The Decade of the 1970's

This is the third post in a series of seven that I am writing about the great Illinois high school basketball programs and their coaches. There are some familiar programs from the past but as the 70's ushered in a second class there are some new programs and coaches that made a name for themselves beginning in this decade. Gone was the single class and a chance for the Goliath/David matchup. But the smaller schools now had a chance to "regularly" play for a state title. I'm from the "ole" school but I think the two-class system was the right way to go. (Not a fan of four.) Along with the programs and the coaches, there are two players that I believe represent the 70's, Quinn Buckner and Jay Shidler. One from each class and two of the best to ever play high school basketball in the state of Illinois. (Check out their school records while they were there.)

If Collinsville was "the team" of the 60's then Dolton Thornridge, under the guidance of Ron Ferguson, was the team of the 70's. They won state championships back-to-back in '71 and '72. They also got to the Super Sectional in '76. They finished the decade 200-84. Ron Nikcovich of LaGrange was in the middle of a great coaching career during the '70's. LaGrange won the state championship in '70 and was 203-57. Nikcovich finished his 25-year career with a 462-209 record. Quincy, once again had a very successful decade, the Blue Devils were 200-62 in the decade with two 2nd place finishes in the state tournament in '72 and '79. Maywood Proviso East was back in the state tournament in '74 when they cut down the nets as Illinois State Champs. Glenn Whittenberg's Pirates were 228-51 for the decade; he finished his coaching career with a 506-144 record. Collinsville went 222-64 in the '70's, including 3rd place in '78, a quarterfinal appearance in '73 and two super-sectionals in '70 and '72. Chicago Heights Bloom was the best of the city in the '70's with 254-64 record and 2nd place finishes in the state in '74 and '75. Benton had another outstanding run in the '70's winning 204 games while losing only 70.

This was the first year in the state that there was more than one classification. The A Class was well represented with the likes of basketball powers Lawrenceville, Cairo, Nashville, and Eldorado. Lawrenceville would be a juggernaut for many years to come. In the 70's the Indians won state titles in '72 and '74 and finished 3rd in '76. Their record under HOF Coach Ron Felling was 222-60 in the 70's. Felling coached 16 years at Lawrenceville and was 388-77. Nashville won the state championship in '78. Eldorado made it to the quarterfinals in '76 and finished 3rd in the state in '77. Jim Byassee at Meridian (Mounds) was putting a HOF career together with a 514-154 record. Billy Chumbler at Cairo continued to guide the Pilots to a record of 175-73 during the decade. The little school at the southernmost tip of Illinois along the banks of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers was just beginning to flex its basketball muscles. Chumbler was inducted into the HOF with a 449-167 record for his 21-year record at Cairo.

Quinn Buckner, Dolton Thornridge (1972)

Jay Shidler, Lawrenceville (1976)