The Nebraska High School Basketball All-State Project - Saluting 1977

The first thing that comes to my mind about this 1977 season was how ungodly special Mike McGee from Omaha North was and we may not have fully realized what and who we were witnessing at the time. Just mind-boggling! And the University of Michigan basketball records I wrote about later in this article were still accurate in 2015.

*Here are the class-by-class 1977 State Tournaments at a glance:

*In Class D only one team, Dalton, entered the tournament unbeaten at 19-0, but the favorite had to be Adams. The Hornets had been a mainstay at the State Tournament, making 7 of the last 10. Kurt Koch of Cambridge entered the 1977 Big Show as Class D's leading scorer, averaging 15 ppg.

In the end, Adams made a laugher out of this 1977 Class D tournament. Their closest call was a 73-60 win over a good Polk team in the opening round. The battle between Adams' stars Eugene Bussboom, Jeff Veerhusen and Hildreth's Frail Cale Bauer was something to behold in that 88-70 beauty of a win for the Hornets. Adams got even better in the finals, blasting Cambridge by a 70-52 count.

The All-Tournament team consisted of Veerhusen and Busboom of Adams, Tom Carlstrom of Polk, Bauer of Hildreth and Kurt Koch of Cambridge.

*Class C saw a group of teams attempting to break the mighty Howells run of 26 wins in their last 28 post season games. The big boys from God's Country entered the tourney with a 22-2 record. Norfolk Catholic's group of outstanding athletes was attempting to add a basketball title to their already garnered Class C football AND wrestling crowns. Grant was a team to contend with, but ironically, a 17-3 Pleasanton bunch had been pre-season rated number 1 and made it to the Dance but wasn't even favored to beat the Plainsmen in their 1st round match-up.

Norfolk Catholic beat a stubborn Tekamah-Herman team in the opening round, 72-68, Grant survived Pleasanton 46-44, the Howells Bobcats blasted Centennial 70-52, and tourney mainstay Omaha Holy Name was upset by a feisty Sandy Creek team, 47-44. It would be the last state tournament appearance for Holy Name ever.

Howells went on to beat upstart Sandy Creek 55-50 in the semis, then defeat Jim Jackman and Grant 42-34 in the finals to grab the Class C crown. The star for Howells in this '77 State Tourney may have been Ken Ritzdorf, who scored 52 total points in the 'Cats three games. Ken Ritzdorf became the THIRD Ritzdorf sibling to win a state basketball championship medal. Older bros Bob and Tom played on Howells played on the 1973 team that beat Bertrand 61-37 to win that Class C title.

The Class C All-Tournament team consisted of Ritzdorf and Dick Jakubowski of Howells, Jim Jackman and Mike Barry of Grant, plus Norfolk Catholic's Terry Ballantyne. Remember, Jackman was only a junior that year.

*The Class B field was strong in 1977. With teams like Omaha Ryan, with 6-9 Jim Honz, 20-1 Lexington with the absolute stud, Doug Holtmeier, Seward with Marc Felix, and Fairbury with Mike Falloon, this class was loaded. Fairbury was also itching to avenge a Feb. 12th loss to Seward (59-73).

Ryan had its hands full with Kimball, edging the Longhorns, 46-42. Lex defeated West Point Guardian Angels, 60-52 and that one bothered me. I thought the Minutemen should have drilled WPGA. Seward handled a 15-5 Gretna squad 48-38, and Fairbury won a nail biter over Ord and Nick Noll by a 58-56 count.

My fears about Lexington were confirmed in the semifinals when Omaha Ryan just pounded the Minutemen 70-52. Just not a good match-up for Lex, simple as that. Seward's Bluejays made it 2 for 2 against Fairbury with a 10 point 57-47 semi win over the Jeffs. In the finals it was all Omaha Ryan, 50-33. Way too much Jim Honz inside for the Jays to handle.

The Class B all-tournament team was all seniors. State Champ Ryan landed the splendid Honz and sparky Tom Lebeda, Lexington had Mark Heil, Kimball's very good Pete Anderson deservedly made the squad and rounding out the Fab 5 was Marc Felix of Seward, of course.

*Class A featured one of the greatest players in Nebraska prep basketball history in Omaha North's Mike McGee. The 6-5 sensation scored at a 38.6 ppg pace during the 1976-77 campaign. Almost overlooked, but not quite, was Omaha Burke's magical Jim Gregory, perhaps the most all-around player in the entire state. Gregory did it all, playing ferocious defense, dropping in 27 points an outing, and handling the ball with college skills. But the big story was Bill Kropp's Grand Island team, led by the outstanding duo of Paul Treischman and Jeff Finn. The Islanders entered the tournament at 20-1, drawing an 11-10 Lincoln High team who hadn't been to Lincoln in 14 years.

Omaha North was to face a Burke team they absolutely blistered 106-79 on February 16th. In spite of all that, no human alive could have imagined in their wildest dreams what was about to transpire in this Class A carnival.

At least the first round game between 13-7 Hastings and 15-4 Papillion went according to the books as the Monarchs dumped the Tigers, 54-44. But Omaha Burke turned the tables on a sometimes on, sometimes off Omaha North team, 73-66. Bye, bye, Mike McGee and his 38 points a game. Omaha Benson beat Central for a 2nd time, taking a 60-53 win over the Eagles to advance. But the absolute SHOCKER was when Lincoln High destroyed mighty Grand Island by TWENTY points, 76-56. I didn't even bother to go to the game because I thought the Islanders would cruise with Treischman and Finn. Still can't figure out what happened to this very day.

