LocalSportsJournal.com
Winner of three of the six previous Class A basketball state championships, Muskegon Heights appeared to be headed toward, at a minimum, another trip to Lansing in March of 1960.
“Defending champion Lansing Sexton or high-powered Muskegon Heights will win Michigan’s Class A high school basketball championship at Jenison Fieldhouse Saturday, March 19,” wrote Hal Schram, the legendary prep sportswriter in his regular season-ending Detroit Free Press article.
For Michigan’s high school sports fans, the Tuesday edition of the Motor City newspaper was always a must read. Within, Schram ranked the top 10 cage teams in each of four of the five state enrollment classifications. Class A represented Michigan’s largest, followed by Classes B, C and D. (In 1960, for one final season, a Class E championship game matching schools with the tiniest enrollments was played in the state’s Upper Peninsula.)
Nicknamed “The Swami,” Schram was quick with entertaining information, opinions, and predictions on the statewide prep scene.
“There is no clear-cut favorite in any of the other three classes. Sexton and the Heights, however, stand head and shoulders above all other contenders in the top division.”
The once-defeated Sexton squad was Schram’s No.1 team in his final weekly rankings published in the paper that late February. The Heights Tigers were his No. 2 squad.
“Not only does Sexton have the veteran scoring talent and the necessary defensive know-how, but also the pressure-packed tournament experience gained a season ago when Coach Clayton Kowalk led his Big Reds out of a lackluster 9-7 season to six straight tournament victories.”
Craziness of the crackerbox
Running from the 1940s, well into the 1970s, the Michigan High School Athletic Association’s annual three-week basketball tournament was, without question, insanity captured in a crackerbox. Depending on the city and school, that crackerbox varied in size. Regular-season win-loss records meant nothing as the one-and-done tourney’s craziness gripped the state starting in March. The event culminated with back-to-back-to-back-to-back games to ID champions, in contests played before 12,000-plus, shoehorn-packed, standing-room-only sellout satisfaction at Michigan State University’s Jenison Fieldhouse.
In Muskegon, the largest of those crackerboxes were the recently opened C.F. Bolt Gymnasium at Muskegon Heights High School, and Muskegon High School’s classic Central Campus hardwood floor.
Plans for the court at Muskegon Heights had been in the works for about 5 years before the facility was unveiled to the public in May, 1957.
“The new gymnasium provides floor area 100 by 100 feet and has seating capacity for 1,700,” noted The Muskegon Chronicle at the time of a public open house. Bronze lettering, mounted over the entrance, honored Bolt, a keen sports fan who served as principal for 31 years at the Heights.
The Muskegon Central Campus court, resting on the stage of the school’s two-level auditorium, was first showcased when the new high school was opened in 1927. The space seated around 2,000. With a drop-off of several feet from the court to the main-floor seating area, as well as a balcony packed with spectators, the gym was intimidating for many who had never previously played in the environment.
Setting the stage
For the first time in decades, Muskegon and Heights were not chasing a conference basketball championship during the 1959-60 school year. Crosstown rivals, the Heights Tigers and the Muskegon Big Reds were now members of the newly-formed Lake Michigan Athletic Conference. The loop had been formed in March 1959 from the ashes of the old Southwestern Conference. The S.W.C., formed in 1930, had once been one of Michigan’s most powerful until it dwindled to three teams in 1953. The LMAC was comprised of the three surviving members of the old conference, Muskegon, Muskegon Heights, and Benton Harbor, along with Traverse City and Grand Haven. (Within a few weeks of formation, Holland joined the alignment.) New league play, however, would not start until the 1960-61 school year.
That did nothing to dull the rivalry, as the schools’ schedule still featured home-and-home games. In addition, the local paper had done its part to ‘stir the fire’ prior to the basketball season’s first tip-off.
“It has been years since the Big Reds have been contenders for anything,” noted Joe Eyler, in previewing the upcoming season in The Chronicle. “Coach Ed Hager has a good handful of veterans back at Muskegon, along with potential great sophomores Sam Moore and Ben Strong,” touching on Muskegon’s bench depth.
Winners of state cage titles in 1954, 1956 and 1957, the Tigers had dominated the local Class A scene since the start of that run. However, The Chronicle cast doubt on the team’s chances, calling the Tiger team an enigma before the start of play.
“Oscar E. Johnson starts his 33rd basketball campaign at Muskegon Heights with a flock of ‘ifs’ crowding the horizon,” stated Eyler. “The Heights will be smaller as a team and carry less experience and firepower than its predecessors. Two starters return – (6-foot-5½) junior center John Calloway, who had trouble scoring last year, and somewhat erratic (6-foot-2) senior guard, Harold (Teeter Babe) McPherson.
