The Nebraska High School Basketball All-State Project - Saluting 1959.

The Nebraska High School Basketball All-State Project - Saluting 1959.

By Bobby Mills (1000 Yard Guy)

This is the final retro year we'll review before the jump back into the 70's takes place. Before we pick up where we left off (1977) let's flip the spotlight switch and shine the light on the 1959 season.

Before looking at the All-State team, here is a review of the 1959 State Tournament. The NSAA still went with the 6 class, 4 team fields for the Big Show.

*In Class E, it was a pretty well balanced field with 19-5 Prague playing Tobias (16-4) and Wilsonville (21-3) with the fabulous Bill Holliday taking on an 18-6 Marquette squad. Ball hawking Tobias waited until the 4th quarter to lay it on a taller Prague team, outscoring them 24-1 in that final frame, enroute to a 64-37 win. All-State Jim Fisher, a leaping machine, potted 31 in the contest. In the other semi, the incredible Bill Holliday drained 35 against Marquette before he fouled out with 3:29 left in the game. At the time, Holliday's Wildcats were leading 47-28. You do the math. When Big Bill departed, he had outscored the entire Cub team, 35-28. He hardly worked up a sweat, they said. Good lord.

In the finals, the Tobias defense was just way too much for Wilsonville. Holliday scored 21, but Tobias stuffed the remainder of the Wildcat bunch on the way to a 45-36 state Class E title victory. All-state Jim Fisher matched Holliday's total of 21, but it was the rebounding and defensive pressure taught by 1st year head coach Bob Gess, that carried the Tigers. Gess had just graduated from Peru State in 1958. That's pretty impressive.

*The Class D field had Beaver Crossing (17-5) playing Shickley (21-3) in one of the openers. The two towns are only 48 miles apart. The other game was a 25-1 Red Willow squad anxious to make amends for their lopsided title game loss a year before to Clatonia. (64-47). The Zephers faced Snyder (22-3).

A pesky Snyder team jumped on the Red Willow westerners 13-6, but after that it was the Zephers the remainder of the way. Led by Virgil Couse and his 24 points, coach Don McKillip's boys beat Snyder handily, 68-49. In the other semi final game, Beaver Crossing took care of a Dennis Dondlinger led Shickley squad, 50-38. It was a finals match-up pitting two speedy, sure-handed basketball teams.

In the finals, the Red Willow team out of McCook added a basketball trophy to their swelling trophy case, filled by Coach McKillip, who guided every sport at the small school. According to Beaver Crossing head coach, Bob Gaston, the Beavers played their best game of the season and still lost to Red Willow on this day, 63-59. Balanced scoring was the key to Zephers state title game. Don Reiners led the way with 19, Marvin Teel and Vernon Esch added 15, and Virgil Couse hit for 12. All-state footballer, Ray Fisher, a 5-4, 180 pound dynamo, was the floor leader for Red Willow.

Teel and Couse made the "E" All-Tournament team, along with Beaver Crossing's Lyle Huffman and big Ron White. The other member was Jim Fisher of Tobias (duh).

*In Class C, defending the Class champion Hastings St. Cecilia (20-4) was back to defend their crown, facing a 20-2 Lodgepole team from the far western reaches of Nebraska. On the opposite side was a dangerous Louisville team with only one loss in 23 games facing an unbeaten (25-0) Bancroft crew.

Defending champ St. Cecilia trailed Lodgepole 43-42 with just 5:17 left in the game, but the quick pace by the Panthers the first 3 quarters caught up with them and St. C's wore the invaders from the West down late to post a 59-48 and punch a return ticket to the finals. Favored Louisville slowly kept adding to their lead and eventually got past pesky Bancroft, 54-44 All-State Lion player Orville Robbins led the way with his 20 points.

In the Class C championship game, Louisville took an early 7-5 first quarter lead and never looked back, as the Lions dethroned Hastings St. Cecilia, 59-51. Missed opportunities by the defending champion Bluehawks and 33 of 43 foul shooting by Louisville was the difference. A horrible 51 fouls were called in the game, St. Cecilia whistled for 30 of those. Ugly way to win for Louisville, but ya gotta do what ya gotta do.

Despite fouling out midway through the final frame, Dan Stiffler led the way for the Lions with 23 tallies. St. Cecilia all-state whiz, Bill Meisenbach topped his team in scoring with 15. Meisenbach and Mick Brown of St. C's were named to the Class C all-tourney squad, aliong with Robbins and Stiffler of Louisville. Lodgepole's high scoring Barton Bondegard also aced it.

