It was gyms like this one, the Cabby O’Neill, which made Indiana high school basketball so special. “You put 300 people in here and it feels like 1,000,” Begle said.

These former high school gyms in towns that no longer had schools, or maybe just elementary schools. Some of the gyms had new lives as community centers or businesses. One was part of a fire station.

By the time Ralph Taylor entered high school as a freshman at Indianapolis Washington in the fall of 1961, momentum was building for the Continentals’ basketball program. Washington finished 21 ...

But it’s not forgotten. Call Star reporter Kyle Neddenriep at (317) 444-6649. Get IndyStar’s high school coverage sent directly to your inbox with the High School Sports newsletter.