HUNTERTOWN VARSITY BASKETBALL
HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL TEAMS
1950-1951 Varsity Team
Jack Meyers, guard
Jack Kelham, forward
Bud May, forward
David Witham, forward
Bob Spangler, forward
Paul Dice, forward
Franklin Huber, guard
Ray Tester, guard
Don Bloom, guard
Jerry Miller, guard
Jerry Buchanan, center
Roger Smith, center
Coonan, coach
Student Managers, C. Taner, A. Andrews, T. McCrea
Yell Leaders, J. Walcutt, M. Kell, B. Grimm
The Huntertown Wildcats won the County Tourney this year defeating New Haven, Monroeville, Hoagland, and Elmhurst. In the regular season they had 17 wins and 1 loss.
In the Sectional Tourney the Wildcats won their first 3 games, only to go down to Central in the finals.
1952-1953 Varsity Team
Richard Gordon, guard
Paul Brown, guard
Bob Harter, guard
Marvin Martin, guard
Terry Spade, guard
Bernie Konger, guard
Bud Shank, forward
Richard Heffelfinger, forward
Ronnie Farrell, center
Gary Muncy, center
Coach, Terry Coonan
Student Managers, Charles Taner and Kenneth Fritz
Cheer Leaders, Barbara Maloney, Mary Jane LaRowe, Mary Jane Freck
Season record: 7 wins and 11 losses
1953-1954 Varsity Team
Terry Spade, guard
Dave Young, guard
Bernard Konger, guard
Burl Keener, forward
Gary Muncy, forward
Jim McCrea, guard
Wayne Wyss, guard
Ronnie Farrel, forward
Kenny Hoeppner, forward
Bill Miniat, center
Bud Shank, center
Larry Hoover, center
Terry Coonan, Coach
Cheer Leaders, B. Maloney, M. LaRowe, and M. Freck
The Huntertown Wildcats were the County Champs this year defeating Leo, Harlan, and Elmhurst. The Wildcats had 15 wins, 3 losses in their regular season.
1954-1955 Varsity Team
Kenneth Hoeppner
Jerry Elser
Don Timmerman
Burl Keener
Gary Muncy
Jim McCrea
Lynn Martin
Phil Fiedler
Larry Dove
Dave Young
Bud Shank
Coach Schoeff
Student Managers, Kenneth Fritz, Ronnie Dickie
Cheer Leaders, Karen Jordon, Linda Dove
The Wildcats had 8 wins and 10 losses in the regular season.
1955-1956 Varsity Team
Jerry Kreger, forward
Dave Holmes, forward
Eldon Dice, guard
Larry Dove, forward
Bill Schafer, forward
Lynn Bosler, guard
Roger Gross, guard
Larry Gump, guard
Lynn Martin, guard
Don Montooth, center
Ronnie Fiedler, center
Student Manager, Joe Grim
Cheer Leaders, Mary Jane Freck, Larry Griffis, Carolyn Dicke
Coach Schoeff’s Wildcats gave the basketball fans some exciting thrills during the 1955-1956 season. Even though the team won only three games, they had a lot of spirit and worked very hard, losing several games by a narrow margin. At the end of the year, several awards were made to the outstanding players on the team. Larry Dove received the award as “All Around Wildcat”. Bill Schafer was voted as the player who made the greatest improvement during the season. Eldon Dice topped the other varsity players by sinking 69 percent of his shots from the free throw line.
1956-1957 Varsity Team
Ross Gross
Roger Gross
Gene Kikly
David Holmes
Jack Witham
David Bockman
Ronnie Dicke
Larry Gump
Bill Archer
Eldon Dice
Bob McMonigal
Lynn Bosler
Coach Cherry
Student Managers, Tom Clark, Joe Grim, Dave Freck, Ronnie Eby
Cheerleaders, Joyce Hovarter, Carolyn Dicke, Linda and Sharon Dove
THE WILDCATS TALE
The finish of another season came for the “Wildcats” when they were defeated by the Concordia Cadets in the sectional tourney. The Wildcats of 1956-1957 did not enjoy a tremendously successful season, but they showed a lot of promise with a young ball club. They played hard, fast, clean ball to wind up with a six won, fourteen lost record, which was good enough for fourth place in the newly formed Allen County Conference. Their victims included such teams as Rome City, Churubusco, Leo, Arcola, Waterloo, and Woodburn. Overtime games were lost to Harlan and Monroeville. Close contests were played with such powerhouses as Central Catholic, Albion, Elmhurst, and Avilla. Forming the nucleus of this team were juniors and sophomores which indicates a promising future for our teams. Injuries played an important part in the past campaign as key players were slowed down in several contests. A thrilling victory was won over Leo in their gym to highlight the season. It was one of the three losses suffered by the County Champs.
