konstanski (IU) in soccer. Also, David Blackwell (IU) is a preferred walk-on in football at IU.

Girls who have won Division I scholarships include Autumn Hawkins (Central Michigan) in soccer and Casey Allbright (Indiana State) in soccer. Madison Turner and Katie Connor have earned scholarships to IU in rowing.

ALL-SPORTS NEWS: South and Columbus North are in a virtual tie for the Conference Indiana boys' all-sports title going into the spring (baseball, track and golf). Columbus has the girls' trophy just about locked up.

HULLS MR. BASKETBALL

By Rex Kirts

April 12

Jordan Hulls got The Big One, the state championship, and now he can add Mr. Basketball to his list of honors for the 2008-09 season.

The list grows. Toward the end of what became a 26-0 season the 6-1 South guard was named the Gatorade Player of the Year for Indiana. He was the leading vote-getter for the Associated Press all-state team, and that almost certainly guaranteed The Indianapolis Star would honor him with its Mr. Basketball title.The Star did that today.

"It's a great feeling, to go down as a Mr. Basketball," Hulls said Saturday from Louisville, Ky., before playing in the Derby Classic.

Hulls won the award easily, with 131 votes by the sports media and coaches to 26 for runnerup Bruce Grimm, Jr. of Rochester. Third was Derek Elston of Tipton, who will join Hulls at IU next year.

Hulls is the third Panther athlete to be honored by The Star as the best player in the state. In 1993 Bo Barzilauskas won the Mr. Football award, and in 1998 Rex Grossman also won Mr. Football. Their pictures with the No. 1 jersey hang on the wall in the east end of the South gym, and there will be a spot found for Hulls' picture wearing No. 1.

Hulls agreed the team's success was a big factor in getting Mr. Basketball.

"It's a big honor. The team going 26-0 helped me out a lot," he said. "It's quite an honor, and I'm very happy about it."

Hulls doesn't have the top-heavy scoring average most Mr. Basketballs do, so his winning is a testament to what he meant in the team context. He did lead the Panthers in scoring with a 15.8 average, but the team also had three others in double figures - Dee Davis at 13.1, Spencer Turner at 11.8 and Erik Fromm at 10.3.

Hulls was helping those others score by leading the team in assist s with 136, two more than Davis. Hulls also led in steals with 67 and was third in rebounds with 97. Hulls ranks in the top five in three career categories at South, and he had 1,0465 career points.

"The team going 26-0 didn't hurt my chances, but I had a good season individually, too," Hulls said.

That he did. What the stats don't show, however, is how much grit Hulls plays with, how steady he stays and how often he comes through in the clutch. He's hard-nosed, composed and pressurized.

And that's why the Easter Bunny brought Jordan Hulls the Mr. Basketball award.

SOME OBSERVATIONS ON THE HISTORIC 2008-09 SEASON,

AND BANQUET NOTES

By Rex Kirts

April 9

There is no rap intended against David Blackwell and Jake Mulinix to say South basketball fans knew when the Panthers were destined to beat Fort Wayne Snider in the state championship game. It was when Blackwell and Mulinix hit two free throws each down the stretch.

Without their contributions, in all-around play and not just with those freebies, South wouldn't have completed its 26-0 run to the title.

But seniors Blackwell and Mulinix weren't the logical free throw heroes. Blackwell was under 60 per cent at the line for the season and Mulinix under 50.

Yet, on the replay of the game at Wednesday's banquet, there was a tight shot of Blackwell getting ready to shoot, and he had this big smile on his face!

"I was just trying to have some fun with it," Blackwell said after the game.

Fun? Fun!! The thousands of South partisans were all nerves, and there was Blackwell loose and confident.

What a great year he had, both in football and basketball and in singing and dancing for the Sounds of South. He'll walk on in football at IU, smiling all the way, no doubt.  

Mulinix also admitted he felt good about sinking those free throws. And they helped cap a great season at South. He and South both benefitted from his transfer from North. 

Those free throw episodes were special moments in a year of many special moments. Some others were:

X-South 73, Detroit Country Day 67. How sweet was that win, and how sweet was Dee Davis' stripping the ball from Ray McCallum. 

