the history of basketball at stonington high school

Eastern Illinois UniversityThe Keep

Masters Theses Student Theses & Publications

1978

The History of Basketball at Stonington HighSchoolJohn Anthony DeMichaelEastern Illinois UniversityThis research is a product of the graduate program in Physical Education at Eastern Illinois University. Findout more about the program.

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Recommended CitationDeMichael, John Anthony, "The History of Basketball at Stonington High School" (1978). Masters Theses. 3223.https://thekeep.eiu.edu/theses/3223

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THE HISTORY OF BASKETBALL AT STONINGTON HIGH·SCHOOL

{TITLE)

BY

JOHN ANTHONY DEMICHAEL

THESIS

SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS

FOR THE DEGREE OF

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN O'XJCATION

IN THE GRADUATE SCHOOL, EASTERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY

CHARLESTON, ILLINOIS

__ ...... ..-----�

·(�)

I HEREBY RECOMMEND THIS THESIS BE ACCEPTED AS FULFILLING

THIS PART OF THE GRADUATE DEGREE CITED ABOVE

<a·- q-- 7o DATE

J.

THE HISTORY OF BASKETBALL

AT STONINGTON HIGH SCHOOL

BY

JOHN ANTHONY DEMICHAEL

B. S. in Ed., Eastern Illinois University, 1973

ABSTRACT OF A THESIS

Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Education at the Graduate School

of Eastern Illinois University

CHARLESTON , ILLINOIS 1978

The paper consists of eight chapters. Chapter 1 is an introductory

chapter followed by six chapters on the coaching eras. Chapter 8 is

a summary containing recommendations and problems involved with writing

the thesis.

The chapters on the coaching eras are organized by coaches rather

than by decades or by any certain number of years. The number of years

covered in each chapter ranges from five to ten years with the exception

of Chapter 7 which spans twenty-one years. No more than three coaching

eras are included in each chapter. Chapter 2 includes the coaching eras

of Guy Lowry (1917-1924), Gladwin Gaumer (1925) , and Paris Loucks (1926).

Chapter 3 contains the coaching eras of Lloyd Becker (1927-1928), William

White (1929-1930), and George Harper (1931-1935). Chapter 4 includes the

coaching eras of Joe Wylder (1936-1941) and Fred Reuter (1942). Chapter

5 is the coaching eras of Von Armer (1943-1945), Harley Culberson (1946-

1949) , and Mike Corby (1950-1952). The coaching of Dale Fahsbender (1953),

Ralph Thompson (1954-1955), and Ralph Naylor (1956-1957) comprises Chapter

6. Chapter is the coaching era of Jack Dettro (1958-1978).

Each chapter is divided into single years. For each year there is

an introduction, a list of the scores for that year, and a summary of the

year. The list of scores also contains the date of the game and the site

of the game. Following the scores, the coach, the team won-loss record,

and the cumulative won-loss record of the coach is given. As a part of the

summary, the source of information for the scores of any given year is

identified. Immediately following the summary is a alphabetical listing

of the varsity players for that year.

The sources of imformation for the scores in each year were yearbooks,

newspapers, personal interviews, and scorebooks. Where possible, the

scores were c'ross-checked for accuracy. - �

The Decatur Herald was used as the

newspaper source. All past copies of the Decatur Herald are on microfilm

at the Decatur Public Library. Personal interviews were used as a source

of highlights of games and not for the actual scores of the games.

An appendix follows Chapter 8 . The appendix contains the years and

cumulative records for each coach while at Stonington High School. There

is also a page containing the cumulative record of Stonington High School

against each different school played. Finally there is a record page

containing all-time team, individual, and coaching records.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS jv

Chapter

I. INTRODUCTION l

LIMITATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . • • . • . • • . . • . . . . . . . . . • . • • . . . . . . . . . 3

DEFINITION OF TERMS . . . . . . . • . . . • • . . . . . . • • . . • • • • . • • . . . • . . . 4

II. COACHING ERAS OF Gtrl LOWRY, GLADWIN GAUMER, PARIS LOUCKS . . 5

GUY LOWRY • • . . • • • . • • . . . . • . . • • . . • • • . . • . . . • . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

GLADWIN GAUMER . • . . . • • . . . ,. . • • • • • . • • . • • . . . • . • . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

PARIS LOUCKS .- . • • . . . • • . • . • . • . . . • . . • • . . . • • . . • . . . . • . . • . • . • 15

III. COACHING ERAS OF LLOYD BECKER, WILLIAM WHITE, GEORGE HARPER 17

LLOYD BECKER • . . • . . • • . . • • • • • . . . • . • • . . • . . . • . . • · . . . • . . • • • . • 17

WILLIAM WHITE

GEORGE HARPER 24

IV. COACHING ERAS OF JOE WYLDER, FRED REUTER . . ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

JOE WYLDER . . . • • • • • . • • • . • • . . • • • • • . . • • • . . • . • . . . . . . . . • • • • . :2

FRED REUTER . • . • . . . • . . • . • • • . • • • • . . • . • . • . • • . • • • • : • . . . • • . • 43

V. COACHING ERAS OF VON ARMER, HARLEY CULBERSON, MIKE CORBY :. : 44

VON ARMER • . . • • . . . . . . . • • • . . . . • . . . . • . . . . . . . . . • . . • • • . • . . • . 44

HARLEY CULBERSON . . • • . . . . . . . • • . . . . • . . . . . . . . • . . • . . . . . . • . . 5o

MIKE CORBY • . • • . . . . • . • • • • . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . • • . . . . . . . . • . . . . • 58

�I. COACHING ERAS OF DALE FAHSBENDER, RALPH THOMPSON, RALPH NAYLOR • . • . • . . . . . . . . • . . • • • • • . . . . • . . • . • • . . . • . . • • . • . . . . . . . 64

DALE F AHSBENDER . . . . . . . . . . . . • • . • • . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . 64

RALPH THOMPSON . • • . . . . . . . . . : . • . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66

RALPH NAYLOR 70

ii

VII. COACHING ERA JACK DETTRO . . . . . . . .. . .. ; • • . • . . . . . • • . . • • . • • . • . . 74

VIII. SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . • . . 116

APPENDIX . • • • . • . . • . . . . . . . . . . • • . . . . . . . • . . . . . • • . . • . • . . . . • . . . . . . . • . . . • . 118

COACHING RECORDS . . . . . . . • • . . . • • . • . ·• . . . . • . . . • . . • • . . . . . • . . • . . . 118

SCHOOL RECORDS . . . . . . . . • . • . • • . . • . • . • . • . . . . . • . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119

WON-LOSS VS. OPPONENTS. . . . . . . . . . . . • • . . . . . . • . • . . . . . . • • . • . . • • 120

REFERENCES . • . . • • • . • • . • . • . . • . . • . . • • . . • • • . . • . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . • • . . . • • • . • 121

VITA . . • • . • • • . . • • . . • . . . . . . . . . . . • • . . • . . • • • . • • • • • • . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . • . • • • 124

iii

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS '°

The author would like to acknowledge the support, encouragement,

and patience of his wife Linda. The author would also like to thank

Dr. Walter Lowell for his help and guidance in the preparation of this

thesis. Finally, the author would like to thank the many people who

provided data, either by personal interview or by granting the author

use of their yearbooks.

iv

Chapter 1

INTRODUCTION AND ORGANIZATION

The people of Stonington take great pride in their high school

basketball teams. In the early years of the schools history, football,

baseball, and :track were the only sports offered at Stonington High

School. Even when the school fielded its .first team in 1916-1917, the

emphasis in terms of space given in the school yearbooks was on foot-

ball. However, as time went on the bu�dens placed on a small school

football program,· with regard to the number of players needed to compete,

began to take their toll. All: the while basketball was gaining popular-

ity.

No records have been kept on the high school basketball teams with the

exception of school yearbooks. Even then.

there were some years when no

yearbook was published. One of the objectives of this thesis is to

assimilate information from as many years as possible so as to establish

accurate records. ·

Another objective of this thesis is to recognize·the past achieve-

ments of all the players and coaches who were involved with basketball

at Stonington High School.

The paper consists of nine chapters. Chapter 1 is an introductory

chapter followed by six chapters on the coaching eras. Chapter 8 is

/ surumarial in nature containing recommendations and problems involved with

writing this thesis.

The chapters on the coaching eras a�e organized by coaches rather

than by decades or by any certain number of years. The number of years

1

2

covered in each chapter ranges from five to ten years with the exception

of Chapter 7 which spans twenty-one years. No more than three coaching

eras are included in each chapter. Chapter 2 includes the coaching eras

of Guy Lowry ( 1917-1924) , Gladwin Gaumer( l925), and Paris Loucks ( 1926).

Chapter 3 contains the coaching eras of Lloyd Becker (i927-1928) , William

White ( 1929-1930), and George Harper ( 1931-1935). Chapter 4 includes the

coaching eras of Joe Wylder ( 1936-1941) and Fred Reuter ( 1942). Chapter

5 is the coaching eras of Von Armer ( 1943-1945), Harley Culberson ( 1946-

1949) , and Mike Corby (1950-1952) . The coaching of Dale Fahsbender ( 1953 ) ,

Ralph Thompson ( 1954-1955), and Ralph Naylor ( 1956-1957) comprises Chapter

6. Chapter 7 is the coaching era of Jack Dettro (1958-1978).

Each chapter is divided into single years. For each year there is

an introduction, a list of the s cores for that year, and a summary of the

year. The· list of scores also contains the date of the game and the site

of the game. Following the s cores, the coach, the team won-loss record,

and the cumulative won-loss record of the coach is given. As a part of the

s ummary, the source of information for the s cores of any given year is

identified. Immediately following the summary is an alphabetical listing

of the varsity players for that year.

The s ources of information for the scores in each year were yearbooks,

newspapers, personal interviews, and scorebooks. Where possible, the

sco�es were cross -checked for accuracy. The Decatur Herald was used as

the newspaper s ource. All past copies of the Decatur Herald are on micro

film at the Decatur Public Library. Personal interviews were used as-a

source of highlights of games and not for the actual scores of the games.

An appendix follows Ch�pter 8. The appendix contains the years and

cumulative records for each coach whil.e at Stonington High School. There

is also a page containing the cumulative record of Ston:'. ·· · .:on High School

, •1inst each different school played. Finally there i�

itaining all time team, individual, and coaching reco: 3.

LIMITATIONS

�. ·.!cord page

3

Although the scores of the games for each year were cross-checked when

possible, there were some years when only one source was used to collect

data. In those years it was necessary to rely solely on information ob-

tained from the Decatur Herald because the scorebooks and yearbooks were

unavailable. As a result, there remained a possibility for error in the

data collected for those years. There exists the possibility of a mis-

print, tberepy causing an inaccurate score. Also, all ot the games for any

given year may not have been reported to the -newspaper, resulting in incom-

plete records for that year. The writer may have also overlooked or mis-

copied a score from the microfilm.

In some of the very early years from 1917-1924 the only source of

information was yearbooks. There were some discrepancies between the

score of the game in the athletics and the calendar of events sections

of the yearbook. In these few instances when there was no other source

for confirmation of either score, the score from the athletics section of

the yearbook was reported. That score may have been the inaccurate score.

The details of games obtained from personal interviews may not have

been completely accurate in every detail or not related to the writer in

the proper context of the events of a game.

4

DEFINITION OF TERMS

Won-loss rei::ord - The won-loss record of a team or a coaches cumulative

record is given with the number of games won fol�owed·by a hyphen anQ

the number of games lost.

Reds - The Reds was the nickname of Stonington High School until 1945.

Wildcats - The Wildcats was the nick.name of the Stonington High School

beginning in 1945.

The Red and ·white Book - This was the name of the Stonington High School

Yearbook until 1922.

Stony Echoes - This was the name of the Stonington High School Yearbook

beginning in 1925.

The Red and White Scrapbook - This was a monthly publication of the

students supported by a weekly collection from the students in years

when there was no yearbook published.

OT - overtime

Chapter 2

THE COACHING ERAS OF GUY LOWRY, GLADWIN GAUMER, AND PARIS LOUCKS

1916-1917

Introduction

�here were only six games on the schedule for the first basketball

season in Stonington High School's history. One reason for the small

number of games was the lack of an adequate facility for playing games

at Stonington.(48) Consequently, all but one of the six games played

by Stonington were played out of tovm. The only home game was played

at the Opera House on Main Street. ( 59)

Stonington Dec. 15 13 Morrisonville 22 Away Dec. 22 3 Assumption 7 0 Away Jan. 5 21 Morrisonville 20 Home Jan. 18 23 Pana 73 Away Jan. 26 5 Taylorville 70 Away Feb. 7 14 Morrisonville 19 Away

Coach: Guy Lowry Record: 1-5 Coaches� Cumulative Record: 1-5

Summary

The Reds finished with a record of one win and five losses. One

of the more memorable experiences of the season came at Pana. The incident

had nothing to do with the game itself. With one of their starters Maynard

Samson ill, the Reds traveled to Pana. Because of ·the means of transpor-

tation of those times, it was sometimes necessary to stay overnight at

the site of the game and return home the following day. Such was the case

at Pana. There was a dispute ove:- which school would pay for Stonington's

lodging. In the end, Stonington paid for its O'WTI lodging. ( 48)

Horace Solliday was the lone senior on the squad.

Scores were taken from the 1917 Stonington Red and White Book.

Vars_ity Team Members : Donald Bowman Merrill Nebold Maynard Samson Horace Solliday

1917-19i8

Introduction

Dennis Sullivan Emmett Sulli-.· ·:: Merrill Tray�

Coach Lowry welcomed eight players for the new basketball season.

There were two returnees from last year's team.

Stonington Nov. 9 55 Edinburg 3 Away Nov. 16 14 Morrisonville 20 Away Dec. 7 25 Bethany 15 Away Dec. 14 8 Taylorville 25 Away Jan. 11 16 Arthur 26 Away Jan. 25 19 Morrisonville 30 Away

Coach: Guy Lowry Record: 2-4 Coaches' Cumulative Record: 3-9

Summary

One of the highlights of the season was Emmett Sullivan's 19 points

against Edinburg in the first game of the season.(49) Another memorable

event was the blizzard that occured the night of the Arthur game. The

team was late arriving at Arthur and the game did not start until 10:30

that night.(49)

There was one very sad note on the season. James Peck, one of the

starters and the only senior on the team, died of blood poisoning in

December. ( 49)

The scores were taken from the l918·Red and White Book.

G

Varsity Team Members

Percy Burke Cecil Leach Cecil Livergood Merrill. Nebold .

1918-1919

Introduction

James Peck Harold Shrout Jesse Shrout Emniett Sullivan

7

Five men from last year's team came out for basketball. The new High

School under -construction was not yet completed. The team had to practice

outdoors as well as play all five of their games at the opponents gym.(50)

Stonington Jan. 10 33 Morrisonville 11 Away Jan. 24 17 Argenta 18 Away Feb. l 24 Bethany 29 Away Feb. 8 13 Nokomis 9 Away Feb. 14 14 Maroa 35 Away


Summary

The Reds matched their two wins of the 1917-18 season. Only the one

point loss to Argenta prevented Stonington from posting its first winning

season.

John Pendias, Emmett Sullivan, Cecil Leach, Merrill Nebold, and Conrad

Colbrook were the senior members of the team.

Scores were taken from the 1919 Red_ .and White Book .

Varsity Team Members Percy Burke Merrill Nebold .Kenneth Boyle John Pendias Conrad Colbrook Harold Shrout Cecil Leach Jesse Shrout Cecil Livergood Emmett Sullivan

I' '


Percy Burke Cecil Leach Cecil Livergood Merrill. Nebold

1918-1919

Introduction

James Peck Harold Shrout Jesse Shrout EmIIiett Sullivan

7

Five men from last year's team came out for basketball. The new High

School under ·Construction was not yet completed. The team had to practice

outdoors as well as play all five of their games at the opponents gym.(50)

Stonington Jan. 10 33 Morrisonville 11 Away Jan. 24 17 Argenta 18 Away Feb. 1 24 Bethany 29 Away Feb. 8 13 Nokomis 9 Away Feb. 14 14 Maroa 35 Away


Summary

The Reds matched their two wins of the 1917-18 season. Only the one

point loss to Argenta prevented Stonington from posting its first winning

season.

John Pendias, Emmett Sullivan, Cecil Leach, Merrill Nebold, and Conrad

Colbrook were the senior members of the team.

Scores were taken from the 1919 Red .. and White Book.

Varsity Percy Burke .Kenneth Boyle Conrad Colbrook Cecil Leach Cecil Livergood

Team Members Merrill Nebold John Pendias Harold Shrout Jesse Shrout Emmett Sullivan

8

1919-1920

Introduction

The new High School was complE:tc.<i �nd Stonington had a new g�. Thi.s.

was also the first year Stonington entered a p·:>st season district tourney.

The schedule was also expanded to include eleven ga.mes.(51)

Stonington Dec. 5 10 Maroa 25 Home Dec. 12 20 ¥i0rrisonville 16 Away Dec . 19 23 Argenta 16 Home Jan. 2 28 Raymond 13 Away Jan. 9 20 Morrisonville 14 Home Jan. 16 43 Maroa 18 Away Jan. 30 12 Auburn 20 Away Feb. 19 34 Morrisonville 8 Home Feb. 26 34 Moweaqua 14 Home

District Tournament March 1-4 24 Morrisonville 20

9 Clinton 32

Coach: Guy Lowry Record: 8-3 Coaches!: Cumulative Record: 13-15

Summary

The 1919-1920 season was a very successful one. Stonington enjoyed

its first winning season .-

The Reds defeated Maroa 43-18 after losing to them 25-10 in the season

opener .

Scores were taken from the 1920 Red and White Book.

Varsity Team Members Kenneth Boyle Percy Burke Bernard Livergood Elm.er Mcconkey

Tom Oseland Harold Shrout Jesse Shrout Monroe Solliday

9

1920-1921

The writer was unable to obtain any scores from the l� '0-1921 season.

He checked every issue of the Decatur Herald from November, �920 through �

March, 1921 but could find no Stonington High School basketball scores .

The writer also checked the corresponding dates in the Taylorville Breeze

Courier newspaper with similar results . Many of the players from the 1920-

21 team are deceased, However, the writer was able to contact Rueben

Solliday, a student.at Stonington High School in 1920-1921. Mr. Solliday ·

informed the writer he had no recollection of the basketball season of

1920-1921 primarily because he was not a member of the team. Mr. Solliday

also informed the writer that the Stonington High School did not publish

a yearbook in 1920-21.

10 1921-1922

Introduction

With an unsuccessful football season just passed, there was hope

the basketball team would restore some laurels to Stonington High.(52)

Hopes were dashed as the basketball team endured a disappointing campaign.

Dec. 2 Dec. 10 Dec. 16 Dec. 17 Dec. 22 Jan. 6 Jan. 11 Jan. 13 Jan. Jan. Jan. Feb. Feb. Feb. Feb. Feb. Feb. Feb.

21 22 31

3 4 7

11 15 24 25

Stonington 7 Moweaqua 11

20 Niantic 7 13 Maroa 35 13 Auburn 22 14 Assumption 33 15 Blue Mound 14 28 Blue Mound 2 15 Moweaqua 25 11 Assumption 25

9 · Mt. Olive 73 12 Taylorville 17 18 Assumption 21 16 Maroa 56

9 Assumption 51 2 Morrisonville60 7 Assumption 31

13 Morrisonville26 18 Decatur 20

District Tournament Feb. 27-March 2 7 Pleasant 20

Plains

Away Home Home Home Away Away Home Home Home Away. Home Home Away Away Away Home Home Home

Coach: Guy Lowry Record: 3-16 Coaches': Cumulative Record: 16-31 *

*The record excludes the 1920-1921 season when scores for that season were unavailable.

Summary

The Reds played Assumption five times during the season. Although

the scores varied, the outcome of all five were the same, an Assumption

victory. Stonington ended the season with a twelve· game losing streak.