*The Class B field had defending king Minden (17-2) back with splendid coach Alden Johnson at the controls. The Whippets drew Bill Gogan's 17-5 Ord team in 1st round (semis) and the 16-5 Wayne Blue Devils faced a 21-1 Syracuse team.

Syracuse slapped a suffocating defense on Wayne, forcing the Blue Devils into an icy 12 of 53 field goal performance for the game (23%). The "D" resulted in a 47-37 win. The Rockets had balanced scoring that included 11 points from Neil Nannen. Defending champ Minden took the free throw route to send a rugged Ord team home, 55-54. The two teams put on quite a show, highlighted by an under the boards battle by Minden's Bruce Christensen and Ord's Dick Goodsell. Minden had to fight their way out of a 17-9 1st quarter hole, but a late charity toss by the Whippet's Sam Sommerhalder with 15 seconds left sealed the deal.

Despite a blizzard raging outside, Syracuse led from start to finish to dethrone Minden, 46-38. The Rockets finished 22-1 in 1959 with their only loss coming at the hands of Class C champ, Louisville. The Nannen brothers, all-state Gene and Neil, along with Rich Kehlenbeck and Harry Stubbedeck, paced the Lions all season and did the same in the title game. For Minden, it was an unfortunate repeat of two earlier clunkers in an otherwise super season. The Whippets ended up 18-3 and unveiled a fabulous sophomore player named Warren Bjorklund. He and Christensen made the "B" All-Tourney team, along with Kehlenbeck and Gene Nannen of the Rockets. Goodsell of Ord also made the squad.

*In Class A, Merle Bauer brought his 15-3 Holdrege Duster team to Lincoln to play 2-time defending champ, Omaha Holy Name (17-2) and their Super-State dandy, Bob Eickholt. On the opposite side, a 16-3 Beatrice squad was matched up with 16-2 Ogallala.

In the first game of the semis, 13 first half points by Bob Lockwood and 10 by Roy Broadbooks, staked Beatrice to a 41-30 1st half lead over Ogallala and were never headed thereafter. 26 of 35 free throw shooting actually kept the Indians in the game, but the early advantage by the Orangemen was just too much to overcome.

In the later semi game, Holdrege gained some sweet revenge by upsetting Omaha Holy Name, 47-45 in overtime. It was just a year ago that the Ramblers sent Holdrege home with a 62-49 first round state tournament loss. But it was the Dusters of Merle Bauer that held off a ferocious Bob Eickholt led Holy Name rally, to gain the finals. The ONLY points scored in that extra period were two precious free throws by Jack Hamilton of Holdrege. Holy Name's sensational Eickholt was held to 15 points and the Ramblers also connected on only 7 of 17 charity tosses in the game. Jaak Aulik had 18 for Holdrege in the memorable win.

In the finals, Beatrice had to fight off snow, a car wreck, wind, and a fine Holdrege team, to win the Class A state title. The snow, wind and a car sliding into a ditch between Beatrice and the NU Coliseum, caused a 30 minute delay to the championship start, but the unphased Orangemen went on to defeat Holdrege 52-46 for the "A" crown.

Beatrice had to overcome an outstanding performance from the Duster's Jaak Aulik (22 points) to turn back the Southwest conference powerhouse. But the Orangemen had their own shining stars in Bobby Hohn and R. Brown. The 2 all-state stars combined for 22 points, aided by Roy Broadbooks' 10 counters, were good enough to outdistance Holdrege for the title.

Beatrice was soooo solid that 3 of their players made the all-tournament team in Class A. Hohn, Broadbooks and Bob Lockwood all made the team, along with Aulik of Holdrege and the incomparable Bob Eickholt of Omaha Holy Name.

*The Class AA field included a powerful 17-0 Lincoln High team that was just loaded with tall talent. The Links faced Warren Brown's Scottsbluff Bearcats, while Bill Vincent and the 16-2 Omaha South Packers were pitted against a 7-10 Neal Mosser Omaha Tech team that snuck into the 1959 Big Carnival.

It was a swan song for 18 year Lincoln High veteran coach Lyle Weyand. The Links were also coming off a state championship in 1958 and was calling it quits following the 1959 State Tournament. Scottsbluff was simply a victim of circumstances in the 1st semi final game. The Links sent the 'Cats back to western Nebraska with a resounding 62-46 thud. 6-5 senior Chet Paul scored 23 to lead the Links and put on a terrific rebounding show to thrill the Coliseum crowd. Scottsbluff, however was not amused by the show, to say the least. The following game was a wild and wooly affair with South and Tech. It saw two technical fouls and an ejection by Tech player before all was said and done.

