Reflections from the 84th…1/2/15

Happy new year!  This year’s PHT championship was on new year’s eve and as always it has taken me a couple of days to rest up from sitting in the bleachers for 26 ( I did miss a couple) games.  Why is that?  It is surreal to see how much things have stayed the same over the past 40 years.  You can see many of the same faces, smell the same aroma from the kitchen, hear the same sounds of the whistles and squeaking shoes, and feel the same comfort(?) from the bleachers just like the year before.  It is a great place to get re-acquainted with locals and holiday visitors.  Two years ago I sat next to a visitor from Canada who just stopped by to see if Jabari Parker was as good as Mitchell Wiggins…sorry ANDREW Wiggins, showing my age again.  The year that Derrick Rose matched up against Iman Shumpert, Supt. Jon Kilgore sat next to 4-time NFL Pro-bowler Herman Moore.  He also just stopped by to see what all the fuss was about for the PHT.  Both visitors were not disappointed.  Although much has stayed the same, I have made some notes about the differences from 40 years ago.

Then teams wore white even-numbered home jerseys and dark odd-numbered away jerseys.  Now both jerseys have the same number.  Notes:  I believe this rule carried down from pro and college for TV purposes, since black and white TV sets could only distinguish between dark and white.  Aurora West’s Gordie Kerkman still uses the old system.  Got to like tradition and the Blackhawks managed to take home another trophy this year.

Then players had to hold their hand up when called for a foul.  Now an upraised arm means the player needs a break.

Then all field goals were 2 points.  Now shots beyond the 19’9″ 3 point arc are worth 3.

Then shorts were really short.  Now most shorts cover the knee, not to mention the under armour with pads to protect legs, arms, ribs, etc.  Helmets wouldn’t be a bad idea.

Then it was cool and common to wear wrist bands.  Now you may see shooting sleeves, but rarely an old fashioned wrist band.

Then there was a lot of long hair and side-burns.  Now players seem a little less shaggy.  Although one player made a fashion statement this year with what appeared to be a barbette in his longer hair and long underwear (at least it looked like it) under his shorts.

Then the program was 48 pages and $.25.  Now the program is 80 pages, which includes a lot more records and pictures.  Today’s cover is no longer generic, but includes an action photo from the previous year.  It is still a great value @ $2.00.

Then session tickets ranged from $.75 – $1.75 depending on the day and if you were and adult or student.  Now all sessions are $8.00.  Still the greatest entertainment value anywhere.

Then there were 8 teams from south of I-80.  Now there are only 4.  There are 6 teams that played in both tournaments:  Bloom, Bloomington, Aurora West, Lockport, Manual, and Pontiac.

Then enrollments ranged from 380(Cairo) – 5,100(Bloom).  Now the range is 750(Manual) – 4,400(Warren).  Surprisingly the average was very similar 2,280 compared to 2,316.

Then an organ played intermission music from the south end of the west balcony, while fans munched on candy like tootsie rolls.  Now a new sound system uses the latest digital equipment that makes you want to dance to (admit it you are still singing it, nodding your head and doing the slide step) “Yeah, tootsie roll; Let me see that tootsie roll; Get up and just make that tootsie ooh!”.

Then no drinks or ice cream were allowed in the gym and it was strictly enforced.  Now all refreshments are allowed, but I still try to hide mine when passing an usher or Mr. Tuttle sitting in the stands.

Then the tournament office was the small office on the southwest corner of the commons.  Now Coach McMillan’s whole classroom serves as the tournament office.

Then there were about 3 all-state pictures (Don Shurr, John and Randy Thompson) that I remember in the lobby trophy case.  Now, thanks to new AD’s Dave Young, Brian Blair, and Gary Brunner, there are close to 100 pictures in the trophy case next to the tournament office.

Then smoking was not allowed in the gym, but it was allowed in the commons. Now smoking is not allowed anywhere on school property.  Sorry smokers, but this might be the one good thing to come from legislation over the past 40 years.

Then the red and blue bulbs still flashed on the huge state map on the north wall.  Too bad it wasn’t practical to repair and maintain.  Now there is a large bracket on the opposite side of the gym. I noticed that the results were manually updated after each session this year.

Then the scoreboard had the whole team roster names on it.  It was a lot of work for Roy to keep it updated.  Now the 10 players on the floor are listed by number showing their fouls and points.  As a fan I liked the old board with names and foul totals, but I also like the points on the new board.  It did make it more exciting to look up the stats after the game the old way.  As a coach, I would detest having the point totals showing for my players to be looking at during the game.

Then the media consisted of Red Cavezial from the Daily Leader and 1 announcer from upstart WPOK.  Now there is the Leader, local WJEZ with a slew of 2 member broadcast teams, HSCube.com to watch live (check it out, PTHS is the model of excellence for using this new technology), WJEZ.com, and many visiting newspapers and radio stations.  I remember listening to the games from Puerto Vallerta the only year I have missed the tournament.

