Wednesday, December 5, 2007 11:06 PM CST
Ankenbrand headed for hall
Long-time contributer selected for IBCA Hall of Fame
BY BRIAN NIELSEN Sports Editor
bnielsen@jg-tc.com
CHARLESTON – Pointing to his seventh-grade basketball exploits, Larry Ankenbrand joked that he should be a hall of fame basketball player.
If the now 73-year-old Charleston man was actually that good at Mount Carmel High School, he would not seriously tell you.
Chosen for indication into the Illinois Basketball Hall of Fame as a “friend of basketball,” Ankenbrand’s reaction is: “What are they, crazy? Nothing is special about me. Everyone should do what I’m doing. I’m nothing special.”
Others know better.
Whether it was helping as a ticket-taker or self-professed go-fer and being named last year’s honorary manager for the Charleston High School Holiday Basketball Tournament or working as a scorekeeper for 25 years for Eastern Illinois University games, Ankenbrand’s contributions have not gone unnoticed.
“Larry Ankenbrand is a very unselfish, high energy individual who has always been willing to help,” said Steve Simons, a former Charleston basketball coach who remains on the IBCA Hall of Fame selection committee. “Although Larry is recognized as a consistent fixture at both CHS and EIU basketball games and their hosted tournaments, he has also been very supportive of all community and university sports over the years.”
“His support of CHS and EIU Athletics is evident and has continued long after his children graduated. Dr. Ankenbrand’s nomination and selection to the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association’s Hall of Fame was easily supported by all.”
Or maybe Ankenbrand has a self-serving reason to be a scorekeeper.
“I guess the reason I’m still doing it is son I don’t get senile,” he said.
Still teaching physical education at Eastern, he admits the job at the score’s bench is not easy.
“If you want to watch the game, you better not be doing this,” Ankenbrand said.
In a college basketball scorebook not only is each basket record for an individual and added to the running score, but the time of each basket is noted. Same goes for each foul.
By the time those three spots are marked in the book during a fast-paced game, Ankenbrand could still have his head in the scorebook before seeing a long inbounds pass for a basket by the other team or maybe a steal and layup.
“That is what the assistant scorebook is for,” Ankenbrand said.
While busy at the table, Ankenbrand has had a good seat for plenty of memorable basketball at Lantz Arena.
“The best years were with (Kevin) Duckworth and Jon Collins,” he said of Eastern teams of the mid-1980s. “That’s when we had the place packed couldn’t get everybody in here.”
Favorite players?
“I liked to watch Duckworth,” Ankenbrand said. “And Kyle Hill, he was exciting. (Henry) Domercant was good, to. They all had ability.”
Contact Brian Nielsen at bnielsen@jg-tc.com or 238-6856.
Sullivan’s state champs entering Hall of Fame
TOLUCA – Sullivan’s girls’ basketball team that went undefeated on the way to the 1991 IHSA Class A state championship is entering the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
Coach Scott Thomas’ Lady Redskins are one of five teams to be added to the Hall of Fame along with 14 former boys’ basketball players, nine girls’ players, 14 friends of basketball, 10 officials, five coaches, seven in the career coaches category and seven media members.
The IBCA Hall of Fame banquet is scheduled for April 26, 2008 at the Chateau Hotel in Bloomington.
Tickets are $30. For reservations call the IBCA at 815-452-2903.
BUZZY O’CONNOR AWARD
Bill Gleason, who has worked for several Chicago area newspapers and was on the Sports Writers television show,
PLAYERS
Boys
Richard Box (Herrin, Wisconsin); Scott Burzynski (Sesser-Valier, Southern Illinois); Cory Gary Garcia (Collinsville, Kaskaskia, Southwestern Illinois, Rankin Tech); Jim Gualdoni (Herrin, Southern Illinois); Ronald Hicks (Aurroa West, Northern Illinois; Gary Hogan (Aurora East, Quincy College); Shawn Jepson (Spring Valley Hall, Illinois State); Richard Keene (Collinsville, Illinois); Jim Kopatz (Springfield Lanphier); Jack Kraemer (Quincy, Michigan, Alabama-Birmingham; Tyrone Lee (Springfield, Wabash Valley; Missouri); Brent Niebrugge (Teutopolis, Illinois Wesleyan); Chris Payne (Amboy, Elgin St. Edward, Elmhurst College); George Pomey (Prospect, Michigan)
Girls
Connie Bruns (Fremd); Mandy Cunningham (Red Hill); Danielle Green (Roosevelt, Notre Dame); Carla McGee (Peoria Manual); Gwen Muex (Decatur Lakeview, Stephen Decatur); Sarah Muzzerelli (Bartonville Limestone); Chris Pruitt (Chicago Simeon); Michelle Savage (Westchester Immaculate Heart of Mary); Fran Smith (Sterling)
FRIENDS OF BASKETBALL