X-In 1993 when South was playing for the state football championship for the first time, I was concerned the Panthers wouldn't draw much of a crowd at the now-demolished RCA Dome. So it was a shock to look up and see a huge purple gathering to cheer South on.

It was also a shock to see the extremely huge crowd at Conseco Fieldhouse for the basketball final. Where all thos Bloomington fans came from I don't know, but it was gratifying.

X-All the fans at the regional and state remember Jordy Hulls' 3-point baskets at the end of the halves. Against New Albany in the regional he caught an in-bounds throw on the run and launched it quickly to beat the buzzer. Against Snider at state he split two defenders, and leaning, banked in a 3-ball.

Most people thought of those as luck or flukes. But let me tell you Hulls actually practices shots like that. Every day in the gym he fools around with all kinds of contortion-like maneuvers and shots.

It is said luck is preparation meeting opportunity. Hulls prepares. It's a fact.

X-Senior Chaz Cooper's mom was a student at Gary Roosevelt in 1982 when Roosevelt lost the state championship game to Plymouth in double overtime, 75-74. That's the game Scott Skiles hit the miracle shot to send the game into one of the overtimes,

She said she and her friends cried all the way home. So when Chaz played on the South team that won it all there was somewhat of a purging of '82. 

X-Probably my biggest feeling about what the Panthers accomplished this year is that it put them in company with the legends and immortals of Indiana high school basketball, those other 11 teams that went all the way unbeaten.

The Panthers are in unbeaten company with, among others, the 1956 Indianapolis Crispus Attucks team led by the incomparable Oscar Robertson, the powerful 1957 South Bend Central team, the 1969 Indianapolis Washington team featuring George McGinnis and Steve Downing, the 1970 East Chicago Roosevelt team, the 1970 East Chicago Washington team, the 2003 Pike team and the 2006 Lawrence North team led by Greg Oden and Mike Conley.

Wow.

HULLS CLEANS UP: Hulls cleaned up at the season-ending banquet Wednesday, winning enough awards to cover a wall.

The senior guard was voted the Panthers' B-Man award and had already been named a co-captain along with senior David Blackwell. Hulls received plaques for leading the team in scoring, assists, steals, 3-point field goal percentage and free throw percentage.

Lost in all the hoopla during the state championship run is the fact that Hulls became a 1,000-point career scorer late this year. The 411 he had this season pushed his career total to 1,046. For his career, he is second in South free throw percentage, second in 3-point percentage and third in assists. 

Hulls has been named the Gatorade Player of the Year for Indiana, a first team all-stater and the front-runner for Mr. Basketball. Hulls was also named to the all-Conference Indiana team with teammates Erik Fromm and Darwin Davis, Jr. Fromm is a junior and Davis a sophomore.

Davis shared the assists award with Hulls, and he and Blackwell were named the Defensive Players of the Year. Sophomore Spencer Turner shared the 3-point percentage award with Hulls, and Fromm won the plaque for the most shot blocks. Senior Chaz Cooper won the award for the best 2-point percentage and Fromm the award for the total field goal percentage.

The mental attitude award went to senior Frandon French and the most improved award to senior Curtis Payton. Coach J.R. Holmes gave the Sixth Man award to four seniors - Blackwell, Marcus Etnier, Jake Mulinix and Rickey Washington.

"The attitude of the senior who were on the bench was unbelievably good," Holmes said.  "And the attitude of their parents was unbelievably good. I appreciate that."

There was a lot to appreciate about this season, a lot of great memories.

RECAP: The basketball court at South was named the J.R. Holmes court . . . The Panthers finished 26-0, were ranked No. 1 in the state, No. 1 in the Midwest and No. 3 in the nation . . . the players and others in the South basketball inner circle will get rings. The players will also get their uniforms because Holmes feels no other players should ever wear them. The numbers will not be retired, though . . . Holmes got his 600th career coaching win in the final regular season game against Decatur Central. With 606, he's tied for 12th in the state in number of career wins, one away from 11th.