Then stats were done by hand to record FG/FGA, FT/FTA, rebounds and points.  Now a team of statisticians use software or an app to record instantly everything from offensive rebounds to second chance points.

Then video taping games was starting to scratch the surface. Now if you had your smartphone, ipad (What were those!), or camcorder you could record all you wanted to from your seat or you could purchase a dvd right after the game.  You still might be able to order from http://www.McCoyStudios.com.  In 1974 “.com” might have been referring to some kind of harvest equipment or someone from Russia.

Then there were no dunks allowed.  Now it takes a pretty special slam to get a whole crowd response. Afterall each are only worth 2 points.  Dunking became legal in high school in about 1977.  Seems most dunks pale in comparison to those of Cliff Alexander, Derrick Rose, Jabari Parker, and Kenny Battle.

Then there was more strategy with grind it out ball control offenses and multiple versions of full-court presses, etc. Now the majority of teams rely on pure athleticism, aggressive man-handling defense, and referees to call block or charge and then the trainer.  God forbid a shot clock in high school basketball!

Then the PHT was the best 3 days of the year for local sports. Now it still is.  See you again Dec. 28-30, 2015.

THANK YOU to everyone who makes the experience possible THEN AND NOW!

12/28/14 Just some businesses from 1974…

Browsing the PHT program reminds me of some businesses that are no longer here…

Bob’s Standard, North’s Tobacco Shop, Western Auto, Marty’s, Dr. Schroder, Leslie S. Lowenthal, MD, Oberholtzer Plumbing and Heating, Daniel’s Oil Co., Wards, Westall’s, S&M Shoe, Myers Shoes, Chicken Villa, The Square, Spurgeon’s, The Hub, Chapman’s Cleaners, Coast to Coast, Jones Buick, The Palamar, Super Valu, Savon, Carol’s Pizza Pan, Paul’s New Log Cabin, Hart & McBeath, Widmers, Roof Manufacturing, Pontiac Furniture, Lehmans Men’s Store, Semmens Drug, Grants, Burch Willis, Rodino’s Grocery, Hobby Palace, Durham’s Radio & TV, Club SMILO, Cushings Paint, Variety Liquor, Bauer Chevrolet, Toby’s, Ruby Olds, Edwards Soil Service, Mister Donut, McNeil’s Hamburgers and Fried Chicken, Mitch’s, Crouch’s, Brockton Heel, OK Café, Brady’s, WPOK, Pontiac Book Store, The Squire, Vince’s Pizza, and Pontiac Music & Sports.

Brings back some memories and oh how the times have changed!

12/28/14 First entry by Don Lambert

Then & Now…

Like for every kid growing up, Christmas was the best time of year!  As I got older it not only meant Santa Claus and family gatherings in Pontiac, IL, it meant 3 solid days of basketball and no school.  It didn’t and doesn’t get any better than that!  The Pontiac Holiday Tournament has implanted fond memories of division 1 players, record breaking performances, colorful players and coaches, monster dunks, and traditions like autograph collecting that have lasted for 84 years.

My wife knows that I am challenged with profound short-term memory lapses, but ask me where I was and what I can remember about the 44^th annual PHT and I can describe it in detail.  Mathematical equations, chemical formulas, and most of the Gettysburg address have left the building, but I know Bob Bender set the PHT scoring record with 50 points at the 9 AM opening game vs. the Cairo Pilots.  It would have been a much higher mark if there was a 3 point arc too.  His teammates were 6’10” Joe Galvin (later 7’ at ISU), 5’8” Dave Pavlik (still 5’8” at IWU), Chuck Oien (lefty who also hit a home run on top of the apt. building at PTHS), Steve Jordan (don’t know where he went, but had some wicked sideburns), Horacio Kowerko (not sure he started, but I got my first varsity base hit off of him).

I could go on and on with what some would call useless information, but there must be someone out there that enjoys this recall talent as much as me.    This is good stuff so I decided to create a PHT blog and put pen to paper, er fingers to keypad, er link it to websites, facebook, and twitter with the help of Mr. Blair.  This way you can not only read about my recollections and crack research efforts, but you can share yours right back.  I think we will call it:  THEN & NOW, unofficial PHT tidbits from past and present.

Where to start was pretty easy, my freshman year in high school happened to be 1974.  Besides that record breaking game by Bob Bender, it was the one and only year that the Pontiac Indians shocked the world and won the PHT!  This has to bring back distinct memories for anyone my age or older in the Chief City.  Here are a few of my highlights.

The scoring record could have been broken twice in one day if the Indians did not have a good lead and John Spalding had not run out of gas.  I recall that he scored 36 points and sat out most of the 4^th quarter against Jacksonville, who was led by Jeff Verhoff.  Glenbard West was next for the Indians and all I remember was their ugly dark green uniforms and that they hired away Coach Kevin Moore after the season.  This is your warning that all of this information may not be that historically significant to you.  The last 2 games in the quest were definitely historic with the Indians topping perennial crowd favorites and state contenders Bloom and Waukegan on day 3 for the championship.

