The Nebraska High School Basketball All-State Project - Saluting 1963.

The Nebraska High School Basketball All-State Project - Saluting 1963.

By Bobby Mills (1000 Yard Guy)

The Sunday Journal and Star headlines said it all. Conde Sargent headed the main sports page with the lead "Tech wins Class A by more than a Hare". In the case of Omaha Tech coach Neal Mosser, the 5th time was the charm. A resounding 91-73 win over Creighton Prep not only gave the Trojans the Class A title, but washed away the bitterness of a year ago for the veteran coach and his forces.

Mr. Sargent, along with so many other, termed it "the greatest offensive show in in history", as the 5 Tech starters, including Mosser's son Jerry Mosser, ripped through their intercity rival like a raging Cuming Street tornado. The fury, unleashed by that memory of the 1962 state finals loss to Lincoln Northeast, hit Prep with such precision, the blue and white never caught up that night. Although the game was a team effort, it was the all-state duo of Hare and Joe Williams that led Tech that night, witnessed by 10,500 at the Old Barn. Hare scorched the twine with 31, with Williams adding 23. Prep's junior sensation Wally Anderzunas was held to 10 points, but still was a solid all-state, all-tournament player.

........and now, on to the state tournament capsules for each class.

*Class D: There were only two unbeaten teams in the entire state tournament, Class C's Sidney St. Pats, and the Class D runner-up from the year ago, DeWitt. The blue and white Panthers of Coach Ron Joekel wanted to make amends for last year's loss to Polk and a weaker "D" field was just what the doctor ordered for Joekeln and junior play maker Doug Tietjen and DeWitt. The sensational Tietjen left no doubt he meant business by setting a scoring record in the 1st round against Center. The 6-2 eleventh grader dropped in 32 points to lead his team to a 60-46 win over the other Panthers. In the semis, DeWitt gained some sweet revenge by avenging the previous year's finals loss to Polk. The Panthers got Polk star Max Kroger in early foul, then proceeded to trounce the Cubs, 58-35. Tietjen had 18 in the route.

In the finals against a good Herman squad, DeWitt battled back after trailing on and off the entire game. The Panthers eventually came from behind to take a heart pounding 49-47 State Title victory for Coach Ron Joekel, who had been named the Journal and Star Coach of the Year just a week before. Doug Tietjen broke a 45-45 tie with 3:45 left in the game by swishing 2 free throws, then nailed a later field goal to wrap things up for the Panthers. Teammate Jim Holtmeier, saddled with 4 fouls most of the second half, led the way with 19 points and was a devil in DeWitt's pressing defense.

DeWitt ended the year with a 22-0 record and a Class D title in hand. Coach Ron Joekel would leave DeWitt at the end of the school year to pursue his Doctors degree at Nebraska Wesleyan.

Both Holtmeier and Tietjen made the Class D All-Tournament team, as well as Herman's outstanding sophomore, Tom Green and his team buddy, Robbie Andrews, also an underclassman....a junior.

*In Class C, I can still see that final shot in the championship game by my friend and childhood hoops hero, Kurt "The Tower" Lauer. Never forget it, and neither will Lauer. We'll replay it for you now.........

The game with Utica was back and forth the entire afternoon. Lauer had drained an astounding 20 of 28 field goals before the upcoming sequence. FORTY SIX Points......105 Points for the tournament.

With 17 seconds remaining, the orange and black Tigers trailed Ed Bills' Gibbon boys, 57-56. Roger Elrod was fouled and hit the 1st free throw to square things at 57. Elrod clanked the 2nd free throw try and Lauer cleaned the glass for the board but had the ball stripped. Now possessing the ball, Utica called time out and Coach Duane Smith concocted a final shot stategy. It worked. John Hladky nailed a short jumper with just TWO seconds remaining to put Utica head, 59-57. It took a second for Gibbon coach Ed Bills to call a time out, but he got his wish with only a second remaining. Was it possible? All 7,000 folks in the joint knew what what was going transpire. It could never work unless you had a player the size of the 6-7 Lauer and a deadeye passing wizard like Glenn Skeen. I sat there in that 3rd row thinking.......no way.