PANTHERS AT STATE HOUSE;

POST-SEASON HAS BEEN FUN

By Rex Kirts

April 7

The Indiana State House in Indianapolis was a "zoo" Tuesday, and South's basketball team was one of the main attractions.

With legislators Peggy Welch and Vi Simpson setting things up and leading the way, the undefeated state champion Panthers were presented "at court." Well, not court, really, but the House and Senate chambers.

"It was a zoo," coach J.R. Holmes said. "There were a million people there. Lobbyists, Jac-Cen-Del. a band."

Welch handled the appearance in the House and Simpson in the Senate.

"When we were getting ready to go into the Senate they kept cutting people in front of us, and Vi got hot," Holmes said. Finally, Simpson ushered the Panthers to the head of the class to be honored.

"The whole team went. Managers, coaches," Holmes said. "This is all part of being a champion. We've got one more - the banquet." The team banquet is tonight.

Lots of nice things have happened since South went 26-0 to win the state title.

"I've got a million cards," Holmes said. "I got a nice card from Jack Butcher." Butcher is the former Loogootee coach and the state's all-time winningest coach. Holmes said earlier this year that beating Butcher for the first time was one of the highlights of his coaching career.

"I've got a lot of calls, e-mails, cards, letters, notes," Holmes said. "I've heard from guys from 40 years ago, my fraternity brothers. Pretty neat."

Pretty neat, indeed.

PANTHER NOTES: Mr. Basketball will be announced Sunday, and it will be a big surprise if the Panthers' Jordy Hulls doesn't get it. He would be the first Panther to win. Two Panthers, Bo Barzilauskas and Rex Grossman, were Mr. Football winners . . . South junior Erik Fromm has been named to the Junior All-Star team that will play the Indiana All-Stars. North junior Julian Boatner is also on the Junior team . . . Holmes is busy with athletic director duties now and won't be coaching again until the summer. Coaches can't coach their players during April and May, but Holmes can open the gym April 20 so college coaches can come in an watch underclassmen. There may be open gym once a week in May.

WHAT DID HOLMES DO AFTER WINNING STATE?

THE LAUNDRY, OF COURSE

By Rex Kirts

J.R. Holmes does not like loose ends and tasks left undone.

So what did the South coach do after winning the state basketball championship Saturday night? He got up early Sunday and did the team's laundry, of course!

"I came in Sunday at 7:30 and did one load before church," he said. "I did three loads before the pep session."

Remember, this is the guy who believes and lives the wisdom of these practical words, "Win or lose you still have to do the laundry."

But does the head coach of a 26-0 team have to do it? In his case, yes. Doesn't he have underlings to handle mundane chores? No because he doesn't delegate like that. "It's easier to do it myself," he said.

Does he have to hustle in with the cows and chickens the very next day and do the laundry? Yes because he likes to get things done. Holmes rarely sleeps much after games anyway, and he likes to fill vacant time with something constructive.

SUNDAY WAS extra special for Holmes, naturally, being the first day to celebrate the momentous occasion of the night before. It was a little different, though, since South principal Mark Fletcher told him Saturday night he couldn't come into school through the gym, that it was being worked on.

Sure it was, hehe.

Sneaky ol' Fletcher kept Holmes off the floor because it was being dedicated in Holmes' honor. Painted on the floor in purple are the words J.R. Holmes court.

Holmes didn't know this was going to happen.

"We (administration) have discussed this the last couple of years, just in recognition of J.R.'s total contribution to the athletic department for a quarter of a century," said Fletcher, a former Panther basketball player.

"He's worked hard to put a consistently high program on the floor and done it the right way. He's very special to the school and the community," Fletcher said.

Fletcher also told this story: "J.R. has always mentioned that when he was growing up, and thinking about being a basketball coach, he thought it would be neat to have a key to the gym. Now he has the key and his name on the floor."

"I APPRECIATE the honor because it's usually done after you're dead or retired, and I'm not retiring," Holmes said, clearly not dead, either.

Only when his family was asked by Fletcher to come down to the floor at Sunday's pep rally did Holmes think something special was about to happen.

