Behind the TC Rivalry

Former Indian Chris Lewis Recounts the Handshake That Started it All

The 2021 basketball season is like no other for many reasons; we now do a coin flip to start a game rather than a tip-off, players can dive on the floor after a ball and sweat all over each other, yet must wear masks when on the sidelines where every chair is six feet apart, all of which bring about a lot of confusion but one change is going to prove to be quite entertaining. This season, there will not be a home and away series between district opponents to determine seeding for the tournament, there is simply one game. One game with each team in the district to determine who you play in the district tournament. Competition in the district this year is really tight and all of the games should be close, making seeding that much more important in terms of matchups. This creates a unique environment during the regular season as each game serves as a miniature tournament in its own right. This makes Adair’s opener with the rival Taylor County Cardinal’s that much more interesting.

In honor of the big TC rivalry game coming up, we at Tribe44 Podcast decided to do some digging. The rivalry itself really wasn’t a big deal until the 2006/2007 basketball season. Russell County was the main rivalry of the Indians up to that point, but that 06/07 season provided a shift of focus from the rival down Highway 80 to head north on Highway 55.

Some think that the battles on the court between Taylor and Adair, who both had some of their best teams in school history, is what fueled the rivalry, but what people do not know is that not only the rivalry but the 2007 Sweet 16 State Tournament run was fueled by nothing more than a handshake.

January 30th, 2007 Taylor County played Adair in John Burr Memorial Gymnasium with the top seed of the 20th district tournament on the line. Adair had fallen to the Cardinals back in December by two points. It was a hard-fought game but Taylor pulled it out, winning 58-56, cementing their spot at the number one seed in the district. Chris Lewis, who has now taken over for his dad at Jeffries Hardware in Columbia, was a senior at the time and recounts the events that transpired after that game that ultimately catapulted the Tribe all the way to the state tournament.

“After they beat us at home, one of their players came into our locker room to shake my hand and tell me good game,” Lewis remembered, “ He had already shaken my hand through the line at the end of the game but made it a point to come into our locker room to do it again.”

This is a gesture that could be seen as respectful by some, but, knowing the gravity of the rivalry that had developed, Lewis took offense.

“That lit a spark in me like no other.” Recalled Lewis.

It was then, that he and his fellow teammates made a vow that they would not lose in the first round of district so that they could be sure to play them again.

Not only did the Indians get another crack at the Cardinals (they won in the championship game by a final score of 59-56), they reeled off 12 straight wins to finish out the regular and postseason. This handshake woke the sleeping giant which proved to be Adair’s most successful team in school history. Their only loss the remainder of the season was to eventual 2007 Boy’s Sweet 16 Champion Scott County.

Although Lewis would not reveal the name of the player who came over to shake his hand, the entire community of Adair County owes you a thank you. Thank you for not only igniting the most exciting State tournament run in our history but for igniting the rivalry that has brought my generation so much joy!