The Nebraska High School All-State Basketball Project - Saluting 1968

Former Adams coach Larry Coorts who had a career record of 540-237. Coorts won 4 State Titles for the Hornets in his day.

By Bobby Mills (1000 Yard Guy)

This is the 5th in a series of 50 years of all-state basketball and today we spotlight the 1968 high school all-state teams.

In Class A, a defending state champion restocked with youth, turned away Omaha Central in the finals for a 2nd straight year. The youthful Rockets, led by 2 sophomores and a junior, showed it could either play the race horse tempo or slow things down and win games on Nebraska high school's biggest stage. Coach Ed Johnson won his 4th title in 18 years as his young Rockets beat Omaha Central 54-50.

On the Class B stage, the "Jolly Green Giants" from Schuyler made their last game a laugher by trouncing Seward 73-54 and the Warriors Chuck Jura made certain the history books would never forget his name.

In Class C, Grant won their second title in the last three years by erasing a 10 point deficit with 10 minutes remaining to overcome Elkhorn St. Johns 67-60. The Plainsman, who beat Bertrand 53-51 in 1966 under the direction of venerable coach Bill Ramsey, turned the reins over to Larry Pritchard and repeated the feat in '68.

Class D saw Adam's Donald Johnson calmly drilled both ends of a 1+1 to give the Hornets a 5 point advantage which would hold up to a 55-53 victory over Sutherland for the "D" championship.

Now, on to the 1968 All-State Basketball teams as named by the Lincoln Sunday Journal and Star according 2nd year prep sports editor, Virgil Parker.

1968 Nebraska High School All-State Basketball Teams.

Class D

Don Johnson-Adams - 6-7, 195, Sr.

Dale Iburg-Elgin - 6-2, 175, Sr.

Dan Yost-Sutherland - 6-2, 175, Sr.

Rick May -Hayes Center - 6-1, 175, Sr.

Coy League-Stratton - 5-9, 155, Sr.

*Don Johnson was the main man for Larry Coorts state champions Adams team. I like Coorts quote here "Johnson intimidated the average Class D player as much as Hayes or Alcindor did on the college level". Gotta love it! A 6-7 dude back in that day in Class D pretty much owned the paint and the game.

And how about Elgin's Iburg? Unmatched in any class for scoring, Iburg scored 749 points in 1968 and ended his career with 1,884 points. Iburg averaged 34 ppg his senior season and scored 58 points in a single game. Iburg and his Elgin team came to the state tourney unbeaten and despite his 32 points against Sutherland, his forces lost that 1st round game 63-61.

Speaking of Sutherland, the Sailor's Yost was probably the most consistant scorer in Class D, averaging 22 ppg. An unselfish player, Yost led his squad to that final game vs. Adams. Hayes Center's Rick May was an outstanding ball handler and rebounder for the Cardinals and averaged 20+ points a game.

And Stratton's League was considered the "mighty-mite" of the dream team in 1968. League averaged 25 points a game and relied on his speed, smooth moves, and deadeye shooting on the run to outfox the opposition.

A worthy "second team all-state" in 1968 Class D may have been: Lewiston's Arian Andreesen, Milligan sophomore flash, Gary Filipi, Jim Uchtman of Humphrey, Brad Young-Hershey, and Tom Ridenauer of Loomis.

Other HM names you may know are: Alan Atkins-Halsey-Dunning. Randy Peterson-Shelby, Larry Blehm-Mitchell Sunflower, Jim Simons-Yutan, Tom Bernt-Spalding Academy, Steve Bowman-Bradshaw, Jerry Beach-Trumbull, Jim Pursley-Benklemen, Ron Schroeder-Eustis, Burt Willis-Callaway, Ken James-Wilcox, and Keith Powell-Stratton.

Class C

Cal Christline-Sterling - 6-6, 190, Jr

Dale Haase-Hebron - 6-5, 195, Jr.

Charles Fintel-Deshler - 6-1, 165, Sr.

Gregg Chrisman-Grant - 6-2, 205, Sr.

Bob Sindt-Franklin - 6-0, 160, Sr.

*Sterling's junior Cal Christline could flat out put the ball through the hoop.....like 685 points worth. That made his total 1,195 for 3 years worth of basketball for the Larry Rathe's Jets with a year to go. The long range artist shot a mind boggling 529 shots, canning 387 of those for a 54% clip. The Dream squad's other junior, Hebron's Dale Hasse, averaged 20.9 ppg and led the Bears in rebounding too. Yes, he and Christline clashed head-to-head in the District final which Sterling won, 62-60. The two played to a virtual draw, matching each other in nearly catagory.

Deshler's Fintel averaged 17 ppg and played every position on the floor for the Dragons in 1968. Deshler was 19-0 and number 1 most of the season before dropping a Regional final to Sterling. Grant's Chrisman was the team's leading rebounder, nabbing 286 boards against taller opponents, but was an all-state football player that simply out muscled opponents on the boards.

