Basketball Lives Here: Boone County’s Hoops Heritage
February 23, 2026 | by Leigh Ann Akard
In Indiana, basketball isn’t just a sport – it’s a way of life. And in Boone County, that story runs deep, from historic hardwood floors to packed arenas filled with hometown pride.
A Hollywood Chapter at Memory Hall
In downtown Lebanon stands the legendary Memory Hall – a place where basketball history and Hollywood history intersect. This iconic gym served as one of the filming locations for the beloved movie Hoosiers, forever cementing Boone County’s place in the lore of Indiana basketball. With its classic wooden bleachers and timeless atmosphere, Memory Hall captures the spirit of small-town hoops that inspired generations and made Indiana famous for its love of the game.
The Alley Oop Project: Where Downtown Meets the Hardwood
Just steps from the Boone County Courthouse Square, the Heart of Lebanon — a nationally accredited Main Street organization — has created an immersive alley activation that celebrates the city’s deep basketball roots called Alley Oop.
The northside alley now serves as a pedestrian-friendly bridge connecting the historic square to Memory Hall. When you stand in the alley, the gym is in full view — making it the perfect setting to honor Lebanon’s basketball culture.
Visitors enter beneath a striking 14-foot custom aluminum archway designed to resemble a basketball net stretched across the alley. Overhead, a bold message reads: “This is Home and Home is Basketball.”
As you walk forward, a painted floor graphic mimics court lines and repeating basketball imagery, guiding you beneath decorative catenary lighting. Digitally printed signage showcases historic Lebanon basketball moments, including images of Rick “The Rocket” Mount and the 1912 State Championship team.
Interactive QR codes invite visitors to scan and explore portions of a local documentary through a smartphone-based tour app — offering a full-court press into Lebanon’s basketball history. At the end of the alley, black metal tables and chairs provide a welcoming space to sit, reflect, and share your own basketball stories.
Home Court: Farmers Bank Fieldhouse
Boone County is also home to Farmers Bank Fieldhouse, a premier indoor facility that hosts the Lebanon Leprechauns as well as basketball tournaments throughout the year. The Fieldhouse has quickly become a hub for competitive play, youth development, and community events – drawing athletes and families from across the region.
Beyond tournaments and game nights, the Fieldhouse is also a place to celebrate. Families can host customizable birthday parties where kids choose their favorite activities – from basketball and football to pickleball, soccer, kickball, dodgeball, and more – with pizza and drinks included. It’s a space where competition, fun, and community come together under one roof.
A New Era: The Lebanon Leprechauns
Competing in The Basketball League, the Lebanon Leprechauns bring high-energy, affordable, and family-friendly professional basketball to Boone County. Game nights are more than sporting events – they’re celebrations of teamwork, hometown pride, and the shared excitement that only live basketball can deliver.
From the silver screen legacy of Hoosiers to revitalized neighborhood courts, competitive tournaments, and professional play, Boone County proves that basketball truly lives here – woven into the community’s identity, past, present, and future.