To play for legendary head coach David Porter meant having to be a fierce competitor and that certainly can be said of Mark Gilland who played for three years under Porter and finished his career with 920 points which ranks 17th currently in program history. His ability to score the basketball from anywhere on the floor allowed the Eagles to remain one of the area’s most feared teams in the 1970’s.

 

Despite not playing his sophomore season, Gilland turned in three seasons of 200-plus points which concluded with 404 points his senior season. His season average of 18.6 points per game was among tops in the area and his scoring prowess paved the way to honors of All-County, All-ORVC and All-Sectional for a second-straight season. His junior season, which saw him score 306 points and average 14.6 points per night also saw the Eagles capture the single-class sectional at Batesville, defeating Milan and the host Bulldogs before falling to Union County one weekend later in the regional semifinals. It would be the final title for Jac-Cen-Del until 1992.

 

Gilland’s 920 points included game-highs during his career of 29, 28 and 24 points. Several colleges sought out the Eagle great but Mark elected to remain on the family farm and marry Lorrie Brown in July of 1979. The two have four children and five grandchildren and remain on the family farm while continuing to support Jac-Cen-Del Athletics.