Most amazing on the squad probably was Franklins' Bob Sindt. At an Even-Steven 6 feet tall, Sindt was forced to play the pivot position for the Flyers because of their lack of size. Sindt had a bookfull of inside moves for a small guy and because of Franklin's control offense, he would often times not have the opportunity for a lay-up, yet make 9 out of 10 of his inside shots in a game. Amazing player.

Some honorable mention names: Mike Hall-Exeter, Bob Gregory-Tecumseh, Rich Osmera-East Butler, Neil Kirby-Wausa, Bob Greenfield-Gretna, Joe Kealy-Hastings St. Cecilia, Roger Haust-Burwell, Dave Fleck-Stromsburg, and Jim Krone-Elkhorn St. John.

Class B

Lyle Christensen-Ord - 6-6, 195, Sr.

Charles Jura-Schuyler - 6-10, 205, Sr.

Terry Waltman-Crete - 6-4, 185, Sr.

Merlin Renner-Madison - 6-9, 235, Sr.

Bill Johnson-Minden - 6-2, 175, Sr.

*The unreal Jura, referred to as the "Splendid Splinter" by sports scribes in 1968, broke the state tourney individual scoring record that year. The 6-10 Jura, who would go on to have a very fine college career at Nebraska, scored 109 points in 3 games, breaking the old mark held by Gibbon's Kurt Lauer at 105. Schuyler also broke the state tournament scoring record by tallying 225 points in 3 games.

Minden's Johnson, was a repeat all-state selection like Schuyler's Jura, The do-it-all senior averaged 23 points a game and pulled down 15 boards. His 81% free throw accuracy led the prestigious Southwest Conference. Johnson's individual high game in '68 was a 47 point outburst. Madison's Renner was a true "big man" for the Dragons. The 235 pound horse averaged an incerdible 30 ppg and snared 23 rebounds an outing. Think about those numbers.

Crete's Waltman seemed to come out of nowhere to make the squad. The 6-4 senior connected on 170 of 344 FG attempts (49%) to lead the Cardinals to the state show.

Ord's Christensen was really a one-man show for the Chants and was very difficult to stop even with opponents knew he would carry his team and get the ball on offense a good majority of the time.

HM names that might ring a bell: Paul Sieczowski and Bill Pogge-Omaha Holy Name, Paul Janky-GICC, Steve Carr-Seward, Gary Cordes-Papillion, Dick French-Wahoo, Vernon Sarha-Laurel, Steve Benjamin-Holdrege, Larry Beckler-Seward's all-state football RB, Dana Trofholz, Gene Harmon-Schuyler, and Randy Lemke-Bloomfield.

Class A

Mike Peterson-Creighton Prep - 6-7, 185, Sr.

Dwayne Dillard-Omaha Central - 6-7, 190, Sr.

Jim Regelean-Lincoln Pius X - 6-9, 195, Sr.

Randy Smith-Lincoln Southeast - 6-0, 160, Sr.

Jim White-Hastings - 5-11, 150, Sr.

*An all senior quintet on this year's Class A dream team. Strangly enough, State Champion Lincoln NE had no representatives on this team. Apparently Virg Parker thought the sophomores that led the Rockets, Maury Damkroger and Tom Novak were not worthy of all-state status. But, in his defense, you have to go with what the coaches say on their all-state ballots.

Omaha Central's Dillard was the star of this unit for certain. The high leaping senior controlled the boards, blocked shots, and led the scoring parade for coach Warren Marquiss. The 2nd man in the tall front line was Prep's

Mike Peterson. The 6-7 stalwart could step outside....way outside, and bury the long bomb. Peterson won more than one game at the buzzer for coach Tom Brosnihan's Junior Jays. Peterson averaged nearly 19 ppg and had the agility, touch and quickness to play the forward slot as well.

The Thunderbolt's Jim Regelean scored 385 points and was a solid rebounder. The lightening fast Jim White (see his track feats) was the top vote getter on this team. White's 24 ppg on 50% shooting made him the top scoring threat in Class A. On defense he was a spectacular player to watch. The surprise selection to some may have been Southeast's Smith. Although coach Wally McNaught's scoring offense was centered around the front line, it was guard Randy White that led the Knight's scoring parade. Smith dropped in 227 points in 1968 and shot 46% from the field.

Almost there were: Lincoln High's Joe Casmer, Ernie Britt from semifinalist Omaha Tech, and Bill Slaughter from Lincoln Northeast. Other names on honorable mention you may recall were: Lyle Hiatt-Lincoln NE, Nate McKinney-Boys Town (one of my favorites), Mike McCarthy-North Platte, Frank Jones-Omaha Benson, Jeff Kinney-McCook (anybody remember this guy?), Rod Lovell-Fremont, Clarence Archie-Omaha North.

Three Sophomores made the All-Tournament teams in 1968. Lincoln Northeast's Damkroger made the overall All-Tourney team plus Class A. Schuyler's handsome Gene Harmon was a Class B selection, and Milligan's Gary Filipi was named to the Class D all-tournament squad.