GAME TWO:
JANUARY 23, 1971
LINDEN 73 DARLINGTON 70
For two years, Darlington had dominated Montgomery County with two undefeated regular season games under Coach Dave Nicholson. They lost several good players but still had a strong, tall, and talented team and an excellent new coach in Gene Morrison.
(Beginning of Radio commentary) If you’re listening, we’re happy to have you but you probably wish you were here. However, you might not be able to find a seat as this is a packed house in the Crawfordsville basketball arena. The arena seats 2,300 plus people, and we see people standing every place without a seat. It does not get any better than this.
The teams are gathered behind their respective coaches, and they are eager to get the game underway. Here are the starting lineups first for the Darlington Indians. At forward Gerry Hole, 6’3” and Terry Cain, 6’3”, at center Charlie Warren, 6’2” and the guards are Steve Apple, 5’11” and Jim Tribbett, at 6’0”. … Darlington is big and strong and has dominated the boards against ever team this year.
Now for the Linden Bulldogs, at forward Carl Binford a 6’0” junior and 6’2”Daryl Warren the leading scorer in the county and one of the leading scorers in the state with a 29.3 average. At center is Clay Cunningham also at 6’2 and a junior, at the guard positions are two seniors: Keith Airey, 5’9” is one of the captains and leaders of the team. The other guard is considered by many as the county’s leading defensive payers, 5’11”, Mike Klinker.
It’s interesting to see the reactions as the payers greet their opponents. You see Daryl Warren and his cousin Charlie Warren, not even look at each other. After the game, they’ll be best friends again, but at this moment, competitor ignores competitor. Keith Airey as always has a shy grin on his face as he shakes hands with Steve Apple and Jim Tribbett. The most interesting reaction is from Mike Klinker as he initially ignores Apple and Tribbett and then shakes hands with distain. This, my friends is going to be a battle that will be remembered 50 years from now (End of radio commentary).
Darlington is ahead early as they outrebounded Linden about 2 to 1 and leads at half by 9 points. However, at halftime Daryl decides he doesn’t want to end his high school basketball career getting defeated by Darlington and his cousin Charlie. Finally, Linden gets its first lead 72 to 70 late in the game.
Darlington is called for a technical foul. Now for more of the live broadcast.
(Beginning of radio commentary) Linden will have one shot and the ball out of bounds. Warren will shoot the technical and this might seal the deal. Warren shoots — and misses again. Daryl has now missed seven free throws, but still has 27 points. I guess we expect Daryl Warren to be Superman, but he’s been very human today on his free throws and believe me, he is exhausted. Daryl plays hard every second and never comes out of the game. Daryl has no clue how it feels to sit on the bench. The only person who sits less than Daryl is Coach Speaker as he has yet to find the bench this year.
That leaves the score at 72 to 70, and Darlington still can tie with a basket. Linden takes the ball out of bounds a pass from Warren to Cunningham, who quickly gets it back to Warren. Daryl is dribbling all over the court hoping to get fouled as he’s confident he won’t miss again. Warren gives the ball up to Airey who gets it back to him like a hot potato. Tribbett has no recourse but to foul Daryl There’s seven seconds left and if Warren hits one giving the Bulldogs a three-point lead, it’s all over. Daryl hits the first free throw and that’s the game except for a last second fling. It’s over and here come the Linden fans. There’s joy in Linden , but as they say in “Casey at the bat,” there’s no joy in Darlington. But how does Linden turn around and play in less than five hours as Darlington has taken them to the limit. (End of radio commentary)
Daryl Warren: The Legend of Linden is a book that was written by Tom Speaker and the third and final part of that book will be featured in an upcoming edition of Journal Review Sports.
