On Sunday night, Aug. 15, Indianapolis Dust Bowl legend Ron Rutland sat in the south bleachers on Indiana’s Court at the Indiana State Fair. Rutland was on hand to watch the championship game of the Dust Bowl Granddaddy $10K Men’s Basketball Tournament. The State Fair has hosted this event the last two summers, paying homage to the historic Lockefield Dust Bowl basketball tournament, the origin of Indianapolis’ renowned hoops culture.
A really talented group of young guys from Newport, KY earned a spot in title game to face off against a team of State Champions from Indianapolis. 2026 McDonald’s All-American Taylen Kinney, getting ready to start his freshman year at Kansas, headlined the Kentucky team. A squad that also included ’25-’26 American Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year, now at Georgetown, Josiah Parker. Former Xavier big man, who teamed with Trevon Bluiett in college, Rashid Gaston and JUCO All-American Treshawn Cody.
The Indianapolis group included three members of the 2018 undefeated Warren Central 4A State Title team – Jesse Bingham, Jakobie Robinson, and Joe Rush. They were joined by one of the heroes of Ben Davis’ 2017 4A State Title team, Josh Brewer.
The intensity was palpable early. Former Lawrence Central guard Daveon Bell set the tone, making it clear that his group was not going to back down from the heralded young team from just outside of Cincinnati. Nine minutes into the game, with the score tied, a heavy rain hit the State Fairgrounds. After a 35-minute shower, State Fair staff frantically hit the court with a squeegee and a backpack blower to get the playing surface in good enough shape for someone to walk home with $10K.
This one was back and forth most of the game. The Indianapolis team took the lead midway through the second half. Joe Rush went to work for the home team, finishing with a game high 25 points and helping Indy build an 8-point lead approaching crunch time. Northern Kentucky battled back. With the scored tied at 52, and around 2:30 left on the clock, Jayhawk guard Taylen Kinney hit a left wing three to give his team a 55-52 advantage. The youngsters from the Bluegrass State wouldn’t look back. Indianapolis would only get one free throw the rest of the way.
Northern Kentucky was ahead on the scoreboard 62-53 when the final buzzer sounded.
After dancing at center court the champions posed, as a group, with one of George McGinnis’ old Dust Bowl trophies.
The final act of the evening was to transfer $10K to the Cash App and Zelle accounts of the winners!
Joe Rush led all scorers with 25 points. Taylen Kinney led Northern Kentucky with 19. Former Austin Peay guard Mekell Burries contributed 16 points and Georgetown guard Josiah Parker had 10 points for the victors.
The Indiana State Fair has done a great job honoring the legacy of the Lockefield Dust Bowl. They are invested heavily in bringing the intensity, tenacity, and excitement of outdoor basketball back to life in the Hoosier State!
The Dustbowl Granddaddy Legacy Basketball Tournmament is a part of The City League. For more news, visit indianapolisrecorder.com.
Noral Parham is the multi-media reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder, one of the oldest Black publications in the country. Prior to joining the Recorder, Parham served as the community advocate of the MLK Center in Indianapolis and senior copywriter for an e-commerce and marketing firm in Denver.
