North Union’s Connor Terrill (0) hits a jumper in this file photo. The Wildcats will play Fairbanks Saturday afternoon at the “Hoosiers” gym in Indiana. (Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)
Wyatte Miller (right) of Fairbanks passes the ball against an opponent. The Panthers will travel to Indiana on Saturday to face county-rival North Union in the “Hoosiers” gym. (Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)
In a little more than 24 hours, the boys basketball teams from Fairbanks and North Union are going to experience something pretty special.
The Panthers and Wildcats will be making the two-plus hour trip to play each other in Indiana.
Some folks may ask, why in the world would two schools, separated by just about 20 miles of Union County land, travel all that way to play each other?
It’s because they will be playing in an iconic setting.
Fairbanks and North Union will travel to Knightstown, Ind., where they will go up against each other in the gymnasium that was made famous by the late 1980s film “Hoosiers.”
The movie starred legendary actor Gene Hackman, who never made a bad flick in my opinion, as disgraced former college basketball coach Norman Dale.
The coach redeems himself by leading the 1950s era Hickory High School to a state championship.
The movie’s basketball scenes were filmed in the gymnasium in which the Panthers and Wildcats will play each other on Saturday.
Fairbanks and North Union have been playing each other in a home-and-home series each season for the past few years.
The 2019-20 season was Fairbanks’ turn to host the game, but North Union reached out to FHS to see if they wanted to play this year’s game in a special venue.
The Panthers agreed and the game is set for Saturday.
Junior varsity action will begin at 2 p.m., with the varsity game to follow at approximately 3:30 p.m.
Although the game will run up against Ohio State’s football contest against Clemson in the College Football Playoff semifinals, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for both Panther and Wildcat Nations.
“Hoosiers” has been labeled as one of the best sports movies of all time.
This opportunity is something about which today’s Panthers and Wildcats will be able to some day tell their children and grandchildren.
The weather sounds very promising for the trip, especially for date December.
Let’s hope there is good representation from both the northern and southern portions of Union County to support the players in this venture.