"It's a good honor," he said. "We've had a lot of good kids and a lot of good coaches."

Other honors have accumulated during his 39-year career, which includes 27 years as South's coach, 10 years as Mitchell's and two as Tunnelton's. His record is 606-287, with 463 wins and 169 losses at South.

"I've been Coach of the Year probably 11 times here and once at Mitchell," Holmes said. That's the result of winning conference championships. The Indiana Basketball Coaches Association also presents plaques each time a coach reaches a 100-win plateau, which means he has six.

"I coached the Indiana All-Stars. That was an honor," he said.

"The biggest thing I enjoy," Holmes said, "is being able to take kids and and do better than the other guy. I've enjoyed 8-12 and 8-13 teams when the kids shouldn't have won a game."

SOUTH HAS HAD tremendous success under Holmes, a great deal of it lately.

"We've had an incredible run," he said. "Since class basketball (the last 12 years) we're number one in the state in wins and number two in winning percentage. We've had the best percentage the last five years and the best percentage the last 14 years."

One of the most amazing statistics is the record of four of the seniors on this year's team. The last four years, Chaz Cooper, David Blackwell, Marcus Etnier and Rickey Washington played on teams that were 85-2!

"They expect to win," Holmes said.

THE SIGNIFICANCE of winning the state title and going 26-0 started hitting him more on Tuesday, Holmes said. Only 12 teams in Indiana history have gone all the way unbeaten. So South joined the legends and the immortals.

"I was here at 5:30 - I couldn't sleep," he said. "I think it hit me that we're state champs. Even more than the state championship is 26-0. That's unthinkable."

A lot of people have called to congratulate him. "In the 100s," he said. "And I probably got 200 e-mails. From college coaches, old fraternity brothers, ex-players. A crazy time."

THE PANTHERS had to go hard to beat Fort Wayne Snider in the title game, 69-62.

"Our team had a great chance to fold and didn't" Holmes said. "They showed a lot of heart, passion, determination. They didn't panic.

"I guess it was our time."

THE CHAMPIONSHIP was built on the practice floor, where practices were demanding, tough, physical. Nobody was immune to being corrected in the most direct manner.

"College coaches who came to practice said they can't believe how hard every player played," Holmes said. "They asked how we can get them to play that hard. No one takes time off, and that's a tribute to our kids."

Practices were hard because Holmes kept his finger on the button.

"They were under so much pressure that we wanted to keep them grounded," he said. "I thought we had to be on them, not with long practices but with tougher, harder ones."

The JVs took a pounding in practice but had a good season and improved as the year went along. "Our JVs can shoot the ball," Holmes said.

The Panthers won state with two seniors, a junior and two sophomores in the starting lineup. Three other seniors helped off the bench.

The seniors starters are Jordy Hulls and Cooper, and the senior subs are Blackwell, Etnier and Mulinix. Washington, Curtis Payton and Brandon French are other seniors on the varsity, along with junior Ben Whitlatch.

"When you win state with two sophomores and a junior who score in double figures . . . we have a chance to be competitive next year."

Next year? Uh, not yet. Let's let this one sink in a while.

PANTHERS JOIN LEGENDS AND IMMORTALS,

ARE UNDEFEATED (26-0) STATE CHAMPIONS

By Rex Kirts

South's Panthers joined the Indiana high school basketball legends and immortals this year, going undefeated (26-0) to win the state championship.

They're in such famous company as the 1956 Indianapolis Crispus Attucks team led by Oscar Robertson, acclaimed by many as the best player the state's ever had.

They share the list with, among others, the back-to-back unbeaten titles of East Chicago Roosevelt and East Chicago Washington, with the Greg Oden-Mike Conley outfit at Lawrence North, with the powerful Marion program built by coach Bill Green, with the George McGinnis-Steve Downing team at Indianapolis Washington and the 1957 South Bend Central team that sent most of its players to college Division I.

Some feel the 1960 Muncie Central team was Indiana's best team ever, but even it didn't win 'em all. After beating Bloomington High in the morning Muncie fell to East Chicago Washington in the state title game at night.

