Becoming Giants

The story of a legendary David-over-Goliath basketball victory (ironically, the name of this David's team is the Green Giants of Hebron, Illinois) in which a group of farm boys from one of the state's tiniest towns won the 1952 state high school championship, Becoming Giants combines vintage newspaper photos, reenactments, interviews with surviving team members and cheerleaders, and even a rare kinescope recording of part of the actual televised game. The core group of four kids--who took an early shine to basketball, even playing through the cold winters in a hayloft, learning ball control on uneven floor planks, and making shots in near-darkness--was later joined by 6' 10" Bill Shultz, the son of a dairy farmer who had never heard of the game (he joined to avoid his evening milking chores!). In addition to recalling one of the most exciting stories in high school basketball history, the program pays posthumous tribute to the team's driving force: coach Russell Ahearn, short in stature, but a giant in the eyes of the players. An inspirational slice of sports Americana, this is warmly recommended. Aud: H, P. (C. Block)