The first showdown between Muskegon’s Big Reds and the Heights Tigers, was played on a Thursday in early December, before over “2,000 fans who crowded every available space in the Campus auditorium.” Both were unbeaten entering the gym, and it was a classic, won by the Tigers, 86-85. Heights had trailed by 11 to open the fourth quarter. The Chronicle’s Jimmy Henderson called the matchup “the top game in the history of the campus,” and the battle helped indelibly stitch the names McPherson and Dave Nelson in the minds of many in the area. Despite four fouls, ‘Teeter Babe’ had many late game-altering rebounds and finished with 20 points. Muskegon’s 6-foot-3 captain, Nelson scored 22 points for the Big Reds.
Following the weekend, the sports department was still talking about the game. Eyler singled out the strong play of Tiger reserves Paul Adams (18) and Mack Hunter (6), along with Big Reds Moore (20) and Strong (11) as keys. After additional reflection, Henderson had expanded his description of the match-up as, “one of the greatest shooting games ever seen on any high school floor.” He clearly knew of what he spoke, as he had served as the paper’s sports editor since 1920. Five Big Reds scored in double figures, with Al Nichols chipping in 13 and Mike Pedler, 12. Jim Doxey finished with 14 for the Tigers.
“A little sharpening on defense could make both squads definite tournament threats,” pitched Eyler, “(although only one can survive the Muskegon district meet in March.)”
The rematch
One could argue that, after those three state titles, Bolt gymnasium was undersized when it opened. While Heights remained unbeaten, Muskegon had dropped road games to Battle Creek and Holland. But that had zero effect on ticket demand for the second game between the Tigers and Big Reds on Jan. 22. Thousands had gathered long before tickets went on sale at 6 p.m.
“The crowd inside covered every nook and cranny, but there wasn’t a fan or school official who didn’t agree unanimously that the game would have filled every seat had the L.C. Walker Sports Arena (then wrapping up construction in downtown Muskegon) been ready.”
The contest this time was vastly different.
“Muskegon Heights gave a clinical demonstration of how to control a basketball game Friday night before a turn-away crowd at the C.F. Bolt Memorial gym,” wrote Eyler. “Most of the fans had gathered to see a repeat of the Dec 10 thriller … but sat on in almost disbelief as the Tigers throttled the Big Reds, 57-39, for their eighth straight victory. The loss gave Muskegon a 6-4 mark. A combination of height and poise ruined both the Big Reds’ awesome fast break and feared press.”
“The Tigers got good scoring balance with (front-liners) Adams and Calloway each hitting 14, McPherson 12, (Ron) Veihl 9 and (Jim) Doxie 8. Pedler was the only Big Red in double figures with 12. Nichols and Moore each had 7.”
Alluding to the old adage that noted the difficulty of beating a team three times in a season, Eyler continued.
“The Big Reds now hold the psychological weapon, and a tournament victory would wipe out the hurt of a 1-point defeat and then a one-sided beating.”
Sadly, the Walker Arena would not be ready to host events until the coming fall.
Unbeaten Tigers
Both teams cruised through their remaining schedule unbeaten. The Tigers disposed of Muskegon Catholic, 59-34, then trounced Benton Harbor, 76-62 at Bolt to wrap-up a perfect 15-0 record for only the second time in school history. McPherson scored 24 in the finale. With the win, the Heights finished ranked No. 1 in the weekly Associated Press Poll, with Sexton ranked second according to AP’s panel of 20 sports writers and broadcasters – flipping positions when compared to the Free Press rankings.
The annual draw to determine opponents in the opening round of the MHSAA’s Class A tournament saw Muskegon face Muskegon Catholic. The winner would play Heights, who had received a bye. District games were scheduled for play at Muskegon’s Central Campus court. As many hoped, the Big Reds downed Catholic 81-61, to set up a rematch with the Tigers.
Rematch for a district crown
Once again, Muskegon’s auditorium couldn’t accommodate all who wanted to attend the game. Of course, Chronicle staff was on hand, along with radio stations WTRU and WKBZ, to capture the scene.
“The big break of the game came with the opening of the second period,” wrote Henderson in the newspaper. “Muskegon came from behind to take a lead that forced the Tigers to press for scores. But only Harold ‘Teeter Babe’ McPherson could do a thorough job of it.”
Trailing 15-6 after the first period, the Big Reds went on a 21-3 run, including four straight buckets by Sam Moore. Heights cut the margin to 33-27 at the half. Muskegon upped their lead to 10 before McPherson took over. Behind his 23 second-half points, Heights grabbed a 62-61 lead with 1:20 to play.
But from there on it was all Muskegon.
“Mike Pedler, one of the small guards on the Muskegon team, who had scored just six points up to then, fired one from well out,” continued Henderson. “The ball went in for a field goal and a Muskegon lead. Hurry proved the downfall of the Tigers who lost the ball, and as Pedler charged down the floor, he was fouled. He made both free throws for a three-point lead with seconds remaining.”