But Skeen, with the rifle arm of a Johnny Unitas, sent the ball sailing the entire court and absolutely nailed Kurt "The Tower" 10 feet from the basket. A well defended Lauer was forced to launch a fade away jumper, and the shot, which seemed to be suspended and frozen in time, banked off the front of the iron and fell harmlessly to the NU Coliseum floor like a feather. Lauer buried his head in his hand, heartbroken despite crushing 3 state tournament records. I recall him telling me, "we lost the game little buddy, the records just seem unimportant."

Records they were indeed. The 6-7 Gibbon junior shattered the tournament scoring record by 22 points, and set single game records with his 46 tallies and 20 field goals. But it was the balanced play of Utica that garnered the title for the Seward county Tigers.

Gibbon and Utica placed 2 players each on the Class C All-Tournamernt squad. Lauer and Skeen made the team, while Utica's all-state smoothie Larry Semin and his junior teammate Roger Elrod also made it. The other slot was occupied by Scribner's 5-11 junior, Mike Lamberty.

*Class B looked to be a wide open race, although Ogallala was a choice by some sports scribes. In the end, it was Falls City that proved best of the "B" field. The Tigers, led by Colossal Ernie Strasil (they rhyme), swept through the field to nab the crown. The Tigers whipped a good Minden team in the championship game, 56-51. The outside shooting of the 6-3 Strasil and back court pal Benny Maze led Falls City, along with three consecutive hook shots by inside threat, Roy Nelson. The difference in the game was accuracy at the charity stripe. Both teams had 23 field goals, but it was Fall City's 10 of 15 from the stripe compared to the Whippet's 5-11 that spelled the difference.

Both Strasil and Maze made the Class C All-Tournament team. along with Minden's 6-2 senior, Larry Wilcox. Charles Nelson of Ogallala and all-state Larry Hoefener of Pierce also appeared on the unit.

*In Class A it was Omaha Tech all the way. Nobody came within 18 points of the Trojans, who pounded Hastings, 75-57, then Columbus, 83-54 before the 91-73 beating of Creighton Prep in the finals. 249 points in three games. And Tech's Fred Hare? You had to see him play to believe it. Number 24 looked like a Harlem Globetrotter in a high school basketball uniform. Well beyond his years, Hare went on to a shortened career at Nebraska, where he still will be remembered for his last second shot against #1 Michigan and Cazzie Russell in a cold December, 1964 game for the Huskers.

Let's replay that baby.....

With only a few seconds left and trailing 73-72, Nebraska'a Grant Simmons inbounded the ball to Fred Hare at half court. Hare launched a desperation shot that caromed off the front of the rim. But Hare usually followed his shots. On this day, Hare sprinted toward the basket, overran the ball, but caught it over his head with his back to the Husker basket. WITHOUT turning around, the magical Fred Hare simply threw a backwards pass over his head and the ball sailed through the hoop. BANG! Nebraska had just upset the number one team in the entire country, 74-73.

I never saw anything like in my life and haven't since.

...And now................................

1963 All-State Teams:

*As selected by the Lincoln Journal-Star

*Class D All-State Team*

Jim Stych-Clay Center - 5-11, 158, Senior

Gary Ohnoutka-Weston - 5-11, 150, Senior

Dennis Colson-Elsie - 6-4, 180, Senior

Doug Tietjen-DeWitt - 6-2, 180, Junior

Ron Simmons-Sumner- 6-1, 160 Junior

Standout of this group in my humble opinion was Ron Simmons of Sumner. Many referred to him as the Mr. Basketball of West/Central Nebraska. Even though Sumner missed this year's state tournament, the magical Simmons and his 25.6 ppg average just simply provided the "wow" factor to all who witnessed his play, including yours truly. Coach Charlie Thorell thought he was worthy of an All-Class slot and frankly, if it hadn't been for the bumper 1963 crop of Class A talent, he would have made it.

in '63, Simmons hit 238 of 400 field goal tries for a 59.5% clip. 87 free throws sent his season total to 563 points without the luxury of a state tournament. The 6-1 forward/center also hauled down 228 rebounds and was an outstanding student in the classroom......and only a junior.