Al.l was not lost however, as Stonington defeated arch-rival Blue Mound

in both meetings.

11 The scores for the 1921-1922 season were taken from the 1922 Stony

Echoes.

'.,' · ··si ty 'l'eam Vince·:· ":'. !b.:

Members

Ches·· ::::�\,._ . . -�-=

Holl:. ;:i se

Kenn(· . , Hog:1.n

Floyd Husband Marcus Kelly Delbert Lawler

1922-1923

Introduction

Elmer Mcconkey William Prycznski

. John Sanders Ralph Sharrock John Tolliver

Tom Traughber

Five players from the 1921-22 team returned for the 1922-23 season.

Jan. 23 Feb. 1 Feb. 8

Stonington

10 10

9

Taylorville 19 Assumption 19 Mt. Auburn 10

Home Away Away

Coach: Guy Lowry Record: 0-3* Coaches' Cumulative Record: 16-34**

*The author was able to find only three scores for the 1922-23 season. **Guy Lawry's

· cumulative record does not include the 1920-21 season when

scores were unavailable.

Summary

The three scores reported were taken from the Decatur Herald.

Varsfty TeaJn Lloyd Burdick Hunter Chapman Hollis Hise Marcus Kelly

Members Delbert Lawler Elmer Mcconkey Paul Sckowska Ralph Sharrock

1923-1924

Introduction

Coach Lowry had a talented group of underclassmen r�nort for �-

12

basketball. Paul Sckowska and Lloyd Burdick gave Stonington , siz�

as both were better than six feet tall.(54)

�tonington Dec. 7 6 Mt. Auburn 5 Away Dec. 18 18 Bethany 19 OT Home Dec. 21 24 Niantic 4 Home Jan. 4 17 Mt. Auburn 5 Home Jan. 9 21 Taylorville 25 Away Jan. 11 17 Mt. Pulaski 12 Home Jan. 18 25 Edinburg 3 Home Jan. 25 21 Litchfield 16 Away Feb. 1 lO Blue Mound 5 Away Feb. 8 17 Mt. Auburn 9 Away

Christian County Tournament Feb. 18-21 15 Pana 27 District Tournament March 6-10 33 Blue Mound 6 13 Bement 21

Coach: Guy Lowry Record: 9-4 Coaches' Cumulative Record: 25-38*

*The record includes no games fro�·1920-21 and thre� games from 1922-23.

Summary

The team posted a 9-4 record for the year. The outlook for the

future appeared bright as five of the nine varsity players were under-

classmen. The scores were taken from the Decatur Herald.

Varsity Team Members . Lloyd Burdick Marcus Kelly Hunter Chapman Paul Sckowska Sherman Gillmore Ralph Sharrock Dwight Hammon Wayne Yoder Benny Hardsock

13 1924-1925

Introduction

The h�sketball season of 1924-25 was the dawning of a new age in

the histcJ

all tean. .

;1f basketball at Stonington High School. For the first time

:;ers wore the same kind of W1iforms, those being the first

ever purcha�ed by the school. The school also hired its first coach

whose job was to teach Manual Training and coach all sports. Until this

time, Guy Lowry had coached all sports at Stonington in addition to his

teaching and superintendent duties.(54)

The new coach was Gladwin Gaumer, who because of his first name,

preferred to be called G. Gaumer.(54) The new coach welcomed twenty-

three prospective candidates for basketball. The team had size, speed,

and experience.(54) In addition to the juniors and seniors, there was

a group of freshmen and sophomores known as the Five Horsemen· who

provided good·competition for the upperclassmen.(60)

Dec. 5 Dec. 12 Dec. 19 Jan. 10 Jan. 16 Jan. 23 Jan. 24

Jan. 30 Feb. 1

Feb. 11 1''eb. 14 Feb. 18

Stonington 31 10 33 33 31 21

Owaneco 8 Morrisonville 9 Morrisonville Raymond Moweaqua Mt. Auburn

6 7

12 14

56 Stonington

30

Edinburg Invitational Tournament

Edinburg Niantic

5 Jan. 26-28

Home Away Home Home Away Away Away

43 29

9 34

Christian 16 13 28 22

District 21 14

Warrensburg. Assumption Moweaqua

Tournament Feb. Pana Mt. Auburn Assumption Edinburg

Tournament Feb. 21-25 Sullivan Lovington

6 16

8 16 29

4-7 25

9 14 14

14 13

(First place) Away Home

Away Home Away

Stonington 24 20

8 Mansfield Decatur 26 (Second place)

Coach: Gladwin Gaumer Record: 18-3 Coaches' Cumulative Record: 18-3 '\!

Summary

There were many highlights of the season . The Reds : :·1ptured the

first Stonington Invitational Tournament . Another highli

guard Paul Sckowska1s perfect 3 for 3 shooting against Mo.

was back

1a. ( 54)

After taking the 4 :00 P.M. Puddle Jumper train to Mo1·. ':wnville

14

for a game the team defeated Morrisonville. The team then had to endure

a power failure and wait in the dark to catch the 12:30 A .M. return run

of the train.(54)

The Reds advanced to the championship game of the Decatur District

by defeating Sullivan, Lovington, and Mansfield . Stonington played

Decatur High for the title after having played the Lovington and Mansfield

games earlier the same day. The Reds jumped out to a first quarter lead

but were unable to match Decatur's depth and were defeated 26-8.(54)

Lloyd Burdick, the Red's 61 4" center, went on to play football

at the University of Illinois . Another senior, Sherman Gillmore, went

on to play basketball at Eastern Illinois State Normal.(l)

The scores were taken from the 1925 Stony Echoes.

Varsity Charles Boardman Lloyd Burdick Hunter Chapman Delmar Collenbarger Glen Davis

Team Members Sherman Gillmore Dwight Hammon Paul Sckowska Tom Slaughter Robert Traughber

1925-1926

Introduction

Four of last year 1 s starters graduated leaving new ·;'?ach Paris

Loucks with the job of rebuilding. Last year's coach Gladwin Gaumer

had moved on to accept a teaching job at Blue Mound.(54)

Stonington Nov. 24 12 Macon 27 Away Dec. 7 17 Mt. Auburn 10 Home Dec. 8 8 Maroa 26 Away Dec. 16 28 Blue Mound 14 Home Jan. 5 17 Mt. Auburn 15 Away Jan. 12 10 Lovington 28 Away Jan. 15 31 Bethany 34 Away

Stonington Invitational Tournament Jan. 22-23 35 Niantic 19 16 Nokomis 32 19 Mt. Auburn 17 19 Assumption 45 (Fourth place)

Feb. 2 24 Assumption 33 Home Feb. 5 17 Taylorville 38 Away Feb. 9 20 Lovington 33 Rome Feb. 12 14 Moweaqua 18 Home Feb. 17 17 Taylorville 42 Away Feb. 19 24 Bethany 21 Home

Christian County Tournament Feb.22-23 19 Assumption 28

Feb. 23 16 Macon 27 Away Mar. 2 23 Moweaqua 42 Away

District Tournament March 3-6 11 Macon 12

Coach: Paris Loucks Record: 8-16 Coaches' Cumulative Record: 8-16

Summary

15

Hunter Chapman was named as a second te8.Ill all-star at the Stonington

Invitational Tournament. The Reds failed to win the Stonington Invi-

tational as last year's team, but still managed to finish fourth.


Varsity Team Members Che:. ·-=S Boardman Gail Markwell

Hur: . .:l' Chapman

Gle.� Davis Joe Emerson Dwight Hammon Cloe Hise

Wes Mason William McClain James Shotten Tom Slaught .:: 'f,

Rober� Traughber

16

Chapter 3

THE COACHING ERAS OF LLOYD BECKER, WILLIAM WHITE, AND GEORGE HARPER

1926-1927

Introduction

New coach Lloyd Becker welcomed back only one starter from the

1925-26 squad.

The Reds had an expanded schedule to include four tournaments as

well as fifteen regular season games.

Nov. 12 Nov. 17 Nov. 23 Dec. 6 Dec. 10 Dec. 17 Jan. 4 Jan. 7

Jan. 26

Feb. 2 Feb. 8

Feb. 18 Mar. 2 Mar. 4

Stonington 11 18 12 14 10 17 12

6

Edinburg 15 Edinburg 9 Morrisonville 19 Bethany 35 Mt. Auburn 9 Strasburg 8 Morrisonville 19 Blue Mound 7

Away Home Away Away Away Home Home Away

Stonington Invitational Tournament Jan. 14-15 22 Warrensburg 19 12 13 22

Edinbur.g 11 Bethany 33 ( Second place) Maroa 24 Away

Christian 19 17 14

County Tournament Jan. 28-29

13 15 18

Assumption 17 28

7 32 28 16

Owaneco 10 Rosamond 15 Taylorville 22 Morrisonville 22 (Fourth place) Assumption 14 Home Assumption 22

Tournament Feb. 11-12 Windsor Blue Mound Tower Hill Maroa Mt. Auburn Blue Mound

22 7

17 20

9 7

Away

District Tournament March 7-11 17 Argenta 22

17

18

Coach: Lloyd Becker Record: 12-14 Coaches' Cumulative Record: 12-14

Swmnary

·The 1926-27 season had a very auspicious beginning. Stonington

traveled to Edinburg not knowing there had been a dance on the floor

the previous night. As the Stonington players ran onto the floor som�

slipped and fell as a result of the slick floor.(41)

One highlight of the season was the Red's second place finish in

the Stonington Tourney. Three of the Stonington players were bestowed

individual honors. Kenneth Black and Glen Davis were named third team

all-stars of the Meridian Conference. Davis was also an honorable

mention to the All-Central team named by the Decatur Herald and Review

newspaper. Florian DeMichael was selected to the first team of the

Stonington.Tournament. (61)

The season's scores were taken from the 1926-27 Stony Ecpoes.

Varsity Team Members Kenneth Black Gail Markwell Glen Davis Florian DeMichael Cloe Hise

William McClain Earl White

1927-1928

Introduction

Coach Becker welcomed back Cloe Hise , William McClain, and Earl

White from the 1926-27 squad. There was no Stonington Tourney but the

Reds did compete in the County Tournament as well as the Assumption

Tourney.

Stonington Nov. 4 40 Owaneco 14 Home Nov. 11 ·31 Edinburg 19 Home Nov. 16 17 Edinburg 16 Away Dec. 7 43 Strasburg 10 Home Dec. 9 23 Niantic 16 Home Dec. 13 9 Assumption 19 Away Dec. 16 24 Mt. Auburn 10 Away Dec. 21 13 Mt . Auburn 11 Home .Jan. 6 12 Blue Mound 21 Away Jan. 7 29 Niantic 12 Away Jan, 13 5 Bethany 19 Home .Jan . 17 15 Blue Mound 27 Home Jan. 20 21 Morrisonville 22 OT Away

Christian County Tournament Jan. 26-29 29 Morrisonville 24 16 Pana 27

Feb. 3 23 Morrisonville 28 OT Home Assumption Tournament Feb . 10-11

27 Moweaqua 30 16 Macon 23

Feb. 17 21 Bethany 23 Away Feb. 24 25 Assumption 28 Home Feb. 27 23 Rosamond 43 Away

District Tournament March 5-9 8 Clinton 30

Mar. 13 13 Rosamond 18 Home

Coach: Lloyd Becker Record: 10-13 Coaches ' Cumulative Record: 22-27

Summary

After winning seven of the first eight games, Stonington lost

twelve of their final fifteen games.

The team had some unusual experiences traveling to two of their

games. The Reds Yere twice victim to poor traveling conditions. The

19

20

cars used to travel to Niantic had to pushed a good deal of the way

because of muddy roads. ( li2) Mud also. forced the team to travel to Bethany

by way of Decatur on a train thereby pushing back the starting time of

the game to 10:00 P.M.(62) The team stayed all night at Bethany return-

ing home by rail the next morning.(62)

The. scores were taken from the 1927-28 Stony Echoes.

Beaty,

Varsity Clarence Beaty Lloyd Buis

Team Members

Allen Crist Tullio DeMichael Cloe Hise

1928-1929

Introduction

Crist, DeMichael, and White were ..

Kenneth Kerwin Hardin Markwell William McClain Elmo Traughber Earl White

the returning players

from the 1927-28 squad with which new coach William White could build

a team.

Nov: .. 24 Nov. 30 Dec. 7 Dec. 14 Dec. 21 Jan. 4 Jan. 8 Jan. 11 Jan. 18

Feb. 1 Feb. 5

Feb. 15 Feb. 19 Feb. 22 Mar. 1

Stonington 13 Owaneco 21 Away 33 Owaneco 16 Home 17 Morrisonvi·lle 18 Home 21 Edinburg 10 Home 24 Morrisonville 15 Away 25 Edinburg 17 ·Away 30· Blue Mound 7 Home 11 Asssumption 23 Home 17 Macon 22 Away

Christian County Tournament Jan. 26-30 18 Taylorville 41

8 Assumption 43 Away 20 Strasburg 12 Home

. Assumption Tournament Feb . 8-9 24 Ramsey 32 l� Macon 26 12 Macon 23 Home

7 Bethany 27 Home 12 Rosamond 27 Away 26 Mt. Auburn 14 Home


coach: William W11ite Record: 8-12 Coaches' Cumulative Record: 8-12

Summary

One of the more memorable games of the season was with Macon.

Stonington lost 22-17 with Earl White scoring fifteen of the seventeen

21

Stonington points. (3) White, however, missed the Assumption game because

of disciplinary action and Stonington lost 43-8. (4)

Several members of the squad had to play consecutive games with

Macon on February 8 and 15 with very sore arms because they had received

small pox vaccinations. ( 5 )

The scores were taken from the Decatur Herald.

Varsity JGhn Bandy

·Fred Bandy Harold Beaty Albert Bollinger Robert Cahill Allen Crist

Team Members Tullio DeMichael Orval Moore Sherman Taylor Earl White

1929-1930

Introduction

Prospects for a successful season appeared good with the return

of seven members of last year's varsity squad.

Nov. 23 Nov. 30 Dec. 6 Dec. 13 Dec. 16 Dec. 20 Jan. 4 Jan. 7 Jan. 8 Jan. 11 Jan. 14 Jan. 18 Jan. 21

Jan. 28 Jan. 30 Feb. 7 Feb. 11 Feb. 14 Feb. 21 Feb. 25 Feb. 28

Stonington 34 LaPlace 5 Home 13 09onee 11 Away 12 Morrisonville 11 Away 25 Mt. Auburn 8 Home 17 Owaneco 14 Away 27 Bethany 15 Home 31 Owaneco 5 Home 37 Rosamond 19 Away 29 Moweaqua 16 Home 36 Tower Hill 17 Home 11 Tower Hill 9 Away 21 Mt. Zion 8 Home 23 Moweaqua 29 Away

Christian County Tournament Jan. 23-25 20 18 14 28 20 33 23 20 27 23 28

District 12

Owaneco Assumption Taylorville Niantic Morrisonville Blue Mound Mt. Zion Mt. Auburn Decatur "B11 Blue Mound Bethany

Tournament March 6-9 Clinton

13 28 1 5 {Fourth place) 21 Away 10 Home 15 Home 19 Away

8 Home 20 OT Home 12 Away 16 Away

13 OT

Coach: William White Record: 21-4 Coaches' CU.I:lulative Record: 29-16

Summary

Stonington enjoyed one of its most successful seasons with the

22

1929-30 squad compiling a 21-4 record. It was the first twenty victory

season in the school's history. The Reds breezed· through the regular

season with a 20-1 record but didn't fare as well in tow.·naments.

One of the most unforgettable games of the season was a 27-20

overtime victory over the Decatur Reserves. With four starters Crist,

23

DeMichael, Bandy, and Bu.:: ·:.ooking on from the bench because of missing

school that day, Stoning· . played Decatur even through regulation time.

Wi.th Decatur's varsity coach Gay Kintner looking.on, Coach White inserted

his four benched regulars for the overtime period . DeMichael and a

Decatur player 'Jere ejected in the first minute of overtime for rough-

ness but Stonington went on to win 27-20.(42)

Stonington and Blue Mound began play for the Blue Stone Trophy.

The trophy, furnished by the fans, would go to the first team to win

five games from the other . ( 42 )

The scores were taken from the 1930 Red and White Scrapbook.

Varsity Team Richard Armstrong Fred Bandy· John Bandy Harold Beaty Albert Bollinger

Members Lloyd Buis Allen Crist Tullio DeMichael Norman Markwell Orval Moore

1930-1931

Introduction

New coach George Harper had five players from last year ' s team returning

for the 1930-31 season.

Stonington Dec. 4 26 Mt. Auburn 11 Home Dec. 12 20 Morrisonville 19 Home Dec. 16 21 St . Teresa 10 Away Dec. 18 28 Owaneco 9 Home Dec. 19 20 Blue Mound 18 Away Dec. 23 21 Tower Hill 19 Away Jan. 9 20 Bethany 22 Away Jan. 16 13 St . Teresa 11 Home Jan. 17 12 Illiopolis 28 Away Jan. 23 27 Morrisonville 19 Away Jan. 27 14 Blue Mound 19 Home

Assumption Tournament Jan . 29-Feb. 2 19 Assumption 21 28 Mt . Zion 11 24 Assumption 21 17 Findlay 18 - oT (Fourth place )

Christian County Tournament Feb. 6-7 21 Assumption 16 22 Edinburg 17 22 Taylorville 18 (First plac e )

Feb . 13 23 Bethany 16 Home Feb. 14 37 Mt . Auburn 7 Away Feb. 18 15 Illiopolis 16 Home Feb. 20 19 Assumption 24 Away Feb. 27 21 Tower Hill 14 Home

District Tournament March 2-6 12 Decatur 36

Coach: George Harper Record : 16-8 Coaches ' Cumulative Record: 16-8

Summary

The 1930-31 season turned out to ba a banner one for Stonington

High School . The team finished with a 16-8 record.

The Reds finished fourth in the Assumption Tourney as they were

defeated in overtime 18-17 by Findlay. However , the highlight of the

season came the next week at the Christian County Tourney. Stonington

played a favored Taylorville squad for the championship. With Norman

Markwell hitting six of eight shots in the sec·::nd half, Stonington

25

ca.me from behind to register a 22-18 victory . � Fred Bandy was selected

to the first team of the tournament all-star - . (6)

Stonington was eliminated from · the Distr:i 'rourna.ment by Gay

Kintner' s Decatur squad in a memorable game. .�t.onington was being

soundly beaten and had four players fouled out with all other players

ineligible to play because of the substitution rules of that time when

a Stonington player was ejected for roughing up Decatur ' s Ray Rex. This

meant Stonington had to play the remainder· of the game with four players.

Seeing this, Coach Kintner removed one of his players so that the game

could be finished with four players on each tea.m. (7 )


Varsity Richard Armstrong Fred Bandy John Bandy Lucian Collenbarger Max Larrick

Team Members Norman Markwell Orval Moore Bert Ogden Lester Pollock Andrew Ritchie

2 6

1931-1932

Introduct ion

The 1931-32 season was a rebuilding year for Stonington because

only two lettermen returned from Coach Harper ' s successful 1930-31 team.

Stonington Nov. 25 8 Owaneco 16 Home Dec . 4 12 Harvel 10 Home Dec . 8 7 Mt . Auburn 6 Away Dec . 11 9 Bethany 38 Home

Dec . 16 7 Macon 26 Home Dec . 18 10 Morrisonville 31 Away Dec . 22 14 Warrensburg 17 Home Jan . 5 8 Assumption 29 Away Jan . 8 17 Mt . Auburn 15 Home Jan . 13 8 Morr isonville 14 Home Jan . 15 10 Bethany 35 Away Jan . 20 12 Illiopolis 52 Away Jan. 22 12 Rosamond 13 Home Jan . 26 11 Blue Mound 23 Home·

As sumption Tournament Jan . 29-30 10 Owaneco 21

Feb. 2 11 Macon 18 Away Christian Collllty Tournament Feb . 4-5 15 Owaneco 26

Feb . 9 8 Blue Mound 15 Away Feb . 12 15 Assumption 17 Home

Feb . 17 16 Illiopolis 14 Home

Feb. 19 10 Warrensburg 27 Away Feb . 24 10 Edinburg 23 Home

District Tournament March 1-5 11 Maroa 21

Coac h : George Harper Record: 4-19 Coache s ' Cumulative Record: 20-27

SUIDIIlary

After winning two of the first three game s , the Reds suffered a

stretch of games where they lost fourteen of fifteen games going on to

finish with a 4-19 record.

