The Decade of the 1950's

Max Hooper, Mt. Vernon (1950)

2x All-State · State Champions 1949–50 (60–3)

There are six programs that I want to highlight as being the best this decade. As always, there were other great programs in the '50's besides these. Many of these schools established a high level of excellence prior to this decade, most have continued into this century. Pinckneyville and Collinsville will be mentioned in several different decades. Centralia and Mt. Vernon continue to excel on the hardwood in 2026.

Quincy has won 2,185 games and has been to the state tournament in multiple decades. The Blue Devils were 218-81 in the '50's. They finished 3rd in the state in '51 and 2nd in '52.

Mt. Vernon was 237-64 in the decade. The Rams won the state championship in '50 and in '54 and finished 3rd in '52. (The 1950 team was selected "the best high school basketball team" in the USA.)

Pinckneyville, coached by legendary Duster Thomas, won 269 games and lost only 52 during the '50's. The Panthers finished 3rd in the state tournament in '53, '54, and '55.

Vergil Fletcher's Collinsville Kahoks were 211-73 in the decade. They had a 2nd place finish in '57 and a 4th place finish in '50. Collinsville has the second most wins in Illinois state high school basketball history with 2,257.

Lincoln, with 1,982 wins in their 113-year history, is another program that has a rich basketball tradition over several decades.

Under the guidance of John Thiel, Galesburg won 389 games and lost only 90 during his HOF 19-year career.

Chicago Marshall was the first Chicago public school team to win a state championship in 1958. The Commandos finished 3rd in the state in '61 and '65. Unfortunately for those of us who like to study history, the Chicago schools did not report records every year.