Customer Review: Interesting background adds to story
When the book was published in 2002 in honor of the 50 years since Hebron won the state championship, I was familiar with the basic story: tiny Hebron the "giant killer" with its collection of farm boys and other kids, vs. the big time. A standard underdog story that Americans really love, especially when it can no longer be repeated, at least in Illinois.
The basic theme is of course true. After all, tiny Hebron did win. What the authors made clear, however, was that this was no fluke. David and Goliath, ok. Triumph of the underdog? Not really. I had not realized how solid a program Hebron had at the time nor that they were actually one of the favorites to win it all, sitting at 31-1 for the Sweet Sixteen and coming off a strong 1950-51 season. Thus, Hebron isn't exactly a "Hoosiers" equivalent, and the authors specifically compare the two stories in one section.
I appreciated the background material on the town, the families, the coaches, and the good teams of earlier years, such as when Howie Judson led them to the state tournament in 1940. Think back to the pre-WW II years when Elgin, Rockford, and other towns had only one high school, if they even existed. A certain sentimentality for the old days would only be re-enforced by a list of Coach Ahearn's "Instructions to the Basketball Team", reprinted. Who can argue with "3. If you can't be gentlemen around teachers, the school, students, and the community, do not go out for the team. We have plenty who will." With about 40 boys in the whole school? Well, maybe not, but you get the idea who was in charge and what was expected.
The authors move through the highlights and bumps of the Giants' 51-52 regular season, with the tournament starting at about the halfway point of the book. They found a good balance of sufficient detail about the games and the events, without too much play-by-play, considering we all know the outcome. The box scores in the back are a nice touch, as are copies of some press reports.
The final sections cover the newspaper stories about the win, the celebration, and the drop in Hebron's results the following years. The obligatory "where are they now" content updates the players, coaches, and other key people in the story.
No doubt this book has a small audience. I recommend it for any fan of Illinois HS basketball, especially those interested in some history. You don't have to be an old-timer, although perhaps that might help.
Customer Review: A Great Read
If you like the movie "Hoosiers," you'll love "Once there were Giants." I have seen the documentary and read the book and I am still in awe of what tiny Hebron accomplished, something that can never happen again because of division conferences nowadays. The personalities in this book are so sincere, it could only have come from the midwest.