Basketball in Pea Ridge for nearly a century

“We don’t know exactly when Pea Ridgers started playing basketball, but it seems certain that it was soon after Pea Ridge High School was formed in the old Pea Ridge College building in 1916 that basketball came to be a game played by the students,” according to Jerry Nichols, local historian.

The first basketball court was begun by Charlie Tetrick and had concrete walls and an oak board floor. The backboards were fastened to the concrete walls. That structure was never finished, according to Nichols.

After construction of the new red brick school building in 1930, Nichols said many Pea Ridge folk wanted a “real gym.” Using volunteer labor, gathering funds and materials as they were able, area residents finished the new gym in 1936, Nichols said. That gym was demolished.

Another “new” gym was constructed in 1974. That gym still stands and is used as the Intermediate School Gym.

In September 1968, several photographs were published in the Pea Ridge Graphic (forerunner of the Pea Ridge TIMES) of former Pea Ridge basketball teams. The photographs were sent to the Graphic by Ernestine R. Berry and her brother, Jack Ricketts of Kansas City. They identified the team of 1921, 1922, 1923 and 1924 as being comprised of John Walker, Ross Ricketts, Ray Walker, Wilbur Lee and Walter Jefferson.

The team of 1924, 1925 and 1926 included Thomas R. Ivy, coach, Homer Patterson, Theron “Tip” Woods, Glenn Walker, Jack Ricketts, Elmer Terrick and Calvin Putman. Mr. Ivy was principal in 1924.

Many artifacts, photographs and articles are available to view in the Pea Ridge Museum and the Pea Ridge School Heritage building.

With the completion of the new gymnasium/arena, the former high school gym will become the junior high school gym.

TIMES file photographs PRHS basketball champions of 1926: from left, Calvin Putman, Floyd Walker, Homer Patterson, Glenn Walker, Jack Rickets, Theron Woods and Roscoe Schell. This outstanding team was known as “The Ants.” The wall behind the athletes was one of the walls of the open air gym, credited to Charlie Tetrick. The roofless structure had concrete walls and an oak board floor. Backboards were fastened to the concrete walls. The court stood on the southeast corner of the campus, just east of the current driveway into the Intermediate School.

Photographs courtesy of Pea Ridge Historical Society PRHS Basketball team of 1926 Bottom row: Roscoe Schell, Glen Walker, C.D. Ivy (coach), Floyd Walker and Theron Woods. Top row: Homer Patterson (captain), Jack Ricketts and Calvin Putman. This team won the Benton County Tournament Championship in 1926.

Photograph courtesy of Pea Ridge Historical Society PRHS Basketball District Champions 1934: front from left, John Black and Lynn Ricketts; back, from left: Klyce Walker, Russell Walker, Hugh Patterson, Nelson Hardy, Pryor Armstrong, Joe Price and Coach L.L. Horn. Won 10 trophies in a four-year period (nine trophies and a $20 bill).