Despite having two wins over the Maroons (Tech) in the regular season, South led by a mere 29-27 at the half. Things became a little more tense when the Packer's all-state Geroge Kamphius fouled out a minute 22 into the 3rd quarter. South led only 33-31 at the time, but big Bill Vincent came through and led his team to the eventual 62-51 victory. Little Don Scarborough led the Packers with 22 points. Tech's coach Neal Mosser was slapped with a pair of technicals by referee George Hametz and Omaha Tech player Bill King was booted by Hametz for abusive language, after leading Tech with 19 points.

In the finals, Lincoln High set all kinds of marks in their 61-51 win over Omaha South. The Links extended their win streak to 28 and won the school's 14th state title in history. The team scored 123 points in 2 state tournament games, topping the previous 117 set by Boys Town in 1956. Oustanding post player Chet Paul etched his name in the record books by individual scoring games of 29 and 23 points to hit the mark of 52. That bettered Scottsbluff's Bud Murray's 46, set in '55.

The Links also finished the 1959 season with a perfect slate, 19-0. Omaha South put up a good battle in that championship tilt, coming back numerous times when it looked like Lincoln High had things sewn up. The Omaha crew actually pulled to within 55-51 in the 4th stanza, but the tall Lincoln High tandem of 6-5 Chet Paul and 6-6, 220 pound Don Burt was too much for Vincent and the Packers to overcome.

......and now the 1959 All-State Teams:

*As selected by the Lincoln Journal-Star

1959*Class E All-State Team*

Bill Holliday-Wilsonville- 6-5 190 Junior*

Jim Fisher-Tobias - 6-1, 150 Senior*

Don Beckmann-Garland - 6-0, 155, Junior

Gary Bargen-Hardy - 6-1, 175, Junior

Jim Vanderbeck-Panama - 6-0, 190, Sophomore

*Bill Holliday left no doubt who was the KING of this Dream Team. The once-in-a-lifetime player scored an incredible 834 points in 1958-59 for an average of 32.1 ppg and did everything for Wilsonville. Holliday was only a junior to boot. Jim Fisher was not only the only repeater on squad, but the only senior. Fisher led his team to the Class E championship.

Panama's Vanderbeck scored a school record 432 points and was only a sophomore, while Beckman and Bargen were the finest juniors outside of Holliday in Class E. How often do you see an all-state team with ONE Senior?

*Honorable Mentions: Mick Sokolick-Tobias, Frank Petryzelka-Prague, Bob Herbig-Marquette, Kent Erickson-Hordville, Don Heldt-Yutan, Raymond Johnson-Craig, and Dick Appleby-Inman.

1959 *Class D All-State Team*

Ron Oswald-Beaver Crossing - 5-9, 180, Senior

Gary Langemeier-Snyder - 5-11, 165, Senior

Marv Teel-Red Willow - 6-3, 182, Senior

Harvey Ideus-Holmesville - 6-0, 140, Senior

Eddie Lorenzen-Axtell- 6-3, 155, Junior

*Leader of this bunch was Red Willow's Marv Teel. The rebounding ace, top scorer, and defensive expert, led his McCook school to a title in '59. Snyder's Langemeier scored over 400 points for the year and Holmesville's Harvey Ideus was the most feared player in the Beatrice the past 4 seasons.

*Honorable Mentions: Don Reiners-Red Willow, Ron White-Beaver Crossing, Bob Sykes-Clatonia, Al Semin-Ulysses, Rolla Schmutte-Hickman, Dick Miller-Utica, Don Nowak-Elba, John Sealer-Center, Dennis Dondlinger-Shickley, Gene Premer-Bartley, and Homer Uehling-Uehling.

*1959 Class C All-State Team*

Orville Robbins-Louisville - 6-1, 175, Senior

Bill Meisenbach-Hastings St. Cecilia - 5-11, 170, Senior

Mike Stacey-Weeping Water - 6-3, 170, Senior

Tom Colwell-Pawnee City - 5-7, 140, Senior

Dick Muma-Chadron Prep - 6-2, 175, Senior

*Dick Muma was one of the famous Muma brothers from Chadron, scoring over 1,500 points in his career. Dick scored 507 points during the 1958-59 season, averaging 22 ppg in 23 contests. St Cecilia's Meisenbach scored 415 points during the season and Weeping Water's Mike Stacey was another high scoring machine.

*Honorable Mention: Barton Bondegard-Lodgepole, Don Siffier and Doug Alfrey-Louisville, Gordon Cochran-Alma, Chuck Stoner-Palmyra, Rod Hahler-Sidney St. Pats, Keith Johannes and Dale Inselman-Leigh, Elwyn Yungdahl-Stromsburg, Edwin Divis-Brainard, Tom Collins-Bancroft, Kevin Colleran-Spalding Academy, Paul Croghan-Arnold, Dave Masek-Valparaiso, and Dale Naggatz-Harvard.

