Film Depicts Illinois Basketball in the 1930’s [Video]

It's a fascinating bit of history and it's how Illinois basketball once played and it was recorded on film.

The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) reports that they have uncovered some of the earliest high school basketball film footage around.

Rockford basketball is featured in this rare 1930's footage.

The black and white footage shows the IHSA state basketball finals from 1932 to 1936.

It's interesting to note that during this time period some notable things were much different then than they are today:

• High school basketball players in Illinois did not have numbers on their jerseys.
• There was no center line
• Game rules required a jump ball each time a team scored

You can see in the footage many players frequently making near half-court shots.

Sixteen games are featured (in this order)

1932
Morton of Cicero vs. Canton (championship)

1933
Springfield vs. Hutsonville (quarterfinal)
Gillespie vs. Lake View (quarterfinal)
Benton vs. Canton (quarterfinal)
Thornton vs. Springfield (championship)

1934
Thornton vs. Equality (semifinal)
Quincy vs. Thornton (championship)

1935
Moline vs. Joliet (round of 16)
Quincy vs. Rockford (round of 16)
Springfield vs. Mt. Carmel (round of 16)
Champaign vs. Deerfield-Shields (round of 16)
Thornton vs. Marion (round of 16)
Springfield vs. Moline (semifinal)
Thornton vs. Pekin (semifinal)

1936
Danville vs. Mt. Pulaski (semifinal)
Decatur vs. Johnston City (semifinal)

Maxpreps reports that  IHSA historian Scott Johnson discovered the footage in the personal collection of a former IHSA administrator, H.V. Porter. He died in 1975.