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Andy Amey: Ageless Larry Stuckey was always a calming influence

andy amey, the tribune-star, terre haute, ind.
·5 min read

Dec. 7—There's a problem with growing old.

There may be more than one, in fact, and if I ever attain that status I may report on those as well.

But a difficulty of being the — shall we say most experienced? — member of the Tribune-Star sports staff is paying tribute to notable people from the Wabash Valley sports world that have passed away. Not difficult to write as much as difficult to accept.

Writing about Larry Stuckey is no different.

I'd been concerned about him lately because, for the first time in the many, many years I knew him, he was starting to show some age. Even so, I was surprised to read the obituary and learn that number, because he never showed any age at all, physically or mentally. The guy who helped coach Cara at Terre Haute South 25 years ago was exactly the same guy who helped coach the tennis team a few years later and the same guy who did so many other things at South.

His passing leaves Kristen Clary as the only member of the two-ring club because he was an assistant coach — and Kristen a player — on the only two state championship teams the Braves have had.

Don't think that's a coincidence.

In the tension and pressure of postseason competition, every team needs a calming influence, a person who has every player's back. He was that guy, and one of the best at it.

And every player on those teams can probably recall a Stuckey joke or two.

So as we continue with advice for what high school basketball to watch this weekend, remember — as he taught me — how you can tell a random cell phone belongs to a referee.

By the number of missed calls, of course.

I I I

It's a busy, busy weekend again for high school basketball and the schedule (as accurate as can be determined) is below. Because there are so many games, here's what I believe are the top 10.

10. Terre Haute North girls at North Knox (Saturday) — The Patriots have a revenge motive from summer ball.

9. Fountain Central at Riverton Parke — Panthers get another look at a Wabash River Conference contender.

8. Parke Heritage at Park Tudor — Huge from a Class 2A ranking standpoint.

7. North Putnam at Sullivan — If the Golden Arrows plan to win the Western Indiana Conference, they can't overlook the Cougars.

6. North Daviess at North Central — Both teams want to be contenders in the killer SouthWestern Indiana Athletic Conference.

5. Marshall at Paris — A Little Illini Conference rivalry game between two teams that need wins.

4. Casey at Robinson — The Warriors want to contend for the LIC championship, but the Maroons won't remain winless forever.

3. Terre Haute North at Indianapolis North Central — The Patriots' 39-points-per-game defensive average gets its biggest test so far. But one of these days North's shots will fall.

2. Avon at Terre Haute South — The Braves' win at Mooresville last week had some promising signs for the future. This game should test those hopes.

And the Game of the Week:

1. Bloomfield at Clay City — Either of these teams would be a worthy SWIAC champion. Starting out 0-2 will probably eliminate one of them from consideration.

Friday boys

Traders Point (1-1) at North Vermillion (1-3), 7 p.m.

Avon (2-1) at Terre Haute South (3-0), 7:30 p.m.

Northview (0-2, 0-1) at West Vigo (2-2, 1-1), 7:30 p.m.

Bloomfield (2-1, 0-1) at Clay City (3-1, 0-1), 7:30 p.m.

North Daviess (3-1, 0-0) at North Central (2-1, 1-0), 7:30 p.m.

Parke Heritage (3-1) at Park Tudor (1-1), 7:30 p.m.

Fountain Central (1-1, 0-0) at Riverton Parke (2-2, 0-0), 7:30 p.m.

North Knox (1-2) at Shakamak (2-1), 7:30 p.m.

Edgewood (1-3) at South Vermillion (2-1), 7:30 p.m.

North Putnam (2-0, 1-0) at Sullivan (3-1, 1-0), 7:30 p.m.

Mitchell (3-1) at Linton (1-0), 7:30 p.m.

Terre Haute North (2-1) at Indianapolis North Central (2-1), 8 p.m.

Marshall (2-4, 0-1) at Paris (1-6, 0-1), 8:30 p.m., 7:30 CST

Casey (4-1, 0-0) at Robinson (0-6, 0-1), 8:30 p.m., 7:30 CST

Cairo at Martinsville, 8:30 p.m., 7:30 CST

Friday girls

Northview (7-2, 1-1) at West Vigo (1-8, 0-3), 6 p.m.

North Putnam (5-6, 1-2) at Sullivan (7-2, 3-0), 6 p.m.

Cairo at Martinsville, 7 p.m., 6 p.m. CST

Saturday boys

Paris at ALAH, 2 p.m., 1 CST

North Vermillion at Dugger Union (0-5), 3:30 p.m.

Washington Catholic (2-4 or 1-5) at Shakamak, 6:30 p.m.

Notre Dame De La Salette at OPH (4-2 or 3-3), 6:30 p.m., 5:30 CST

Monrovia (3-1 or 2-2) at Clay City, 7:30 p.m.

Parke Heritage at North Putnam, 7:30 p.m.

Linton at Wayne City (Ill.) Tournament

Saturday girls

Terre Haute North (2-9) at North Knox (9-1), 12:30 p.m.

North Vermillion (4-4 or 3-5) at Dugger Union (0-5), 2 p.m.

Parke Heritage (8-3 or 7-4) at North Putnam, 6 p.m.

Sullivan at Brown County (4-3, 2-0), 7:30 p.m.

Andy Amey can be reached after 4 p.m. at 812-231-4276 or 812-231-4277; by email at andy.amey@tribstar.com; or by mail at P.O. Box 149, Terre Haute, IN, 47808. Follow TribStarAndy on the X.