MARK MORROW Monte Towe Small, But Mighty Big In Heart....Ability WHO'S THE smallest player ever to be named to the Indiana All-Star basketball team? Would you believe 5-7 Monte Towe of Oak Hill High School? The clever, quick-handed package of dynamite could very well have the distinction of being just that. Bob Williams (Indianapolis Star), better known as Shootin' the Stars, says Monte Towe may be the smallest member of the Ail-Star team since the Star started its Blind Fund benefit in 1939. Monte Towe is Oak Hill's first-ever representative on the All-Star team . . . and despite the fact he's a little man in a big man's world, don't be deceived by his size. You see, Monte's size hasn't been much of a handicap. He's been playing against much bigger guards ever since his sophomore year. Monte's been known to shoot over . . . shoot under . . . and shoot around big guards during his three years of varsity competition. And on occasion, he's been known to hit the hoop while falling backwards out of bounds. Monte was Galen Smith's gutty floor general at Oak Hill -- the little fireball who guided the Golden Eagles to the semi-state this past season -- and Allstar coach Angus Nicoson figures Towe will give the Indiana team the leadership it needs. Monte was also Jim law's field general in football where he guided the Eagle gridders to two straight unbeaten seasons and back-to-back Mid-Indiana Conference championships. TOWE DEVELOPED his leadership ability while quarterbacking the football team . . . and the 10-letter winner (named all-conference twice in three sports) has the same leadership quality in basketball. When Monte wasn't throwing a football or dribbling a basketball, he was getting a little extra exercise on the golf course. And, incidentally, Monte drove, chipped and putted his way to two successive all-conference berths. In basketball, Monte set an Oak Hill school record for one year with 617 points He averaged 22.9 per game. His career high is 1,107 . . . and he owns the Markm Sectional scoring record with 96 points in three games. He also scored 25 points in a losing cause against Elkhart in the first game of the Fort Wayne Semi-State. Monte passed for 13 touchdowns this past season . . . and be carried the pigskin for 11 TDs himself. So, as you can see, little Monte Towe may be small in stature -- but when it comes to heart and ability . . . he's a mighty big man. And don.t be surprised if he plays a big . . . a mighty big, role in any success the Indiana All-Stars might have. TOWE. who's headed for North Carolina State on a full ride, has been devoting just about all of his time to basketball. He's just itchin' to climb into that all-star jersey. He'll get the opportunity on June 19 when Indiana renews its heated series with Kentucky at Hinkle Field house. The return game is set for Freedom Hall in Louisville, Ky., the following Saturday (June 26). Indiana owns a 28-17 advantage in overall series . . . and the Hoosiers have strung four victories. Nicoson,one of the nation's lOwirmin- gest coaches, will pull the strings for his 17th Ail-Star team. He has guided the stars to an 18-11 record. The Hoosiers should have a little extra incentive this year . . . especially when you take into consideration Nick's final year to direct the all-stars. Nick would like to won a six-game winning string against Kentucky he steps out of the all-star picture. Indiana fans, loo, would be tickled pink. Nicoson has (he horses to help leave as a winner. Towe, along with "Mr. Basketball" Mike Flynn of Jeffersonville (6-3), Baron Hill of Seymour (5-11), Sieve Phillips of Plymouth (5-11), Jerry Nichols of Greenwood (5-6) and Steve Green of Silver Creek (6-5), will give Nick a punch in backcourt. And he has enough size up front give Kentucky nothing but fits. John Garrett (6-11) of Peru figures help pull the victory wagon, as does Pete Trgovich (6-0) and Ulysses Bridgeman (6-5) ol State Champion East Chicago Washington, and 6-9 Kessem Grimes of Gary West, G-6'A Bill McGinley of Columbus and 6-6 Kent Allison of South Bend LaSalle. Would you believe the 1971 Indiana contingent has power to spare? The Hoosier Stars figure to be powerful every phase of the game. KENTUCKY'S ALL-STAR products have been strong down through the years . . . and the Bluegrass could have one of Kentucky's finest ever this year. The Kentucky team is built around eight Louisville blue chippers, and Huter, who guided Louisville Male second straight state title this past season, will direct the Kenluckians. Four of Huter's players (6-9 Lawrence Haralson, 6-4'^ Henry Huskey, 510 William Gordon and 6-1 alternate Robert Shakdford) played on the Louisville Male team and helped compile gaudy 63-4 win loss record during past two seasons. Kentucky's No. 1 player, Jimmie Conner of Anderson County, is a powerful GA guard, as is 6-2V4 Pat Tallent Maytown. Tallent leads the team scoring statistics with 36.0 points game average. Other Kentucky performers will 67 G. L. Smith of Laurel County, Randy waddell of Pleasure Ridge, 6-3 Fleming of Shawnee, 6-5 Joe Johnson Todd County, 6-5 John Luster of Louisville Central and 6-6 alternate Robert Iledmon of Louisville Valley. The Kentucky contingent is a However, it can't compare with Indiana's size. And the Hoosier size prevail in the end.