One of the highlights of the season was a 16-14 upset of Illiopolis

on a basket by Earl Krieger in the last thirty seconds of the garne . ( 8 )

Illiopolis had beaten Stonington 52-12 earlier in the year .

The scores were taken from the Decatur Herald .

Varsity Team Members Roy Allen Berle Beaty Robert Beaty Rex Brown Kenneth Coffey

Roy Corzine Lucian Collenuarger

1932-1933

Introduction

Earl Krieger Max .Larr:lck Bert Ogden

Carroll Peabody Scott Ih tchie

Halden Traughber

The team o f 19.32-33 looked forward to improving upon its 4-19 mark

of last year . Coach Harper had a number of players with varsity

experience.

Stonington Dec. 2 15 Owaneco 23 Home Dec. 7 29 Edinburg 4 Home Dec . 9 7 Bethany 25 Away Dec . 13 18. Illiopolis 19 Away Dec. 17 17 Taylorville 18 Home Dec . 20 33 Blue Mound 22 Away Dec. 29 28 Morrisonville 29 Away Jan. 3 18 Macon 19 Away Jan . 10 21 Kincaid 13 Away Jan. 13 24 Moweaqua 19 Away Jan . 18 23 Morrisonville 24 Home

Christian County Tournament Feb. 2-4 7 Taylorvill e 36

Feb. 7 10 Illiopolis 24 Home Feb. 10 13 Bethany 19 Home Feb. 14 21 Rosamond 23 Away Feb. 21 34 Moweaqua 28 Home Feb. 24 17 As sumption 27 Away Mar . 1 26 Kincaid 9 Home


Coach : George Harper Record: 8-13 Coaches ' Cumulative Recor d : 28-40

27

Summary ·

The Reds showed signs of being a good team but had trouble winning

the close games. Five games were lost by a point and two more by two

points .

Stonington ' s upset of Macon moved the Reds into second place in the

Meridian Conference. (9)

One of the more disappointing losse·s was a two point loss to

Macon in the District Tourney. Stonington blew a four point lead in the

last two minutes. (10)


Varsity Robert Beaty Rex Brown Kenneth. Coffey Jack Cook

Team Members Tom Doyle Loren Larrick Carroll Peabody Norman Sckowska

1933-1934

Introduction

With a large number of returning players , C.oach Harper had a team

with experience.

Stonington competed in the County Tourney but did not compete in

the Assumption Tournament as they had done in years past .

Stonington Dec. 4 20 Owaneco 31 Home Dec. 5 9 Mt . Auburn 10 Home Dec . 8 20 Taylorville 42 Away Dec . 12 11 Clinton 31 Away Dec . 15 15 Blue Mound 14 Away Dec . 19 7 Moweaqua 27 Away Dec. 22 20 Macon 16 Home Dec . 28 5 Tay�orville 36 Home Jan. 3 5 · Mt. Auburn 15 Away Jan . 5 20 Bethany 18 Home Jan. 9 16 Owaneco 23 Away Jan. 12 24 Morrisonville 17 Home Jan . 16 23 Illiopolis 18 Away Jan. 19 34 Macon 18 Away Jan . 24 10 Assumption 21 Away Jan. 26 12 Clinton 26 Home

Christ ian County Tournament Feb. 2-4 15 Pana 20

Feb. 6 18 Bethany 27 Away Feb. 9 25 Blue Mound 27 Away Feb. 13 16 Moweaqua 19 Home Feb. 16 22 Morrisonville 24 Away Feb. 23 7 Assumption 13 Home Feb. 27 11 Illiopolis 30 Home

District Tournament Feb. 28-March 2 20 Maroa 25

Coach: George Harper Record: 6-18 Coaches ' Cumulative Record: 34-58

Summary

The season was an up and down one for Stonington. After losing

the first four game s , the Reds went o n , in one stretch, to win four of

six games and climb into first place _in the Meridian Conference . ( 11)

29

The· suc c e s s was short lived as Stoninston proceeded to lose the last

ten games o f the season.

The aforementioned losing streak was almost b�·oken in a game at

Morrisonville as· Stonington scored 14 o f their 22 poir!ts in the last

period to fall two points short 24-22 . (J.2 )

The Reds captured the Blue Stone Trophy by virtue o f their Yictory

over Blue Mound.

Dec . Dec . Dec . Dec. Dec . Dec. Jan .

Jan . Jan.

Jan. Feb. Feb. Feb. Feb . Feb . Feb. Feb. Mar . Mar .

Varsity Team Members Robert Beaty Loren Larrick Robert Brauer Carroll Peabody Rex Brown Homer Phares Olin Coffey Dwight Pollock Harold Deibert John Pollock Tom Doyle Leno Tabacchi Keith Kincaid Halden Traughber

1934'-1935' .

Introduction

Seven player s returned from last year ' s varsity squad .

Stonington 6 1 3 Edinburg 2 3 Home

7 9 Decatur 1 9 Home 8 16 Mt . Auburn 17 Away

14 19 Morrisonville 17 Home 15 17 Raymond 29 Home 2 0 24 Blue Mound 48 Away

4 8 Edinb't�rg 1 8 Away 5 28 Mt . Auburn 9 Home

10 26 Macon 32 Home Meridian Tournament Jan. 22-25

6 O\o/'aneco 13 2 5 1 4 Morrisonville 25 Away

1 1 9 Pana 41 Away 6 15 Assumption 33 Home 8 22 Blue Mound 32 Home

1 2 1 2 Moweaqua 17 Home 15 5 Owaneco 19 Away 19 13 Moweaqua 34 Away 2 2 8 Assumption 33 Away

1 20 Raymond 40 Away 6 20 Niantic 10 Home

30

District Tournament March 7-11 9 Dec a turn 55

Coach : George Harper Record : 3-18 Coaches' Cumµlative Record: 37-76

Summary

The Reds finished the year with only victories over Morrisonvill e ,

Mt. Auburn , and Niantic . This was the first year that a Meridian

Conference Tournament was held .

31

This was Coach Harpe r ' s last season as Stonington. High ' s basketball

coach.

The scores were· taken from the 1935 Stony Echoes .

. . Varsity Lawrence Allen Sam Boldini Olin Coffey Harold Deibert Tom Doyle

Team Members Pete Marucco Keith Peabody Dwight Pollock John Pollock. Robert Smith Halden Traughber

Chapter 4

THE COACHING ERAS OF JOE WYLDER AND FRED REUTER

1935-1936

Introduction

Coach Joe Wylder had most of the players from the previous year

returning for the 1935-36 season. Coach Wylder was looking to improve

upon the 3-18 record as he embarked on his first year of coaching at

Stonington.

Stonington Dec. 3 27 Rosamond 24 Home Dec. 6 20 Edinburg 11 Home Dec. 10 20 Owaneco 23 Away Dec. 18 15 Morrisonville 23 Home Dec. 20 21 Blue Mound 20 Away Jan. 3 21 Mt . Auburn 28 Away

Meridian Tournament Jan. 8-12 12 Asswnption 18

Jan. 14 43 Owaneco 19 Home Jan. 21 29 Mt. Auburn 19 Home

South Fork Tournament Jan . 16-18 49 Morrisonville 18 24 Mt . Auburn 18 28 Harvel 24 ( First plac e )

Christian County Tournament Jan . 30-Feb . 1 13 Taylorville 49 27 Ball Twp . 8

Feb. 3 28 Illiopolis 35 Away Feb. 7 49 Blue Mound 17 Home Feb. 8 25 Macon 36 Away Feb . 11 26 Rsaroond 21 Away Feb . 14 16 Macon 27 Home Feb . 19 31 Morrisonville 30 Away Feb. 21 18 Illiopolis 20 Home

District Tournament Feb . 26-28 37 WilliaJnsville 18 22 Riverton 25 39 Pawnee 12 ( Third plac e )

Regional Tournament March 4-5 18 Riverton 23

Coach : Joe 'dylder Record: 14-11 Coaches' Cwm..:.lative Record: 14-11

Summary

Coach Wylder ' s first year was a successful one as the tea� posted

a winning record for the first year since 1931-32 .

The . Reds captured the South Fork Tourney as well as finishing

third in the District Tournament. That year the top three tea.ms in the

District qualified for the Regional Tourna.ment . ( 13) R iverton defeated

33

Stonington in the semifinals of the District and then defeated Stoni.ngton

again in the first round of the Regional .

The scores were taken from the Decatur Herald and the 1936 Stony

Echoes .

Varsity Team Members Sam Boldini Olin Coffey Harold Deibert Maggio Marucco Pete Marucco

Keith Peabody John Pollock Dorris Robinson Robert Smith Leno Tabacchi

1936-1937

Introduction

Coach Wylder had six of his top ten ball players b;:: \: for duty in

1936-37 season . The Reds hoped to improve upon the fourteen victories

of last season.

Stonington Nov. 24 47 Edinburg 1 5 Away Nov. 27 19 Palmyra 23 Away Dec. 1 35 Rosamond 14 Away Dec. 2 47 Harvel 21 Away Dec. 4 27 Mt. Auburn 9 Home Dec . 8 9 Illiopolis 26 Away Dec. 11 22 As sumpt ion 12 Home Dec. 16 20 Morrisonville 28 Away Dec. 18 4 0 Blue Mound 25 Home Dec. 23 50 Owaneco 17 Home Dec. 29 25 Palmyra 31 Away Jan. 2 16 Kincaid 31 Away

Meridian Tournament Jan. 5-8 26 Moweaqua 28

Jan . 12 50 Owaneco 22 Away Jan . 19 25 As sumption 26 Away Jan. 22 27 Illiopolis 23 Home Jan. 26 20 Kincaid 16 Home Jan . 29 34 Edinburg 17 Home

South Fork Tournament Feb. 3-5 33 Harvel 28 11 Mt . Auburn 17 24 Owaneco 19 ( Third place )

Chri stian County Tournament Feb. 2-5 29 Mt. Auburn 22 30 Owaneco 10 22 Morrisonville 24 35 Assumption 23 ( Third plac e )

Feb . 9 34 Rosamond 24 Home Feb. 12 36 Blue Mound 18 Away Feb. 17 34 Morrisonville 20 Home Feb. 19 31 Mt . Auburn 11 Away

District Tournament Feb. 24-27 61 Owaneco 16 27 Nokomis 28 60 Blue Mound 24

Regional �ournament March 3-6 24 Witt 26

Coac h : Joe Wylder Record : 20-13 Coache s ' Cumulative Record: 34-24

34

Summary

Coach Wylder's 1936-37 sq_uad had a very successful season as they

finished third in the South Fork, Christian County, and District Tourna-

ments. The third place finish in the District enabled Stonington to

qualify for the Regional Tournament for the second year in a row.

Witt ended the Red ' s season with a 26-24 victory in the Regional

but not before Stonington gave Witt a scare. Trailing by seven points

going into the final q_uarter, Stonington made a furious comeback that

fell two points short as Stonington outscored Witt 11-6 in the final

quarter . ( 14)


Varsity Team Sam Boldini Pat Coady Olin Coffey Walter Dexheimer James Heninger

Members Maggio Marucco Pete Marucco John Pollock Dorris Robinson Robert Smith

35

193'(-1938

Int1 'iction

With eight players graduatiL 'm last year ' s team theYe were many

positions to fill in this year 1 s "

·' . However , in the= last two years

the junior varsity teams were urn:t· ated . ( 63) Coach Wylder was blessed.

with a great deal of height with iour of the first five players six fee�

tall or more. (15)

Stonington

Nov. 19 30 Edinburg lli Home

Nov. 23 18 Mt . Auburn 14 Away

Nov . 30 37 Palmyra 18 Home

Dec . 3 22 Illiopol i s 20 OT Away

Dec . 7 25 Blue Mound 21 Home

Dec. 10 26 Harvel 17 Away

Dec. 14 37 Morrisonville 21 Home

Dec. 17 30 A s sumption 20 Home Dec. 21 36 Owaneco 17 Away

Mreidian Tournament Jan . 5-8 30 Macon 17 20 .Moweaqua 27 33 A s sumption 22 ( Third place )

Jan. 11 35 Findlay 22 Home Jan. 14 24 Macon 19 Away Jan. 18 22 A s sumption 21 Away Jan. 21 48 Rosamond 25 Home Jan. 22 40 Edinburg 18 Away Jan. 25 32 Mt . Auburn 25 Home Jan. 28 40 Kincaid 25 Home

Chr i stian County Tournament Feb. 1-4 53 Rosamond 10 46 Owaneco 13 26 Kincaid 17

Feb. 20 Taylorville 33 ( Second place )

8 34 Illiopolis 22 Home Feb. 11 30 Blue Mound 18 Away Feb. 15 38 Rosamond 19 Away Feb. 18 4 5 Morrisonville 11 Away Feb. 21 31 Findlay 21 Away Regional Tournament F'e b . 24-28

30 Tri City 32

;oach · J · oe Wylder Recor d : 26-3 Coache s ' Cumulative Rec ord : 60-27

Summary

The 1937-38 season was a highly successful one. Up to that point

in the history of basketaball at Stonington High School, the team set

37

records for raost victories in a season and. for highest -.rinning p(;rcenta;�e .

The team was undefeated in all non-tournament regular season games . Jl_ll

three losses carne in tournament play .

One of the bi€:rnest games occured i� the semifinals of the Meridian

Tourney when Stonington met Moweaqua . Both tea.ms were unbeaten and the

game pitted Stonington's size against Moweaqua ' s 'speed and quickness . ( 16 )

On that occasion, speed and quickness prevailed as Moweaqua handed

Stonington their first loss of the season 27-20 .

Even though the team had a very good season, with the first Meridian

Conference Championship in the school ' s history, the season was not with-

out its disappointments . Stonington did not have to play in district

competition but advanced directly to the Decatur Regional Tournament .

Their first opponent in the tourney was Tri City, the winner of the

Niantic District { l7 ) The game looked like it belonged to Stonington as

they outscored Tri City for three quarters 27-19 . However, Tri City

mounted a comeback in the final quarter to tie and then go ahead to win

32-30.

Jim Heninger won the Meridian Conference scoring title amassing

131 points in 11 conference games . ( 19)

The scores were taken from the 1938 Stony Echoes .

Varsity Team Members Louis Briggs Gorden Peabody Lawrence Cowell James Peabody Francis Crown Walter Dexheimer Robert Graham James Henineer Dale Larrick

Dorris Robinson Russell Yates Lyle Young Maurice Young

1938-1939

Introduction

The 1938-39 season was a rebuilding one for Coach Wylder and 'his

Stonington Reds . Seven players were gone from the record setting 1937-38

team.

Stonington

Nov. 29 21 Illiopolis 28 Away Dec. 2 34 Owaneco 18 Home

Dec . 6 7 Mt . Auburn 12 Home Dec . 9 22 Illiopolis 24 Home Dec . 13 25 Rosamond 21 Away Dec. 14 26 Palmyra 47 Away

Dec . 16 26 Morrisonville 15 Home Dec. 20 24 As sumpt ion 32 Away

Dec. 23 27 Blue Mound 30 Away

Meridian Tournament Jan . 4-7 26 Assumption 40

Jan . 10 30 Assumpt ion 34 Home

Jan . 13 26 Kincaid 49 Away

Jan . 17 24 Morrisonville 28 Away

Jan. 20 32 Macon 16 Away

Jan. 24 29 Edinburg 15 Home

Jan. 27 14 Mt . Auburn 19 Away

Christian County Tournament Feb . 4-7 17 Kincaid 40

Feb. 7 28 Rochester 19 Away

Feb. 10 18 Blue Mound 19 OT Home

Feb. 14 31 Rosamond 41 Home

Feb. 17 22 Harvel 36 Away

Feb. 21 67 Macon 21 Home

Regional Tournament March 2-5 19 . Cerro Gordo 29

Coach: Joe Wylder Record: 7-16 Coac hes1 Cumualtive Record: 67-43

Summary

The 1938-39 team could not overcome the short comings in .experience

as the team compiled a 7-16 record.

Maurice Young was a standout scorer. for the team. He scored 37

points in the final Meridian Conference gume t o cop the conference

38

scoring title. ( 20) H i s 37 points was also a conference record for· most

points in a game as well as a school record for points in one game . ( 64 )


Varsity Team Members Richard Akins Robert McCormick Tom Bro'm Junior 0 ' Dell Jack_ Coffey Gorden Peabody Pat Doyle Paul Solliday Billie Eubanks Dwight Woolhouse Lear Godbey James Woolhouse Ira Hall Rus sell Yates LaVerne Johnson Lyle Young Julie Lorenzini Maurice Young Andy Marucco

39

1939-1940

Introduction

Seven of the nine letterm'en from the 1938-'39 squad were on the

1939-40 team. The Reds figured to improve upon last yea.r ' s record.

Stonington Nov. 28 30 Edinburg 24 Away Dec . 1 29 Rochester 15 Home Dec . 5 40 Owaneco 9 Home Dec . 8 27 Sullivan 37 Home Dec . 12 56 Illiopolis 27 Home Dec . 15 23 Moweaqua 32 Away Dec. 19 42 Morrisonville 30 Home Dec. 22 27 Rosamond 33 Away

Meridian Tournament Jan . 3-6 26 Blue Mound 23 29 Findlay 27 25 Assumption 34 28 Morrisonville 31 ( Fourth place )

Jan. 9 28 Blue Mound 21 Home Jan . 1.2 30 Moweaqua 29 Home Jan. 16 26 Mt . Auburn 21 Home Jan . 19 39 Macon 28 Home Jan . 23 27 Morrisonville 49 Away Jan. 26 41 Illiopolis 25 Away

Christian County Tournament Feb. 3-6 35 Rosamond 33 21 Assumption 19 27 Morrisonville 32 ( Second place )

Feb. 10 40 Edinburg 18 Home Feb . 13 38 Rosamond 25 Home Feb. 17 29 Blue Mound 27 Away Feb. 20 32 Mt . Auburn 27 Away Feb. 23 38 Harvel 34 Away

District Tournament Feb. 25-28 17 Niantic 18

Coach : Joe Wylder Record : 19-8 Coache s ' Cumulative Record: 86-51

Sununary

The 1939-40 season was another success for Coach Joe Wylder. The

40

team finished third in the Meridian Conference and fourth in the Meridian

Tourney as well as second in the Christian County Tourney.

Morrisonville turned out to be a nemesis for the Reds . After beating

Morrison\· .klle 42-30 in their first meeting, Morrisonville went on to

defeat Stonington three straight tim� s . Once in regular seaso!l play ,

once for third place in the conference tourney , and once for the

championship of the county tourney.


Varsity Team Members Richard Akins Ray Johnson Jack Coffey Bill Klay Jack Crist Junior Kline Ben Doyle Julie Lorenzini Billie Eubanks Andy Mar.ucco Art Gebhart Bob Smith Lear Godbey Paul Solliday Joe Graham Richard Yates Ira Hall Russell Yates Laverne Johnson Maurice Young

Introduction

Coach Wylder had a total of six lettermen back from the 1939-40

team. Coach Wylder possessed one of the tallest players in the state

in 6 1 11" Bill Klay.

