Jac-Cen-Del basketball and Hall of Fame head coach Dave Porter go hand-in-hand. When it comes to Coach Porter’s championship program during his time in Osgood, of course there’s a lot of conversations to be had about his teams and some of the best guard play the county has ever seen. One of those guards was Roger Toops.

 

Toops played three years of varsity basketball for Coach Porter but many will remember him best for his play during the 1971-1972 season in which Jac-Cen-Del boasted one of its most talented backcourts in program history. The Eagles were Ripley County and ORVC champions during the regular season and then captured the 1972 sectional championship over Batesville, marking the sixth sectional crown under Porter’s leadership. Toops scored 23 points in that win against the Bulldogs and was named to the All-Sectional Team.

 

One week later in the regional semifinals against Lawrenceburg, Toops sank two free throws in the final seconds to clinch the Eagles a 66-64 victory over the Tigers. Jac-Cen-Del lost to the eventual undefeated state champions in Connersville that night in the regional championship, wrapping up a 19-6 season that saw the Eagle offense average 78 points per game. Following the postseason, Roger earned the team’s Hustler Award, Free Throw Award and Assists Award. He scored 207 points in his senior year which came out to an average of 11 points per game and was named a 40 &8 All-Star.

 

Toops was also an exceptional cross country and track competitor at Jac-Cen-Del, helping lead both programs to conference championships. He was also named Most Valuable Runner and succeeded in both running events and the pole vault. Following high school, Roger returned to the family farm and operated it with his dad and brothers. His love for farming continues to this day and he also has spent several years as a welder.

 

Roger is married to his wife Terri and the couple has four children. He is a member of the Hopewell Baptist Church and currently owns and operates Toops Farms LLC.