In March of 1972, Seymour High Schools huge new Lloyd E. Scott Gymnasium hosted the sectional round of the state tournament for the second time. The championship game featured an epic battle between two heated rivals, Jennings County and host Seymour.
Since the inception of the sectional round of the state tournament in the 1910's Seymour had dominated the Sectionals played annually on their home floor, winning the title 35 times. Jennings County on the other had was still a relatively new school having just opened 4 years before in 1968 after 30 years of consolidations had closed all of the schools in the county. While the old North Vernon Panthers had made a great run in the 1966 tournament to the final game of the Evansville Semi-State, this was the first time the new Jennings County Panthers had a good shot at the sectional title and possibly much further into the tournament.
Everyone was expecting this game to be a shootout. Jennings County led by Danny Brown and Billy Harmon had been one of the highest scoring teams in the history of Indiana High School Basketball averaging 92.9 points per game. They began tournament play no different than as they had been in the regular season with a rout of tiny Crothersville 90-57. The Panthers then earned their way to the sectional final after narrowly escaping upset minded Brownstown Central 90-88.
The host Seymour Owls were not lacking in firepower themselves. They had averaged 92ppg in their first and second round blowout wins over Austin and Scottsburg. The Owls were not going to be intimidated by the Panthers scoring machine. Earlier in the year Seymour had fallen to Jennings County by a scant 2pts. Now, playing on their home floor for the sectional title they were certain they could take down their rivals. All the ingredients were set for a classic battle.
As tip-off time approached for the Championship Game the 8,000 seat gym was Standing Room Only. With the excitement at a fever pitch it was clear from the very start that the game was going to be everything that it was expected to be. For three quarters the lead surged back in forth. It was tied after the 1st period at 20. Jennings County managed to gain a 3pt lead going into halftime. The 3rd period was a carbon copy of the 1st half and the final period began with the Panthers still on top 67-64.
From the start of the 4th quarter the play began to get rough and rowdy. Jennings County pushed out to a 75-68 lead early on but Seymour was not about to roll over and die. Turning up the pressure with a full court press, the Owls began to force several turnovers and convert them into points. With less than 4 minutes left to play the score was once again tied, 75 all.
It was now Jennings County's turn for a run. The Panthers led by center Bob Woods went on an eight point run and the Panther fans began to go wild smelling a sectional title. But as it had been scripted all night, Seymour had one last run in them. The Owls clawed back and in the final minute trailed by only one 88-87, following a FG by Scott Silver.
This was going to be Jennings County's night to celebrate. As Seymour was forced to foul, Jennings County converted on 3 of 4 free throws in the final moments to ice the game. After the Panthers Mark Gibson drained his 2nd point of the night to give JC a 91-88 lead, Seymour could not get a shot to fall until the final seconds. Jennings County had their 1st ever Sectional title, 91-90. Seymour's 36th title would have to wait..until next year.
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