Stonington Nov . · 27 21 Edinburg 20 Away Nov ... 30 32 Mt . Auburn 14 Home Dec . 3 33 Macon 18 · Home Dec . 6 44 Illiopolis 18 Home Dec. 10 50 Owaneco 17 Home Dec . 13 30 Moweaqua 32 Away Dec . 17 36 Blue Mound 26 Away Dec . 20 20 Sullivan 38 Home

Meridian Tournament Jan . 2-5 29 Tower Hill 42

Jan . 10 38 Morrisonville 30 Home Jan . 11 37 Mt . Auburn 20 Away Jan . 14 33 Tower Hill 47 Away Jan. 17 31 Owaneco 33 Away Jan . 21 23 Illiopolis 22 Away Jan . 24 37 Harvel 18 Home Jan . 27 39 Blue Mound 24 Home

41

42

Christian County Tournament Feb. 1-4 16 Rosamond 28

Feb. 8 22 · Findlay 35 Away Feb. 11 32 Edinburg 28 Home Feb. 15 16 Assumption 24 Home Feb. 18 26 · Morrisonville 30 Away Feb . 22 21 Argenta 26 Away

Regional . Tournament March 3-7 32 Cerro · Gordo 36

Coach: Joe Wylder Record: 12-11 Coache.s ' Cumulative Record: 98-62

· Summary

The 1940-41 season was proof of what illness , injury, and ineligi-

bility can do to what promised to be a very solid team. After winning

eight of the first ten games ,. Stonington won only four of the remaining .·

thirteen games. Russell Yates , Stonington ' s center , graduated in the

middle of the season . (65 )

Once again Stonington did not play in the District Tournament but

advanced directly to the Regional Tourney to play Cerro Gordo. With

guards Andy Marucco and Julie Lorenzini out because of illne s s , Stonington

had their season end. (65 )

The scores were taken from the· 1941 Stony Echoes.

Var.sity Team Members Phillip Buckmire Julie Lorenzini Jack Crist Andy Marucco Art Gebhart Robert Smith Lear Godbey Paul Solliday Ira Hall Richard Yates Bill Klay Russell Yates

43 1941-1942

Introduction

!'few coach Fred Reuter had a total of three lettermen with which

to build a team. The number of lettermen would have been higher , however ,

Lear Godbey and Jack Crist joined the Army in October . ( 6 6 ) Godbey was

last year ' s le�ding scorer . ( 65 )

Stonington Nov. 28 24 Mt. Auburn 23 Away Dec . 5 14 Macon 54 Away Dec. 9 25 Illiopolis 40 Away Dec . 12 30 Tower Hill 54 Away Dec. 16 23 Mt . Auburn 14 Home Dec . 19 26 Blue Mound 37 Home Dec . 20 25 St . James 34 Home

Meridian Tournament Jan. 4-7 27 . Illiopolis 39

Jan. 10 25 Rosamond 53 Away· Jan. 17 31 Blue Mound 27 Away Jan. 24 36 Findlay 46 Home

Christian County Tournament Feb. 3-6 16 Edinburg 28

Feb. 15 34 Edinburg 40 Home Feb . 19 32 Harvel 29 Home Feb. 22 18 Assumption 31 Home

District Tournament Feb. 26-March l 14 Tri City 61

Coac h : Fred Rueter Record: 4-12 Coaches ' Cumulative Record : 4-12

Summary

The team couldn ' t overcome the loss of some key players as the team

suffered through a 4-12 season. Stonington defeated Mt . Auburn twice

and Blue Mound and Harvel for their four victories.

Varsity Team Members Dale Blakeman Bill Hartel Brad Bollinger Junior Crist Joe Doyle Bill Emmerling Art Gebhart Ira Hall

Leonal Lemaire John Nolen Robert Smith Keith Young Kenneth Young Allen Younl�er

Chapter 5

THE COACHING ERAS OF VON ARMER , HARLEY CULBERSON, AND MIKE CORBY

1942-1943

Introduction

New coach Von Armer had most of last year ' s varsity squad returning

for duty in the 1942-43 season . Stonington hoped to improve upon last

year ' s 4-12 record.

Under coach Armer , Stonington had an expanded schedule of twenty-

three regular season games plus the Meridian , County , and District ·

tournament s .

Stonington began play in a new gym that had been constructed at

the grade school . (7 5 )

Stonington Nov. 17 32 Nov. 20 27 Nov. 23 43 Nov. 24 26 Dec . 1 25 Dec . 2 4 4 Dec . 5 36 Dec. 8 41 Dec . 11 31 Dec. 15 16 Dec . 18 28

Meridian 25

Jan. 12 40 Jan . 15 37 Jan. 19 44 Jan. 22 38 Jan. 23 31

Edinburg Maroa Mt . Auburn Rosamond Macon Cerro Gordo Illiopolis Tower Hill Decatur 11B11 Moweaqua Blue Mound

Tournament Jan. 7-9 Macon Illiopolis Rosamond Tower Hill Mt . Auburn Decatur 11B11

Christian County Tournament Jan. 33 Rosamond

44

2 3 Away 38 Away 28 Away 24 Away 32 Home 30 Away 31 Away 32 Away 28 Away 33 Away 24 Away

41 29 Home 25 Home 20 Home 19 Home 45 Away

26-28 23

1�5 Stonington

32 Kincaid 34 31 Morrisonville 23 (Third place )

Feb. 3 4 1 Morrisonville 29 Away Feb. 5 37 Blue Mound 20 Home Feb. 9 38 Findlay 20 Away Feb. 12 74 Edinburg 15 Home Feb. "1 6 42 Assumption 25 Home Feb. 17 27 Kincaid 25 Home Feb. 19 47 . Moweaqua 22 Home

District Tournament Feb. 23-26 .

42 Latham 21 28 Niantic 34

Coac h : Von Armer Record : 22-7 Coache s ' Cumulative Record : 22-7

Swnmary

Coach Armer enjoyed a successful initial campaign at Stonington as

his squad finished at 22-7 for the season . . The team was the champion of

the Meridian Conference by virtue of their 47-22 win over Moweaqua in

the regular season finale . ( 21)

There were some outstanding individual performances as Charles Crist

scored sixteen of his team ' s thirty-three points as Stonington beat

Morrisonville for third place in the Christian County Tourney . ( 24 )

Keith Young made eight of nine first half shots in Stonington ' s 38-20

victory over Findlay . ( 25 ) Three days after the Findlay game Crist hit

for 25 points and Young for 24 points as Stonington demolished Illiopolis

74-15 . ( 26 ) The 74 points was also a school record for most points in a

game .

The scores were taken tro n the Decatur Herald.

Varsity Team Members Dale Blakeman Bernard Peabody Charles Crist Connie Yates Art Gebhart Keith Young Leonel Lemaire

1943-1944_

Introduction

Keith Young was the only letterman on the squad frc:1 the 191�2-4 3 "

team . Coach Armer , however, hoped to build a team f·r, .�'.: some talented

underclassmen.

Stonington Nov. 16 30 · � 1rrisonvill '"2 Away Nov. 19 51 ·� . Auburn 32 Away Nov. 24 29 ,-�osamond 47 Away Nov. 26 23 St . Teresa 42 Away Nov. 29 30 Macon 39 Away Nov. 30 39 Illiopolis 33 Away Dec. 1 57 Edinburg 19 Home Dec . 3 30 Illiopolis 34 Home Dec . 7 33 Tower Hill 18 Home Dec . 10 28 Assumption 50 Home Dec . 14 32 Moweaqua 34 Away Dec . 15 35 Macon 31 Home Dec. 17 15 Blue Mound 50 Away Dec . 21 21 St . Teresa 50 Home

Meridian Tournament Jan. 5-8 32 Tower Hill 3 3

Jan. 11 27 Moweaqua 40 Away Jan . 12 47 Maroa 22 Home Jan . 14 46 Edinburg 27 Away Jan. 18 25 Blue Mound 50 Home Jan. 19 22 Rosamond 27 Home Jan. 21 36 Mt . Auburn 29 Home

Christian County Tournament Jan . 26-29 63 Owaneco 13 37 Rosamond 23 27 Mt . Auburn 15 26 Kincaid 42 ( Second place )

Feb . l 46 Morrisonville 38 Home Feb. 4 41 Blue Mound 53 Home Feb. 8 40 Findlay 36 Home Feb. 9 36 Niantic 34 Home Feb. 11 33 Kincaid 48 Away Feb . 15 28 Assumption 68 Away Feb . 18 27 Moweaqua 24 Home Feb . 19 25 Blue Mound 42 Away Feb .. 21 27 Moweaqua 40 Away

District Tournament Feb. 23-25 25 Macon 21 15 Blue Mound 21

Coac h : Von Armer Record : 16-20 Coaches ' Cumulative Record : 38-27

46

Summary

Stonington compiled a 16-20 record for the season. The team' s top

achievement of the season was a second. place finish in the County

Tournament .

47

Keith Ycu�g and Bill Emmerling were the top scorers of the team. ( 53 )

Young hit a career high 31 points against Maroa . ( 53 )

In one of the most memorable games o f the season , Stonington

traveled to Blue Mound to face their arch rivals . Keith Young was

ejected in the first half by the referee s . In the minds of the Stoning-

ton fan s , the ejection was not warranted. Bill Emmerling also fouled

out in the first half much to the chagrin of Stonington fans . Blue

Mound went on to swamp Stonington 50-15. After the game a group of

irate Stonington supporters chased the referees off the floor . The

referees took refuge ina second floor room where they remained until

it was safe to leave . ( 4 4 )

The scores were taken from the 1944 Red and White Scrapbook.

Varsity Richard Allen Ralph Blair Robert Covington Joe Doyle Bill Emmerling

Team Members Roy Klay John McAvoy John Nolen Clarence Woods Keith Young

1944-1945

Introduction

Coach Armer had only two members of the 1943-44 tew� returning.

Roy Klay was the only player with considerable varsity experience .

Stonington Nov. 18 14 Morrisonville 47 Away Nov. 25 25 Mt . Zion 35 Home Nov. 28 30 Illiopolis 36 Away Nov. 29 28 Kincaid 4 5 Home Dec. 1 27 Macon 56 Away Dec. 5 41 Tower Hill 19 Home Dec. 8 30 Assumption 55 Away Dec. 12 29 Moweaqua 20 Away Dec. 13 38 Mt . Auburn 21 Home Dec . 15 26 Blue Mound 50 Away Dec . 19 23 Mt . Zion 46 Away

Meridian Tournament Jan . 4-7 25 Assumption 45

Jan. 9 31 Illiopolis 21 Home Jan . 12 36 Rosamond 30 Home Jan. 16 48 Tower Hill 21 Away Jan. 19 25 Macon 41 Away

Christian County Tournament Jan . 24-26 22 Assumption 45

Feb. 1 21 Morrisonville 40 Home Feb. 2 31 Blue Mound 35 Home Feb. 6 28 Findlay 42 Away Feb. 7 39 Edinburg 29 Home Feb. 9 20 Niantic 53 Away Feb . 13 33 Assumption 62 Home Feb. 16 45 Moweaqua 30 Home

District Tournament Feb. 20-23 36 Macon 54

Coach: Von Armer Record: 8-17 Coaches' Cumulative Record : 46-44

Summary

Coach Armer's team suffered through an 8-17 season but some young

players gained some needed experience . This team was primarily a junior

laden team.

One of the highlights of the season was Roy IG.ay ' s 23 points

48

against Macon in the District Tournament . ( 27 )

The school changed its team n�ckname from the Reds to the Wildcats .

The name was changed because of' the Communistic connotations of the

word "Reds" . ( 7 5 )


Va�sity Team Memb�:r s Loren Allen George Blakeman Robert Covington Jim Darnell Ray Fischer

7om Godbey y Klay

· Moore .. :� ck Smith

49

50 1945-1946

Introduction

New coach Harley· Culberson had all the ingredients for a successful

team. The 1945-46 squad had a great deal of size and the needed experi-

ence in varsity competition. Roy Klay , Stonington ' s 6 ' 6" cent er ,

returned for a third year of varsity duty . ( 2 )

Stonington Nov. 13 41 Edinburg 29 Away Nov. 17 44 Morrisonville 24 Home Nov . 24 67 Mt. Auburn 9 Home Nov. 27 47 Rosamond 36 Home Nov. 28 33 Macon 38 Away Dec . 1 35 Kincaid 4 5 Home Dec . 4 71 Illiopolis 21 Away Dec. 8 63 Moweaqua 37 Away Dec . 11 43· Blue Mound 35 Away. Dec . 12 49 Findlay 36 Home Dec. 15 56 Tower Hill 32 Away Dec . 18 48 Morrisonville 3 5 Away Dec . 22 50 Raymond 39 Away

Meridian Tournament Jan. 3-7 51 Maroa 14 4 4 Assumption 33 31 Macon 30 ( First place)

Jan. 8 81 Illiopolis 25 Home Jan. 11 40 Edinburg 20 Home Jan . 12 46 Rosamond 4 3 Away Jan . 1 5 60 Tower Hill 33 Home Jan. 18 54 Niantic 24 Home Jan. 19 42 Macon 4 9 Home

Christian County Tournament Jan . 23-26 42 Morrisonville 36 50 Edinburg 40 38 Kincaid 56 ( Second place )

Jan . 30 70 Mt . Auburn 24 Away Feb. 1 56 Blue Mound 41 Heme Feb . 4 54 Assumpt ion 31 Away Feb. 7 4 4 Findlay 42 Away Feb . 8 46 Niantic 37 Away Feb. 14 55 Assumpt ion 25 Home Feb. 18 51 Moweaqua 31 Home

District Tournament Feb. 24-28 55 Tri City 40 38 Latham 32 27 Macon 22 (First place)

Stonington Regional Tournament March 3-6

38 Cerro Gordo ld�

Coach: garley Culberson Record: 31-5 Coaches1 Cumulative Record: 31-5

Summary

The 1945-46 team was the most successful in terms of games won ,

winning percentage , and tournament championships in Stonington High 1 s

history . The team also scored a. s.chool record 81 points against

Illiopolis . In addition to all the team accomplishments , Roy Klay

also broke the single game scoring mark with a 47 point performance

against Illiopolis . ( 67 )

Stonington and Macon split four games during the season. Macon

won both regular season games , but Stonington came back to avenge their

first loss with a one point victory in the championship of the Meridian

Conference Tournament . Stonington then came back to defeat Macon for

the District Tournament Championship . The District title was the first

in the school ' s history.


Varsity Team Members Loren .Allen George Blakeman Richard Covington Jim Darnell Raymond Fischer

Tom Godbey Roy Klay Ralph Moore Ralph Myers Dick Smith

51

1946-1947

Introduction

Coach Culberson had five 'of the top ten players from his record.

setting 1945-46 squad returning.

Nov. 12 Nov. 16 Nov. 19 Nov. 20 Nov. 23 Nov. 30 Dec. 3 Dec. 4 Dec. 7 Dec. 10 Dec . 11 Dec . 14 Dec . 17 Dec . 18 Dec. 21 Dec . 22

Jan. 11 Jan. 18

Feb. 2 Feb . 5 Feb. 9 Feb. 12 Feb. 13 Feb. 16 Feb. 19 Feb. 20

Stonington 50 Edinburg 20 35 Pawnee 27 42 Mt. Auburn 19 49 Morrisonville 32 48 Rosamond 38 65 Illiopolis 16 26 Macon 29 40 Kincaid 68 56 Tower Hill 54 Assumption 52 Moweaqua 32 Blue Mound 40 Decatur "B" 44 Findlay 53 Rosamond 43 Edinburg Meridian Tournament Jan . 3-7 42 Tower Hill 37 Macon 33 Blue Mound 38 Tower Hill 42 Macon

Christian County Tournament Jan . 29 Kincaid 58 Mt . Auburn 28 Witt 35 Findlay 60 Illiopolis 40 Assumption 53 Moweaqua 28 Witt 47 Blue Mound

District Tournament Feb. 23-26 67 Mt . Auburn 36 Macon

22 32 41 38 50 30 43 32

22 34 4o 42 36

24-28 49 36 42 34 16 33 26 48 42

33 42

Home Home Home Away Away Away Away Away Home Home Awo.y Away Away Home Home Away

( Second place ) Away Home

Away Away Away Home Away Home Home Home

52

Coach: Harley Culberson Record: 22-10 Coaches ' Cumulative Record : 53-15

Sununary

Although this season was not as successful as last , the season

was still a very good one as the team posted a 22-10 reco·· d . .Just as

in the 1945-46 season , Macon handed Stonington their fire� �atback

after Stonington had won its first six game s .

�tonington fell to Blu<= Mound in . the championship game o f the

Meridian Tournament as the Wildcats tried for a repeat title.

The Wildcat s were eliminated in their quest for another district

tournament title by Macon . The team finished with a l0-4 conference

record.


Varsity Tea1:-i Members George Blakeman Halden IG.ine Morris Brown Fred Newcum Richard Covington Ralph Myers Don Emmerling Gerald Roth Tom Godbey Dick Smith Adolphe Jouglet

53

1947-1948

Introduction

George Blakeman along with Morris Brown and Halden I".'line comprised \;

the trio of varsity returnees for Coach Culberson. Blake::nan was a

regular as a sophomore and a junior.

Stonington Nov. 18 27 Edinburg 22 Away Nov. 21 38 Morrisonville 35 Home Nov. 22 57 Raymond 23 Home Dec . 2 63 Illiopolis 33 Away Dec . 5 32 Macon 3 3 Home Dec . 6 65 Tower 30 Home Dec . 9 38 Assumption 25 Home Dec . 10 31 Moweaqua 25 Home Dec. 13 32 Blue Mound 34 Away Dec. 16 41 Findlay 43 Away Dec. 17 37 Raymond 30 Away Dec . 20 38 Warrensburg 37 Home Dec. 21 60 Tower Hill 32 Away

Meridian Tournament Jan. 2-6 35 Assumption 31 62 Tower Hill 32 39 Macon 42 ( Second plac e )

Jan. 10 24 Moweaqua 33 Away Jan. 13 47 Mt . Auburn 32 Home Jan. 20 28 Edinburg 22 Home

Christian County Tournament Jan . 22-26 61 Edinburg 44 39 Kincaid 49 22 Morrisonville 32 ( Fourth place)

Jan. 29 59 Blue Mound 27 Home Feb. 6 3 5 Assumption h 5 Away Feb. 9 39 Moweaqua 45 Away Feb. 17 47 Mt . Auburn 43 Away

District Tournament Feb. 20-24 30 Warrensburg 36

54

Coach: Harley Culberson Record : 17-10 Coaches' Cumulative Record: 70-25

Summary

The Wildcats started fast by winning seven of the first eight

games and ten of the first thirteen. Of those three losses two were

by two poirits and one. by one point.

For the third year in a row Coach Culberson ' s team advanced to

the final of the Meridian Tourney. However , for the second year in a

row Stonj.ngton finished second as Macon edged Stonington 42-39.

Stonington ·had a 6-6 conference re·cord but an 8-0 n1.��1-conference

record.


Varsity Team Members George Blakeman Mick Emmerling Morris Brown Pat Howard Bennie Carpenter Adolphe Jouglet Dick Dechert Halden Kline Rich Dunbar Harold Lawler

55

5G

Introduction

Coach Culberson had only four players with varsity '; .. perience

returning which meant the 1948-49 season would be a �ebuilding one.

Stonington Nov. 17 46 Edinburg 43 Home Nov. 20 40 Mt. Auburn 37 Home Nov . 21 41 Illiopolis 29 Away Dec. 1 30 Macon 47 Away Dec. 4 45 Tower Hill 26 Home Dec. 5 27 Assumption 28 Home Dec. 8 40 Moweaqua 38 Home Dec. 11 40 Blue Mound 47 Away Dec. 15 50 Findlay 57 Away Dec. 18 35 Warrensburg 61 Away Dec . 19 54 Tower Hill 38 Away Dec . 22 34 Macon 49 Home

Meridian Tournament Js.n. 4-a 36 Macon 49

Jan. 12 52 Edinburg 47 Away Jan . 15 38 Raymond 36 Home Jan. 22 37 Mt . Auburn 43 Away

Christian County Tournament Jan . 25-29 44 Assumption 59

Feb. 3 46 Mt . Zion 47 Home Feb . 6 35 Blue Mound 32 Home Feb. 7 43 Assumption 47 Away Feb. 10 43 Moweaqua 53 Away Feb. 13 45 Morrisonville 54 Away Feb. 16 52 Niantic 82 Away

District Tournament Feb. 19-23 56 Mt . Auburn 44 29 Warrensburg 60

Coach: Harley Culberson Record : 10-15 Coaches ' Cumulative Record : 80-40

Su.nunary

The Wildcat s , in a rebuilding process , had to endure a 10-15 season .