Now some random notes:

Pontiac starting 5:  All-stater/Chicago Daily News Player of the Year 6’4” Jay Lowenthal; point guard 5’7” Mark Smith; All-state linebacker 6’0”, but played like 6’6” Kevin Murphy; 6’3” leaper John Spalding; and “son of Bert” 6’4” center Tom Dix.

Supporting cast:  lefty sharp-shooting 6^th man Bill “Wirly” Dunham; Mike “Oats” Oeschlager; tough guys Kevin Bennett and Jim Chapman; Dan “don’t call me Don” Daluga; Larry Roberts (left footed kicking specialist still shooting around at the Rec); the late Ken Alfred, still farmin’ and milkin’ Don Mackinson; handyman Gary Boldt, shifty RB Don Billington, and future bridge builder Mark Eppel.  At least 7 players also played football.

Interesting fact:  Bloom led by the late Wes Mason went on to finish 2^nd in the Class AA state tournament.

All-time great coaches:  Alleman’s distinguished Don Morris; Aurora West Legend John McDougal; Bloom’s Wes Mason (a mountain of stories about Wes, but I was way too young to confirm any of them…well worth a google lookup); LaSalle-Peru’s Steve Goers who went on to win 881 games mostly at Rockford Boylan; Lockport legend Bob Basarich who tries to make annual appearance at PHT; New Trier East’s John Schneiter; Ottawa’s Dean Riley; Manual’s Dick Van Scyoc; and our own Kevin Moore RIP.

Best names:  Alleman’s Fess VanHooreweghe (had to look that one up)

Notable players not mentioned yet:  Aurora West Jay Bryant and Ron Hicks; Bloom’s Larry Lowe, Robert McCoy, and Kelvin 6’6” Small; LP’s Glenn Mudge; Ottawa’s Buzz Strickland; Waukegan’s Chris Calhoun (can anyone confirm that he was brother to NBA champion Corky Calhoun?)

My MVP:  Kevin Murphy.  On the last play of regulation in the championship game Murph was given the ball to take it to the hole.  Bodies flew everywhere and thankfully the refs swallowed their whistles, as he ran over everyone in sight and laid the left-handed game-tying shot softly off of the glass to send it to OT.  I need help with the details, but it was all Pontiac in the OT.

Look alike:  Kankakee referee Jean DesMarteau and Paul Drake from Perry Mason…find a program and you will see as long as you are as old as me

 

Worst defensive team:  Cairo (just kidding Mr. Bender, but they did have a long drive for that 9:00 AM game)

Biggest regret:  I was too old to ask for autographs.

Where did they go?

Jay Lowenthal who has my vote as the best all-time Indian (never saw Randy or John Thompson) played at Vanderbilt.  Began coaching at Elmhurst College in 1981 and also coached at South Alabama, Quincy College,  ISU (assistant to Bob Bender), and Lamar until 1995 when he moved to Nashville, TN and started a successful real estate career.  He was named the Greater Nashville 2013 Realtor of the Year.  Jay has also reunited with teammate John Spalding to create Brittle Brothers, a gourmet peanut brittle that has obtained national success.  Hopefully Brittle Brothers will be coming soon to Pontiac!

Bob Bender is the only individual to play on two different teams in two different NCAA Championship games (Indiana and Duke).  He was drafted by the Clippers, but began coaching at Duke under Coach K.  Became head coach at ISU from 1989-1993, then Washington 1993-2002.  He currently is assistant coach for the Milwaukee Bucks after 11 years with the 76ers and Atlanta Hawks.

 

 

John Spalding is a chemical engineer and one of the aforementioned Brittle Brothers in Hendersonville, TN.

 

Joe Galvin continued playing at ISU and is Chief Research Officer and EVP at Miller Heiman in Connecticut.  Google “If I Were 22” for some insight into this highly successful 7 footer.

Chuck Oien is president of Oien Securities in Manhattan Beach, CA.

Dave Pavlik played with Jack Sikma at IWU.  Involved in car rental and resides in Morton, IL.

Jay Bryant played at NIU for John McDougal and is current basketball coach at Beloit Memorial High School.

Ron Hicks is on the all-time scorers list at NIU and played overseas for several years.  He is owner of the Chicago Steam ABA basketball team.

Larry Lowe played at ISU and overseas and became a clergyman.

Robert McCoy played at and graduated from ISU.  I know that because he took his GMAT test for graduate school with Tom Dix who now resides in Colorado.

Don Billington recently retired after a successful football coaching career at Monmouth Warren and as principal at Genoa-Kingston HS.

Steve Jordan is clean shaven.

Disclaimer:  Not all of the information above can be verified both Then & Now, but is meant to be entertaining and a chance to flashback to the PHT in years past.  If something is false please prove me wrong and set the world straight!