Another junior on this squad was DeWitt's 6-2 Doug Tietjen. The state champion's post player, Tietjen nailed 60% of his FG shots and was a demon on the glass, averaging 18 ppg. Brother Dwight Tietjen, who was at Nebraska Wesleyan in 1963, was an all-state selection for DeWitt in '62.

The tall man on this crew was Elsie's 6-4 Colson. The state Class D high jump champion the previous spring, Dennis Colson averaged 24 ppg and hauled down 15 rebounds a contest.

The guards are Clay Center's Stych and Weston's Gary Ohnoutka. Stych had a ton of achievements for his 22-1 Clay Center team but his floor leadership was the most important. Ohnoutka was the outside bomber of this Dream team, averaging 19 ppg. He was a terrific defensive player and rebounded remarkably well for standing only 5-11.

The Journal-Star's Conde Sargent, who chose this team, stated that Polk's Max Kroger and Steinauer's Bill Rinne just missed being chosen to the Class D All-State team. I especially liked Kroger.

*Honorable Mention: John Sears-Decatur, Max Kroger-Polk, Bill Rinne-Steinauer, Lynn McCaig-Paxton, Lee Sealer-Center, Jim Holtmeier-DeWitt, Brad Bowker-Alexandria, Lee Jacobson-Elba, Doug Johnson-Alvo-Eagle, Larry Stutzman-Beaver Crossing, Doug Line-Sumner, Philip Hand-Edison, Bob McDonald-Overton, Joel Coffey-Phillips, Gary Green Cody, Jack Guggenmos-Dorchester, Gary Busteed-Elgin, Robbie Andrews, Tom Green-Herman, Jerry Quiring-Hampton.

*Class C All-State Team*

Leland Timmermann-Verdigre - 6-2, 170, Senior (34.1 ppg)

Steve Hutchins-Franklin - 6-2, 180, Senior (24.5 ppg/11 rebounds)

Kurt Lauer-Gibbon- 6-7, 190, Junior

Dick Braesch-Bennington - 6-4, 185, Senior

Larry Semin-Utica- 6-2, 170 Senior

It's safe to say the Lauer, the towering Gibbon junior opened some eyes at the state tournament with his three game total of 105 points. His basket assault caused quite a furor in Lincoln, earning him an All-Tournament berth with 4 other splendid Class A players in Fred Hare, Jerry Mosser and Joe Williams of Omaha tech, Creighton Prep's Wally Anderzunas. Kurt "The Tower" scored 724 points in 23 games for state runner-up Gibbon, an incredible average of 30.1 ppg.

Lauer's 30+ ppg, however, was not tops in this deeply talented Class C Dream squad. Verdigre's Leland Timermann topped that with his fat 34.1 points an outing. Try this out for an eye popping stat line compiled by the 6-1 Timmermann. The Verdigre dead eye scored 800 points right smack on the button in 1963 for a 24.5 per game average. His 3 year total on the Verdigre varsity was 1,665 points and listen to this. He shot 43.5% shooting throughout his entire career and don't kid yourself, these shots did not come from right under the hoop. Not at 6-1, my friends. Verdigre was 51-18 during Timmermann's career.

State Champion Utica landed Semin (pronounced Sem-Eene) on the Class C all-state team for a second straight year. Semin was not a prolific scorer for Utica, but was a terrific defensive player and a rugged rebounder on both ends of the court and a team leader for sure. Usually an inside player, Coach Duane Smith moved Semin outside sometimes and he didn't miss a beat.

Hutchins did everything for Franklin, averaging 24 and a half ppg, plus pulling down 11 boards. The amazing thing about Hutchins was that he played the last month of the season with a nagging back injury and still led the Flyers all the way to the regionals where Utica got 'em. Hutchins drained 45% of his field goals in '63, mostly from around the free throw line, his favorite sweet spot.

Talk about a rebounding wizard, Bennington's 6-4 Braesch was about as wicked as it gets, averaging 19 boards a game. Braesch was on the All-eastern Nebraska Conference 3 years in a row and was instrumental in leading the Badgers the last two seasons. In that stretch, Bennington suffered only 7 losses.

I'm almost convinced Gary Spies of Dodge, Don Leitner of Omaha St Joe, and John Meeske, Weeping Water's long distance shooting specialist, were close to making this team.

