Search
The CCIL
High school basketball continues to be a winter high point for sports fans in the North Country. I'm just back from a couple of outstanding boys' basketball games between Saranac Central and Plattsburgh High School. There was a time, however, before the merger of schools, when Saranac, Dannemora, Ellenburg, Champlain, Rouses Point and other schools played in the Clinton County Interscholastic League, the CCIL.
And those schools produced some outstanding basketball players and basketball teams. Living in Plattsburgh, I didn't often get to see them play, but I read the sports pages of the Press-Republican, and I was excited when I got to see some of them play. I remember a guy from Saranac named Alan Palmer. Oh, my, what a basketball player, and there was Steve White, Donnie Beauharnois and then Steve Parker. And wasn't Elmon Henry from Saranac in the early 1960s?
I remember the Dannemora Black Knights had Neil Breen in the 1950s battling OLVA's Lefty Tessier for the scoring title, and then the Recore twins and Pip Lafountain in the late Sixties. In 1967-1968 they went 14-0 in league play and 17-2 overall. A few years before that I remember a team with Tom Welch, and names like Kiroy and Wing at Dannemora.
I had relatives in Champlain so I got to watch the Champlain Rockets sometimes, first in 1955-1956 with high-scoring John Zurlo, who later was elected County Clerk, and then I watched Charlie Niles Jr. and Johnny Niles, Dick Van Hoesen, Randy Couture and Gary Moeller. Coached by Frank Shumway, they racked up points in a hurry and in the mid-Sixties went 46-6 over three seasons.
Ellenburg has some high-scoring teams, and I seem to remember the name LaBarge. People have told me what a great basketball player and athlete Basil Curry was at Ellenburg High School. But, again, these were teams we saw only at post-season time, or if I was lucky enough to have my dad bring me to a game in those days. And remember Orville Nedeau scoring 68 points in one game for Mooers?
The CCIL was a great league, which lost its purpose when schools began merging. Rouses Point and Champlain and Mooers became Northeastern Clinton Central. Ellenburg and Altona became Northern Adirondack. Eventually Dannemora merged with Saranac.
No matter what the league, no matter what the time period, basketball has been an exciting sport in the North Country for over 60 years. And, judging from tonight's Saranac-PHS encounter, things aren't going to change!
Comments
How about the Section VII boys basketball Chairman Jon Rebideau. He averaged 19 pts per game for Lyon Mountain Miners.
Posted by: ? | February 17, 2006 4:27 PM
Foxy:
Ask John Zurlo about the time his Champlain team was up by 60 some-odd points over an out-matched Lyon Mountain team and he stole the ball from the physically handicapped ball boy who was thrust into the game at the last minute.
Posted by: jim | February 13, 2006 12:13 PM
Foxy:
How about the great teams of the mid-1970s.At Saranac coached by Morris Towne. Led by the Ryan brothers and Butch Butchino.
(Foxy's note: Yes, indeed, and the teams of the 1970s and 1980s will be the topic of my next blog.)
Posted by: K.Man | February 11, 2006 2:34 PM
Hey Foxy,
What a great website those Salernos' have set! WOW! Kudos to a family that has established an Adirondack tradition that knows no bounds. Time and distance means nothing. I was enthralled by their stories. I,too, grew up with a family hunting/camp tradition and have vivid memories of being young and being treated as a "man" at the young ages of 13/14. Foxy, I know you've done stories of Huntinh camps (ie. Camp Kettle) and this could be another future Blog. Anyone with any kind of interest in hunting or even family traditions should go to the Salerno website, it is AWESOME.
Posted by: Bullet | February 11, 2006 8:17 AM
Hello Foxy Great job check out our web site.
Pat
Salernobrothers.com
Posted by: Pat Salerno Jr | February 10, 2006 11:30 AM
Foxy,
I certainly enjoyed reading your recollection of the CCIL in your February 8th blog. It brought back many wonderful memories of my high school years followed by my teaching career in Champlain.
The CCIL fit the bill well providing a great opportunity for the smaller schools to participate inter-scholastically. Many of the wonderful CCIL soccer, basketball, and baseball players that you mentioned went on to display their talents on the collegiate level.
The Champlain Central names you noted, Niles, VanHoesen, Moeller, and Couture, were fine baseball players as well winning several league championships.
Another great memory that surfaced as I read this blog was the wonderful experience I had in 1954 traveling to Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico accompanied by a very delightful individual named Ray Gagnon. Foxy, you certainly have reason to be proud of him as he was a fantastic person.
I enjoy the your blogs. Keep up the good work.
(Foxy's note: the Ray Gagnon that John Zurlo refers to is my father, who was a Boy Scout leader as I was growing up. Much to my dad's chagrin my scouting career ended with the Cub Scouts, but that story is for another blog.)
Posted by: John Zurlo | February 9, 2006 5:45 PM