Ripley County Basketball Hall of Fame introduces Class of 2005 which will be honored at Ripley County Tournament

Josh Barnett - Sports Editor

The 2005 inductees to the Ripley County Basketball Hall of Fame will be introduced between the consolation and championship games of the Ripley County Basketball Tournament to be held at Batesville High School on Saturday, January 8. Listed below are the individuals selected by the Hall of Fame Board of Directors as the class of 2005.

Charles Baylor Jr.- Milan (1936) Player

Baylor was a 4-year varsity player for the Milan Indians, serving as team captain in 1936. He was a member of the 1935 and 1936 sectional championship teams. He was selected to the All-County and All-Sectional Teams in '35 and '36.

After graduating from Milan he officiated basketball for many years.

Ronald Corfman- Ripley Publishing Company- Media

Corfman served as Sports Editor for Ripley Publishing Company for 21 years. During that same time period he was Media Coordinator for the Ripley County Basketball Tournament.

Among the many awards he received were the Distinguished Service Award from the IHSAA and the Sports Coverage Award from the Hoosier State Press Association. Corfman was also credited with initiating the Girls' Basketball Excellence Award, which annually recognizes the outstanding senior basketball player in Ripley County. Corfman presently serves as a member of the Board of Directors of the Ripley County Basketball Hall of Fame.

James Gabbard- Versailles (1954) Player

Gabbard was a 3-year varsity player for the Versailles Lions. He had a career total for 848 point for an average of 13.6 points per game. He averaged 17.6 points per game during his senior season to lead the Lions in scoring. In addition to scoring, Jim was an excellent rebounder. He was selected to the All-County Team two years and the All-Sectional Team two years.

Kimberly Hermesch-

Jac-Cen-Del (1978) Player

Hermersch was a 3-year varsity player for the Jac-Cen-Del Eagles. She had career averages of 13.8 points per game and 9.8 rebounds per game. She was selected to the All-Sectional Team (3 years), and a member of the All-State Team in her senior year. Hermersch was selected MVP of the Ripley county 40&8 All-Star game in 1978.

She attend Marian College on a basketball scholarship where she averaged 15.9 points and 11 rebounds over a 3-year career.

Dale McNeely- New Marion (1956-1961) Coach

McNeely coached new Marion's first and only Ripley County Tournament and Sectional Championship team in '61. His 1961 team set a national scoring record of 154 points in a single game. One of his players on the '61 team, Gene Demaree, was selected to the Indiana All-Star Team, which played against the Kentucky All-Stars.

McNeely was also selected as Tri-County Conference Basketball Coach of the Year in '61.

James Meyer- Cross Plains (1961) Coach

Meyer was the third leading scorer in Cross Plains history. He averaged 25 points per game during his senior year. He recorded a single game high of 58 points in a 90-40 victory over Dupont in 1961. The 58 point game still stands as the highest single game point total by an individual in Ripley County history.

Meyer was selected to the Tri-County All-Conference Team in 1960 and '61. He participated in the 40&8 All-Star Game in 1961.

Maurice Meyer- Jac-Cen-Del (1981-1994) Coach

Meyer is the winningest coach in Jac-Cen-Del's storied girls' basketball history. During his 13-year varsity coaching career at Jac-Cen-Del his team won 146 games. During that time frame the Lady Eagles won a Ripley County Tournament Championship (1991), three sectional Championships ('82, '86 & '91) and a Regional Championship ('82).

In addition his teams won the Ohio River Valley Conference Title five times. Meyer was selected ORVC's Coach of the Year in girls' basketball four times. His 80-81 team was at one point ranked 3rd in the state of Indiana and his 81-82 tea reached the "Sweet Sixteen" in the Indiana State Tournament.

Ronald Raver- Batesville (1958) Coach/Media

Raver was a 1958 graduate of Batesville High School. During a 20 year coaching career in basketball, which included stints at Williamsburg, Whitewater and Batesville, he compiled a non-varsity record of 253-73 and varsity record of 46-19. The three varsity seasons were at Batesville and included two Ripley County Tournament Championships.