The Panthers are indeed in rare and glorified company, and they will be remembered forever. They are coached by J.R. Holmes. The starters are seniors Jordy Hulls and Chaz Cooper, junior Erik Fromm and sophomores Dee Davis and Spencer Turner. The key subs are seniors David Blackwell, Marcus Etnier and Jake Mulinix, and completing the roster are seniors Rickey Washington, Curtis Payton and Brandon French and junior Ben Whitlatch.

The assistant coaches are Criss Beyers, Aaron Parker, Kyle Simpson, Doug Waltz, Heath Howington and Donovan Garletts.

A SPECIAL HOLMES MOMENT: The day was special for J.R. because all his family made it in for the game, and he made it even extra special at the awards presentation when he sent his father, Harvey "Cocky" Holmes, up to receive the state championship medal.

"I always said if I won this I was giving him the medal," J.R. said.

Family at the game besides his father were J.R.'s wife Martha, son Jon and wife Jennifer and their daughter Lilly, daughter Meredith and her fiance Matt Johnson, brother Mike and sisters Jan and Debby.

CROWD LARGE, VERY LARGE: Where did all those Panther fans come from?

South's support at the finals was outstanding. The purple fans took up nearly a quarter of Conseco and outnumbered Snider's by a lot.

The first time South's football team played in the state championship, 1993, I was amazed at how many fans showed up at the RCA Dome. I was just as amazed at how many filled the seats at Conseco Saturday. Good to see.

THEY EARNED IT: Basketball practice at South this year was not for the meek. In the long run it paid off in an undefeated season and the state championship.

The grit in the Panthers that coach J.R. Holmes developed day by day - his demands never ceased even as they continued to win big - became necessary in the tournament. They had to earn the championship, and they did.

The players responded to the demands and got tougher. That was so evident Saturday night when they battled Fort Wayne Snider and prevailed, 69-62, at Conseco Fieldhouse in  Indianapolis.

"We didn't quit," said Holmes, who is in his 27th year as the Panther head coach and 39th overall. "Snider was so physical inside. We made a couple of bad decisions on shots. But our will stayed in it, and we were always able to score the next time."

Snider threw everything at South, but the Purple & White hung in there and slugged back. The going got tough for South near the end, with some turnovers against Snider's fierce trapping defense and a few other turnovers, but South had enough grit to get the job done and come out on top. 

Davis led the balanced Panther scoring atack with 17 points, followed by Hulls and Fromm with 14 and Turner with 10. Cooper had six points, Mulinix four and Blackwell and Etnier two. Fromm led them on the boards with nine rebounds.

Defense was strong for both teams, Snider hitting just .360 and South 442. On 3-pointers, South hit .333 and Snider .167. Snider dominated the boards, 36-28.

In addition to his points, Davis played great defense on Jonathan Sims. Sims is 6-3 and Davis 5-10, but Sims, who averaged 15.2, got only five shots and hit one.

DEPTH VITAL: The depth that was a big South asset right from the start played a major role in the title game. With starting big men Chaz Cooper and Erik Fromm fouled out, David Blackwell and Jake Mulinix, with the pressure on, became heroes.

They hit free throws, something neither did exceptionally well during the season.

"I've hit free throws when the pressure was on," Blackwell smiled. "I just blocked everything out and had some fun with it."

Mulinix made several plays in the last minute, including powering in a layup and hitting two free throws. "I hit that layup, and that was a key to the free throws going in," he said. "This feels amazing."

Davis praised the efforts of the bench players and said everybody contrbuited on defense.

"I didn't expect that much trouble with their trap because we have good guards," Davis said. "We won because we had a lot of passion, a lot of energy on the floor. That helped push us through. Team play overcomes individual play any day. We had a lot of will."

Hulls got the Panthers started with a 3, but it got tougher after that because Snider was focused in on him defensively.

"They were smothering me all night long," Hulls said. "They were doubling me coming off ball screens. I tried not to force anything.

"We won because we played well together and wanted it more."

Snider was physical, and Fromm had it rough underneath. Still, he kept up the battle.

"They had some good posts," Fromm said. "They were sealing well, real aggressive. They know how to play the game - they're no amateurs.

