Mules state-winning basketball team headlines Hall of Fame

The Poplar Bluff Sports Hall of Fame will induct two new members and two teams as its 36th

class during a ceremony at E.T. Peters Gym on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024.

Tyler Hansbrough, Ben Hansbrough and the 2004 and 2005 PBHS Mules basketball teams

will be honored and their plaques will be added to the Hall of Fame room in the Poplar Bluff

Museum on Main Street, bringing the total number of those honored to 100 individuals and 12

teams.

“It should be a wonderful night celebrating the best Mules basketball players and teams

together,” said Brian Rosener, president of the Sports Hall of Fame.

Tyler Hansbrough was an All-American basketball player in high school and college, holding

numerous records and his No. 50 jersey retired at both levels, helping the Mules win two state

championships and the North Carolina Tar Heels to the 2009 NCAA title. After being drafted

13th overall by the Indiana Pacers, he played seven years in the NBA and three more in China.

Hansbrough has also been inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame and the Missouri

Sports Hall of Fame.

Ben Hansbrough was an All-American and Big East Player of the Year at the University of

Notre Dame after helping the Mules win two state championships and having his No. 23 jersey

retired at Poplar Bluff. A two-time all-state player in high school, he was named “Mr. Show-Me

Basketball” as a senior and finished second all-time in scoring for the Mules. He played

professionally in Europe and in the NBA Development League before signing with the Indiana

Pacers during the 2012 season.

At the time, the Hansbroughs were the fourth pair of brothers to play together on the same

NBA team.

During their three seasons together at Poplar Bluff, the Mules won 78 games, made three

appearances in the MSHSAA final four, finishing fourth in 2003 before winning consecutive

championships.

The 2004 Mules finished 25-6, beating Blue Springs 64-56 in the Class 5 championship

game at the Hearnes Center in Columbia. Varsity lettermen to be honored are Travon Battles,

Devon Brown, Rusty Bryant, Brad Chronister, James Dixon, Colbi Ellison, Emil Fernando,

Anthony Gilberto, Ben Hansbrough, Tyler Hansbrough, Clay Lawson, Allan Spencer, Todd

Tinsley, Ross Whelan, Anthony Williams and Glen Yandell.

The 2005 Mules finished 27-4, capped with a 72-56 win over Vashon in the Class 5

championship game at Mizzou Arena in Columbia in a meeting of two defending state

champions. Vashon won the Class 4 title the previous year. Varsity lettermen to be honored are

Evan Bascombe, Phillip Brown, Rusty Bryant, Brad Chronister, Emil Fernando, John Fernando,

Ben Hansbrough, Tyler Hansbrough, Skyler Holeman, Kevin Hutson, Clay Lawson, Jack March,

Allan Spencer, Ricky Taylor, Todd Tinsley and Ross Whelan.

Both teams were coached by John David Pattillo, who was inducted into the Sports Hall of

Fame in 2007.

Ben and Tyler Hansbrough will be joining their father, Gene, and uncle Sean Fister in the

Sports Hall of Fame. Gene Hansbrough, a high jumper, was inducted in 1996, while Fister, a

golfer, was honored in 2005.

Tickets for the event will go on sale at a later date.

The inductees will also be recognized during halftime of the Mules varsity football game

against West Plains on Friday, Oct. 11, at Mules Stadium.

The induction banquet will be held at Peters Gym, named for E.T. Peters who was one of the

first three members of the Sports Hall of Fame, on the court, which was named in honor of Ben

and Tyler Hansbrough. The Mules never lost a home game with either Hansbrough on the

roster.

“It’s a perfect venue to honor Poplar Bluff’s basketball history, and we’re working hard to

make it a memorable night for everyone,” said Rosener, who thanked the Poplar Bluff R-I

School District for allowing the ceremony to be held there.

Along with proceeds from the E.E. “Bus” Carr Memorial Golf Tournament, which will be held

Thursday, Oct. 10, at Ozark Ridge Golf Course, the only financial support for the Sports Hall of

Fame comes from contributions from the community. To help, email pbsportshof@gmail.com for

more information. Anyone desiring to make a contribution should mail it to Poplar Bluff Sports

Hall of Fame, Inc., P.O. Box 1022, Poplar Bluff, MO 63902-1022.

The Poplar Bluff Sports Hall of Fame was founded in 1981. To be eligible for election, a

person must have reached the age of 35, be a native of Poplar Bluff who has participated in or

contributed to sports here or elsewhere, or a person who came to Poplar Bluff and

distinguished themselves here. A person must clear a preliminary ballot of over 100 selectors

from the community and be voted on by the Board of Directors, receiving a minimum of 75% of

their votes to be elected. Nominees for the ballot are considered by the Board and are

welcomed by anyone in the community.

The current board of directors features: Brian Rosener, president; Chris Rushin, vice

president; Teresa Salyer, treasurer; Richard Landers, Clark Allen, Ben Holt, Keith Huffman,

Bobby Godwin and Brian Taylor.

POPLAR BLUFF SPORTS HALL OF FAME ENSHRINEES

Allen, James “Jamie” Arant, Jerry Atkins, Charles Bennett, Parker Bess, Gene Bidewell, Ben Bidewell, Jim Britton, Tenisha Miller Brown, John Brown, PJ Cantrell, James Caputo, Tara Caputo, William “Bill” Caringer, Craig Carr, E.E. “Bus” Case Sr., Frank Chronister, Cindy Chronister, Kirk Cope, Jack Cradic, Bob Croy, Tom Davis, Lonnie Donnelly, Bernard “Perry” Drum, Lex Edington, Tracy Essary, Otis Eudaley, Tracie Fister, Sean Garrett, Howard Giambelluca, Sam Gibbs, John Godwin, Ben Godwin, Luther “Buddy” Godwin, Robert “Bobby” Gorman, Rex Gray, Bob Gray, Norman Grimes, Teresa Markos Hansbrough, Gene Hansmann, Becky Harrell, Scott Harris, Charles “Thunder” Hawes, LaRita Haynes, William “Red” Henderson, Carmin Hinchey, Jerry Hodge, Dena Hogg, Paul Hoover, Tom Huffman, Mike Huntington, Robert W. Jordan, Eddie Kalich, Mary Lawson, John Leach, Tommy Lewis, Ed Liles, Jr., Opie Clayton Little, Brent Lohr, Jim Martin, Garland Martin, James Donald Minetree, Tom Moore, Derland Moss, Eddie Moss, Hosie Moss, Leroy Moss, Michael Myers, John Parkin, James Pattillo, John David Pennington, Doug Peters, E.T. “Pete” Piper, Billy Piper, Johnny Revelle, Stan Richardson, Ernie Robertson, Colby Rowland, Kenny Rowland, Steve Sechrest, Bob Sigler, Stewart Simington, Everett “Young” Simpson, Walter Stout, John Stovall, Laddie Telle, Tom Tinsley, Austin VanOrman, John Waddle, Arthur Wallis, O.A. “Ott” Webb, Tony Webber, Paul Weber, Randoph Wicks, Clifford Williams, Ashley Wright, Larry Wyatt, Clarence “Dutch” York Romary, Janice-Lee 1937 Wheatley Basketball, 1966 PBHS, Football, 1979 TRCC Basketball, 1980 PBHS, Golf 1981, PBHS Golf 1988, PBHS Golf 1990, PBHS Football, 1992 TRCC Basketball, 1995 PBHS Golf and 1996 PBHS Golf.