Raver covered boys' basketball as a sports writer for the Herald Tribune for five years. He has served as a broadcaster for WRBI Radio for over 20 years. Among his many recognitions, Ron has received the tom Carnegie Award (1988), Virgil Sweet Service Award (1998) and a 20 Year Coaching Award from the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association.

Raver currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors of the Ripley County Basketball Hall of Fame.

Robert Schroeder-

Batesville (1966) Player

Schroeder was a three year varsity player for the Batesville Bulldogs. He was a member of the 1966 Ripley county Bulldogs. He was also a member of the 1966 Ripley County Tournament Championship Team. He averaged 23 points and 13 rebounds per game during his senior season. He was selected to numerous All-Conference, All-County and All-Sectional Teams during his career at Batesville. Schroeder participated in the Ripley County 40&8 All-Star game in '66.

He attended Butler University where he was a three-year letter winner in both Basketball and Baseball. Bob served as an Assistant Basketball Coach at Butler from 1970 through 1972.

Kenneth Selke- Sunman (1966) Player

Selke was a four-year player for the Sunman Tigers. He played on the 1966 Sectional Championship team. At 6'9", Ken was an outstanding scorer and rebounder for the Tigers. He was selected MVP of the Ripley County 40&8 All-Star game in 1966.

After graduation he attended Jacksonville University on a basketball scholarship. He played on the Jacksonville team that reached the NCAA finals in 1970, where they were defeated by UCLA.
Virgil Stegner- Holton

(19 years) Coach

Stegner's 41 year career in education began prior to 1900. A list of his teaching positions reaches into a great number of cities, towns and hamlets in Southeastern Indian. Batesville, Versailles and Holton were among those schools. It was Holton where Virgil spent the greater part of his educational career (19 years) as a teacher, coach and principal. While at Holton in 1903, Stegner learned of a new game, the dream of a man called Naismith. He introduced the sport of basketball as outdoor recreation. This was the first time basketball was played in Ripley County. The sport went on to become an Indiana trademark.

Stegner coached the sport during his 19-year tenure at Holton. An article in the Cincinnati Post dated March 11, 1957 credits Virgil Stegner for introducing the game of basketball to Ripley County at Holton in 1903. It is only fitting that the man who introduced the game to Ripley County be a part of its legend.

Henry Voss- Milan (1960) Player

Voss was a four-year varsity player for the Milan Indians. He was 1,000 point scorer during his career. He was selected All-County (3 years), All-Conference (3 years) and All-Sectional (1 year). Hank as a member of the 1960 Ripley County Basketball Championship team. He played in the 1960 Ripley County 40&8 All-Star Basketball game. After graduation he attended Indiana Central College where he was a member of the basketball team. Voss also officiated basketball for several years in Ripley County.

Cletus Wagner- Napoleon (1948) Player

Wagner was a member of the 1947 and '48 Ripley County Tournament Championship teams and the '47 and '48 Sectional Championship teams. Napoleon was the first school in Ripley County history to win back-to-back County and Sectional Championships. Wagner was recognized for his outstanding all around play during these championship years. In addition to his scoring he was a premier defensive player and rebounder.

He was selected to the All-County Team (2 years), All-Sectional Team (2 years) and the All-Regional Team (1 year). Following the Sectional Championship game in '48 The Versailles Republican complemented the Bearcat defense led by the spirited play of Wagner, and stated that the sportswriters were amazed by his rebounding performance.

Ripley County Basketball Hall of Fame induction ceremonies for the Class of 2005 will be held at the Bullpen Reception Hall in Osgood on Saturday, April 9. Tickets for the event can be purchased from any member of the Board of Director at a cost of $20 per ticket. The evening included a meal beginning at 7:00 pm followed by the induction program starting at 8:00 pm. Tickets will go on sale after the Ripley County Basketball Tournament in completed. There will be a limited number of tickets available. They will be sold on a first come, first serve basis. Contact Ted Ahaus (689-6282) or Randy Young (689-3749) if you need information regarding where you can purchase tickets in your area.