The Greatest

[Drax1975]

Today marks 50 years since the Midland Leopards crushed Steelton Highspire 90-61 to claim their 1st state title. This was the Greatest high school team assembled in any era. These guys grew up within a few blocks of each other. Many games were over by half time or when Simmie, Ookie or Ron Brown scored double figures it was time for the showers! Hail to The Leopards!

 

[Drax1975]

1965 Midland Leopards!

 

[Drax1975]

 

[NTOP]

Nice recruiting gimmick: a job for Dad at the mill.

It's not just the private schools who have played games. And I think some DeMatha teams might have been at that level, and a couple of Philly/NYC squads.. That town really got hit hard when the mill closed.

 

[Drax1975]

One of the pre game theme songs : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oysMt8iL9UE

 

[Drax1975]

And my favorite, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b15F-_3bdj0

 

[Harve74]

Great team.

But, when I lived in Ambridge in 1976, the guys there said the same thing about the 1967 Devenzio/Wuycic/Kauffman team.

Hard to believe the difference today in Westetn Pa high school basketball.

 

[GT74]

Ambridge

Some great teams and players back then, but I think that Ambridge was the best team I have seen. 3 D1 players (Duke, NC, and Purdue). They also won big, something like 91-67 over Chester for the state. That Midland team and the Schenley team just before that were awesome. The Schenley team with Blair and Kennedy were up there too. Prob some others in there.

 

[9nationalchampionships]

1960 Farrell Steelers

 

[CentPaPittFan]

couple other teams


Schenley 1970 or 1971 Lucas, Kelley, Coleman

Fifth Avenue 1976 or 1977 Clancy Clark Macklin Kennedy

1979 or 78 Schenley not quite as good as above but Anderson, Thornton, Smith - 3 6'6" to 6'8" guys on front line

 

[9nationalchampionships]

I think WPA BB is making a comeback. D1 Talent is starting to come out again and they are holding their own against EPA.

 

[Drax1975]

People from around the tri state would fill the gyms to watch Midland, of course the gyms weren't on par with Midland's state of the art facility, which held close to 2 thousand folks. Hill was unstoppable, VanLier couldn't be guarded and was a terrific defender getting tackled at mid court many a time stealing the ball. Brown would clean up any mistakes around the glass. Brent Lake was 6'4" and was also a terrific defender along with a good jump shot. Alston was, to me was a player VanLier needed to pass the ball back and forth when he needed a breather, still a good ball player mind you. Second team was also pretty good. Too bad kids today didn't get to watch an event like the Leopards when they were on the court. Hill and VanLier went onto the pros.

 

[Drax1975]

Midland scored 2203 points during the season for another school record and beat opponents by an average of 31.6 points per game. Some rival coaches that season tried to arrange terms of an honorable surrender, including those at Steelton-Highspire High School, whose team was swamped by Midland in the 1965 state championship game 90-61.
Back in the day, there was as much talent in this area as anywhere in the country. Hill, VanLier, Lantz, Durrett, Lucas, Devinzio, Wuycic and many others. Basketball was a great game back then and some were fortunate to witness it, I'm glad I did, I'm thankful.

 

[Drax1975]

Today is Aliquippa's turn, "Let's go Quips"!