This past weekend, as a part of ValpoLife.com's ongoing coverage of All Things Great About Valpo, I had the privilege of covering the Valparaiso University's Hall of Fame Class of 2009 induction ceremony. This year's inductees included Cyndi (Norman) Kiper, Stephanie (Greer) McCalment, Robert Skaitsas, and Tim Weidner. Most notably, to me anyway, was the induction of the 1997-98 Men's Basketball Team.
Why is so notable to me? Well, as a twelve year old, I watched nearly every game this team played, because one of my friend's parents had season tickets and never really went all that often. When they did go, we would get to the gym hours before the game would start so we could get in without paying. I think tickets at the time were something like $4 a piece, but hey, I was twelve.
There was one game, however, that I didn't get to see: The Shot.
If you were a resident of Valpo a decade ago, you would know that this particular squad was the talk of the town. Hometown hero Bryce Drew had climbed up the ranks through high school, ultimately leading the Valpo Vikings to a state runner up. He was in his senior season playing at Valpo University, playing under his father, coach Homer Drew.
The team wasn't all Bryce, though. They had Jamie Sykes, the Jenkins twins, Zoran, and Tony Vilcinskas. The team was a cool group of guys to root for, partially because I had attended the VU Summer Basketball Camps that these student athletes assist with every year. I felt like I had a connection to the team, and I am sure I wasn't the only one in town who felt this way.
Anyway, Valpo made the NCAA tournament, drawing a number 13 seed and forcing them to play the 4th-ranked Ole Miss. The game was on during school hours, but most teachers at Thomas Jefferson Middle School allowed the students to watch the game. I say most, because my art teacher, Mrs. Nickel, did not.
I watched the first half of the game during Home Ec, but during the second half we had to change periods. Mrs. Nickel did not allow us to watch the game, despite the fact that the art class in the next room (and I hesitate to say next room, because TJ's art classes are one giant room, separated by a divider) was allowed to watch it. I remember working on my sculpture-esque thing as the whole school erupted after the shot. I am still bitter, though I ultimately was able to travel to Missouri to see them lose to the Lamar Odom-led Rhode Island squad in the Sweet Sixteen.
The Shot and the Sweet Sixteen loss is not all I'll remember about this team. The 97-98 team gave the city of Valpo something to rally around a decade ago, and that is what I will remember them by.