Several of the losses were by small margins .

Harley Culberson closed out a very successful coaching stint at

Stonington . His teams compiled an impressive 80-40 record over the

four years of his coaching. His 1945-46 team was the first in history

to win a District Tournarnent .

Varsity Team Members Don Blakeman Adolphe Jouglet Morris Brown Harold Lawler

· Bennie Carpenter Gene Coffey Dick Dechert Rich Dunbar

Nuel Myers Bill Puckett Ray Traughber ·

The scores were taken from the i9l19 Stony Echoes .

57

1949-1950 58

Introduction

New coach Mike Corby had eight of the . top ten players fro .. tn last year ' s squad returning, including Adolphe Jouglet , a four year varsity member.

Stonington Nov. 16 42 Mt . Auburn 33 Horne Nov . 23 48 Niantic 41 Away-Nov. 26 36 fv'iacon 37 Home Nov. 30 43 Tower Hill 42 Away Dec . 2 27 Assumption 20 Home Dec . 6 45 Moweaqua 4 1 Hotne Dec . 9 32 Blue Mound 33 Away Dec . 10 46 Illiopolis 42 Away Dec . 13 39 Kincaid 5 3 A"1ay Dec . 16 50 Edinburg 30 l:Iome Dec . 17 57 Strasburg 49 Horne Jan . 5 47 Tower Hill 32 Horne

Meridian Tournament Jan. 8-12 34 Assumption 32 39 Findlay 36 44 Macon 38 ( First Place )

Jan. 16 32 Macon 39 A"1ay Jan. 19 49 Edinburg 43 Away-Jan . 23 46 Mt. Zion 41 Home Jan . 26 45 Morrisonville 40 Home

Mid Plains Tournament Jan. 30-Feb. 3 60 Raymond 41 53 Mt . Auburn 61 52 Kincaid 30 ( Third Place)

Fel:i. 7 52 Assumption 47 Away-Feb. 10 43 Moweaqua 39 Away-Feb. 14 44 Morrisonville 46 Away-Feb. 17 h5 Mt . Auburn 43 A"1ay

District Tournament Feb. 23-24 58 Mt . Auburn 45 49 Assumption 36 ( First Place )

Regional Tournament March 1-3 45 Kincaid 34 46 Pana 42 42 Taylorville 66 ( Second place)

Coach: Mike Corby Record: 24-7 Coaches ' Cumulative Reccrd: 24-7

Summary

)·Eke Corby ' s first year was a very successful one . The Wildcats

were cha.r.ipions o f the Meridian Tournrunent as we),l as . the District

TournaJUent .

In the District final , Stonington outscored Assumption 16-2 in the

second quarter and went on to win 49-36. This was only the second

district championship for Stonington . ( 2 8 )

After defeating Kincaid in the opening game of the Regional ,

Stonington upset Pana 46-42 as Bennie Carpenter tallied 21 points . ( 29 )

The Wildcats verE' then eliminated from tourney play as Taylorville

defeated Stonington for the cba.�pionship of the Regional .

Varsity Team Don Blakeman Bennie Carpenter Gene Coffey Leon Coffey Dick Dechert Rich Dunbar

Members Adolphe Jouglet Lyle Klay Nuel Myers . Norman Taylor Ray Traughber Vernon Yates

The scores were taken from the 1950 Stony Echoes

59

60 1950-1951

Introduction

Five lettermen , led by 18:st year ' s leading :scorer Bennie Carpenter ,

returned to try and repeat the success of the 1949-50 team.

Stonington Nov. 21 71 Mt. Auburn 25 Home Nov. 27 33 Niantic 54 Away Dec . 1 43 Macon 41 Home Dec . 5 69 Tower Hill 43 Away Dec. 8 38 Assumption 15 Home Dec . 9 39 Moweaqua 51 Away Dec. 12 47 Blue Mound 54 Away Dec . 15 58 Findlay 48 Away Dec . 16 39 Morrisonville 41 Home Dec . 19 72 Edinburg 38 Home Jan. 5 60 Strasburg 65 Away

Meridian Tournament Jan. 8-12 74 Tower Hill 36 49 Blue Mound 47 37 Macon 57 ( Second place)

Jan . 16 63 Tower Hill 38 Home Jan . 19 54 Macon 82 . Away Jan . 23 64 Mt. Zion 56 Home Jan . 27 64 Edinburg 43 ,Away

Mid Plains Tournament Jan. 30-Feb. 2 42 Assumption 34 53 Edinburg 23 39 Morrisonville 37 ( First place)

Feb . 6 81 Illiopolis 74 Home Feb . 9 48 Blue Mound 59 Home Feb . 10 56 Assumption 53 Away Feb . 1.3 59 Moweaqua 56 Home Feb . 16 63 Mt . Auburn 29 Away

District Tournament Feb. 20-23 61 Edinburg 42 65 Rochester 51 37 Blue Mound 44 ( Second place)

Coach: Mike Corby Record : 20-9 Coaches ' Cumulative Record : 41�-16

Summary

Coach Corby ran his coaching record at Stonington to 44-16 with

another twenty victory season.

61

Stonington captured the Mid Plains Tournament, but were thwarted

in their attempts to repeat as champs of the Meridian Tourney. Macon

defeated the Wildcats in the championship game of the Meridian Tournament

and Blue Mound defeated Stonington in the championship game of the District.

In the District , Bennie Carperter scored 27 po�nts against Edinburg . ( 30 )

He followed that performance with a 23 point effort in the semifinals

against Rochester . ( 31)


Varsity Team Members Don Blakeman Joe DeMichael Fred Brown Chester Hodges Bennie Carpenter Richard Stahr Lloyd Clark Lyle Swigert Leon Coffey Norman Taylor Richard Corby Vernon Yates

l951�1952 . .

Introduction

62

Eight of the twelve varsity players returned for tr. � 1951-52 season . ·

This wa.s Don Blakeman ' s fourth year as a varsity player ,

Nov. 12 Nov. 16 Nov. 19 Nov. 23 Nov. 27 Dec. 4 Dec. 7 Dec . 8 Dec . 11 Dec . 14 Dec . 18 Jan. 4

Jan. 15 Jan . 18 Jan . 22 Jan . 25

Feb . 5 Feb. 8 Feb . 12 Feb. 15

Stonington 63 5 3 65 60 5 5 50 53 60 7 6 83 56 5 6

Meridian 52 49

Mt . Auburn 29 Niantic 49-Macon 64 Tower Hill 18 Assumption 58 Maroa 39 Blue Mound 54 Findlay 77 Morrisonville 56 Edinburg 49 Strasburg 72 Tower Hill 43

Tournament Jan. 7-11 Assumption 46 Illiopolis 48

Home Home Home Home Away Away Home Away Home Home Home Away

39 Blue Mound 40 ( Second place) 46 Macon 50 50 Mt . Zion 53 56 Edinburg 42 52 Illiopolis 47

Away Away Away Away

Mid Plains Tournament Jan . 28-Feb . 1 4 4 Morrisonville 38 53 Kincaid 67 51 Raymond 4 5 4 5 Blue Mound 49 5 3 Assumption 49 50 Moweaqua 48 68 Mt. Auburn 48

District 4 4 54

33 52

(Third plac e ) Away Home Rome Away

71

Tournament Feb . 26-29 Edinburg Moweaqua Macon 55 ( First place )

Regional Tournament March 3-6 51 Kincaid 61

Coach: Mike Corby Record : 20-10 Coaches ' Cumualtive Record : 64-26

Summary

Stonington had their third twenty victory season in a row as Mike

Corby ended his coaching career at Stonington wHb an im:r-ressive 64-26

record . He remained at the school ir• ?..dministrative position , ( 69)

The Wildcats placed second in thr: . . ::idian !'ou:rnrunent and third

63

in the Mid Plains tournament . Stonin{;ton captured the District Tourna.me�1t

title for a third time as they defeated. Macon 71-55 in the championship .

game .

In the semifinals of the District , Stonington played Moweaqua .

The Wildcats trailed Moweaqua 52-48 with 35 seconds tq play , Stonington

rallied to tie the game , and with 8 seconds remaining , Don Blakeman

made a shot to give Stonington the victory 54-52 . ( 32)

The team also established a school record for most points in a

game with an 83-49 victory over Edinburg.

The scores were taken from the 1952 Stony Echoe s .

Varsity Team Members Kenny Adams Don Blakeman Fred Brown Lloyd Clark

Richard Corby John Curtin

Joe· DeMicbael

Chester Hodges Jack Kerwin Richard Stahr Lyle Swigert

Chapter 6

THE COACHING ERAS OF DA�E FAHSBENDEI< , P..ALPU THOMPSON , AND RALPH NA'ILOR

1952-1953

Introduction

New coach Dale Fahsbender faced a rebuilding year as he had only

two member of the previous year ' s varsity returning . Only one playe r ,

Fred Brow n , had any sizeable varsity experience .

Stonington Nov. 18 38 Mt . Auburn 4 4 Home Nov. 22 29 Macon 4 0 Away Nov . 29 51 Tower Hill 50 Home Dec . 6 32 Rochester 49 Away Dec. 9 63 Moweaqua 64 Home Dec . 13 64 Blue Mound 68 Away Dec . 16 4 4 Findlay 65 Away Dec. 17 69· Morrisonville 5 8 Home Dec . 20 66 Edinburg 71 Home Jan . 3 4 4 Strasburg 61 Home Jan . 6 67 Macon 79 Home Jan. 7 66 Rochester 52 Home

· Meridian Tournament Jan. 10-14 57 Blue Mound 56 47 Illiopolis 67 60 Tower Hill 48 (Third place )

Jan. 18 47 Illiopolis 54 Home Jan. 21 47 Edinburg 55 Away

Mid Plains Tournament Jan . 24-28 56 Kincaid 80

Feb. 2 71 Assumpti,on 63 Home Feb. 5 63 Moweaqua 85 Away Feb. 6 55 Tower Hill 5 6 Away Feb. 9 66 Blue Mound 72 Home Feb. 12 66 Assumption 68 Away Feb. 19 78 Mt . Auburn 65 Away

District Tournament Feb. 22-26 66 Blue Mound 72

Coe.ch : Do.le Fahsbender Record: 7-18 Coach<:.:s ' Cumulative Record : 7-18

64

Sununary

Dale Fahsbender ' s first and only year at Stonington ended with a

1-18 record.

The Wildcats edged Blue Mound in the opening game of the Meridian

Tournament . After being defeated in the semifinals by Illiopolis �

Stonington came back to win third place by beating Mt. Auburn Go-48.


Varsity Team Members Lowell Beck Jim Meridith Tom Black Carroll Myers Fred Brown Jack Pile Dale Downs Carroll Curry Jack Kerwin

Bob Taylor Cloyd Staples Ronnie Turner

1953-1954

Introduction

Ralph Thompson took over .a team with eight .'of the top eleven

players returning ) hoping to improve upon last year ' s 7-18 record.

Stonington Nov. 19 58 Mt . Auburn 38 Away Nov . 23 38 Macon 76 Home

Nov. 30 62 Tower Hill 55 Away Dec . 7 4.7 Rochester 4 5 Home Dec . 10 57 Moweaqua 60 Away Dec . 14 56 Blue Mound 79 Home Dec . 17 46 Findlay 60 Home

Dec . 18 64 Morrisonville 50 Away Dec. 21 56 Edinburg 59 Away Jan. 4 55 Strasburg 96 Away Jan . 7 42 Macon 62 Away

Jan. 8 56 Rochester 63 Away Meridian Tournament Jan. 11-15

55 Blue Mound 69 Jan. 18 55 Illiopolis 58 Away Jan . 21 43 Edinburg 58 Home

Mid Plains Tournament Jan. 25-29 49 Coffeen 53

Feb. 2 54 Assumption 50 Home Feb. 5 53 Findlay 50 Home

Feb. 6 64 Moweaqua 58 Home

Feb. 9 52 Asswnption 61 Away Feb. 12 54 Blue Mound 10 Away

Feb. 19 49 Mt . Auburn 45 Home District Tournament Feb. 22-26

13 Rochester 61 46 Blue Mound 64

Coach: Ralph Thompson Record: 9-15 Caoche s ' Cwnulative Record: 9-15

Summary

Although the team improved its record from the 1952-?3 season,

their record was still something less than successful. The team won

only one tournament game , that being a 73-61 decision over Rochester .

The team did finish strong by winning five of the last ei ght game s .

The scores were taken from the 1954 Stony Echoe s .

66

Varsity Team Members Tom Black Charles Brooks Chuclc Coffey Carroll Curry Dale Downs Bob Dunbar Jim Meridith

I,eslie Nolen Jack Pile Leroy Stivers Bob Taylor Ronnie Turn(; � Dick Wattelet Carroll Myers

Intrqduction

Coach Thompson carried fj_fteen players on his varstty squad fo:;- the

1954-55 season, Of the fifteen, ten were members of the 1953-54 te:am .

The Mid Plains Tournament was replaced on the schedule by the

Morrisonville Tournament.

Nov . 20 Nov. Dec . Dec .

27 1 4 8 Dec .

Dec . 11 Dec . Dec . Dec . Dec . Jan . Jan . Jan .

15 18 19 22

5 8 9

Jan . 19 Jan . 22

Feb. 3 Feb . 6 Feb. 7 Feb. 10 Feb. 13

Stonington 68 49 56 60 46 67 73 48 77 67 58 58 72

Meridian 55 51 51 72 58

Mt . Auburn Macon Tower Hill Moweaqua Blue Mound Findlay Nianti c Morrisonville Macon Edinburg Findlay Illiopolis Rochester

Tournament Jan . 11-15 Blue Mound Assumption Tower Hill Asswnption Raymond

27 62 61 38 61 68 OT 88 55 65 48 74 60 46

53 OT 53

Home Away Home Home Away Away Away Home Home Home Away Home Home

66 67

(Fourth plac e ) Away

69 Home Morri sonville

60 Tournament Jan. 24-28

73 69, 88 72 85 52

Raymond Moweaqua Assumption Edinburg Blue Mound Mt . Auburn

70 75 76 73 76

District 81 64

Tournament Feb. 23-27 Rochester Blue Mound

75 OT 72

Away Home Away Home Away

Coach : Fred Thompson Record: 11-15 Coache s ' Cumulative Record: 20-30

Summary

Coach Tbompson ' s coaching career at Stonington ended with a

1954-55 season record of 11-15. Even thou�h the team ' s record was some-

w!:!at disappointi!'lg r;onsidering the number ol' :!.etter:nen oi: the te9...1Jl ,

68

the se1: •. :.�n \.las not wi.tr�ou.t high1ights . The �-lildcs:ts upset arch rival

Blue Mound 55-53 in overtime ;in toe OJ?ening round of the MericliE<.n

Tom·ney . (.33) Stonington went on to finish fourth in .the tourney .

The scores -..-iere taken from the 1955 Stony Echoes.

Varsity Team Bob Ada.ms Tom Black Chuck Coffey Carroll Curry Dale Do¥ms Bob Dunbar Jim Heath Tom Marucco

Members Jim Meridith Leslie Nolen Jack Pile Terry Poiriez Leroy Stivers Ronnie Taylor John Tabacchi Dick Wattelet

1955-1956

Introduction

New cc::).ch P.alph ·Na�flor had only nine members on his first tear.i

at Stonington. 'Eight of these players were on the 1954-55 team, however

few had extensive exper).ence in varsity competition.

Nov. 21 Nov. 28 Dec. 2 Dec . 5 Dec . 9 Dec . 12 Dec . 16 Dec. 19 Dec . 20 Jan . 2 Jan . 6 Jan. 9 Jan . 10

Jan. 20 Jan . 23

Feb . 4 · Feb. 7

Feb. 11 Feb. 14 Feb. 17

Stonington 71 Mt. Auburn 91 54 Macon 56 60 Tower Hill 79 58 Moweaqua 66 50 Blue Mound 67 35 Findlay 58 46 Niantic l�2 57 Morrisonville 59 59 Macon 73 34 Edinburg 61 59 Findlay 70 49 Illiopolis 73 57 Rochester 54

Meridian ToUTnament Jan . 12-16 50 Macon 67 65 Assumption 10 53 Raymond 66 Away

Morri sonville Tournament Jan . 25-29 49 Kincaid 98 62 Moweaqua 66 64 Edinburg 71 66 Assumption 46 54 Blue Mound 91 58 Mt . Auburn 65

District Tournament Feb . 24-28 67 Macon 69

Away Home Away Away Home Home Home Away Away Away Home Away Away

Away

Home Home Home Away Home

Coach: Ralph Naylor Record : 3-21 Coaches ' Cumulative Record: 3-21

Summary

Stonington nuffered its fourth losins season in succession as the

Wildcats struggled through a 3-21 season. Stonington defeated Niantic ,

Rochester, and Assumption for their victories .

The 98 points scored agninst Stonington when Kincaid beat Stor.ington

70

by a Stonington team.


Varsity Team Members Bob Adams Tom Marucco Charles Brooks Chuck Coffey Bob Dunbar Jim Heath

Leroy Stivers John Ta.bacchi Dick Wattelet

71

1956-1957

Introduction

Bob Adams , Bob Dunbar , and Tom Marucco were the only returnee$

for Coach Naylor.

The Kincaid Tournament replaced the Morrisonviile Tournament on

the schedule.

Nov. 16 Nov. Nov. Nov. Dec. Dec . Dec . Dec .

· Dec . Jan. Jan.

20 23 30

4 7

11 14 18

4 8

Jan. 22 Jan. 25

Feb . 5 Feb . 8 Feb. 12 Feb. 13 Feb . 15 Feb. 19 Feb. 22

Stonington 49 50 54 60 49 62 50 55 67 62 54

52 28 54 59

Meridian

Edinburg Macon Tower Hill Moweaqua Blue Mound Findlay Morrisonville Macon Assumption Illiopolis Rochester

Tournament Jan . Assumption Tower Hill Mt . Auburn Ra�ond

53 56 3 5 52 5 5 5 5 72 67 54 53 51 14-18 . 48 41 72 85

Kincaid Tournament Jan. 28-Feb. 1 51 41

52 52 72 44 55 65 42

50 District

Edinburg Moweaqua Edinburg Assumption Blue Mound Mt . Auburn Niantic Findlay

Tournament Feb. Tower Hill

73 56 74 75 57 71 52

25-Mar . 1 69

Home Away Home Home Away Away Horne Horne Home Home Home

Away Home

Away Away Away Horne Away Home

Coach: Ralph Naylor Record : 7-17 Coaches ' Cumulative Record: 10-38

Summary

Ralph Naylor ended his tenure as basketball coach at Stonington as

his 1956-57 team posted a 7-17 record . The Wildcats put together a

modest four game winnning streak in midseason and were 7-6 at the tine.

72

The team then proceeded to lose all of the re!ilaining twelve ga111e s . The

season marked the fifth straight losing season for Stonington.


Varsity Team Members Bob Adams Bob Dunbar Bill Beck Fred Letcher Tom Bollinger Gary Brown Roger Coffey

Tom Marucco Ralph Stevens

73

Chapter 'T

THE COACHING ERA OF JACK DETTRO

1957-1958

Introduction

Bob Adams and Tom Marucco returned for their fourth year as varsity

basketball players . New coach Jack Dettra hoped to put Stonington back

on the winning track after five straight losing seasons . The team

possessed a great deal of experience as seven players returned.

