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Basketball's Best - Part Two
In Part One of my look at high school basketball I recalled teams from the 1950s and 1960s that I felt were most memorable. During the 1970s I was very busy establishing my new teaching career and devoting a lot of time to my first Marriage-Go-Round. But I still had some time to follow high school hoops now that my own playing days were over.
During the Seventies the great rivalry between Plattsburgh High School and Saranac Central School was established. Anyone who followed basketball in those days knew that when these teams met you had better get to the gym early. Many people took the afternoons off from work so they could get into the gym at 4:30pm for a 6 o'clock jv start. By six the bleachers were full and another hundred hopeful fans were waiting in the hallways.
The names in the 1970s changed a bit from year-to-year, but we could argue forever about which school had the better team. Coached by Morris Towne, Saranac's trio of Tom Ryan, Mike Ryan and Butch Butchino may be the best three players to ever play side-by-side. They had size and quickness and all three were deadly shooters, especially in the Chiefs' teepee. But the Chiefs weren't just those guys. The 1976-1977 Chiefs went 13-1, winning the CVAC and Section 7 titles. They had Rick McCorry, Mark Christian, Brian Martin, Leigh Martin and point guard Tom Jackstadt. That team played in the first-ever Capital Conference tournament in Troy.
On the Plattsburgh High School side of the story, coached first by Ray Holmes and then by Mike Flynn the Hornets were outstanding during the Seventies. With players like Kevin Daugherty, Jeff Holmes, Jeff Moskowitz, Leo Ryan, and then Joe Cardany, Hollis Chapman, Paul Marcus, Frank Jackson, Mike Miller and point guard Casey Flynn, the Hornets challenged Saranac every step of the way.
The Hornets' winning teams continued into the 1980s with players like Bill Sutton and then his younger brother Angelo Sutton, along with Guy Garrow, Todd Wilkinson, Peter Ryan, Derek Baum, Mark Haubner, Rob DeGrandpre, Greg Stanley, Everett Williams, Charlie Mason, Harry Reed, big Wayne St. Denis, the Delio brothers, Marc and Vinnie, Matt Sames, and point guards Larry Moskowitz and Jimmy Miller.
I'm sure many outstanding players have been left off my quick list. And I'm also sure that readers will be more than happy to fill in the blanks, and to mention other schools. But during the Seventies and Eighties I didn't attend games as religiously as in the past. Last week the undefeated Saranac Chiefs went to the Hornets' Nest and fans enjoyed another great battle as the Hornets tried to upset Gary Castine's team. It was a battle till the final minutes. Basketball is alive and well in the North Country!
Comments
I was doing a google search looking for some guys I served with in the Navy and Guy Garrow's name comes up in here a few times
Anyone know how to get in touch with Guy?
Posted by: jeff b | May 22, 2008 7:40 AM
Hi Foxy, great stories, i loved reading this.
i think you are right on the money.
Hollis
(Foxy's note: Great to hear from Hollis Chapman, who was a standout athlete at Plattsburgh High School.)
Posted by: Hollis Chapman | April 21, 2007 1:29 PM
60 yrs ago in sports today carried the story about St. Johns basketball 18-0. Greatest team ever.
Jim Brannigan
I was on that team
Posted by: Jim Brannigan | February 27, 2006 12:40 PM
In my opinion, it will be a debate that will never have a RIGHT or WRONG answer. I am sure those teams and individuals mentioned felt that they were the best, as I feel our 80-81 team should be considered........we were a team, no individuals! With great respect to all who have played in the CVAC, let the debate carry on........a thought, perhaps we should talk about great coaches? I will put John Konowitz on the list......he and Duke coach Mike Kryzweski could be twins! Coach Konowitz was a coach who emphasized defense, and we LIVED by the quote, "If you never get scored upon, you will NEVER get beat!" Again, these are just a few of my opinions.....in closing, I will say from a fan perspective, MAI's John Thompson had to be one of the most EXCITING PLAYERS TO WATCH! He was a true HIGH FLYER!
Posted by: Ed McCallister | February 17, 2006 8:49 AM
I don't think there's any doubt that the Saranac team
of Butchino, Ryan, Ryan, Reyell and Hamel was the best of the seventies...But I do remember some players in the early seventies who we all loved to watch..
St John's had a nice team in the early 70's with Mickey Carpenter, Mike O'Connor, Donny Kasprzak, Mike Lapham and Pat Murnane...PHS names that stand out are Mike Francis, Tommy Ducatte, Mark Garrow in the 70's and Guy in the 80's were both excellent. BJ Adams also had a fine career. Moriah had Nels, Slattery, Salarno's, Harris and McDonald sprinkled thoughtout the 70's, NCCS had Huge Vanderbeek and Dale Cardin, while Ausable had Ed Barrie and a new generation of Finney's. I know there are others but these are the players I remember watching and learning from.
Posted by: the carver | February 14, 2006 7:52 AM
Foxy,
That was Larry Moskowitz with the Suttons, Jeff was his older brother, another fine player who played with Jeff Holmes earlier on. My Bad.
Posted by: Bullet | February 14, 2006 7:10 AM
Foxy,
Here it is, the best ever. The 73-74 Saranac Chiefs with Tom and Mike Ryan, Butch Butchino and I'm pretty sure the guards were Hamel and Reyell. They had size, speed, great shooters and were above all great competitors. They competed against some excellent PHS teams along with some good Moriah teams in those days also. The Joe Cardany/Casey Flynn teams of PHS were also good teams but lacked size. Mike Flynn put together an excellent team of the 2 Suttons and Jeff Moskowitz (probably the most underated guard to ever play in the North Country). MAI had 2 outstanding teams with Johnny Flynn, Jeff Law, Kevin Buckley and JT Thompson and finally one of the last year's of MAI with the undefeated team of Mike Shene, Steve LeClair, Mike Schoot and Jimmy Rivers. Ticonderoga had Bill Brennan for 3 great years and Mark Trudeau's teams later. Ed MCallister brought up one of many fine teams from AVC. There were a number of quality teams over 5 decades but but none could match the Chiefs of the Ryans/Butchino era.
Posted by: Bullet | February 13, 2006 8:48 PM