Attend a basketball game at any gym around the Miss-Lou and there’s a chance that Rudy Case will be in attendance. Case has no loyalties; after all, it’s been 70 years since he played basketball at Natchez High.

&uot;I’ve just always been interested in high school basketball and enjoyed going to watch it,&uot; said the 88-year-old Case. &uot;I just enjoy the fellowship and being with the fans and players.&uot;

Case played football, baseball and basketball at Natchez High after attending Cathedral as a sophomore.

&uot;I wasn’t really good enough to play my junior year,&uot; Case said. &uot;I’d rather play than go to class.&uot;

Case said the game of basketball did not have a 3-point line or a free throw lane when he played.

&uot;Everybody just stayed underneath,&uot; Case said.

There would also be a jump ball after every made basket.

&uot;I think all the changes are good,&uot; Case said. &uot;That would kind of slow things down when we had the jump ball.&uot;

And some games were played outdoors. Natchez High played in the old Martin gym, which now is home to Natchez Gymnastics.

&uot;And we played in a building at CHA&160;(Chamberlain-Hunt Academy)&160;where if you shot an arch ball, it would hit the ceiling,&uot; he said.

Case scored 25 points against Ferriday on an outdoor court at Ferriday.

His teammates were Julius Cloy, Robert Darling, T.J. Sullivan and Audley McDonald.

&uot;Robert was 6-2 and had long arms,&uot; Case said. &uot;He once told me he had a play and I was to stay away from the other goal. He would bring the ball down and throw it to me to shoot the ball.&uot;

Case was a blocking back in football and caught and played shortstop in baseball.

Case, who has a pass to all Natchez High sporting events. has followed local sports for years.

He hesitated to name any particular athlete he enjoyed watching, but did say Gene McGehee was the best pound for pound and Tony Byrne was an excellent athlete.

After graduating from Natchez High in 1930, Case went to work for Herold & Miller as a truck driver.

&uot;When they found out I could read and write, they put me more in the business end,&uot; Case said.

Case also worked with Lonnie Lewis in the supermarket business.

Case worked at the box factory while in school.

&uot;We didn’t have automobiles, so we walked everywhere,&uot; he said.

Case said people enjoy the games know as much as they did then. But it has changed.

&uot;There’s no way I would be able to play at a Natchez, Trinity, Cathedral or ACCS with how good the players are now,&uot; he said.

Case and his wife, Pearlie, have two sons, R. Wayne Case Jr., and Audley Case. They have two grandchildren, one great-granddaughter and one great-grandson.