Nov . 12 Nov. 15 Nov . 19 Nov . 22 Nov. 26 Dec . 3 Dec. 6

Jan . 7 Jan. 10 Jan. 17

Jan . 28 Jan. 31 Feb. 4 Feb. 7 Feb . 11 Feb. 14 Feb . 18 Feb . 21

Stonington 67 65 70 50 68 61 59

Meridian 56 38 55 70 57 48

Four Star 65 52 70 69 66 76 42 66 65 75

District 47 78 65

Edinburg 53 Niantic 69 Tower Hill 50 Blue Mound 59 Maroa 42 Findlay 53 Morrisonville 41

Tournament Dec . 9-13 Blue Mound 54 Illiopolis 32 Tower Hill 40 ( First place ) Illiopolis 66 Rochester 67 Mt. Auburn 46

Tournament Jan . 24-25 Assumption 47 Edinburg 50 ( First place ) Raymond 53 Moweaqua 49 Edinburg 56 Assumption 61 Blue Mound 55 Mt . Auburn 58 Macon 70 Findlay 55

Tournament Feb. 26-28 Moweaqua 4 5 Edinburg 65 Tower Hill 60 ( First place )

Home Home Away Home Away Away Away

Home Away Home

Ho rue Home Away Home Away Away Home Home

Stonington Regional Tournament March 5-8

62 Pana 74

Coach : Jack Dettro Record: 22-7 Coache s ' Cumulative Record : 22-7

Swnmary

Jack Dettro ' s initial season as coach at Stonington was a rousing

success. The team compiled a 22-7 record v1hile winning a record three

tournament title s . The Wildcats c aptured the Meridian Tournament by

hitting 22 of 43 shots in the championship game against Tower Hill . ( 3l�)

Stonington competed for the first time in the newly organized Four Star

Tourney. Stonington , Assumption, Edinburg, and Mt. Auburn comprised the

four team field. The Wildcats beat Edinburg 52-50 for the title as Bob

Adams made two free throws with 28 seconds to go to provide the margin

75

of victory . ( 35 ) Stonington defeated Moweaqua and Edinburg in the DistTict

to earn the right to play Tower Hill for the championship. In the semi-

final game against Edinburg , Tom Bollinger scored 33 points . ( 36 ) Stoning-

ton then defeated Tower · Hill in the championship game for the school ' s

fourth District championship .

The regular season scores were taken from the 1958 Stony Echoes .

The post season tournament scores were taken from the Decatur Heral d .

Varsity Team Bob Adams Bill Beck Gary Brown Tom Bollinger Larry Dooley Fred Letcher

Members Tom Marucco Bill McChristy Dean Tabacchi Ralph Stevens George Thomason Richard Thompson

1958-1959

Introduction

Coach Dettro had three players tha"t were regulars or:. "·'·.he 1957-58

team as well as four others that ;.;ere on the 1957-58 team .

Nov . 11 Nov. 18 Nov . 21 Nov. 25 Dec . 2 Dec . 5

Dec . 16 Dec . 17 Dec . 19

Jan . Jan. Jan .

6 9

16

Jan . 27 Jan. 30 Feb. 3

Feb. 6 Feb . 10 Feb. 13

Feb. 17 Feb. 20

Stonington 56 Edinburg 40 64 43 63 52 52

58 65 38 66 66 78 67 611 58

60 60 70 73 75 78 72 43 83 55 67

72 5 3

Tower Hill 71 Blue Mound 68 Morrisonville 64 Findlay 46 Morrisonville 65

Meridian Turnament Dec . 8-12 Tower Hill 47 Findlay 5 5 Blue Mound )46 ( Second place ) Macon 81 Tower Hill 50 Asswnption 51 Illiopolis 40 Rochester 48 Mt . Auburn 47

Four Star Tournament Jan. 22-24 Edinburg 49 Mt . Auburn 52 Assumption 64 (First place ) Illiopolis 50 Moweaqua 68 Edinburg 60 As sumption 67 Blue Mound 51 Mt . Auburn 57 Macon 68 Findlay 52

District Tournament Feb. 25-27 Rochester 63 Morrisonville 83

Away Home Away Home Home Away

Home Home Home Away Home Away

Away Away Home · Away Home Home Away Away

Coach: Jack Dettro Record: 19-9 Coaches ' Cumulative Record : 41-16

Summary

The Wildcats did n ' t quite duplicate the feats of the 1957-58 team.

Stonington was defeated by Blue Mound in the championship game of the

Meridian '1.'ourney . '.L1he team did, however , win a second straight Four

Star Tourney. The touTnament changed to a round robin format . t-iorrison-

77

ville ended Stonington ' s season one game s hort of twenty victories as they

defi=ated the Wildcats 83-53 in the semifinals of the I?istrict 'I'ournarnent .

The scores for the regular season were taken from the 1959 Stony

Echoes. The score for the post season tournament was taken from the

Decatur Herald.

Varsity Team Bill Beck Ronnie Beck Tom Bollinger Larry Dooley Bob Emerson Pat Emerson

Members Roy Erbes Fred Letcher Bill McChristy Bruce Robinson Dean Tabacchi George Thomason Richard Thompson

1959-1960

Introduction

The 1959-60 team had eight members of the previous year ' s squad .

The Four Ste.r changed to its original format of 1957-58 i n which there

would be just a serr.ifinal and fi nc.l round of the tournament .

Nov . 10 Nov. 17 Nov . 20 Nov . 24 Dec . 1 Dec . 4

Dec . 15 Dec . 18 Jan . 5 Jan . 8 Jan. 12 Jan. 15

Jan . 26 Jan. 29 Feb. 2 Feb . 5 Feb . Feb . Feb. Feb.

9 12 16 19

Stonington 67 Edinburt::.

Tower Hill 51 52 74

Home A'v1ay Home Awa.y Away Away

67 57 56 59 5 3

64 87 53 49 5 5 67 65 63 7 5

8 3 75 80 77 75 68 5 3 6 5 67 72

5 5

Blue Mound Moweaqua 70 Findlay 7 3 Morrisonville 6 6

Meridian Tournament Dec . Assumption Illiopoli s · Blue Mound Macon Assumption Illiopolis Rochester Tower Hill Mt . Auburn

Four Star Tournament Jan .

7-11 44 68 66 ( Second 5 5 48 66 69 41 39 22-23 64

plac e ) Auay Away Home Away Hone Home

Assumption Mt . Auburn Illiopolis Moweaqua Edinburg Assumption Blue Mound Mt . Auburn Macon Find.lay

5 5 ( First plac e ) 73 Home

Home Away Home Away Away Home Home

District Tournament Feb . Kincaid

73 74 66 75 48 61 74 2 OT

23-26 60

Coach: Jack Dettro Recor d : 16-10 Coaches ' Cumulative Record : 57-26

Summary

Blue Mound defeated Stonington for a second straight time in tile

championshin oi t:he Meridian Tournament . The game also mc.rked the third

Year in a row that Stonington had played in the championship game .

The Wildcats won the Four Star Tournament for the third year in a

row.

In one of the most exciting games of the season, Stonington lost

in two overtimes to Findlay 71i-72 . Findlay rs victory was accomplished

despite a 33 point performa:-. ·:iy Larry Dooley. ( 37 )

The scores were taken _ . the 1960 Stony Echoes and the Decatur

Herald.

Varsity Team Members Russell Beard Melvin Hodges Ronnie Beck Kenneth Ladage Larry Dooley Fred Letcher Bob Emerson Bill McChristy Pat Emerson Roy Erbes

Bruce Robinson George Tabacchi

79

1960-1961

Introduction

Coach Dettro ' s 1960-61 team had seven varslt.y returnees , includi!1�

three year Yarsity playe!" Larry Dooley . Stonington hoped to improve

upon last year ' s 16-10 record.

Stoni�gton Nov . 8 73 Edinburg 76 Away Nov. 15 80 Niantic 74 Away Nov . 18 78 Macon 63 Home Nov . 2 2 67 Morrisonville 82 Home Nov. 29 59 Bl'\.le Mound 70 Away Dec . 2 71 Findlay 65 Home

Me!"idian Tournament Dec . 5-9

75 Tower Hill 4 5 59 Assumption 49 62 Maroa 42 63 Macon 56 ( First place )

Dec. 13 93 Moweaqua 79 Home Dec. 16 70 Macon 72 Away Jan. 3 79 Blue Mound 56 Home Jan. 6 58 Lovington 52 Away Jan . 10 69 Bethany 6 6 Away Jan. 13 77 Edinburg 66 Home

Four Star Tournament Jan . 20-21 74 Edinburg 54 65 Assumption 5 3 ( First place )

Jan. 24 89 Illiopolis 57 Away ·Jan . 27 92 Tower Hill 51 Horne Jan. 31 71 Assu.'Ylption 70 Home

Feb. 7 93 Mt. Auburn 57 Home Feb. 10 60 Moweaqua 56 Away Feb. 17 62 Maroa 66 Horne

District Tournar:1ent Feb. 22-26 64 Rochester 45 64 Kincaid 67

Coach: Jack Dettro Record: 20-6 Coaches ' Cwnulative Record : 77-32

Summary

Coach Dettro enjoyed another successful season as the team compiled

a 20-6 record . Playine for the fourth year in a ro� f�·- a Meridian

80

Tourney Charnpior1shi p , Stonincton ::lefentecl rr.acon 6:1-56 to r; j v e Coach Dcttro

a second Meridian To11rney title. The Wildcats also won the Fou:c Star

Tournament for the fourth st:caight year .

Stonington ' s hopes for a Meridian Conference title were spoiled

as Maroa defeated the Wildcats 66-62 in the final regular season game .

'rhe Wildcats established a new r-ecord for team .poi!1ts in a game as

they defeated Moweaqua 93-79. The team ca.tne back later in the season

to equal the record as they defeated Mt . . Auburn 93-57 .

The scores were taken from the 1961 Stony Echoes and the Decatur

Herald.

Varsity Team Members Russell Beard Kenneth Ladage Ronnie Beck Randy Merris Larry Dooley Bruce Robinson Pat Emerson Dale Sloan Melvin Hodges Lloyd Summers

81

Introduction

A ne·;1 ac . )n to the High School buildinF:; was com:ple r.: d . The new

structure ir:c2..�·.:1ed a new gynmasiwn. ( 71) Coach Dettro 's s c · : inclL:ded

six member:; of the 1960-61 team.

Nov. 1 Nov. 14 Nov. 17 Nov . 21 Nov. 28 Dec . 1

Dec . 12 Dec . 15 Jan . 2 Jan. 5 Jan . 9 Jan. 12

Jan . 23 Jan. 30 Feb. 6 Feb. 16 Feb. 20 Feb. 23

Stonington 81 Edinburg 57 56 Macon 46 62 Niantic 90 66 Morri sonville 56 59 Blue Mound 58 71 Findlay 50

Meridian Tournament Dec . 4-8 59 Lovington 42

104 Tower Hill 50 48 Bethany 51 65 Niantic 7 6 (Fourth 72 Moweaqua 50 65 Macon 10 53 Blue Mound 45 19 Lovington 48 83 Bethany 77 76 Edinburg 69

Four Star Tournament Jan. 19-20 76 Mt . Auburn 63 58 Assumption 54 (First 69 Illiopolis 52 65 Assumption 58 61 Mt. Auburn 71 56 Maroa 5 5 65 Moweaqua 42 87 Tower Hil� 42

District Tourna.'!lent Feb . 28-March 2 11 Edinburg 64 53 Morrisonville 49 (First

Regional Tournament March 6-9 59 Pana 48 5 5 Taylorville ?9

Home Away Home Away Home Away

place ) Away Home Away Home Home Away

place ) Home Away Away Away liome Away

plac e )

Coach: Jack Dettro Record: 22-6 Coache s ' Cumulative Record : 99-38

Summary

For the fifth year in a row the Wildcats captured th� Four s:.a.r

82

Tour�ament as they defeated AsGumptio� 58-54 . Stoningto� placed fou.rt�

in the Meridian Tour:iament but established a new school record for te6J71.

point3 in a game with c>. 104-50 triurJph over To\ler Hill_.

Stonington won a fifth Di�trict Tournament despite losing Russell

83

Beard, one of the terun ' s leading scor in the first game of the D:i.styict

due to a sprained ankle . ( 38 )

The scores were taken from the 1962 . Stony Echoes and the Decatm.·

Herald .

Varsity Team Members Russell Beard Melvin Hodges Bill Buzan Kenneth Ladage Roger Dowdy Dean Lahue Pat Emerson Dave McChristy Ozzie Heming1·;ay Dale Sloan

Lloyd Summers

Introduction

Coach Dettro hoped to make it three twenty victory seasons in a

row as he had four players returning from the 1961-62 team. Dave

McChristy, 6 1 3" junior center was one of the teams leading scorers last

year as a sophomore . ( 3 9 )

Stonington Nov . 13 79 Edinburg 57 Away Nov . 20 7 3 Niantic 52 Away Nov. 27 55 Morrisonville 46 Home Nov . 30 52 Blue Mound 4 5 Away Dec . 1 63 Macon 60 Home Dec . 4 61 Findlay 51 Home

Meridian Tournament Dec . 10-14 52 Assumption 39 52 Findlay 49 62 Bethany 41 63 Maroa 50 (First plac e )

Dec . 18 77 Moweaqua 59 Home Dec . 21 64 Macon 63 Away Jan. 8 72 Blue Mound 73 Home Jan. 11 65 Lovington 52 Away Jan . 15 51 Bethany 64 Away

Four Star Tournament Jan. 18-19 75 Mt. Auburn 55 70 Edinburg 60 (First place )

Jan. 22 86 Edinburg 69 Home Jan. 29 77 Illiopolis 43 Away Feb. 5 73 Assumption 55 Home Feb. 12 76 Mt . Auburn 37 Home Feb. 15 . 72 Maroa 53 Home Feb. 19 56 Moweaqua 65 Away Feb. 22 73 Tower Hill 36 Home

District Tournament Feb. 27-March 1 66 Assumption 60 63 Blue Mound 61 (First place )

Regional Tournament March l+-7 61 Macon 68

Coach : Jack Dettro Record: 23-4 Coaches ' Cumulative Record: 122-42

Summary

.Just as in 1957-58, Coach Dettro ' s Wildcats of 1962-63 won the

Meridian Tourney, the Four Star Tourney , ond the District

Four Star champion:.;hip was the sixth in a row. The Dis tr� ··

wa�. the second in �� row and sixth in the school ' s hist.ory. 'i'he Wildcats

were also co-champ.:. · ::: of the Meridian Conference with Bethan:-,r . ( 4 7 )

The scores wer !:en from the 1963 Stony· Echoes and the Decatur

Heral d .

Varsity Team Members GaJ·J Dooley Dean I,ahuc Dw�.ne Downs John Marucco Jim Edwards Dave McChristy Carl Garwood Ken Robinson Ozzie Hemingway Lloyd Summers

Steve Younker

86

Introduction

Dave McChristy, last year ' s leading scorer , along with Gary Dooley ,

John Marucc o , and Steve You:lker returned for duty in the 1963-64 season .

Stonington Nov. 12 58 Edinburg 38 Home Nov. 19 54 Niantic 46 Home Nov. 26 61 Morrisonville 48 Away Nov. 29 41 Blue Mound 34 Home Nov. 30 6 5 Macon 52 Away Dec . 3 63 Findlay 58 Away

Meridian Tournament Dec . 9-13 64 Findlay 48 48 Blue Mou..1d 53 56 Moweaqua 62 ( Fourth place)

Dec . 17 50 Moweaqua 48 Away Dec . 20 62 Macon 48 Home Jan. 7 51 Blue Mound 70 Away . Jan . 10 86 Lovington 56 Home Jan . 14 73 Bethany 89 Home

Four Star Tournament Jan . 17-18 . 57 Assumption 54

69 Mt . Auburn 52 ( First place ) Jan. 21 76 Edinburg 73 Away Jan. 28 75 Illiopolis 38 Home Feb . 4 55 As sumption 46 Away Feb. 11 62 Mt . Auburn 52 Away }'.'eb . 14 69 Maroa 54 Away Feb. 18 47 Moweaqua 49 Home Feb. 21 121 Tower Hill 48 Away

District Tournament Feb. 25-28 94 Tower Hill 66 58 Kincaid 53 57 Blue Mound 53 ( First plac e )

Regional Tournament March 2-6 61 Moweaqua 42 52 Assumption 47 55 Shelbyville 51 (First place )

Sectional Tournament March 10-13 50 Hillsboro 62

Coach: Jack Dettro Record : 24-6 Coaches 1 Cumulative Recor d : 146-118

Summary

The 1963-6!i season \.las another hi.:;hly successful season for Coach

Dettro ' s Wildcats . This team accomplished a feat that no other team up

to that point had accompli shed . Tha:t was to win the Regional 'l'ourney

and advance to the Sectional Tournament. \;

Stonington won the Four Star Tournament for the seventh time in the

seven yesr history of the tourney .

The Wildcats also set a new school record for most points in a,

game with a 121-48 victory over Tower Hill. In that game , the lights

on one end of Tower Hill ' s gym were out . After much discussion on what

could be done , Coach Dettro volunteered to take the dark half of the

gym for the first half . ( 43 ) The dim lights seemed to have no adverse

affect on Dave McChristy as he scored a career high 43 points . ( 4 0 )

Stonington shared the Meridian Conference title for the second

87

year in a row. This year Stonington shared the title with Blue Mound . ( 47 )

The scores were taken from the· 1964 Stony Echoes and the Decatur

Herald .

Varsity Jim Bilyeu Dave Buchanan Gary Dooley Carl Garwood Randy Johnson

Team Members George Letcher John Marucco Dave McChristy Ken Robinson Fred Sckowska Steve Younker

88 1964-1965

Introduction

Three starters , John Marucco, Steve Younker, and Ker: '� . . obinson :c-eturne1

from the record setting 1963-64 team. Gone however were the two tallest

players Dave McC hristy and Gary Dooley. McChristy and Dooley were the

leading scorers from last year ' s team.

Nov . 17 Nov . 20 Nov. 24 Dec . 1 Dec . 4

Dec . 14 Dec. Jan. Jan. Jan.

17 4 7

11

Jan . 18 Jan. Feb . Feb. Feb. Feb. Feb. Feb.

25 1 8 9

11 15 18

Stonington 57 44 83 43 58

72 33 52 61 50 61 83

53 83 68 77 62 79 90 70 80 60

Meridian

Four Star

Morrisonville Blue Mound Edinburg Macon Findlay

Tournament Dec . Tower Hill Blue Mound Moweaqua Macon Blue Mound Lovington Bethany

Tournament Jan . Assumption Edinburg Edinburg Illiopolis Assumption Mt . Auburn Niantic Maroa Moweaqua Tower Hill

64 77 70 65 70 7-11 54 69 68 54 71 70 63 14-15 7 5 66 (Third place) 63 44 75 54 64 57 76 44

District Tournament Feb. 21-25 56 Assumption 61

Home Away Home Home Home

Home Away Home Away Away

Away Away Home Home Home Home Away Home

Coach: Jack Dettro Record: 12-11 Coaches ' Cumulative Record : l58-59

Summary

Stonington won eight of their last ten games to again finish with

a winning record of 12-11. For the first time Stonington failed to win

the Four Star Tournament. However, Stonington did score a major upset

as they traveled to Bethany and beat them 83-63. In that ga.":le John

Marucco scored 25 points and Steve Younker scored 35 point s . ( 4 5 )


Varsity Scott Batty Jim Bilyeu Carl Garwood Bill Graham Randy Johnson George Letcher

Team Members John Marucco Dave Peabody Butch Poiriez Ken Robinson Fred Sckowska Steve Younker

89

1965-1 966

Int:i:ocluction

This was a rebuilding y�ar for Coach Dettro as only 0�e player "IG

returned from the 1961.i-65 squad . There were two seniors , one junior ,

and eight sophomores , and two fr�shmen on the varsity squad .

