QUESTION: Who are the Puxico Indians?
ANSWER: The Puxico Indians were undoubtedly the most sensational basketball team the state of Missouri has ever produced.
TV's ESPN ran a November 29, 2005 show about a high school basketball game called the "Milan Miracle."
This was a 1954 Indiana State Basketball Championship in which the tiny town of Milan, Indiana defeated a highly touted Muncie Central, a team favored to win it all. Milan's surprise victory was the inspiration for the Hollywood movie "Hoosiers."
The game was played at a slow pace typical of basketball played at that time. During the last of the fourth quarter Milan held the ball for over four minutes, with Muncie making no effort to take it away. The final score was Milan 32, Muncie Central 30. Low scoring in those days was more the norm than the exception.
Hollywood should have been more aware of basketball history.
Playing in the 1950-51 season was a Southeast Missouri high school team that was not only miraculous, but light years ahead of basketball played at that time. They were called the Puxico Indians.
Puxico went undefeated in 1950-51, winning 40 straight games, and capturing the Class "B" state championship. In the process they scored 100 or more points 13 different times. This was a day when a team scoring 50 points was considered big time stuff.
The 1951-52 Puxico Indians only managed to score 100 or more points 6 different times. Their record for the year was won 39, lost 2. They came back in the same season to handily defeat the two teams that had beaten them, and once again became state champions.
Puxico became the darlings of sports writers in St. Louis and Kansas City. Their popularity became so great they had to play a number of their home games in Poplar Bluff or Cape Girardeau to accommodate the huge crowds that wanted to see the Puxico Indians.
How did they do it? What was it that made the Puxico Indians a basketball phenomenon so far ahead of its times?
The answer probably lies first with their coach. Coach Arnold Ryan is another story unto itself, and can be better appreciated by reading a book by Matt Chaney of Poplar Bluff, Missouri entitled "My Name is Mister Ryan."
Ryan had no fundamental knowledge of basketball except the firm belief that basketball should be played all over the court.
This became the mantra of Puxico basketball. It was a relentless pursuit that started in the opponent's back-court and never let up. As often as not the opposing team never got to mid-court before Puxico had stolen the ball, and was on the way to two more points. They also had a dazzling fast-break they called "The Sneak."
Could Puxico have been so devastating at Class "A" level?
Puxico defeated Top Class "A" teams during the regular season, and was just as dominating. There is one amazing fact, however, that would have to squelch any detractors:
All five starters of the 1950-51 Team went on to play Division I college basketball!! Two of them became All-Americans. (Win Wilfong & Forrest Arnold. Win Wilfong & Grady Smith played professional basketball. Forrest Arnold was offered a pro contract, but chose the ministry instead.)
How many high schools in the country could make such an incredible claim? Puxico could have played at national high school level. It was the Puxico boys that turned the then Memphis State into a basketball power-house.
Win Wilfong -- what a Hollywood story.
Winford Wilfong was a sensitive country boy who turned into a human dynamo on the basketball court. At 6--2, 190 lbs., he led the college basketball nation in the 1956-57 season in rebounding. Yes, rebounding. There were plenty of 6--7 & 6--9 players at that time capable of this feat.
But this is just part of the Win Wilfong story. He was a prolific scorer, with a fade-away jump shot; a ball-hawk of no equal, and a tenacious spirit. He was All-Big 7 in his sophomore year at Mizzou. Then as a serviceman, he was voted the most valuable player in the Pan American games. We went from there to Memphis State where he became an All-American, and the most unforgettable player in the school's basketball history.
There are a few sights in sports that are forever etched in the mind. One of them was Win Wilfong leading a fast-break. He was a mad bull on a charge, and no mere human being was going to stop him.
The Puxico Indians -- what a story:
That so small a town could compile the records they did is amazing enough. But that they could be so far ahead of their times and produce so many top athletes is almost a trip into fantasy land.
Wake up Hollywood. Your tail is dragging.
The Answer Man will appear on occasion in the Daily Dunklin Democrat, and will provide answers to various and sundry questions about local people, etc. Readers are invited to submit their queries to The Answer Man by e-mailing them to bhunt@dddnews.com.