Monday, April 26, 2010

Victorious 1960-61 Hiliners!


From the March 10, 1961 Hiliner Herald: "Wrapping-up season play in the North Dakota Class A Basketball Tournament are: Don Olafson, Dennis Gillund, Roy Lang, Roger Strom, Dave Johnson, Jack Paulson, Bob Ingstad, Byron Hill, Enno Limvere, Jerry Busche, Leland Samson, and Dick McConn. Kneeling - Manager Dave Henke, Coach Don Dehne, and Manager Joe Lunde." Click on photo for larger image

From the same edition of the Herald: "The VCHS Hi-Liners spelled victory at the Southeastern Division District Tournament last weekend. In their first game, the Hi-Liners met West Fargo's squad and topped them with a final score of 53 to 43. This victory allowed them to go on to meet the Wahpeton Wops on Saturday night for the championship playoff. Having played the Wops twice before with the first one a win, and the latter a loss, the game promised to be an exciting one and to give the Hi-Liners strong opposition...the final score read Valley City--50 and Wahpeton--39." Next stop was the State Tourney in Grand Forks. This photo and text was from the large archive of Hiliner Herald editions lent to this blog by Judge Jack Paulson -- thanks, Jack!

2 comments:

Dennis Gillund 61 said...

Larry and Jack,
Thanks for finding the basketball picture. We were such underdogs because the state championship team the year before graduated so many seniors. It was tough because every place we went we were always introduced as the defending class A state champions. It always brought out the best in our opponents. Nobody picked us to go back to the state tourney, but we played so well as a team that we made it happen. Still proud of the great team and supporting fans we had in 61!

Larry said...

Hey, Dennis and Jack, I remember watching that championship game on TV and I was so proud of you guys. My radio job kept me in Valley and I didn't make the fan bus to Grand Forks. In fact, as I go through these photos and all the activities and knowing what my granddaughters were involved in in their high school, I now realize how much I missed. 'Course, I was having a ball at KOVC, but I wish I could have been part of all the fun my classmates were having.