*Honorable Mention: Gary Spies-Dodge, John Meeske-Weeping Water, Glen Skeen-Gibbon, Charles Friesen-Henderson, Jim Anderson-Stromsburg, Chuck Lacey-Tecumseh, Don Leitner-Omaha St. Joseph, Alois Hottovy-East Butler, Jim Connick-Bassett, Dean Gerths-Scribner, Ken Benne-West Point, Leonard Williams-North Loup-Scotia, Mike Simon-Falls City Sacred Heart, Doug Schutz-Arapahoe, Jim Schaeffer-Bertrand.

*Class B All-State Team

George Zarins-Lincoln University High - 6-3, 166, Senior (19.8 ppg)

Larry Hoefener-Pierce - 6-2, 190, Senior (17.1 ppg)

Ernie Strasil-Falls City - 6-3, 165, Junior (18.5 ppg)

Benny Maze-Falls City- 5-11, 175, Senior

Dick Beckler-Seward - 6-0, 150 Senior

State Champion Falls City landed two players on this Dream Team in Maze and Strasil. The 2 aces accounted for 60% of their team's scoring during Falls City's 20-2 season. Senior Benny Maze and the junior Ernie Strasil were the biggest 1-2 scoring punch in the 1963 state tournament outside of Omaha Tech's Fred Hare and Joe Williams. The 2 Tiger leaders really came into themselves this season after Fall City won less than half their games the previous year. Strasil averaged 18 and a half points and game, and Maze a shade over 17. The speedy Maze usually drew play making chores on offense and was Falls City's best defender on defense.

University High's Germany born 6-3 Zarins averaged just under 20 points a contest for the Tutors and was so proficient, he was named to the All-Capitol City squad, usually exclusively composed of Class A talent.

Hoefener led his Pierce team in scoring, usually somewhere in the mid 20's per game. In just 2 games at the state tournament, he scored 49 points before his team was sent home by Falls City.

Dick Beckler labored for a pretty weak Seward team his senior season and was a shining star despite being double teamed nearly every possession of the year. Beckler's team only made it to Lncoln his freshman and junior seasons.

I know that Wayne sharp shooter Don Meyer (25 ppg), Burwell's Hoppes, and O'Neill's 6-7 stalwart, Rich Hill just barely missed being named to the all-state team in '63 after being named to the Class C all-star team as a junior.

*Honorable Mentions: Don Meyer-Wayne, Joe Hoppes-Burwell, Larry Wilcox-Minden, Rich Hill-O'Neill, Stan Simpson-Mitchell, Joe Johnson-Bridgeport, Charles Knauss-Cozad, Jim Robinson, Charles Nelson-Ogallala, Roger Douglas-Crete, Larry Hansen-Blair, Alan Becher-Wisner, Jack Wolfe-David City, Jim Botts-Wood River, and Gary Nathan-Madison.

*Class A All-State Team

No Class A all-state team that year, only "Overall All-State"

*1963 All-State Team (predecessor to Super-State)

Fred Hare-Omaha Tech - 6-1, 170, Senior

Joe Williams-Omaha Tech, 6-3, 190, Senior

Wally Anderzunas-Creighton Prep - 6-7, 200, Junior

Stan Krehbiel-Columbus - 6-5, 195, Senior

Tom Millsap-Grand Island- 5-10, 170, Senior

No secret that Hare was the Player-of-the-Year. How do you average 34 ppg in Class A? Honestly, I'm not certain I ever saw a player of his magnitude in high school basketball, and that was a year shy of 50 years ago. That's a lot of years of hoops, my friends. Those who witnessed his performances a time or two know what I mean. Unbelievable player.

Conde Sargent thought this "Big 5" might be able to stack up with states around the nation if had been a national tournament. Hare's partner at Tech was *Joe Williams. The 6-3 Williams, along with Fred, are repeaters from last years all class all-state team. An often recipient of Freddy's behind the back passes, Jumpin' Joe was oustanding underneath as a shooter as well as a rebounder. The guy at 6-3 could out jump most 6-5 or 6-6 dudes with ease. Besides, at 190 pounds and strong as an ox, not many wanted to tangle with Williams in the paint.

