By B. Scott Mohr
Associate editor

Southport’s 1989-90 basketball team, which made an unlikely run to the final four by defeating some powerhouses in regional and semistate action, was honored Friday during halftime of the Cardinals’ game against Terre Haute South.
After winning the sectional title 25 years ago, coach Bill Springer – now a Hall of Famer –  guided his Cardinals to a 72-51 win over Franklin Central in a regional semifinal and then upset defending state champion Lawrence North 57-51 for the regional title. The Wildcats featured 7-0 Eric Montross, who went on to win an NCAA title with the University of North Carolina and was a top 10 pick in the NBA draft, playing for Boston and five other teams before retiring in 2001. 

Southport continued its winning ways and won a semistate title by defeating New Castle.
But that magical season – forever entwined into the fabric of Southport lore – came to a close when Springer and company encountered eventual state champion Bedford North Lawrence, which was led by Mr. Basketball USA Damon Bailey. Southport lost by three points in front of a record crowd of more than 40,000 fans at the Hoosier Dome. “That’s a national record (for a high school game) that will probably never be broken,” Springer said.

“We had a few hiccups during the season, but our team really hit their stride as we entered the tournament,” said the coach, who retired in 1997 with a 178-40 record at the school (539 career wins). We had a squeaker in the final of the regional, but w e were able to pull off the victory.  

“We were very excited about representing Southport in the state finals. We led Bedford most of the way. Our team was not overly intimidated by Damon Bailey. As a matter of fact, they really looked forward to playing against him. We will probably never get over the heart-breaking defeat as we were confident that we could win state.” 

Chris Robinson, who played on that magical team, returned to his alma mater for Friday’s ceremony. “It was great being honored,” he said. “Thank you, Southport Cardinals, for an awesome ceremony. It was pretty cool how they introduced us players using the video from the 1990 game broadcast. 

“It did bring back good memories. I was talking to (former football coach – a Hall of Famer – and athletic director) Chuck Robbins, and he reminded me of a classic. I had forgotten about the ‘sweep ceremony.’ When we returned to the fieldhouse after losing in the state semifinals, Chuck came out on the floor with a broom and displayed how we had swept through the tournament.

“The entire Southport community was there. I can’t describe what that felt like. Their support throughout the season was a huge factor in our success. The elementary kids sent us good-luck notes and bags full of goodies,” said Robinson, who’s pretty sure that Benjamin Danner, now a junior varsity coach for the team, was one of the kids who made the bags. “I would like to see the same thing happen to the current team.”
And it may. Southport is 18-2 and ranked fourth in the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association’s poll state. The Cards’ anticipated game against No. 1. Evansville Reitz (21-0) was canceled Saturday because of snow. 

By Al Stilley
Southsider Voice Correspondent

Will I-69 go through Perry Township?
The most immediate answer may come from the General Assembly, where a House committee recently sent Rep. John Price’s bill to override a 2006 law that bans I-69 from going through Perry Township. Rep. Mike Speedy of the Southside voted against the measure. 

Strong opposition exists in the Senate as influential Sens. Patricia Miller and Brent Waltz from the Southside oppose lifting the ban.

The final answer may not come for two or three more years, according to a timetable outlined Monday by Indiana Department of Transportation officials during a hearing at Center Grove High School. An environmental impact study on the final phase of I-69 may not be completed until early 2018.

INDOT officials say they are studying options, but it was also stated Monday that “the original corridor will be considered throughout.” All plans for I-69 Section 6 (www.i69indyevn.org) show no alternatives to the path from Martinsville to I-465 along State Road 37.
That’s why Perry Township business owner Ronald Belcher stated, “There was a bill introduced and passed (2006) that it would not go through Perry Township and (plans) show after 10 years that it still goes through Perry Township. We didn’t want it then, and we don’t want it now.”

Construction of the 142-mile project is several miles south of Martinsville. Section 4 between Crane and Bloomington is expected to open by year’s end.
INDOT spokesman Will Wingfield told The Southsider Voice, “There were a number of alternatives studied in the original Tier 1 environmental (study) that was concluded in 2004. You mentioned the legislation that was passed in 2006; that enabled us to really build this project. We’ve been working our way from south (Evansville) to north.”

Seventeen adults made statements to INDOT and federal highway reps; some spoke against I-69 in Perry Township, but others favored the route because it would alleviate traffic congestion on Ind. 67. An estimated 200 adults attended the open house and public hearing Monday.
Perry Township business owner Randy Shields expressed his opposition to I-69 to The Southsider Voice by mentioning the $20 million price tag spent on Section 6 would have helped fund a potential second outer loop around the metropolitan area.

Southsider Cathy Weinmann criticized the route through Perry Township because it would bring more pollution to the Southside that is already plagued by pollution from IPL and the White River sewage plant.
“This project would bring more noxious diesel exhaust and noise pollution,” Weinmann said. “We object to being dumped on again.”

Several spoke in favor of I-69 and its proposed Ind. 37 alignment, but some sought refinements.
Johnson County business owner David Bleke sought an interchange at Stones Crossing Road to benefit Center Grove schools in the area as well as existing plans for interchanges at Ind. 144, Smith Valley Road and Johnson-Marion County Line Road.

Others brought up questions about the impact of traffic on Bluff Road and upon wildlife along nearby White River, funding the project and how to improve the existing Ind. 37/I-465 interchange.
Johnson County and Greenwood elected officials, the Greater Greenwood Chamber of Commerce and the Indiana Chamber of Commerce favor I-69 as planned. 

INDOT officials admitted that the Ind. 37 corridor in Perry Township has changed in a decade with more businesses and residences.
“One of the major goals is to finish what we have started,” INDOT Section 6 project manager Kevin Hetrick said. “We want to look at what has changed in the past 11 years.”
 A second public Section 6 meeting is Wednesday (Feb. 25) at 6:30 p.m. at Martinsville High School.
For more information about I-69, visit www.i69indyevn.org.