Page 5 - Dresden Buzz 06-28-24

JUNE 28 - JULY 11, 2024 SPORTS | PAGE 5

PORTS Taking a look back at sports highlights throughout

Muskingum County for June 11 - 24, 2024.

Jefferson Jayhawks celebrate 60-year reunion of back-to-back

state hoops titles by Gregg Meadows

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