*Wally Anderzunas of Prep was bound and determined to make this list after a sophomore season that made the hoops experts stand up and take note. His great timing around the basket when receiving a pass was uncanny. The youngster from Prep would often wait for his opponent to go up two or three times before making his move to the hoop. Bad thing was Anderzunas possessed this skill as a sophomore but had too many good players ahead of him to crack this list. Wally is the only Junior on the list.

*Columbus High's Stan Krehbiel played the same way Tech's Williams did. A vicious rebounder, Krehbiel stood alone most times if anyone cared to battle him for a board. They probably learned that by trying it once or twice. The 6-5 Discoverer was also the leading scorer for Columbus, averaging 16 ppg his senior year. He was also the second highest scorer in Columbus High history at the time.

*Grand Island's Tom Millsap, the state's premier sprinter by a mile during his 3 year career, used his blinding speed and agility on the hardwood to the max. The 170 all-around athlete was good at nearly every sport he attempted. And to think he lived in tiny, little nearby Phillips before Grand Island Senior High "decided" he should be attending school there. Didn't that turn out to be a splendid idea? I really think Millsap's 3 year contribution to Islander basketball contributed to his being selected to this Dream team. You must remember North Platte's Larry Wachholtz, Omaha Central's John Armstrong, and Omaha Ryan's Rich Shimerlda were also deserving. Wachholtz was a dandy, let me tell you. Went on to shine on the Husker football field and has made so many Halls of Fame, it would take an hour to list them all.

*Honorable Mention: Rich Shimerdia-Omaha Ryan, John Armstrong-Omaha Central, Larry Wachholtz-North Platte, Gary Neibauer-Scottsbluff, Rich Myers-McCook, Gayle Cattau-Columbus, Ed Rainey-Fremont, Bob Stickels-Hastings, Jim Tice-Alliance, Bill Olson-Omaha Westside, Marlin Briscoe-Omaha South (ring a bell?), Bob Becker-Creighton Prep, Steve Bock-Lincoln SE, and Steve Eller-Kearney.

........How about that for out-state representation.

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So,what happened to Fred Hare after that famous basket against Michigan? Fred played basketball at Nebraska through his junior season. The Huskers were 20-5 that year, but Hare quit the team after what some say, were differences with head coach Joe Cipriano. 1966-67 was that season. Hare thought he was taken out of games when he still should have been on the playing floor.

I don't think Freddy and Cip actually had any bitterness over the deal when all was said and done, but Hare never quite made the big time (NBA or ABA) after that.

After Hare's mother passed in 1967, Fred sold all of his belongings and left Lincoln for Mexico City, where he played for the University of the Americas. After a year, when Hare learned he could never graduate because all his credits had to transfer to the United States, he had a tryout with the Phoenix Suns but was cut in training camp. Hare was supposed to be lined up for a shot with the ABA's Dallas team but was just too tired to do it.

I think Nate Branch, who was playing for the Harlem Clowns at the time, got Freddy a gig with that traveling basketball show shortly therafter. He played for them for a spell, then went to Canada and performed in the Canadian League. Hare then went back to Mexico and played for 4 seasons before Bob Cousy called and lined up a tryout with Dallas, but Fred returned to Omaha and awaited the anticipated opening of an NBA franchise there. While waiting for that to happen, Hare was involved in a serious car crash in Colorado. That was 1970, and the 37 year old was left with serious injuries that prohibited him from playing. Despite that, the Kansas City/Omaha Kings offered him a tryout but Hare's sharpness and age had caught up with him.

Fred Hare did later write a book entitled "The Best of the Best". It was a biography about basketball and life, written by a sensational player that has been there, done that. Although I haven't read the book, I have a feeling it is a pretty good read.

Last I heard about Fred Hare, he was kind of crippled up and spent much of his time in an electric wheel chair. That was 2011 and he was living in Denton, Texas. His health must have been failing enough to have a round the clock caretaker. He stated that his legs were gone and he had undergone open heart surgery in 2008. I knew he wanted people to email him at the time, but he said he was unable to type responses, so his caretaker had to perform that task.

One thing I did know was that Freddy had turned pretty religious, which certainly never hurts.

One of the most notable of all Nebraska High school basketball players......Fred Hare. There may never be another like him.