NEXT BASKET WINS -- Back in 1961, Serena defeated Hinckley-Big Rock in a Little Ten Tournament championship game unlike any other

02/03/2011, 1:01 am

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Brian Hoxsey, sports@mywebtimes.com 815-433-2005

The day of Jan. 20, 1961 was a very historic one in our nation's history, as well as in the Little Ten Conference Boys Basketball Tournament. That morning, John F. Kennedy was sworn in as our country's 35th president. His inauguration address, the first broadcast live on television — "ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country" — is considered one of the greatest speeches of all time. While the events at Serena High School that night certainly pale in comparison at a national level, the championship game ranks at the top of most exciting in the tournament's 92-year history. The Huskers' 51-49 triumph over Hinckley-Big Rock was as unique as it was thrilling. Aside from being one of only six title contests to go beyond regulation, it was the single one decided in "sudden death overtime." That format was only used for a handful of years starting in the late 1950s, giving victory to the first team to go ahead by two points if the score was tied after an initial three minutes of overtime. As in most big games, a hero steps to the forefront. For Serena that night it was senior Gary Dolder, who scored the clinching basket two-and-a-half minutes into the second overtime. He felt that the tournament held a special meaning. "I thought it was a big deal," said Dolder, who now lives in Homosassa, Fla. "All the teams in the conference were all competitive. When the tournament came around we got fired up for it, maybe a little more than other games." Top-seeded Serena reached the title game with an easy victory over Earlville and then a slim 59-57 win over rival and three-time defending champ Shabbona in the semifinals. In the latter game, Dolder's guard mate and star senior Mickey Johnson scored a team-high 17 points, including the winning free throws with six seconds left. On the other side of the bracket, the fourth-seeded Royals slipped by Leland and upset rival Waterman in the semifinals for the right to meet Serena, which beat them by four points just a week prior to the tournament. The gym was filled over an hour before tip-off, with some of the estimated 1,300 fans in line to get in before school even let out for the day. H-BR led at halftime 18-17, but the Huskers roared out of the locker room after the half to own a 39-31 advantage heading to the fourth. Royals star guard Bob Raymond scored 10 of his game-high 23 points in the fourth to help his club take a 45-44 lead with two minutes to go in regulation. After the teams traded baskets, Dan Christopherson's late free throw tied the game at 47-all and his shot from the side with 29 seconds to go in overtime gave Serena the lead. However, after a missed Husker free throw seconds later, Raymond rebounded the ball, drove the length of the floor and converted a sensational layup, setting up a pressure-packed sudden death overtime. "Obviously you really didn't want to make any mistakes in that situation, you really wanted to be cautious with the basketball," Dolder said about sudden death. "(H-BR) was watching Mickey pretty close and playing him very tight." The Royals controlled the tip and held the ball for about a minute before taking a shot that missed, Serena rebounded the ball and it was now their chance to work for a good shot. After 90 seconds, Dolder found one he liked and the shot — and history — was made. "It was about an 18-footer, free throw line extended on the left side," said Raymond, who said he can remember that shot like it was yesterday. "(Serena) kept passing the ball around the perimeter and me and the other guard at the top of the zone got tired of chasing the ball. Eventually the ball ended up in Dolder's hands, he had a wide open shot and he hit it. It would have been nice to win that game, but it was great just to be there.Those are some fond memories." Senior co-captain Jerry Hanson led the Huskers with 18 points and seven rebounds, while fellow co-captainDolder netted 14 and Christopherson added nine points and seven boards. Johnson, who averaged nearly 19 points a game that season and ended his careerSerena's all-time leading scorer, was held to just four. "Gary was a very good player, a great shooter and hustled all the time," said Herb Hurt, the Serena assistant coach that year who retired after 38 years of teaching at SHS and now lives in his hometown of Henry. "He and Mickey Johnson were probably the best two guards, in tandem, that ever played at Serena. I have no doubt about that." Serena went on to finish fourth in the regular season LTC standings with a 6-3 mark, finishing behind championWaterman (8-1),H-BR (7-2) and Shabbona(7-2). The Huskers season ended with a two-point loss to Seneca in the district finals on their home floor. Serena 51, H-BR 49 (Sudden Death Overtime) H-BR (49) - LaSanska 5-19 0-1 10, Raymond 9-19 5-7 23, Ott 4-14 1-2 9, Jandt 1-3 0-0 2, Matter 1-11 1-1 3, Olson 1-3 0-0 2. Totals 21-68 7-11 49. SERENA (51) - Hanson 6-13 6-8 18, Christopherson 2-3 5-7 9, Brignon 0-4 0-0 0, M. Johnson 2-9 0-0 4, Dolder 7-19 0-1 14, Shrode 3-3 0-0 6. Totals 20-51 11-16 51. H-BR 7 11 13 16 2 0 - 49 Serena 9 8 22 8 2 2 - 51 Rebounds - H-BR 26 (Ott 12); Serena 25 (Hanson 7, Christopherson 7). Total fouls (none fouled out) - H-BR 9, Serena 13.