*1959 Class B All-State Team

Allen Peithman-Hebron - 6-1, 175, Senior

Gene Nannen-Syracuse - 6-0, 170, Senior

Sam Sample-Fullerton - 6-2, 200, Senior

Dick Goodsell-Ord - 6-4, 200, Senior

Charlie Stevenson-Lincoln University High - 5-11, 170, Senior

*In addition to the great Peithman of Hebron, who we will spotlight down the page on the All-State team, University High's Stevenson was a fine player, averaging 16 ppg and Nannen wasn't far back in the rear view mirror with his 14 ppg. In fact, Stevenson led all of Lincoln in scoring with his 319 points. Fullerton's Sam Sample would go on to enjoy a fine career for the Husker football team and Ord's Goodsell was a load to stop with his 6-4, 200 pound frame.

*Honorable Mentions: Dick Tushia-Auburn, Rich Kaehlenbeck and Harry Stubbendeck-Syracuse, Bruce McCoy-Tecumseh, Francis Placke-Superior, Roger Denesia-Wayne, Bill Brungardt-Neligh, Craig Smith-Ainsworth, Bill Martin-Ord, Bruce Christensen, Sam Sommerhalder, and Warren Bjorklund-Minden, and Larry Mattheson-Chadron.

*1959 Class A All-State Team

Bob Eickholt-Omaha Holy Name - 6-3, 205, Senior*

Paul Kersenbrock-Crete - 6-7, 190, Senior

Bob Hohn-Beatrice - 5-11, 170, Junior

R Brown-Beatrice - 6-1, 160, Junior

Chip Wood-Gering- 6-4, 185, Senior

*Hohn was very good, but the star of this group was Holy Name's splendid Bob Eickholt, a repeat selection.

*Honorable Mentions: Jaak Aulik and Win Peterson-Holdrege, Bob Lockwood, Dean Madison, and Roy Broadbooks-Beatrice, Ken Parker-Crete, Jim Phinney-McCook, Bob Kuhn-Central City, Ron Ritterbusch-Cozad, Jerry Cox-Seward, LaVerne Penny-York, Gary Olsen-Alliance, and Mick Nichols-Ogallala.

*1959 Class AA All-State Team

Chet Paul-Lincoln High - 6-5, 180, Senior

Don Burt-Lincoln High - 6-6, 220, Senior

Bill Vincent-Omaha South - 6-8, 200, Junior

Gerald Kamphius-Omaha South - 6-2, 180, Junior

John Nared-Omaha Central- 6-2, 175, Junior

*Honorable Mention: Sam Zollicoffer and Joe Moore-Lincoln High, Wendell Wicksell-Omaha South, Larry Krause and Bill Comstock-Scottsbluff, Charles Skaggs-Omaha Tech, Joe Neuberger-Creighton Prep, Ron Owens-Grand Island, Ron McCoy-Hastings, Gary Bunger-North Platte, Barry Dooley-Boys Town, and Denny Pueltz-Lincoln SE.

*1959 All-Class, All-State Team (Super-State)

Bob Eickholt-Omaha Holy Name - 6-3, 205, Senior

Chet Paul-Lincoln High - 6-5, 180, Senior

Allen Peithman-Hebron - 6-1, 175, Senior

Bill Vincent-Omaha South - 6-8, 200, Junior

Bob Hohn-Beatrice - 5-11, 170, Junior

*Ironically, the most publicized player in the state was Class B's Allen Peithman of Hebron. The player from the smallest class on the Super Squad, Peithman scored 441 points (21 ppg) and was at his best against top notch competition. The 6-1, 175 pound super star netted 31 against University High, 30 at Minden, 28 at Syracuse, and 27 vs. Crete. Peithman connected on 47% of his field goals, 79% of his free throws and pulled down 249 rebounds for the Bears. He was also the floor general.....wouldn't you know it.

Of course, Vincent was the biggest college prospect on this team and would eventually play for the Huskers. And Bob Hohn went on to a storybook career at Nebraska in football and was one of the finest athletes ever to come out of this state.

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One member of the Class B all-state teams never made it to his senior hoops season. R. Brown of Beatrice, a good friend of Bob Hohn, died of cancer shortly before Thanksgiving the following year. An award was established following Brown's passing, to honor the Orangemen's outstanding athlete of the year. The award was named the R. Brown Award. Bobby Hohn was it's first recipient.