by Gregg Meadows
60 years.
Has it really been that long ago?
If you lived in Dresden 60 years ago and remember following the exploits of the local high school boys basketball team, you experienced a time in prep hoops history that may never be seen again.
On Sunday, June 16, in a gathering at the TVHS Commons, many of those responsible for the two biggest trophies that sit in the spacious Scottie trophy case met again – as they have every five years since 1964 – to celebrate a magical high school athletics feat that hasn’t been matched in our area since.
It started with a last-second, state-title winning jump shot from an unassuming, quiet – but most talented – point guard from the hometown Jefferson Jayhawks. When senior Paul Prince’s 18-foot, top of the key jumper fell through the nets in Columbus for a 48-46 win over Jackson Center on Saturday, March 30, 1963 (at the iconic St John Arena) it not only gave the underdog Jayhawks – coached by Jack Van Reeth – a most unexpected win, but also put the pint-sized village of Dresden on the map.
“Obviously, I’ll never forget that shot – or our team – the rest of my life,” said the soft-spoken Prince. Nor will anyone else attached to that team, that community, and that era.
(Jack VanReeth left the Jayhawks after the 1962-63 season but later continued his success at the state level, winning three state titles as the West Holmes girls basketball coach and finishing his Hall of Fame head coaching career with an astonishing 844-259 career coaching record in 49 years at the head of the bench in both boys and girls basketball).
But what has kept Dresden on the high school cage map for the past 60 years was what happened the next year – during the 1963-64 season – when the improbable happened.
First-year coach Rich Longaberger (an assistant coach on the 1962-63 team) reassembled most of the previous year’s squad and achieved the unbelievable – as the Jayhawks knocked off No. 1 state-ranked Rosecrans in the district tournament, (after losing to them in the regular season) then played their way back to a second straight state title game at St. John Arena, knocking off Celina Immaculate Conception 71-61 for the big trophy, on the strength of senior Jeff Longaberger’s 31-point, 17-rebound effort.
“I can still remember the last-second timeout we took in the first state title game in 1963 to set up Paul’s winning shot,” recalls Jeff Longaberger. “We put the ball in-bounds and passed it around a few times, but when it got in Paul’s hands at the top of the key, I saw him go up for a jump shot, and once I saw that familiar flick of his wrist – I knew it was in.”
Longaberger downplayed his own heroics just a year later in the Jayhawk’s second straight state title game, when he led all scorers with 31 points. He was instrumental as well, in the Final Four semi-final contest, when opponent Mogadore missed a potential go-ahead shot with six seconds remaining and had hold of an offensive rebound. But Longaberger, brother to head coach Rich, stole the ball to seal the victory.
“It’s a team game, and I made a team play,” said the modest Longaberger.
Only two schools had managed to win back-to-back boys state championships before the Jayhawks — Bellpoint (1924 & ’25) and Waterloo (1934 & ’35), both Class B schools at the time.
Another member of both state championship squads was point guard Bill Birkhimer, who was the sparkplug and ‘quarterback’ of the Jayhawk offense. It was Birkhimer’s ball-handling abilities and skill in getting the ball up the floor that put in motion the famed Jefferson half-court offensive possessions, that perplexed many a team during Dresden’s infamous two-year title run. His defense was equally as good.
“What we did in those two years changed all of our lives, especially mine,” claimed Birkhimer. “It meant a lot to the people of Dresden as well – they never forgot us.”
“I owe a great deal to Coach Longaberger,” added Birkhimer.
Members of the 1962-63 and 1963-64 Jefferson Jayhawks back-to-back state championship teams – and their adoring community – have spent the past six decades reliving the incredible feat.
And the two state title teams have been meeting every five years since for a reunion, which is organized by a member of both state title squads, well-known local and community pillar, P.J. Longstreth.
“It’s hard to believe,” noted Longstreth, “that after 60 years, we’ve lost only four members from both state title teams.” Most of us stay pretty close and keep in touch,” added Longstreth.
“It’s funny how at our age, we forget many things these days,” laughs Longstreth, “but I can honestly say that I remember almost everything about those two seasons; every game, every gymnasium, every team, and of course the incredible support we got from our community.”
While Longstreth is the local backbone of all of the Jayhawk reunions and the driving and organizing force behind their every five-year get-togethers, it is another standout member of both state title teams – Paul Lacey – who perhaps is the unofficial ‘spokesperson’ for the Jayhawk state champers.
Lacey is a possessor (or a professor – take your pick) of an educated ‘gift of gab’ and owner of a heart of gold as well who – though he lives in Houston, Texas – keeps the long-distance pulse of his hometown Dresden, Ohio close to his heart.
The popular and well-liked Lacey flew from Houston to come back home specifically for this 60th reunion.
“Some folks might say “Good grief, 60 years — Give it a rest!” “But I would say to them, Seriously? “
“We were part of something unique; something that unified this town and community,” continued Lacey. “And the community was a big part of that unique experience! Yes, it has been 60 years and there have been some great athletic teams at TVHS over those years. But there has yet to be a State Championship team in Dresden in any sport – let alone back-to-back champions!”
“Many of us only see each other during these reunions,” continued Lacey. “We do joke and reminisce with one another, but we also remember our fans! And, while the crowds are dwindling for our ‘get-togethers’ every five years, it still provides a chance for some of the town folks to visit and reminisce with us again. It was and is an honor for us to have brought notoriety to Dresden.
“There is no question that Paul Prince and Jeff Longaberger were our two leaders and standout players for those respective 1963 and 64 state title teams,” added Lacey. But it did take teams – two different teams, to win those championships. I am proud to have played on both of those teams. For me, as a 15-year-old kid it was a life-changing experience,” concluded Lacey.
The ultimate recognition for the Jefferson Jayhawks basketball back-to-back state championship teams came in 2022, when they were inducted into the Ohio High School Basketball Hall of Fame in Columbus.
At the June 16, 60th year reunion of the back-to-back state champion Jayhawks at the Tri-Valley Commons, it was the 87 year-old coach, Rich Longaberger, who perhaps said it best when he spoke to an appreciative crowd of former players, managers, spouses and friends.
“I can’t tell you what it means to me to see all of you here,” said Longaberger, who was accompanied by his daughter Holly, a TVHS employee.
“What we did in those two years will never be forgotten, not by just our team, but our community – I’ll appreciate the efforts of the players, and the community’s support forever,” stated the TVHS Athletic Hall of Fame Coach, TVHS Hall of Distinction honoree, and a member of the OHSAA Coaches Hall of Fame as well, who amassed an incredible 363-155 record in 22 years of coaching boys basketball in Dresden. The TVHS home gymnasium floor was also designated and dedicated as ‘Rich Longaberger Court’ back in 2018.
60 years.
Has it really been that long ago?
CAPTION:
60 years ago….
Pictured above are the players, cheerleaders, managers, and coach who were present for the 60th reunion of the 1962-63 and 1963-64 back-to-back state championship Jefferson Jayhawks basketball teams, held in the TVHS Commons, on Sunday, June 16. Left to right are: Manager Jim Mullinnex, Harry Reger, cheerleader Becky McInerny, Ken Norris, cheerleader Lillette Holdren, manager Jim Ross, cheerleader Dorothy Summers, Paul Lacey, Jeff Longaberger, Head Coach Rich Longaberger, P.J. Longstreth, Paul Prince, and Bill Birkhimer.
Gregg Meadows photo
