In a previous Throwback Thursday post, we highlighted the process that gave us the boys’ basketball state tournament in 1966, but who was the first boys’ state tournament winning team during the winter of 1967?
Eight teams began the first DSSAA ever (now DIAA) state tournament on Monday March 13th at four neutral sites – the Flight A and Flight B champions, along with the Henlopen and Diamond State conference champions, the Flight A runner up, Henlopen/Diamond State runners up and an at-large/independent team made up the field.
Salesianum made the first of its state-high 43 state tournament appearances as an at-large team, edging Diamond State Conference runner-up Seaford 62-60 at Dickinson. The trio of Pat Igo, Tom Nagle and Bill Knowles led Sallies by combining for 43 of the team’s 62 points.
Diamond State Champion Milford, who came in the tournament unbeaten at 17-0, fought off a determined challenge from Flight B champion McKean 60-53 at Brandywine. The Highlanders, in their first year as a varsity program, tied the game at 53 with a little under two minutes to go, but seven foul shots between Bob Parker and Larry Fulman lifted the Buccaneers to the semis.
Flight A runner up Brandywine wasted no time in sending Henlopen Champion Milton home, winning 62-35 at Delaware State University’s Memorial Hall. Miles Johnson led the way for the Bulldogs with 19 points.
Flight A champion Mount Pleasant defeated Henlopen runner up Bridgeville 84-65 at Seaford to close out the first round. Joe Dunning led the Green Knights in scoring with 22 points and Bridgeville’s Al Horne became the first player to score 30 in a tournament game in the loss.
The semifinals were played on March 15th and they were as different as different can be. For starters, the Green Knights upended Salesianum 49-46 in overtime at Dickinson as guard Joe Dunning made a three-point play with two seconds remaining to close out an exciting contest.
There wasn’t much excitement in the other semi as Brandywine handed Milford its only 1966-67 loss in convincing fashion, cruising to a 74-31 win at Salesianum. Ron Robinson scored 20 to lead the Bulldogs and Miles Johnson added 18 for Brandywine.
The very first state championship game took place on Saturday night March 18, 1967 at then brand-new Delaware Field House. Brandywine hung tough, trailing 6-4 after the first quarter, but Mount Pleasant center Jack Blozis keyed a 17-6 Green Knight run in the second quarter, scoring five points and hauling down nine rebounds in the frame.
Mount Pleasant held serve throughout and won 49-38, becoming the first basketball state tournament champions in Delaware history. Joe Dunning led the Green Knights with 13 points, while Miles Johnson scored 23 for the Bulldogs in the losing effort. It was the final game for legendary Mount head coach Buddy Clark, who retired after the game.
In the first years of the state tournament, there was a third-place game between the semifinal losers prior to the state championship game being played. Milford became the first winners of that contest, upending Salesianum 57-54.
1967 Delaware boys basketball tournament
Monday, March 13, 1967
First Round
Milford 60, McKean 53 (at Brandywine)
Brandywine 62, Milton 35 (at Delaware State University)
Sallies 62, Seaford 60 (at Dickinson)
Mt. Pleasant 84, Bridgeville 65 (at Seaford)
Wednesday March 15, 1967
Semifinals
Brandywine 74, Milford 31 (at Sallies)
Mt. Pleasant 49, Sallies 46 (OT, at Dickinson)
Saturday March 18, 1967
Championship game (at Delaware Field House)
Mt. Pleasant 49, Brandywine 38