George McGinnis led the greatest high school basketball team Indiana has ever seen

This story about George McGinnis and the 1969 Washington High School Continentals was originally published in 2009. McGinnis died Thursday, Dec. 14, 2023.

There came a time in his life, when he was playing for a paycheck, that basketball wasn't so much fun for George McGinnis. But that would come later, much later.

In 1969, it was simple. McGinnis played for Washington High School, the high-flying, 100-point-scoring, hamburger-scarfing crew that captured the imagination of Indianapolis with every fast break.

"Sheer talent," McGinnis said. "That's what I remember the most. We played with such force."

They were indeed supremely talented. At 6-8, McGinnis had the body of Adonis and could run the floor like a gazelle. His senior running mate, 6-9 Steve Downing, would have been an Indiana Mr. Basketball front-runner almost any other year. Future ABA player Wayne Pack ran the point. Jim Arnold, a 6-3 offensive whiz, would have been a No. 1 option for most teams. Louis Day was a lockdown defender, and Kenny Carter and Kenny Parks added depth up front.

Then there was a 34-year-old coach named Bill Green, who would finish his career with a record six Indiana championships.

It has been 40 years since that team became the state's third unbeaten titlist, and it will be feted tonight when the reborn Washington and Attucks high schools face off at Conseco Fieldhouse.

Though some of the details have become fuzzy, the legacy of the '69 Continentals stands like a monument. In fact, perhaps the greatest testament to their story is that it needs no embellishment.

They were that good — maybe the best team Indiana high school basketball has seen.

'Rookie' coach

When practice started in October 1968, Green figured he had to prove himself to Washington's players, not the other way around. Former coach Jerry Oliver left to be an assistant for Indiana University after the previous season, ending an eight-year run that included a Billy Keller-led state title in 1965.

Green, an assistant under Oliver and a former head coach at Sacred Heart and Cathedral, was named coach. The year before, Washington had gone 24-3 but lost in the regional to city rival Shortridge.

Green felt the pressure to take this team further.

"The papers were calling me the rookie coach," said Green, now 74 and living in Sebring, Fla. "But then to see them practice . . . our practices were so fantastic, I had tears in my eyes."

The games were even better. Though the city featured other strong teams in Shortridge, Attucks, Howe, Marshall and Tech, the Continentals were rarely pushed in the regular season, topping 100 points seven times and 90 or more 19 times. Their average margin of victory was an astonishing 31.8 points.

"What made (Green) so successful over the years was that he made it simple," said Pack, who went on to play at Tennessee Tech and briefly for the ABA's Indiana Pacers. "Coach Green just let us play basketball. We weren't what you'd call a 'run-and-gun' team, but we certainly got up and down the court. We averaged 92 points with no 3-point line and no shot clock."

As wins mounted, so did trips to White Castle. Every Saturday night, it was where the team replayed its weekend victories, though McGinnis and Downing did more eating than talking.

"We were poor kids from the inner city," Downing said with a laugh. "That was all we knew. That's what we looked forward to."

Shortridge, the hurdle

Washington rode top-ranked into the tournament, and in the regional semifinal faced a familiar foe: Shortridge. The Blue Devils slowed the game, a tactic that had worked the previous season, but this time Washington prevailed 46-38. Its rival dispatched, the Continentals scored wins by 46, 21 and 31 points to advance to the State Finals.

Then the drama began.

The teams that arrived at Hinkle Fieldhouse on March 22, 1969, made up arguably the most accomplished State Finals in tournament history. Washington, Marion, Gary Tolleston and Vincennes Lincoln had one loss between them, by Tolleston. One.

If Green had felt pressure early in the season, it was about tenfold that morning against Marion. Trailing by 10 in the fourth quarter, he was "sweating blood."

"I figured that would be the end of my coaching career," the coach said.

Pack and Arnold came to the rescue. With Marion focused on stopping McGinnis and Downing, Pack hit three jumpers and Arnold two to draw the Continentals closer.

Washington still trailed 60-59 in the final minute. Green called a play in which one of his big men would come across the lane and screen for the other. It turned out to be Downing, who made a 12-footer with 24 seconds left.

"It could have been either of us," said Downing, who played at Indiana with McGinnis. "I saw George had good position for a rebound, so I took it."

Downing then blocked a shot on the other end, and McGinnis rebounded and fell to the floor in celebration, engulfed by teammates and fans. On to the final.

Indiana high school basketball champions

It was a blowout early, but Tolleston fought back. Behind a combined 55 points from McGinnis (35) and Downing (20), Washington hung on for a 79-76 win, and their place in Indiana basketball history was secure. McGinnis, who averaged 32.7 points on the season, averaged 37 in the two semistate and two State Finals games.

"To me, that team and Attucks (in '56) had to be the two best teams," said Green, whose other five state titles came with Marion. "You can't say you're the best if you don't win it."

After the game, Green told the team he was taking them to King Cole Restaurant, an upscale eatery Downtown, before heading to the school for the championship bonfire. After a few silent moments, Arnold spoke up for the rest of the team.

"Coach, we want to go to White Castle," he said.

And that's where the great 1969 Washington Continentals celebrated, deep into the night.

Call Star reporter Kyle Neddenriep at (317) 444-6649.