"This is the greatest feeling in the world. We won because we stayed strong as a team."

Cooper said winning the state title was "overwhelming. I didn't play so well, but we I've got teammates who can pick up the slack. We have good team chemistry."

Turner's long-range shot was't going in at its usual pace, but he drained a couple and hit free throws in the closing stretch.

"Winning the state championship of Indiana is so much different than any other state," Turner said. "Everyone dreams this.

"I didn't play my best game, but I'll take the state championship. Nobody cares who gets the points or the credit."

Etnier got a little sick during the game. "Nerves," he grinned. "I don't think I'm used to playing that much, either."

Asked why South won, Etnier said, "I think we just outlasted them, really."

Beyers has been an assistant for Holmes for many years.

"I knew we'd get one (state title). I just didn't think it could take 27 years," Beyers said.

HULLS GATORADE PLAYER OF YEAR IN INDIANA

Senior guard Jordan Hulls is Gatorade's Player of the Year in Indiana high school basketball. He leads the 25-0 Panthers in scoring with a 15-point average. He leads in assists and and third in rebounding. He will attend Inddiana University on a basketball scholarship next year.

CONFIDENCE A PANTHER ASSET

By Rex Kirts

Many assets have brought South's basketball team to this point - playing for the state championship. One of the most significant is confidence.

This was obvious way back last summer and again in pre-season practices. It's never wavered, either, as coach J.R. Holmes' team chalked up 25 victories without defeat. It's the way they'll approach the 26th game Saturday's against Fort Wayne Snider.

It's not cockiness the Panthers play with. It's just simple confidence. Quiet, efficient, workmanlike.

Junior forward Erik Fromm thinks he knows where it comes from.

"I really think we feed off Jordy," Fromm said, speaking of senior guard Jordan Halls. "He kind of exploded last spring and moved to another level. And in the (national) tournament at Laas Vegas he really gave us a boost. We beat some great AAU teams by 20 points, and to do that is very, very good."

Hulls, who will end his career as one of the best ball players Bloomington has ever had, thinks confidence came with all the wins.

"Our success has had a lot to do with it," Hulls said. "The summer had a lot to do with it."

Hulls has tremendous drive on the court. He never lets up. "I get that from playing ball for my dad (J.C.)," he said. "If you'd quit he'd yank you out. So I get it from my dad."

The Panthers' dream season concludes with the ultimate experience for an Indiana high school player, to win the championship.

"It's definitely an exciting time," Hulls said. "It's every kids' dream. Conseco (Fieldhouse) is big, and it will be a fun atmosphere."

Fromm expects a tough game from Snider (25-1). "That's for sure. They're really athletic. We'll have to stay focused all game and definitely can't leave anything out on the court."

Senior center Chaz Cooper said he can't recall much about Snider from their summer meeting, but he knows there are two good shooters. "And their big men aren't bad, either.

"We've got a good shot, and we'll be ready."

Talking about South's confidence, Cooper said, "We have good team chemistry. And no one feels like he has to do it all."

Sophomore guard Dee Davis feels the confident attitude comes from playing hard and the players knowing they can do what they're supposed to do. For 2008-09, it has to be done only one more time.

"It's the last game of the year. We'll try to go out with a bang," Davis said. "Conseco is a big place - it makes the rims look real small. But once you're out there you don't think about things like that."

Spencer Turner, sophomore guard and outside shooter extraordinaire, has enjoyed the season tremendously. "It's just fun to be with this team," he said.

"It's been my dream to play for the state championship," added Turner, who played a lot as a freshman. "To be in it with these guys I've been very fortunate."

Turner said it's necessary to play confident but never underestimate the opponents.

Turner has played in Conseco with AAU teams. "It's an amazing gym - the backboards and rims look tiny. But their still just 10-foot rims."

Three seniors who play important backup roles are David Blackwell, Marcus Etnier and Jake Mulinix. It will be their last high school game along with Hulls and Cooper.

"I'm pumped," Blackwell smiled. "I'm ready to play."

Blackwell contributes a lot on defense, as does Etnier.