Kenneth “Bud” Alberson (Kinmundy); Larry Ankenbrand (Charleston); Mike Brown (Lasalle WLPO/WAJK); Chuck Brunner (Washington); Bob Buckart (Harvard); Maury Cox (Fairbury); Lynn Laughlin (Lincoln); Clint Reed (Washington); Willis Seiverling (Payson-Seymour); Steve Shaw (Franklin Park); Bill Spenny (Canton); Russ Wittmer (Bartonville); Arnie Wobbe (Carlyle); William Yacullo (Niles)
OFFICIALS
Fred Allman (Addison); Terry Elms (Ozark); Jim Filson (Bolingbrook); Don Fodor (Carrier Mills); Kent Hammond (Springfield); Denny Held (Springfield); Dave Lanning (Glen Ellyn); Chuck McNellis (Chicago); Stan Mitchell (LaGrange); Don Rheinecker (Sparta)
COACHES
Vic Binkley (Warrensburg-Latham); Ron Kulwinski (Kelvin Grove); Mark Lindo (Aurora Central Catholic, Naperville North); Ed Sennett (Herscher, Johnsburg, Galesburg); David Urish (Springfield, Williamsville)
CAREER COACHES
Don Carlson (Henry, St. Bede, Colfax); Dale Emmerick (Wood River, Hartsford Grade School, East Alton-Wood River High School); Chuck Ingram (Vienna, Bridgeport, Harrisburg); Larry Franklin (Calhoun, Nashville, Hoyleton); Larry Jackson (Carbondale); Rich Majcin (Regina Dominican, St. Francis, Xavier Elementary); John Schmidtt (Rideway, Gallitin County)
MEDIA
Shelby Harbison (Springfield WTAX); Melissa Isaacson (Chicago Tribune); Ron Kinscherf (Quincy WTAD); Jim Mattson (Peoria WHOI); Kenny McRenyolds (Chicago WCIU-WWWME); Brian Nielsen (Charleston Times-Courier/Mattoon Journal Gazette); Anne Pennstone (IHSA Network)
TEAMS
2001 Pinckneyville boys; 2001 Schaumburg boys; 1991 Sullivan girls; 1991 Chicago Mother McCauley girls; 1992 and 93 Carthage Hancock Central girls
TOLUCA – Sullivan’s girls’ basketball team that went undefeated on the way to the 1991 IHSA Class A state championship is entering the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
Coach Scott Thomas’ Lady Redskins are one of five teams to be added to the Hall of Fame along with 14 former boys’ basketball players, nine girls’ players, 14 friends of basketball, 10 officials, five coaches, seven in the career coaches category and seven media members.
The IBCA Hall of Fame banquet is scheduled for April 26, 2008 at the Chateau Hotel in Bloomington.
Tickets are $30. For reservations call the IBCA at 815-452-2903.
BUZZY O’CONNOR AWARD
Bill Gleason, who has worked for several Chicago area newspapers and was on the Sports Writers television show,
PLAYERS
Boys
Richard Box (Herrin, Wisconsin); Scott Burzynski (Sesser-Valier, Southern Illinois); Cory Gary Garcia (Collinsville, Kaskaskia, Southwestern Illinois, Rankin Tech); Jim Gualdoni (Herrin, Southern Illinois); Ronald Hicks (Aurroa West, Northern Illinois; Gary Hogan (Aurora East, Quincy College); Shawn Jepson (Spring Valley Hall, Illinois State); Richard Keene (Collinsville, Illinois); Jim Kopatz (Springfield Lanphier); Jack Kraemer (Quincy, Michigan, Alabama-Birmingham; Tyrone Lee (Springfield, Wabash Valley; Missouri); Brent Niebrugge (Teutopolis, Illinois Wesleyan); Chris Payne (Amboy, Elgin St. Edward, Elmhurst College); George Pomey (Prospect, Michigan)
Girls
Connie Bruns (Fremd); Mandy Cunningham (Red Hill); Danielle Green (Roosevelt, Notre Dame); Carla McGee (Peoria Manual); Gwen Muex (Decatur Lakeview, Stephen Decatur); Sarah Muzzerelli (Bartonville Limestone); Chris Pruitt (Chicago Simeon); Michelle Savage (Westchester Immaculate Heart of Mary); Fran Smith (Sterling)
FRIENDS OF BASKETBALL
Kenneth “Bud” Alberson (Kinmundy); Larry Ankenbrand (Charleston); Mike Brown (Lasalle WLPO/WAJK); Chuck Brunner (Washington); Bob Buckart (Harvard); Maury Cox (Fairbury); Lynn Laughlin (Lincoln); Clint Reed (Washington); Willis Seiverling (Payson-Seymour); Steve Shaw (Franklin Park); Bill Spenny (Canton); Russ Wittmer (Bartonville); Arnie Wobbe (Carlyle); William Yacullo (Niles)
OFFICIALS
Fred Allman (Addison); Terry Elms (Ozark); Jim Filson (Bolingbrook); Don Fodor (Carrier Mills); Kent Hammond (Springfield); Denny Held (Springfield); Dave Lanning (Glen Ellyn); Chuck McNellis (Chicago); Stan Mitchell (LaGrange); Don Rheinecker (Sparta)
COACHES
Vic Binkley (Warrensburg-Latham); Ron Kulwinski (Kelvin Grove); Mark Lindo (Aurora Central Catholic, Naperville North); Ed Sennett (Herscher, Johnsburg, Galesburg); David Urish (Springfield, Williamsville)
CAREER COACHES
Don Carlson (Henry, St. Bede, Colfax); Dale Emmerick (Wood River, Hartsford Grade School, East Alton-Wood River High School); Chuck Ingram (Vienna, Bridgeport, Harrisburg); Larry Franklin (Calhoun, Nashville, Hoyleton); Larry Jackson (Carbondale); Rich Majcin (Regina Dominican, St. Francis, Xavier Elementary); John Schmidtt (Rideway, Gallitin County)
MEDIA
Shelby Harbison (Springfield WTAX); Melissa Isaacson (Chicago Tribune); Ron Kinscherf (Quincy WTAD); Jim Mattson (Peoria WHOI); Kenny McRenyolds (Chicago WCIU-WWWME); Brian Nielsen (Charleston Times-Courier/Mattoon Journal Gazette); Anne Pennstone (IHSA Network)
TEAMS
2001 Pinckneyville boys; 2001 Schaumburg boys; 1991 Sullivan girls; 1991 Chicago Mother McCauley girls; 1992 and 93 Carthage Hancock Central girls
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