Although the boys were somewhat handicapped in size and experience, this was overcome by their speed, scrap, and spirit. Bob Blanchard, Pete Tom, and Ross Gross were brought up from the second team to go along with Eldon Dice, Bill Archer, Dave Backman, and Ron Fiedler to give us experience for next year’s varsity. It was a great season which came to a close for four seniors – Jack Witham, Lynn Bosler, Larry Gump and Ron Dicke. These boys were awarded the customary honor jackets of Black and Gold.
1959-1960 Varsity Team
Ned Miller, forward
Bob Shank, forward
Phil Albright, forward
Bill Phillips, forward
Bill Garman, center
John Bockman, center
Ross Gross, guard
Duane Dove, guard
Gay Martin, guard
Mike McDougall, guard
George Cherry, coach
Student Managers, David Freck, Dean Gongaware, Robert Konger, Mike Freck and
Jack Freeland
The Wildcats had 10 wins and 7 losses during their regular season of play.
Some picture captions:
The co-captains, Ross Gross and Gay Martin, did a good job of leading the Cats
Through victories.
Managers of this year’s basketball team are: David Freck, Dean Gongaware,
Robert Konger, Mike Freck, and Jack Freeland.
The Most Valuable Basketball Player Award was enlarged this year so that two
of our Wildcats could be honored. Gay Martin, one of the leading scorers, often
added two valuable points at a crucial moment with his outside jump shot. A
very hard working player, Ned Miller, just never quit. He continued to be a
leading scorer throughout the tournaments and was named to the sectional first
team.
1961-1962 Varsity Team
Colin Aukerman, guard
Dave Bosler, guard
Larry Gordon, guard
Mike Warner, guard
Gary Clark, forward
Paul Fox, forward
Larry Sordelet, forward
Tom Stonestreet, forward
Art Truman, forward
Mike Fitch, center
Dale Gordon, center
Bill Phillips, center
Coaches, George Cherry and Dean Gorsuch
Student Managers, Dean Gongaware, Dan Sloffer, Jack Freeland, Dan Holmes and
Don Lindley
Cheer Leaders, John Yates, Sue Benward, Anita DeVeny and Gail Thompson
The Wildcats have had a good season. They won some games and they lost some games but no matter what the score, the school spirit ran high. The ’62 Cats have learned from experience that to play as a team, they must work as a team. With their determination, the Cats have truly created a team sensation.
Season record: 9 wins and 10 losses
1962-1963 Varsity Team
Mike Warner
Mike Downs
Tom Stonestreet
Tom Freck
Larry Sordelet
Mike Fitch
Gary Clark
Bob Yates
Steve Ruhl
Steve Freck
Colin Aukerman
Larry Gordon
Coach, Dean Small
Student Managers, Bruce Dunwiddie, John Buckles and Jim Green
Cheer Leaders, Sue Benward, Anita DeVeny, Norma Steinbarger, Vickie Leis
WILDCATS’ TALES
The ’63 Wildcats clawed their way to a 10-10 overall record and compiled a 4-2 ACAC record which netted Huntertown second place. Despite the fact that the Cats’ record isn’t impressive, the cagers from H.H.S. weren’t pushovers in anyone’s book. It took the Railroaders of Garrett three overtimes to win from the Cats, and Monroeville needed an overtime to claim an upset. The netmen’s luck wasn’t all bad; they can count some impressive victories. The Cats lacerated the Auburn Red Devils 72 to 68, but the season’s biggest win came when Leo’s Lion’s fell before H.H.S. and lost their bid for an unblemished ACAC record.