"I've never seen Snider," Etnier said. "I'm ready to play."

Mulinix can provide instant offense from the 3-point range. "It's exciting to play at Conseco," Mulinix said. "I'm nervous because they're a good team. I want to win in the worst way."

Rounding out the 12-man South tournament roster are seniors Brandon French, Curtis Payton and Rickey Washington and junior Ben Whitlatch.

"Twenty-five and 0 is a great season, and I'm confident come Saturday night we'll be ready to go and play our game," French said.

"I don't recall our summer game with Snider," Payton said, "but if you're in the state they've got to be good. It's a challenge for both teams. We've been practicing very hard."

Washington said, "They're well coached and have some athletes. We match up very well."

"We've had a good week of practice. We've prepared well, like every week," Whitlatch said. "I think the games we've had this year have us prepared for anything they can throw at us."

THEY ALSO SERVE: Team managers are Aaron Binford, Joe Furniss, Randy Tackett, Peanut Stevens and Jimmy Hudoff. Dave Grossman is the trainer.

THE LAUNDRY MUST BE DONE

By Rex Kirts

Five years ago on a Friday night South scored one of its greatest basketball victories ever, beating the Lawrence North ball club headed by 7-foot Greg Oden. The following morning, at about 5:30, J.R. Holmes was back in the darkened hallways of the school.

"Win or lose, you still have to do the laundry," he explained.

Probably no other comment is as revealing of Holmes' character as that. Whatever is required, he does.

Holmes, who turned 62 recently, is in his 39th year of coaching high school basketball and has won 605 games. At South 27 years, he will guide the Panthers (25-0) in the state championship game Saturday at Conseco Fieldhouse against Fort Wayne Snider.

The Panthers will look good in their laundered uniforms.

Holmes, also the school's athletic director, is unequaled at being organized and completing tasks. He is the king of the Post It notes, the little papers lining his desk like a yellow brick road.

Business isn't always handled one note at a time necessarily because he's a powerful multi-tasker. Athletically, for instance, he earned 16 letters in high school at Needmore (now part of Bedford North Lawrence). He ran cross country and track and played basketball and baseball.

He did all this while making good grades and staying out of trouble.

"J.R. never caused me one bit of trouble in my life," said his father, Harvey "Cocky" Holmes, who still getes to most of South's games.

J.R. (John Ray) graduated and got his masters degree at Indiana State and took the head coachng job at Tunnelton right out of college. He left there for Mitchell and came to South in 1981-82 as a math teacher and coach.

Jim McMillan was the athletic director at South when Holmes was hired.

"Of the guys we looked at, J.R. gave us the best knowledge of what he wanted to do," McMillan said. "He was very knowledgeable, enthusiastic. It was pretty clear. He had done pretty well at smaller schools, where he was quite competitive. His kids hustled, and his teams played hard."

Knowing Holmes best is his wife of 31 years, Martha.

"He's very, very even-tempered," Martha said. "He's very matter-of-fact about basketball. He doesn't bring it home with him."

But, of course, last Sunday he did the laundry before church. This was after spending some time in the office Saturday night after the semistate.

"He grabs every second," Martha said.

"The thing I really appreciate about him is he's very passionate about what he does for a living. It's just wonderful to see that," Martha said. And she was referring to not just basketball coaching but teaching and being an athletic director as well.

Holmes spends countless hours doing AD duties. This is made easier because he enjoys all sports and iinteracting with all coaches.

He stays in good shape, too, and can be counted on to be at his post in all weather. "In 31 years he's never missed work with a sick day," Martha said. "He's just very dedicated to his job and loves it. He loves the kids and is good with kids."

J.R. and Martha raised two children, Jon and Meredith. Jon, who is South's all-time leading male scorer, is an assistant coach at William & Mary, and Meredith works in the space program.

"He's a great dad," Martha said. "He was very supportive of Jon with his basketball and Meredith with her tennis. It's been a great life."

With what leisure time he has Holmes spends time visiting his father and is a low handicap golfer.

But leisure time isn't really high on his list. "He never talks about retirement," Martha said.