1973 IHSAA State Championship: New Albany 84, South Bend Adams 79

New Albany High School won the sixty-third annual State Basketball Championship Tournament before a throng of 17,386 in the Indiana University Assembly Hall. A record crowd of 37,744 for both sessions broke last years two session record. The Bulldogs closed the season with a 21-7 record. In the first afternoon game the New Albany Bulldogs took an overtime thriller from the Franklin Grizzly Cubs by a score of 77-76. Franklin led at the end of the first quarter 15-14 and 36-30 at half time. However, New Albany charged back in the third quarter and took a 54-52 lead at the end of the third quarter. During the fourth quarter New Albany scored 16 points and Franklin 18 points, leaving the score tied at the end of regulation time. During the overtime New Albany outscored Franklin 7-6 and won by a score of 77-76. The second afternoon game turned out to be one of the most fantastic high scoring games ever witnessed at a state basketball tournament. South Bend Adams High School defeated Anderson High School by a score of 99-95. The 194 total points set a new scoring record for both teams. Anderson led at the first quarter 23-19. South Bend Adams led 47-44 at halftime, 69-61 at the third stop and 99-95 at the end of regulation time. Near the end of the game Anderson rallied to within one point 94-93 of South Bend Adams. The shooting of the two teams was incredible. Adams hit 41 of 81 attempts for a .556 shooting percentage. Anderson hit 42 of 81 for a .519 percentage. In the championship game New Albany, after a slow start, took command in the second quarter and was in control the rest of the way. South Bend Adams started fast and led 22-14 at the end of the first quarter. New Albany outscored Adams 22-8 in the second quarter and led 36-30 at half time. New Albany led 52-48 and 84-79 at the third quarter stop and end of the game respectively. Jimmy Webb of Adams was high for the game with 34 points. Julius Norman and Norman Mukes were high with 25 and 21 points respectively for New Albany. The Board of Control selected Garry Abplanalp of Franklin as the recipient of the coveted Arthur L. Trester Award for Mental Attitude. A total of 420 high schools participated in the state tournament program.