Legendary Shelby boys basketball back-to-back state championship teams gather for reunion
LocalSportsJournal.com
The legendary 1971-72 Shelby boys basketball teams gathered together this past Saturday for a reunion of their incredible back-to-back Class C state championship runs.
Led by cousins Paul Griffin and Kim Griffin, the 71-72 Tigers converted Shelby into a basketball town.
Paul Griffin went on to have what is considered the greatest basketball career of anyone from the greater Muskegon area. The 6-9 center for the Tigers made it all the way to the NBA and played seven seasons.
Coach Ed Douma and the Tigers’ teams were inducted into the Muskegon Area Sports Hall of Fame in 2008.
Check out a few photo highlights from Saturday’s reunion at the Shelby Optimist Club.
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- Team members from the 71-72 teams gather for a photo.
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- Former Shelby Boy’s Basketball coach Ed Douma speaks on Saturday evening. Douma led the Tiger’s to back-to-back Class C state basketball championships in 1971 & 1972. He went on to coach many seasons at the college ranks, with his most successful seasons at Calvin (College) University including leading the Knights to a national title in 1992.
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- Special edition photos of the two teams, gathered by Shelby State Bank.
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- The Muskegon Area Sports Hall of Fame plaque of the 1971 and 1972 teams.
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- Both Tigers teams scored 71 points in the championship games, defeating Stockbridge 71-57 in 1971 and Saginaw St. Stephen 71-61 in 1972.