Stonington Nov. 17 56 Morrisonville l.i 5 Nov . 20 l.i 7 Blue Mouncl 75 Nov . 21.i 5 9 Edinburg 5 7 Dec . 1 4 9 Macon 7 4 Dec . 4 58 Findlay 84

Meridian Tournament Dec . 7-11 ·62 Maroa 70

Dec. 18 53 Moweaqua 82 Dec . 21 45 Macon 94 Jan . 8 li 3 Blue Mound 64 Jan . 11 51 Lovington 64 Jan . 15 50 Bethany 81

Four Star 'I'ourn<!.I!lent Jan . 18-19 44 Assumption 62 67 Edinburg 71

Jan . 22 76 Edinbui·g 73 Jan . 29 64 Illiopolis 43 Feb. 5 64 Assumption 52 Feb. 12 46 Mt . Auburn 50 Feb. 13 76 Roche ster 78 Feb. 15 48 Maroa 6 9 Feb. 19 5 4 Moweaqua 82 Feb . 22 71 Tower Hill 69

District Tournament Feb. 25-March 1 51 Kincaid 52

Away Home Home Away Home

Away Heme Away Home Home

Away Home Away Away Home Away Home Away

Coach : Jack Dettro Record: 6-16 Coache s ' Cumulative Record : 164-75

Summary

Starting four sophomores and one junior Coach Dettro had his only

losins season thus far at Stonington . Highlights of the season were

upsets of Illiopolis and Asswnption. The Wildcats were beaten by only

one point in the District Tournament as K.i.ncaid beat Stonington 52-51.

Kincaid was heavily favored in the game. ( � 6 )

90

;


Varsity Team Members Scott Batty Bruce LaBrec que Charles Bernard Pat Marucco Steve Defoor Tony DeMichael Tom Doyle Jeff Embry Rich Covington

Tim Harucco Mike Mateer Gary McPeek Tom Traughber

91

1966-1967

Introduction

A)..l but two playe:cs returned for the 1966-67 season . Four of the

five starters returned . In addition, two junior trar'!sfer�, Eill CJ.a.1·k

and Joe Curt in, ba--re the team great clepth of personnel . The Wildcats

figured to improve upon last year ' s 6-16 record.

Stonington Nov. 12 87 Niantic 55 Home Nov. 16 60 Morrisonville 50 Home Nov. 19 52 Blue Mound 58 Away Nov. 23 88 Ed:i.nburg 58 Away Nov . 30 4 5 Macon 42 Home Dec . 3 105 Find.lay 48 Away

Meridian Tour:i.e.ment Dec. 6-10 84 Niantic 41

- 58 Lovington 51 57 Illiopolis 5 5 29 Macon 36 (Second place )

Dec . 17 44 Moweaqua 53 Home Dec . 20 71 Edinburg 44 Home Jan . 7 70 Blue Mound 52 Home Jan. 10 50 Lovington 60 Away Jan. 14 45 Bethany 60 Away

Four Star Tournrunent Jan. 17-18 62 Assumption 51 63 Edinburg 37 (First place )

Feb. 4 67 Assumption 52 Away Feb. 11 70 Mt . Auburn 65 Home Feb. 12 62 Niantic 59 Away Feb. 14 72 Maroa 57 Home Feb. 19 52 Moweaqua 59 Away Feb . 20 74 Illiopolis 91 Away li'eb. 21 70 Tower Hill 61 Home

District Tournament Feb. 24-28 72 Edinburg 44 59 Kincaid 5 5 42 Blue Mound 34 (First place )

Regional Tournament March 3-7 52 Taylorville 51 54 Pana 78

Coac h : Jack Dettro Record: 21-8 Coaches ' Cumulative Record: 185-83

92

Sturunary

Stonington improved their record t o 21-8 for the 1966-67 season.

The Wilclca.ts won the Four Star Tournament: and finished sec ond to !-fa.con

in the Meri dian Tournament. Stoningtoc had· upset Macon E:�i·lier in the

season in a defensive strug8le.(46)

Stonington defeated their rivals, the Blue Mound Knights, for the

championship of the District Tournament. It was the eighth District title

for Stonirigton.

In the first e;ame of the Regional , Stonington played Ta.ylorvl .lle .

The Wildcats trailed by nine points with 2 minutes and 45 seconds t o gc

but made a f'urious comeback to win 52-51. ( 4 6 )



Charles Bernard Bill Clark Rich Covington Joe Curtin Tony DeMichael

Bruce LaBrecque Pat Marucco Tim Marucco Jeff Thomason Tom Traughber Gene Vincent

94

1967-1968

Introduction

Tom Traughber was the only st.arter from last year ' s squad that was

lost by graduation . In addition to having four starters returning, Coach·

Dettra also had five more players from an undefeated junior varsity team

of 1966-67.

st.onington Nov. 21 7 0 Niantic 55 Away Nov. 28 89 Morrrsonville 43 Away Dec . 1 81 Blue Mound 59 Home

Meridian 'I'ournament Dec . 4-8 71 Moweaqua 55 84 Lovington 42 74 Blue Mound 39 (First Plac e )

Dec. 12 97 Edinburg 47 Home Dec . 15 82 Macon 32 Away

Waverly Holiday Tournament Dec . 26-30 53 Concord

Triopia 42 69 Chatham-

Glenwood 79 Jan. 3 59 Moweaqua 56 Away Jan. 6 89 Edinburg 56 Awa.y Jan . 9 69 Blue Mound 4 0 Away Jan. 16 72 Lovington 4 4 Home Jan. 19 58 Bethany 51 Home Jan . 26 110 Illiopolis 55 Home Jan. 30 58 Assumption 47 Home Feb. 2 119 Mt . Auburn 49 Away Feb. 6 69 Niantic 54 Home Feb . 9 82 Maroa 44 Away Feb . 13 65 Moweaqua 38 Away Feb. 16 75 Tower Hill 57 Away Feb . 23 75 Findlay 53 Home

District Tournament Feb . 26-Mar . l 98 Edinburg 50 91 Blue Mound 63 87 Pawnee 63

Regional Tournament March 4-7 85 Nokomis 65 72 Taylorville 52 58 Shelbyville 63 (Second Place)

Coach : Jack Dettra Record: 27-2 Coach ' s Ctunulative Record: 212-85

The 1967-68 team had the highest winning percentage of any team in

the school ' s history. Only the 1945-116 team had more ·wins .

A milestone in Coach Jack Dettro 1 s coaching career was reached as

he gained his 200th coaching victory in a grune with Assumption . There

was a celebration held in Coach Dettro ' s behalf at the Holy Trinity

Catholic Church ' s Hall following the game. ( 4 6 )

The Wildcats won the Meridian Conference a s well a s the. Meridian

Tournament. The Wildcats had an 11-0 Conference record.

Stonington competed for the first time in the Waverly Holiday

::i.ment . 'rhe Wildcats "7ere eliminated in the quarter final round by

C11a t;ham Glenwood 70-69.

95

The Wildcats breezed to a ninth District Tournament Championship by

beating Pawnee 87-63. The Wildc·ats hit a sizzling 60% of their shcts . ( 1� 6 )

Behind a 35 point scoring effort by Joe Curtin, Stonington defeated

Nokomis 85-65 in the first game of the Regional Tournament. The Wildcats

next played Taylorville and defeated them by a 72-52 score . The Wildcats

then faced Shelbyville for the right to meet Stephen Decatur in the

Springfield sectional . The Wildcats were favored but Shelbyville eliminat-

ed Stonington 53-48 in a very disappointing game.



Charlie Bernard Bill Clark Rich Covington Joe Curtin Ton.)r DeMichael

Bruce LaBrecque Pat Marucco Tim Marucco Jeff Thorr.ason Gene Vincent

Introduction ·

Rich Covington, Bruce LaBrecque and Gene Vincent were the only

returnees from the highly successful 1967-68 team. Of the three, only

Rich Covington was a starter , however, LaBrecq�e and Vincent had some

experience at the varsity level . Joining those three were players from

a 16-2 junior varsity squad .

Nov . 22 Nov . 26

Dec. 10 Dec. 1 3

Jan . 3 Jan . 7 Jan . 10 Jan. 11 Jan. 14 Jan . 17 Jan . 24 Jan . 28 Jan . 31 Feb . 4 Feb. 7 Feb. 11 Feb. 14 Feb. 21

Stonington 61 72

Blue Mound 60 Morrisonville 4 3

Meridian Tournament Dec . 2-6 66 Macon 44 81 Blue Mound 62 55 Findlay 36 ( First Place )

Away Away

86 Edinburg 48 Away 72 Macon 54 Home

Waverly Holiday Tournament Dec . 26-30 83 Franklin 63 86 Jacksonville

Routt 41 65 Pawnee 42 70 Chatham-

73 57 73 66 8 5 5 8 89 94 87 86 74 8 3 8 6 64

Glenwood Argenta Blue Mound Warrensburg Moweaqua Lovington Bethany Illiopolis Assumption Mt. Auburn

96 ( Second Place) 36

71 60 72

Niantic Maroa Moweaqua Tower Hill Findlay

District Tourna.�ent Moweaqua Assumption Pawnee

47 57 49 69 36 64 63 60 57 54 52 63 5 5

24-28 58 47 56 (Fir' st Place)

Regional Tournament March 3-7 66 Shelbyville 5 4 60 Taylorville 69

Home Home Home Away Away Away Away Away Home Home Home Home Home Away

96

Coach: Jack Dettro Record : 28-2 Coaches Cumulative Record : 240-89

Summary_

Coach Dettra added another Meridian Conference title, Meridian

Tourney title, and District Tournament Championship in 1968-69 �s the

Wildcats posted a 28-2 record . The team set a record for the highest

winning percentage. Stonington also placed second in the Waverly

Holiday Tournament .

For the second year i n a row the Wildcats posted a perfect 11-0

conference record.



Bruce Briggs Rich Covington Charles De Foor Mike De Michael Roger Dooley Gary Fulk Paul Gebhart

Bruce La Brecque Mickey Moffett Fred Roth Gene Vincent Mike Wingler Gary Younker

91

1969-1970

Iutroduct iori

Stonington retained two starters along with six other members fr0m

the 1968-69 team. Mike De Michael and Charles DeFoo·r were the returning

starters .

Stonington Nov. 18 19 Morrisonville 64 Holl!e Nov. 21 38 Blue Mound 48 Home

Meridian Tournament Dec . 1-5 57 Macon 42 56 Maroa 52 46 Blue Mound 44 { First Plac e )

Dec . 9 5 5 Edinburg 49 Home Dec . 12 56 Macon 44 Away

Waverly Holiday Tournament 72 Girard 59 51 Athens 43 60 Ashland 57 50 Ma.son City 82 { Second Place )

Jan . 2 5 5 Argenta 4 0 Away Jan . 6 4 5 Blue Mound 68 Away Jan . 9 7 5 Warrensburg 73 Away Jan. 10 62 Moweaqua 47 Home Jan . 13 75 Lovington 52 Home Jan . 16 81 Bethany 60 Home Jan . 23 60 Illiopolis 34 Home Jan. 27 64 Assumption 49 Home Jan. 30 61 Mt . Auburn 64 Away Feb. 3 61 Niantic 53 Away Feb. 7 55 Maroa 39 Away Feb . 10 62 Moweaqua 23 Away Feb. 13 60 Tower Hill 53 Away Feb. 20 60 Findlay 57 Home

District Tournament Feb. 23-27 76 Mt . Auburn 63 74 Pawnee 40 54 Edinburg 42 { First Plac e )

Regional Tournament March 2-6 50 Blue Mound 73

Coach: Jack Dettro Record : 24-5 Coaches ' Cumulative Record: 264-94

99

Summary

'rhe Wildes.ts won �-.1::ir third c0nsecutive Meridian Tourney as '.·rell as

their fourth consecutive District Tournament as Coach Dett.ro en.joyed. hj a �

foui·th consecutive twenty-win sea.son . Also, Stonington placed second in

the Waverly Tournament for the second year in a row.



David Blakeman Bruce Briggs Charles De Foor Mike De Michael Roger Dooley Micky Moffett

Mark Ringler Fred Roth Curt Swigert Mike Wingler Jim Wiseman Gary Younker

1970-1971

Introduct.ion

Charles De Foor headed a list of seven returnees from the 1969-70

sq_uad.

There was one schedule change this year . The Meridian Conference

Tournament was to be held later in the seasou rather than in December .

Nov. 17 Nov . 24 Dec . 1 Dec . 4 Dec . 11 Dec . 15 Dec . 18

Jan. 5 Jan. 9 Jan. 12 Jan. 15 Jan . 19 Jan . 22 Jan. 23

Feb. 2 Feb. 5 Feb. 12 Feb. 19

Stonington 65 Morrisonville 32 84 69 72 80 69 50

74 77 54 60 54 55 87 72 82 53 82

81 59 94 98 62 76 56

102 84 81

Mt. Auburn 48 Assumption 53 Edinburg 55 Macon 53 Warrensburg 64 Blue Mound 52

Waverly Holiday Tournament De . 26-30 Winchester 55 New Berlin 58 Jacksonville 45 Athens 52 (First Place ) Blue Mound 53 OT

Moweaqua 43 Lovington 46 Bethany 55 Pawnee 69 Illiopolis 57 OT Argenta 65

Meridian Tournament Jan. 26-30 Bethany 49 Maroa 61 Findlay 78 (Third Place ) Niantic 77 Maroa 67 Tower Hill 57 Findlay 60

District Tournament Feb . 22-26 Morrisonville 64 Kincaid 62 Mt . Auburn 62 ( First Place)

Regional Tournament March 1-5 Blue Mound 51� Rochester 60

Away Home Away Away Home Home Away

Home Away

· Away Home Away Away Home

Home Home Home Away

58 72 55 Shelbyville 72 ( Second Place )

Coac h : Jack Dettro Ri:cord: 25-6 Coaches 1 Cmnulative Record : 289-99

ioo

Summary

The season of 1970-71 was another very succes sful one for Coach

Dettro . After fiQi s hing seconQ .the previous two . years , Stonington won

the Waverly Holiday Tournament . In addition to the Waverly Tourn3..�ent

title, the Wildcats placed third i n the Meridian, and won the i)istrict

101

Tournament for the fifth year in a row. Stonington also advanced to the

championship game of the Regional Tournament .


Bruce Briggs Charles De Foor Roger Dooley David Downs Joe Mateer

Joe Mc Christy

Phillip Myers Steve Myers Mickey Moffett Mark Ringler Curt Swigert Fred Roth


1971-1972

Introduction

Coach Dettro faced a rebuilding year as all of last year ' s starters

had departed.

This was the first year of Class A or Class AA State Tournaments .

All teams now began tournament play at tl�e Regional Tournament.

Stonington Nov. 16 62 Morrisonville 58 Home Nov . 23 84 Mt . Auburn 56 Away Nov. 30 85 Assumption 67 Home Dec . 3 90 Edinburg 62 Home Dec . 10 72 Macon 65 Away Dec . 21 53 Blue Moun d · 60 Home

Waverly Holiday Tournament Dec . 27-31 81 Northwestern 62 44 Auburn 59

Jan . 4 51 Blue Mound 66 Away Jan . 11 94 Lovington 66 Home Jan . 14 57 Bethany 50 Away Jan . 18 69 Pawnee 58 Home Jan . 21 55 Illiopolis 67 Home Jan . 22 59 Argenta 39 Away

Meridian Tournament Jan . 25-29 64 Assumption 61 52 Maroa 78 44 Blue Mou.'1d 56 ( Fourth Place )

Feb. 1 84 Niantic 79 Away Feb. 4 47 Maroa 56 Away Feb. 8 57 Moweaqua 5 5 Home Feb . 11 85 Tower Hill 62 Away Feb . 12 64 Decatur

Lakeview 75 Away Feb . 18 74 Findlay 54 Home

Regional Tournament Feb. 21-25 87 Edinburg 46 57 Rochester 85

Coach: Jack Dettro Record: 16-9 Coache s ' Cumulative Record: 305-108

Summary

The Wildcats posted anothe:c winning season although Coach Deti..ro

had his string of twenty-win seasons snapped at five . "I:

The team' s only trophy of the year was a fourth place trophy in

the Meridian Conference Tournament.

The scores were taken from t�e 1971 Stony Echoes .

Varsity Team Member s

Jim Blakeman Bob Smith Don Burkhart Curt Swigert Pat Hancock Rod Tarr Joe Mateer Mike Vincent Joe Mc Christy Clay Winn Kevin Peabody Chris Young Tim Roth

103

104

1972-1973

Introduction ""'

Curt Swigert returned for his fourth year as a. Yarsi".:y team

member. Three starters returned for duty in 1972-73 .

Stonington Nov. 21 96 Mt . Auburn 41 Nov. 28 78 Assumpt ion 65 Dec . l 57 Blue Mound 40 Dec. 8 84 Macon 57 Dec. 11 76 Edinburg 66 Dec . 1 5 87 Kincaid 61 Dec . 18 71 Morrisonville 61

Waverly Holiday Tournament Dec . 26-30 70 Pleasant Plains45 65 Jacksonville 5 7 56 Mason City 67 73 Auburn 7 5 (Fourth Plac '.�

Jan. 2 61 Blue Mound 51 Jan. 9 100 Lovington 50 Jan. 12 80 Bethany 52 Jan. 16 70 Argenta 57 Jan. 17 56 Pawnee 69 Jan. 19 54 Illiopolis 47

Meridian Tournament Jan. 22-26 7 9 Macon 56 77 Assumption 52 53 Niantic 68( Second Place )

Jan. 30 71 Niant ic 45 Feb. 2 73 Maroa 59 Feb. 6 69 Moweaqua 47 Feb. 9 79 Tower Hill 59 Feb. 16 45 Findlay 59

Regional Tournament Feb. 19-23 60 Pawnee 56 80 Rochester 84 40T

Coach: Jack Dettro Record: 21-6 Coaches CUlllulative Record :

Home Away Away Heme Away Home Away

Home HoI!le Awa'./ Home Away

326-114

105

Summary

The 1972-73 Season was another very successful one for Stonington

High as the team posted a 21-6 record.

The Wildcats placed second in the Meridian Tourney and fourth in

the Waverly Tourney and were champions of the Meridian Conference . ( 4 7 )

Stonington was eliminated from the Regional Tournament by Rochester

in an unforgettable game . The score was tied at 63 at the end o f

regulation time. The score was tied at 69 after the first overtime and

at 75 and 77 at the end of the second and third over time s . Rochester

outscored Stonington 7-3 in the fourth overtime to gain the victory. ( 7 4 )

The scores wer·e taken from the 1972 Stony Echoe s .


Pat Hancock Joe Mateer John May Neil Moffett Ted Roth Tim Roth

David Solliday Russ Summers Curt Swigert Rod Tarr Clay Winn

1973-1974

Introduction

Only three players returned from the 1972-73 varsity squad. none

of the three were starters from last year. Seven of the twelve varsity

players on the 1973-74 team were sophomores .

Stonington Nov. 23 44. Morrisonville 67 Home Nov. 27 83 Mt. Auburn 40 Away Dec . 4 74 Assumption 62 Home Dec . 7 48 Blue Mound 54 Home Dec . 11 56 Edinburg 48 Home Dec . 14 65 Macon 68 Away

Waverly Holiday Tournament Dec . 26-30 62 Athens 51 58 Mason City 63

Jan. 8 50 Blue Mound 62 Away Jan . 1 5 81 Lovington 51 Home Jan . 18 46 Bethany 53 Away Jan. 19 82 Argenta 59 Away Jan. 22 70 Pawnee 75 Home Jan . 25 78 Illiopolis 71 Home

Meridian Tournament Jan . · 28-Feb . l 56 Assumption 40 59 Findlay 70 46 Blue Mound 71 { Fourth Place)

Feb . 5 45 Niantic 65 Away Feb. 8 61 Maroa 46 Away Feb. 11 69 Kincaid 83 Away Feb. 12 80 Moweaqua 47 Home Feb. 15 66 Tower Hill 65 Away Feb . 22 44 Fi ndlay 61 Home

Regional Tournament Feb . 25-Mar . 1 49 Edinburg 48 52 Raymond 67

106

Coach: Jack Dettro Record: 12-13 Coaches Cumulative Record : 338-127

107

Summary

Coach Dettro suffered only his second losing season as the �973-74

team finished 12�13 .