Tournament play was somewhat disappointing as the Wildcats were defeated by New Haven in the second game of the County Tourney after taking out Woodlan in the first game. In the Sectional Harlan Hawks nipped the Cats in the last minutes to end the Cats’ basketball season. The season’s honors weren’t at an end, however. Mike Fitch, the most valuable players, was chosen as a member of the ACAC first team; and Steve Freck, free throw champ, was placed on the ACAC third team.
1963-1964 Wildcat Varsity Basketball Team
“CAT TALES”
The varsity basketball team handled many fine performances this season. They finished the season with a record of 14 wins and 8 losses. Their A.C.A.C. record was 4 wins and 2 losses. This entitled them to a second place position in the conference.
Hard-fought battles with New Haven and Woodlan sent the Wildcats into the final game of the County Tourney. The team finalized this exciting game by gracefully bowing out to a tough Leo team.
For their outstanding performances, Larry Sordelet, Mike Fitch, and Steve Freck were awarded positions on the A.C.A.C. All-Star Team. Larry Sordelet received honors as our top free-thrower with a .621 average.
The Varsity Wildcats:
Bob Warner
Jim Aven
Terry Howdyshell
Bill Lucas
Bob Yates
Larry Sordelet
Fred Ramsey
Mike Fitch
Denny Disler
Steve Ruhl
Sam Sloffer
Steve Freck
Tony Martin
Coach, Dean Small
The Varsity Cheerleaders:
Pam Sigler, Norma Stienbarger, Vickie Leis, and Linda Gump
1964-1965 Varsity Team
Bob Yates
Steve Freck
Bill Lucas
Terry Howdyshell
Tony Martin
John Buckles
Sam Sloffer
Jim Aven
Roy Wells
Bob Warner
Dan Freck
Gary Davis
Marv Schlatter
Coach, Dean Small
Varsity Cheerleaders, Janet McComb, Pam Sigler, Linda Gump, and Rita Frazier
“CATS TALES”
The Varsity Basketball team had many impressive victories this year. They finished the season with a fine record of twelve victories against six losses. The finished second in ACAC with 5 wins and 2 losses.
In the County Tourney the Wildcats defeated Churubusco in the first game. In the semi-final game they were defeated by Woodlan in an exciting game. The Wildcats made a good try in the Sectional Tourney, too. They were defeated by Fort Wayne South Side in a hard-fought overtime game.
The Cats have another award to be proud of too. They were awarded a Sportsmanship Trophy by the Northeastern Indiana Referees Association for having the best conduct during games. Bob Yates and Steve Freck were rewarded for their performances by being selected to the ACAC All-Star Teams.
1965-1966 Wildcat Varsity Basketball Team
WILDCATS EXPERIENCE A SUCCESSFUL YEAR
The varsity basketball team had an excellent record this year. They finished the season with an impressive 16 wins and 7 hard fought losses. The shared the A.C.A.C. crown with two other schools. At the tourney they leaped into the final game after stomping Hoagland and Arcola. The mighty Wildcats were then tamed by Ossian in a breath taking overtime battle. At the Sectional Tourney they again showed their great teamwork by defeating Bishop Dwenger. They lost to Monroeville in one of their best games ever. The climax of the season was when four of our team members were selected for the A.C.A.C. All-Star Teams, showing our team is great!
Wildcats:
Arnold Bailey, Guard
John Gump, Guard
Marv Schlatter, Guard
Al Hamm, Forward
Tony Martin, Guard
Bob Warner, Guard, Forward
Curt Wilgus, Guard
Dan McComb, Forward
Bill Lucas, Forward
Terry Howdyshell, Center
Roy Wells, Forward, Center
Larry Jensen, Center
Mr. Holderman, Coach
Varsity Cheerleaders:
Janet McComb, Ruthie Dickes, Cindy Benward, Melody Downs
1966-1967 BASKETBALL TEAM
NORTHWEST ALLEN CO. SCHOOLS
HUNTERTOWN, IN
Spirited Wildcats!
Coach Holderman
Tom Brunner
Jerry Gump
Terry Sands
Mark Stockman
Al Hamm
Marvin Schlatter, MVP
Dave McComb
Dan McComb
Mike Mills
Tom Briggs
Larry Jensen
Student Managers: Lloyd Hoot and Tim Thomas
Cheer Leaders:
Kathy Pulver, Melody Downs,Janet McComb, and Kathy Bailey