Undefeated Tigers conjure memories of the 1985 Mules

“We are cheering for them to also become undefeated state champions!!” - Harold Brown, head coach of the 1985 undefeated state champion Lathrop Mules

You know you’re growin’ older when... Your joints are more accurate than the National Weather Service.

The enthusiasm has been growing all year long, as the Plattsburg Tigers basketball team tries to become the second local KCI Conference basketball team to win a state championship with an undefeated record. The excitement grew exponentially Friday night, as the Tigers defeated Weaubleau 53-46 in the state quarterfinals at St. Joseph’s Civic Arena. The victory extended the Tigers’ winning streak, which has now reached 30-0 this year. The victory sets up a matchup against Principia, a 46-43 overtime winner over Cooter.

The game is slated for Friday, March 10, at 2 p.m. at the Hammons Student Center in Springfield, Mo.

The potential accomplishment is not forgotten by former Lathrop head basketball coach Harold Brown. He shared some thoughts about the championship game and the buzzer-beater shot heard ‘round the state in 1985.

“We knew we were pretty good when we won the Kearney Tournament. In the state quarterfinals, I was preparing for Palmyra High School, but my scout told me that Paris had upset them. We knew that Paris was extremely tall! I think the fact that we had three left-handed shooters caused problems for their defense. Plus, we shot the ball extremely well during the whole tournament.

“As we prepared for Wellston, the defending state champions, we decided to just do what we did all year – full court press – and we surprised them, leading 25-12 at half. I don’t think they had ever seen a press like ours. Our players were very smart. We trapped up front. When players jumped to pass, our players positioned themselves for an offensive foul!

“Anyway, the final 11 seconds, leading by one, shooting a one-andone free throw, which we missed. Their All-State center rebound- ed and dribbled down to the free throw line and shot his shot, off the rim, off the backboard, and in the net. The crowd was going wild, their first lead of the game. I called time-out, but the clock was down to three seconds. The officials huddled and put back three more seconds for six total. I had asked David Krueger which baseline he wanted to shoot from. He said the right side. They pressured us and trapped our guards when they caught the ball. Jim Pritchett found David on the baseline – David’s shot was heard around the state, as we won at the buzzer

“I was so happy for the players, parents, and community for all their support throughout the season. Being undefeated state champions was a great effort from everyone involved – players, parents, fans, etc!

“Former coaches, players, from the entire conference, felt that they were a part of it! I can only wish the Plattsburg basketball team and coaches success as they try to add another undefeated team from the KCI Conference as state champions!”

Championship game score: Lathrop 46, Eskridge 45.

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Trivia question: Who is the alltime leading NCAA Division I scorer? A. Pete Maravich; B. Lebron James; C. Larry Bird; D. Koby Bryant (trivia answer is nearby).

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Some smiles courtesy of our longtime friend from Honolulu, Hawaii, Jim Nicholson:

Q: Why should 70-plus year old people use valet parking? A: Valets don’t forget where they park your car.

Q: Is it common for 70-plus year olds to have problems with shortterm memory storage? A: Storing memory is not a problem. Retrieving it is the problem.

Q: As people age, do they sleep more soundly? A: Yes, but usually in the afternoon.

Q: Where should 70-plus year olds look for eye glasses? A: On their foreheads.

Q: What is the most common remark made by 70-plus-year-olds when they enter antique stores? A: “Gosh, I remember that! (Trivia answer: A. Pete Maravich, 3,667 points, known by his nickname Pistol Pete, was an American professional basketball player. Maravich starred in college at Louisiana State University. His father, Press Maravich, was the team’s head coach. Pistol is still the all-time leading NCAA Division I scorer with 3,667 points scored and an average of 44.2 points per game. Remarkably, all his accomplishments were achieved before the adoption of the three-point line and shot clock, and despite being unable to play varsity as a freshman under then-NCAA rules.

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Food for thought: “Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.” John Robert Wooden (October 14, 1910 – June 4, 2010) was an American basketball coach and player. Nicknamed the “Wizard of Westwood,” he won ten National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) national championships in a 12-year period as head coach for the UCLA Bruins.

Talk to you next week!

Steve Tinnen stevetinnen@yahoo.com