The Wildcats did claim fourth place in the Meridian Conference

Tournament.



Dan Callan John May Brad Clark Andy Moffett Fred Curtin Neil Moffett John Kastelic Rick Powell Rick Klay Ted Roth Doug Likes Tim Vaughn

1974-1975

Introduction

Three starters returned from last year ' s team as Stonington tried

to improve upon the 12-13 record of 1973-74 .

Nov . 22 Nov . 26 Dec . · 3 Dec . 6 Dec . 10 Dec . 13 Dec . 19

Stonington 62 67 57 50 73 60 58

Morrisornrille Mt. Auburn Assumption Blue Mound Edinburg Macon Kincaid

61 66 41 77 72 48 71

Waverly Holiday Tournament Dec . 58 Girard 53 66 Kincaid 68

Jan. 7 52 Blue Mound 72 Jan . 14 52 Lovington 53 Jan. 17 54 Bethany 83 Jan. 18 64 Argenta 53 Jan. 21 55 Pawnee 60 Jan. 24 85 Illiopolis 56

Meridian Tournament Jan . 27-31 46 Macon 38 55 Bethany 85

Feb . 4 72 Niantic 54 Feb. 7 58 Maroa 52 Feb. 11 100 Moweaqua 87 Feb. 14 70 Tower Hill 47 Feb. 21 74 Findlay 57

Regional Tournament Feb . 24-28 70 Rochester 73 30T

Away Home Away Away Away Rome Home

26-31

Home Away Home Home Away Away

Home Home Away Home Away

Coac h : Jack Dettro Record : 14-9 �oach ' s Cumulative Record : 352-136

Summary

The Wildcats finished the re�tlar season with five straight

victories to record a 14-9 season .

'fhe Wildcats reached the 100 point mark against Moweaqua 3.S Ted

Roth scored 35 point s . ( 55 )

108

As in 1972-73 Stonington met Rochester in the Regional Tournament .

Once again Rochester was victorious as they defeated Sto!"!ingtor. 72-70

in three overt:i.me s . ( 5 5 )

The scores were �aken .from the 1974 Stony Echoes .


John Blakeman Dan Callan Mike Gideon John Kastelic Rick Klay

Steve Klay Doug Likes Rick Powel Emilio Planas Ted Roth

109

110

1975-i976

Introduction

John Kastelic and Andy Moffett returned as third year starters

along with four others who had also been three: year varsity members .

Stonington Nov. 21 71 Morrisonville 59 Home Nov . 25 8 5 Mt . Auburn 55 Away Dec . 2 49 Assumption 56 Home Dec . 5 69 Blue Mound 61 Home Dec . 9 77 Edinburg 63 Home Dec . 12 82 Macon 61 Away Dec . 18 81 Kincaid 61 Away

Waverly Holiday Tourne.ment Dec . 26-31 93 Waverly 53 74 New Berlin 81

Jan . 13 72 Lovington 64 Home Jan. 16 51 Bethany 80 Away Jan. 17 57 Argenta 58 Away Jan. 20 68 Pawnee 60 Home Jan. 23 .85 Illiopolis 76 Home

Meridian Tournament Jan. 26-30 63 Illipolis 61 39 Bethany 50 75· Blue Motmd 78 ( Fourth Plac e )

Feb. 3 91 Niantic 36 Away Feb. 6 70 Maroa 47 Away 'Feb . 10 92 Moweaqua 49 Home Feb . 13 82 Tower Hill 74 Away Feb. 17 " 61 LS.Lue i•iound 76 Away Feb. 20 47 Findlay 51 Home

Regional Tournament Feb. 23-27 71 Raymond 64 62 Pawnee 48 78 Edinburg 62 ( First Plac e )

Sectional Tournament Feb. 2-5 53 Mt. Pulaski 66

Coac h : Jack Dettro Record: 18-9 Coach ' s Cumulative Record: 370-145

Summary

The Wildcats became only the second team in the school ' s history to

advance to the Sectional Tournament as they defeated Edinburg 78-62 .

Fred Curtin scored 21 points and John Blakeman scored 2t1 point::; . ( 56 )

Stonington was eliminated in Sectional play by Mt . Pula.ski by the

score of 66-53. Mt . Pulaski was th'e eventual State Class A Champicn.



Brian Abshire John Blakeman Dan Callan Fred Curtin John Kastelic Rick IG.ay

Doug Likes Ralph Mateer Andy Moffett Kevin Moffett Rick Powel Tim Swigert

111

1975-1977

Introduction

No starters returned from the 1975-76 squad. Ho·.

112

:· , John

Blakeman "saw extensive play during the latter part of · :ie 1975-76 season.

Nov . 19 Nov . 23 Nov. 30 Dec . 3 Dec . 7 Dec . 10 Dec . 14

Jan . 15 Jan . 19 Jan . 21

Feb. l Feb . 4

Feb . 8

Feb. 9 Feb. 11 Feb . 1 5 Feb . 16

Feb. 18

Stonington 51 Morrisonville 4 2 78

70 5 5 77 63 77

61 73 51 80 65 56 64

70 77 59 74 61 60 67 51 72 73

56 42

Mt . Auburn 5 5 Assumpt ion 44

Blue Mound 72 Edinburg 67 Macon 89 Kincaid 53

Waverly Holiday Tournament Dec. 27-31 New Berlin 52 Northwestern 53 Franklin 73 Virden 89 ( Fourth Place )

Argenta 59 Pawnee 67 Illiopolis 7 5

Meridian Tournament Jan . 24-28

Tower Hill 40 Bethany 79 Niantic 48

Maroa 80 Moweaqua 66

Lovington 67 Tower Hill 3 5 Blue Mound 75 Bethany 51 Findlay 48

Regional Tourrunanet Feb . 21-25 Moweaqua 47 Raymond 61

Away Home Away Away Away Home Horne

Home Away Away

Home Home Away Away Home Home Home Away

Coac h : Jack Dettro Record: 14-12 Coaches Cumulative Record: 384-157

Summary

Stonington finished fourth in the Waverly Holiday Tournament in one

of the highlishts of the season.

The Wildcats were beaten 79-77 by Bethany in the Meridian Tourney

des�ite � 42 point scoring effort by John Blakeman . ( 57 )



Brian Abshire Dennis Beard John Blakeman Tim Bollinger David Cook Steve Curtin

Brian Embry Chuck Guthrie Mike Jacobs Ralph Mateer Kevin Moffett Tim Swigert

113

1977-1978 114

Introduction

Cea.ch Dettro had three starters, Joh� Blakeman , Kevin �'::>ffet t , an.

Ralph Mateer back from the team of 1976-77 .

Stonington Nov. 22 60 Mt . Auburn 50 Away Nov . 29 56 Assumpt ion 66 Home Dec . 2 43 Blue Mound 7 3 Home Dec . 9 67 Kincaid 60 Away Dec . 20 64 Morrisonville 63 Home

Waverly Holiday Tournament Dec. 26-30 62 Pawnee 89 . 64 New Berlin 63 65 Athens 54

52 Jacksonville 47 ( Consolation Championship) Routt

Jan . 6 66 Edinburg 71 Home Jan . 10 88 Lovington 70 Home Jan . 13 54 Bethany 72 Away Jan . 14 74 Niantic 67 2 OT Away Jan . 17 65 Pawnee 88 Home Jan. 20 74 Illiopolis 67 Home

Meridian Tournament Jan . 23-27 57 Niantic 53 50 Assumption 52

Jan. 31 77 Niantic 50 Home Feb. 3 48 Maroa 72 Away Feb. 7 85 Moweaqua 65 Home Feb. 10 84 Tower Hill 69 Home Feb . 11· 37 Macon 54 Away Feb. 14 59 Blue Mound 87 Away Feb. 17 77 Findlay 7 5 Home

Regional Tournament Feb. 20-24 64 Macon 62 54 Assumption 69

Coach: Jack Dettro Record : 15-11 Coache s ' Cumulative Record: 399-168

Summary

The Wildcats finished the season with a 15-11 record . The team showed

great poise and desire as they pulled a couple of games out in the last

minute of play. Against Morrisonville the: Wildcats trailed by five points

115

with less than a minute to play. Morrisonville missed sooe free throws

which enabled Stonington to pull the game out 64-63 . Against Findlay,

Stonington trailed by ten points in the waning minutes of the game aP.d

won on a basket by Kevin Moffett with two seconds left . It was the first

time Stonington had led since early in the game .

One of the highlights of the season was a victory over Illiopoli s .

Stonington, playing without their center Ralph Mateer, faced a front line

of 6 1 7" , 6 1 4 " , and 6 1 3" with no player of their own more than 6 1 111 tall.

Stonington won by playing a sagging defense and some hot outside shooting

by John Blakeman who tallied 36 points.

The scores were taken from the 1977-78 scorebook.

Varsity Team Members Dennis Beard Chuck Guthrie John Blakeman Brian Embry Tim Bollinger Mike Jacobs Joe Callan Ralph Mateer

. Tom Covington Kevin Moffett Steve Curtin Rusty Reed Dean Downs

Chapter 8

SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS

There has been a total of fifteen different basketball coaches at

Stonington High School in the sixty-two years of basketball . Coaching

tenures ranged from the one year of Gladwin Gaumer , Paris Loucks , Fred

Reuter , and Dale Fahsbender to the twenty-one years of Jack Dettro.

Jack Dettro is the winningest coach in the history of basketball at

Stonington High School with a total of 399 wins.

Stonington has won a total of 867 games and lost a total of 612

game s . Included in the 867 victories were twelve District Tournament

Championships and two Regional Championship s . In addition, Stonington

has won eight Meridian Conference Tournament s and eight Meridian Con

ference Championships .

The following is a list of recommendations to the school and anyone

undertaking a similar research subj ect .

1 . Before undertaking such a proj ect , one should make a thorough check

of the available sources of data.

2 . A schedule with time budgeted to the project on a regular systematic

basis should be mad e .

3 . A list of items t o be accomplished for each time increment o f re

search will be very helpful.

4 . A record of data already gathered should be kept to eliminate

duplicated effort .

5 . More time should. be allowed for gathering information from newspapers .

116

6 . Finding data for earlier years will usually be more time consuming

and harder to find than data for more recent year s .

7. A list o f que stions for personal interviews should b e p'epared s o �

that everything can be accomplished in one interview. Such a list

will not only save t ime but al.so save money if the interview had

to be conducted by long distance telephone .

8 . Information gathered by personal interviews should be checked and

verified when possible .

9 . A dictionary should be available at all times when writing of the

thesis begins.

10. Better records should be kept at Stonington High School with each

scorebook from year to year being systemat ically filed.

117

11. Records for trac k , baseball , and golf should similarly be recorded.

12. With the advent of girl ' s athletic s , all records for girl ' s sports

at Stonington High School should be kept .

13 . A parallel study of the Stonington High School track or baseball

teams should be made to establish accurate records for those sports .

14 . A smnma.ry and list of games for each succeeding basketball season

should be added to this the s i s .

118

AP�ENDIX

Coaching Records "e

Wins Losses Perc entage Guy Lowry 25 38 , 390

Gladwin Gaumer 18 3 , 850

Paris Loucks 8 16 , 333

Lloyd Becker 22 27 , 4 4 0

William White 29 16 , 64 0

George Harper 37 7 6 , 320

Joe Wylder 98 62 � 610

Fred Rueter 4 12 , 250

Von Armer 46 44 . 510

Harley Culberson 80 40 , 667

Mike Corby 64 26 . 7l0

Dale Fahs bender 7 18 � 280

Ralph Thompson 20 30 � 400

Ralph Naylor 10 37 , 210

Jack Dettro 399 167 ,700

9CHOOL RECORDS

Team

Most points in ga.I:'.e , 121, 1964 vs. Mt . Auburn Most wins in season, 31, 1946 Fewest losses in season , 2 , 1968 and 1969 Highest winning percentage, . 9301 1969 , 28-2

Individual

Most points in game , Roy Klay , 47 , 1946 v s . Illiopoli s Dave McChristy, 4 3 , 1964 1 v s Tower Hill John Blakeman , 42 , 1977 , vs. Bethany

119

120 CUMULA�IVE RECORD VS. OPPOUENTS·

W-L W-L

Edinburg 94-18 Decatur "B" 2-2 Mt . Auburn 87-18 Latham -i-0 Assumption 71-59 Winchester 1-0 Tower Hill 59-13 Pleasant Plains 1-1 Blue Mound 59-80 Waverly 1-0 Morrisonville 56-43 Mt . Pulaski 1-1 Moweaqua 54-�8 Frankli!l 1-1 Illiopoli s 47-24 LaPlace 1-0 Macon 4 3-63 Oconee 1-0 Niantic 34-12 Tri-City 1-2 Findlay 34-24 Concord Triopia 1-0 Rosamond 22-10 Ashland 1-0 Maroa 22 -17 Sullivan 1-2 Owaneco 20-11 Mansfield 1-0 Bethany 18-26 Cerro Gordo 1-3 Lovington 1$ -7 Williamsville 1-0 Kincaid 15-23 Ball Township 1-0 Rochester 14-10 Auburn 0-5 Pawnee 11-6 Lakeview 0-1 Raymond 10-8 Mason City 0-3 Argenta 9-3 Virden 0-1 Harvel 8-2 Decatur 0-5 Warrensburg 6-5 Coffeen 0-1 Mt. Zion 5-3 Hillsboro 0-1 Jacksonville 4-o Chatham. 0-2 Athens 4-o Arthur 0-1 Strasburg 4-4 Clinton 0-5 Palmyra 3-3 Mt. Olive 0-2 New Berlin 3-1 Ramsey 0-1 Taylorville 3-19 Windsor 0..:1 Shelbyville 2-2 Bement 0-1 Girard 2-0 Witt 0-3 Pana 2-8 Riverton 0-2 St . Teresa 2-0 St . James 0-1 Nokomis 2-2

121

REFERENCES CITED

1 . Crist,. Allen , personal interview, December 28 , 1977

2 . Culberson, Harley , personal intervie�, April 14 , 1978·

3 . > Dec atur Herald , January 19 , 1929,. p . 8

4 . Decatur Hera.ld , February 2 , 1929, p.10

5 . , Dec atur Herald , February 16 , 1929 , p . ll.

6 . Decatur Herald , February 8 , 1931 , p . 14·

7 . Dec atur Herald , March 3 , 1931 , p . 12

8 . , Decatur Herald, February 18 , 1932, p . 10

9 . , Decatur Herald, February 18 , 1933, p. 14

10. Decatur Herald , March 7 , 1933 , p . 18

l l . ' Dec atur Heral d , January 20 , 1934 , p . 1 6

1.2. ) Decatur Heral d , February 17 , 1934' p . 1 6.

1 3 . ' Decatur Herald, February 2 3 , 1936, p.14·

14 . ' Decatur Herald , March 4 , 1937, p . 18

15 . Decatur Herald, February 3 , 1937 ' p.18

1 6 . ' Decatur Herald , January 6 , 1937 , p . 18

17 . , Dec atur Herald , March 3 , 1937 ' p . 17

18 .. ) Decatur Herald , March 4 , 1937 ' p . 18

19 . ) Dec atur Herald , February 22 , 1937 , p . 18

2 0 . , Dec atur Herald , February 22 , 1939, p . 20

21. , Decatur Herald., February 20 , 194 3 , p . 32

22. , Decatur He:-ald , February 21 , 194 3 , p . 32

2 3 . , Dec atu r He�ald, .January 2 9 , 194 3 , p . 3l

24 . ' Decat11r Herald, January 29, 1943 , p . 32

2 5 . , Dec atur Heral d , February 1 0 , 194 3 , p . 34

26. _,

Decutur Hc:rnld , }�ebruary 13, J 9 h 3 , p . 20

27 . ' Decatur Heral d , February 21 , 1945 , p . 30.

28 . , Decatur Herald , February 2 5 , · 1950 , p . 21

29. ' Decs.tur Herald , March 3 , 1950, p . 22

30 . ' Decatur Heral d , February 22 , 195 1 , p . 31

3 1 . Decatur Herald , February 2 3 , 1951, p . 30

3 2 . ' Decatur Heral d , February 2 9 , 1952 , p . 31

3 3 . ' Decatur Herald , January 1 2 , 195 5 , p . 20

34 . , Decatur Herald , December 14 , 1957, p . 16

3 5 . , · Decatur Herald , January 26 , 1958 , p . 21

36 . Decatur Herald , February 28 ' 1958 , p . 21

3 7 . , Decatur Herald , February 2 0 , 1960 , p . 22

38 . , Decatur Heral d , March 2 , 1962 , p . 16

3 9 . ' Decatur Herald , February 25 , 1962 , p . 17

4o . , Decatur Herald , February 22 , 1964 , p . 17

41 . DeMichae l , Florian , personal interview, December 3 0 , 1977 ·

42 . DeMichael , Tullio , personal interview, February ·24 , 1978 .

43 . Dettra , Jack, personal interview, March 27 , 1978 .

44 . Doyl e , Joe, personal interview , January 24 , 1978 .

45 . Maruc co , John , personal interview , April 2 9 , 1978 .

46 . Marucco , Pat , personal interview, April 23 , 1978 .

' Meridian Conference Records , program from

48 .

t:: -..

.:\

4lst annual Meridian Conference Tournment .

' Red and White Book, athlet ic s section , 1971 .

' Red and White Book , athletics section, 1918 .

Red and White Book, athletics section, 1919.

, -Red and White Book, athlet ics section , 192.0 .

' Red and White Boo k , 1922 , p . 43

Red anc. \foi.te Scranbook, 1 944 , p . 51

122

5 4 . Schowska, Paul , personal interview, December 30, 1977 .

5 5 . , Scorebook from 1974-75 season.

56. Scorebook from 1975-76 season.

5 7 . , Scorebook from 1976-77 season .

58. , Scorebook from 1977-78 season.

5 9 . Solliday, Horac e , personal interview, Dec ember 28 , 1977.

60. ��-' Stony Echoes, athletics section, 1�2 5 .

61 . , Stony Echoes, athletics section, 1927.

62. , Stony Echoes , athletics section , 192 8 .

6 3 . , Stony Echoes , athletics section, 1938 .

64 . Stony Echoes , athletics section, 1939.

6 5 . Stony Echoes , athletics section, 1941 .

66 . , Stony Echoes, athletics section, 1942 .

67 . , Stonv Echoes , athletics section, 194 6 .

6 8 . , Stony Echoes , athletics section , 1948.

6 9 . , Stony Echoes , athletics section, 1953.

7 0 . , Stony Echoes , athletics section , 1954 .

71 . , Stony Echoes , athlet ics section, 1962 .

7 2 . , Stony Echoes , athletics section, 1964 .

7 3 . , Stony Echoes , athletics section, 1966.

74 . , Stony Echoes , athletics section, 1973 .

7 5 . Young , Keith, personal interview, April 28 , 1978.

l�.3_,.

12�

VITA

The writer was born in Taylorville , Illinois on September 1 5 , 1950.

He attended Stonington Community Unit #7 Schools for the duration of

his primary and. secondary education. While in high school the writer

earned four varsity letters in baseball , three varsity letters in bas

ketball , and two varsity letters in track. Upon graduation from Stoning

ton High School in 1968 , the writer entered Eastern Illinois University

where he majored in Mathematics and Physical Education . He was a member

of the varsity baseball team at Eastern Illinois for four years as well

being a membe� of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Phi Epsilon

Kappa . He g-raduated from Eastern Illinois in 1973 and accepted his

present position at Stonington Jr . -Sr . High School. He is employed as

junior high mathemati c s teacher and coach of junior high basketball

as well as high school golf and baseball coach. His 1977-78 Class A

junior high school basketball team captured the Illinois Elementary

School Association Class A State Basketball Tournament.

the history of basketball at stonington high school

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