“When Captain Dave Nelson dunked a follow shot, unneeded (as) Muskegon had already won the game, Muskegon fans swarmed on the floor, hoisted every player they could get their hands on to their shoulders and marched around the gym. Coach Ed Hager, who has brought Muskegon basketball back from the doldrums of annual frustration, was hoisted high by the team in wild demonstration.”
“67-62. That’s the year we beat the Heights,” states Nichols, recalling the score over 60 years later. “I’ll never forget that number.”
“In defeat, Harold ‘Teeter Babe’ McPherson was greater than in any of the (team’s) 15 victories,” continued Henderson. He finished with a game-high 29 points, “and should take his place with the Burtons, Ron Robinson and others who have created a Heights Dynasty behind the coaching of Oscar E. Johnson.”
Muskegon’s Sam Moore laid the groundwork for his high-flying legend, with 22 points on the night, while “Little Al Nichols made 18 points and his passing was exceptional as he fed Moore…Nelson and …Pedler.”
The game remains among the greatest cage tournament contests in Muskegon area history.
A longtime former member of the Board of Directors for the Muskegon Sports Hall of Fame, and past basketball broadcaster in the area, Nichols conveyed memories of the match-up with a smile on his face and a twinkle in his eyes shining across the phone, if that is at all possible.
“When I go to a basketball game (at Muskegon), I go down and look at the little district trophy. And I say, it may be small compared to what they give out today, but it was big, Big, BIG. It was pretty unusual for Muskegon to beat Muskegon Heights in basketball, but we gave them a go.”
Like Nichols, John Calloway still lives in the area and has strong memories of the time.
“Don Nelson had a good game and Al had a good game, and Sam had a good game. All of them. They were just ready for us,” he recalled. In reference to Muskegon’s 21-point outburst, Calloway added, “I don’t know what happened to us. We couldn’t do anything right.”
Muskegon advanced to the regional final before falling to Grand Rapids South, finishing with a 14-5 record.
’Teeter Babe’ was hot,” said Nichols recalling McPherson, who passed away in 2005. McPherson averaged 22.625 points per game as a senior. “He was the baddest player in the state that year, He was an All-Stater….All-State 1.”
“That game was like the Super Bowl,” he continued. “You got beat by that same team twice during the regular season, and you’re not expected to win that third one. It became a good rivalry.”
Indeed, the battles of the 1959-60 season drove the move to Muskegon’s new downtown area for the annual contests.
“On Dec. 9, 1960…the Big Reds took on Muskegon Heights in the (arena’s) inaugural basketball game…In front of 4,200 fans,” wrote Jim Moyes in 2012. “Heights shocked undefeated Muskegon, 62-53.”
Some 5,100 fans caught the second season showdown between the Tigers and Big Reds. Muskegon turned the tables on the Tigers and won 55-51. It was followed by a 5,615 paid audience for that year’s district tournament battle “perhaps the largest crowd to ever pack this venerable arena,” for a sporting event added Moyes. A 77-57 Heights win, it “propelled the Tigers all the way to the class A championship game…where it lost to Detroit Catholic Central in the finals.”
Calloway scored 19 in the 1961 district game, two more than his old friend, Nichols. He recalled the move to the arena and playing before the huge crowds.
“It was great, it was a great feeling. And that’s when we beat Muskegon real good in the district. Then we all went to state.”
GREAT ARTICLE. I AM A TIGER(1974 CLASS B STATE CHAMP) AND VERY PROUD OF OR TIGER B-BALL HISTORY!!!
Great article on my friend, Harold ‘TeeterBabe’ McPherson’s, basketball accomplishments as a member and leader of the 1959-60 edition of the lauded Muskegon Heights Tigers High School Basketball Team … TeeterBabe was also the last Muskegon Heights Tigers player to be named to a Michigan State Class A Allstate 1st Team …..Kudos also to Michael Anthony Smith for his representation and acknowledgement as being a B-Ball Champion from the 1974 Muskegon Heights Tiger Class B Championship Team…WE ARE VERY PROUD TO BE FORMER MUSKEGON HEIGHTS TIGERS ATHLETES ……..
Two Muskegon Heiggts Legends “Clete”Collins & Micheal” Big Keeb” Smith these are 2 oft the greatest Tigers alive.. Love yall
Thanks for this great article. Those were great times in Heights and Muskegon. Harold McPherson was as smooth as silk and with an incredibly high basketball IQ. Those games reported in the article were my introduction to Heights basketball. MHHS CLASS OF 1967
Great article, I was at those games and the atmosphere was electric. These guys set the bar for us younger Big Reds & Tigers. Al (Nick) is a big brother to me and was a good friend and teammate to my brother Big John Smith. Thanks for the memories, really great story..