Warsaw Basketball Makes It Nationally

Warsaw boys basketball coach Al Rhodes and Plymouth boys basketball coach Jack Edison can't recall it ever happening.

The closest thing Dave Fulkerson can compare to it in his 18 years as Warsaw athletic director was a documentary done on drug-testing at Warsaw that aired on PBS.

The Warsaw and Plymouth boys basketball programs have made the big-time. Friday's game between the two schools will be part of a documentary film made by New Urban Entertainment, based in Marina Del Rey, Calif. The film will be released nationally and possibly internationally.

Two months ago the Warsaw and Plymouth athletic departments were contacted about making the game part of the film.

The title is not known by those involved, and exactly what the film's premise is about depends on who you talk to.

"They're doing something on Scott Skiles and Allen Iverson, comparing a kid raised in the city and another in a more rural area," Plymouth coach Jack Edison said. "They will involve this game as background."

Scott Skiles played high school basketball for Plymouth, which won the state title in 1982. He went on to play in the NBA and currently is the head coach for the NBA's Phoenix Suns.

Iverson grew up in the inner city, went to Georgetown and plays for the NBA's Philadelphia 76ers.

"The Warsaw/Plymouth rivalry was chosen to represent high school basketball in their film," Rhodes said. "From what I understand, there's stuff about high school basketball, college basketball and pro basketball in this.

"It has a little to do with Skiles, who played for Plymouth, and Rick Fox, who played here, and their NBA connection."

Fox played for Warsaw, then North Carolina and is now in the NBA with the Los Angeles Lakers.

"It's about basketball in the United States," Fulkerson said. "Michael Jordan's in it, and so is Rick Fox and Scott Skiles. Plymouth's athletic director (Bill Nixon) recommended if they wanted to film a high school game, film the Warsaw game, because of the rivalry between the two schools."

The producers of the film aren't talking about the film and shied away from any attention, refusing to parcel out any morsels on the subject.

"We don't want any publicity," executive director of New Urban Entertainment Tom Adelman said when contacted this week. "If you alert everybody, it becomes less of a documentary and more of a scene."

The film crews were to arrive in Plymouth this week and then in Warsaw either tonight or Friday morning. Once in town, the crews will film at locations around town, including at a barbershop when Mayor Ernie Wiggins gets his hair trimmed. At the game, they will film the pre-game shootaround and interview players, coaches and cheerleaders during the junior varsity game. Then they will film the game.

All those involved seem happy to be involved in the film.

"It's a great opportunity for our community," Fulkerson said. "It gives our community a lot of exposure."

Said Edison: "It's a great honor for Scott. I don't know how much of an honor it is for us. He's earned it all. We're along for the ride."

How much of the Warsaw/Plymouth angle will remain in the film remains to be seen.

"They will film in Warsaw all day and use whatever fits their story," Rhodes said.