Jack Sunderlik’s Huff Gym Memories

Jack Sunderlik, December 2024 provided this article.

I was blessed to have played in three IHSA State Basketball Tournaments while playing for the Stephen Decatur “Runnin’ Reds.” During the 1961-62 season, we won the State Tournament. I still remember running out into the gym and seeing the fans so close to the floor and surrounding the court. They were so close that it seemed like you could shake hands with the front roll fans while not leaving the playing area. The noise generated by the fans was deafening. I still remember getting fouled in the semifinal game against Quincy late in the fourth quarter and going to the free throw line to shoot two free throws. 

As I stepped to the free-throw line, all I could see was the TV camera under the basket. Fortunately, I made both free throws.

We defeated Quincy 47-44. We ended up facing Chicago Carver and the great Cazzie Russell in the championship game. We were down 20-10 at the end of the first quarter. We took the lead after three quarters, 39-34.  Carver tied the score, and with a minute left to play, their guard threw the ball to SDHS’s Jerry Hill, and we held the ball for the final shot. The Reds Kenny Barnes was fouled with six seconds left on the clock. He made the first free throw but missed the second free throw. We win 49-48. It was utter chaos in the gym. The rest is history. We win our fourth IHSA Championship. Stephen Decatur was the last team to win the IHSA State Tournament in Huff Gym and the last team to score a point in the tournament in Huff Gym.

During the 1962-63 season, we made it to the Elite 8 before losing to Peoria Central in the Assembly Hall. We also won the third-place IHSA State Tournament in the Assembly Hall during the 1963-64 season. The vastness of the Assembly Hall is overwhelming compared to Huff Gym, but the closeness of the fans in Huff Gym was the best of the best. Read more about Huff Gym.

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