Sports & Recreation
Ocean City Today Apr. 1, 2022
Page 61
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PHOTO COURTESY HTTPS://WWW.DRIVECHIPANDPUTT.COM
Worcester Preparatory School freshman Michael DePalma will compete in the Boys’ 1415 Division of the Drive, Chip and Putt nationals this Sunday in Augusta, Georgia.
DePalma in Drive, Chip and Putt national finals PHOTO COURTESY OCEAN CITY LIFE-SAVING STATION MUSEUM
The Ocean City High School Vikings basketball team won the state Class C championships in College Park, Maryland in 1952, becoming the only squad to win the tournament in the institution’s history.
State championship, 70 years later By Greg Wehner Staff Writer (April 1, 2022) Ocean City High School, which no longer exists, won its one and only state basketball championship title 70 years ago this month. The day was March 22, 1952, and the Ocean City Vikings went head-tohead against New Windsor High School’s basketball team in College Park for the Class C title, ousting them 70-55. The Salisbury Daily Times wrote on March 24, 1952, that the only time Ocean City was ever pressed during the game was at the beginning, when the seashore boys were behind 6-4. But that was the only time they trailed. The “seashore quintet,” as referred to in the article, led the first quarter 20-16, 45-26 at halftime, and 62-43 after the third quarter. Top scorers from Ocean City were Ben Lewis and Bunkey Bradford who sunk 17 points each. Burt Raughley also found 15 buckets and George Hurley got 14. Ray Shockley, 85, who today is an attorney in Ocean City, played for-
ward for the Vikings as a sophomore, and was 15 when the two teams faced off. “It was an exciting time for us,” he said. “Going to college park was a big deal for us. Even going to Salisbury was a big trip for us back in the 50s.” The road to College Park included games against the three schools in Worcester County at the time — Berlin, Snow Hill, and Pocomoke City — as well as bouts in Mardela Springs, Salisbury, and Delaware. Once they got to College Park, the team played Barton High of Allegany County and nearly lost a 65-27 lead after four regular starters fouled out. Barton closed the gap to 10 points, and the final score was 70-60. Playing in College Park was much different and lacked the hometown feel. The gym was nearly double the size of the gym that was at the now city hall building on Third Street, and the backboards were glass instead of wooden. Ocean City’s coach, Dick DeHart, was new to the school and came from West Virginia. Shockley said DeHart introduced the players to what’s known as the
fast break. “It was a different type of game than the other schools were used to,” Shockley said. “You bring the ball up hurriedly rather than just coming up and setting up. It was a lot of running.” Along with getting the ball up the court quickly, DeHart had the players practice layups, telling the players if they were fast enough, they were going to shoot a layup. While today three-point shots are key, they did not exist in 1952. The fast breaks and layups paid off. The Daily Times described Ocean City’s strategy as a “speedy all-out attack,” forcing the New Windsor Players off the court. “Five Ocean City players were down the floor usually before the opposition had an opportunity to set up a defense,” the paper wrote in its rundown of the championship game. About a month after the Vikings returned home, Ocean City held a little celebration for the team and gave each of the players a watch that was engraved on the back – Shockley said See BASKETBALL Page 62
By Lisa Capitelli Managing Editor (April 1, 2022) Worcester Preparatory School freshman Michael DePalma will compete in the Boys’ 14-15 Division of the Drive, Chip and Putt nationals this Sunday in Augusta, Georgia. He qualified for the event for placing first at Oak Hill Regionals on Sept. 19 in Rochester, New York. During the competition, each golfer was given three attempts, and DePalma scored the highest in his division with 68 in Drive, 40 in Chip and 45 in Putt, for a total score of 153. “I thought I played extremely well and I kept myself composed throughout the event even when I knew I was in the lead,” he said earlier this week. This is his first time participating in the Drive, Chip and Putt competition. “I am both nervous and excited to compete in Augusta this weekend. I will be competing against nine other kids in the nationals,” he said. “My goal for the nationals is to finish fifth place or better.” The national finals takes place at Augusta National Golf Club the Sunday before the Masters Tournament and is broadcast live by Golf Channel. It is scheduled to be televised from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. EST. There are 80 golfers total participating in the Drive, Chip and Putt national finals. See FINALS Page 62