7th seeded Cinderella Omaha Burke never did lose the glass slipper in that '77 State Tournament, edging Papio 67-66, then beating the other cinderella squad, 8th seeded Lincoln High, 66-61 to take the gold in Class A. The Links had shocked Benson by 11 in the semis the day before, but Burke, led by the never-say-die Jim Gregory, pulled off the impossible dream. Teammate Kirk Helms was equally impressive in the run to the title for the Bulldogs.

That '77 All-Tournament team was: Gregory and Ray Montgomery of Burke, McGee of North, Pat Lynch-Papillion and Lincoln High's star, Jerry Heckman. The All-Class, All-Tournament team was nearly the same, except Omaha Ryan's Jim Honz replaced Lynch on the Dream Team. Honz was a no-brainer for certain in that situation.

*1977 Class D All-State 1st Team*

Jeff Veerhusen-Adams - 5-10, Senior (20.4 ppg)

Dave Jenkins-Homer - 5-11, Senior (16.0 ppg)

Dan Hill-Falls City Sacred Heart- 6-5, Senior (13.2 ppg)

Nolan Hanes-Trenton - 6-3, Senior (22.0 ppg)

Crale Bauer-Hildreth - 6-4, Junior (19.3 ppg)

2nd Team Class D

Waid Zysset-Cambridge - 5-10, Senior (19.8 ppg)

Rusty Flamig-Dalton - 6-1, Senior (21.0 ppg)

Dave Koozer-Fairmont- 6-5, Senior (24.4 ppg)

Eugene Busboom-Adams - 6-2, Junior (16.5 ppg)

Dan Garrelts-Hildreth - 6-1, Senior (16.0 ppg)

*Veerhusen could light it up for Adams.....great bloodlines! And Sacred Heart's Dan Hill was an all-state, 1000 yard rushing fullback and an outstanding track star (hurdles, jumps) for the Irish. Stud. Hanes was the King of western Nebraska Class D scorers and Bauer was just getting started (see 1978). Koozer of Fairmont was one of my favorite players to watch in 1977.

*1977 Class C All-State 1st Team*

Steve Adkisson-Geneva - 5-11, Senior (18.6 ppg)

Bob Keller-Bassett - 6-2, Senior (16.0 ppg)

Dick Jakubowski-Howells- 6-4, Senior (17.2 ppg)

Doug Stratton-Osmond - 6-3, Senior (25.0 ppg)

Mike Bryant-Tekamah-Herman - 6-2, Senior (14.0 ppg)

2nd Team*

Kevin Ohnoutka-Wahoo Neumann - 6-1, Senior (13.2 ppg)

Jim Engel-Sandy Creek - 5-10, Senior (20.1 ppg)

Dan Lucht-Hartington- 6-8, Senior (25.0 ppg)

Brent Williamson-Arapahoe - 6-5, Senior (23.9 ppg)

Craig Wehrle-Madison - 6-3, Junior (15.0 ppg)

*No doubts about Howells Jakubowski and Geneva's Steve Adkisson. Adkisson and his brother were highly skilled players for a program that rivals any school in the state for a storied history on the hardwoods. Adkisson was an outstanding basketball official for years and served as the Activities Director at Fillmore Central for a long time. True gentleman. Stratton, Williamson, and Hartington's Lucht could shoot lights out night after night. Sandy Creek's Engel was no slouch either.

**Honorable Mention names you may recognize: Big ole Steve Kucera-Pleasanton, Jeff O'Connor-North Platte St. Pats, Doug Barth-Ceentennial, Matt Moyer-Wood River, Kenny Ritzdorf-Howells, Marc Moravec-David City Aquinas, Dan Lliteras-Hemingford, Dennis Leiss-Republican Valley, Tim Malloy-Omaha Holy Name (1000 yard rusher in FB), Joe Berry-Battle Creek, Tom Gdowski-Fullerton, Randy Stansberry-Walthill, Brad Williams-St Edward (one of the best shooters ever), Jim Jackman-Grant, Doug Gloystein-Centennial, Joe Goedart-Hastings St. Cecilia, Galen Holy Rock-Rushville (pure shooter!), Steve Nordberg-Stromsburg, Tom Christen-Anselmo-Merna, and Greg Furrow-Hastings Adams Central.

*1977 Class B All-State 1st Team

Doug Holtmeier-Lexington - 6-5, Senior (25.0 ppg)

Mark Felix-Seward - 6-3, Senior (16.9 ppg)

Jim Honz-Omaha Ryan - 6-9, Senior (23.7 ppg)

Tim Shannahan-Wahoo- 6-3, Senior (25.3 ppg)

Pete Anderson-Kimball - 6-3, Senior (19.8 ppg)

2nd Team

Ric Linquist-Plattsmouth - 5-10, Senior (22.7 ppg)

Pete Palormo-Gering - 5-9, Senior (14.5 ppg)

Rick Johnson-Central City - 6-4, Senior (18.1 ppg)

Dick Noll-Ord- 5-11, Senior (24.0 ppg)

Jaye Kieselhorst-Sidney - 6-2, Senior (16.0 ppg)

*Holtmeier could do it all on the gridiron, the court, the track and the diamond. Honz was nearly unstoppable inside and went on to enjoy a 4 year career at Creighton. Seward's Felix was another do-it-all athlete and Wahoo's Shannahan, along with Holtmeier, were the Kings of scoring in Class B. You cannot mention scorers in this class without including Ord's Dick Noll. He could drain the shots nearly every night he played for the Chants. I also enjoyed watching Central City's 6-4 wizard, Rick Johnson, who could also shoot the rock.

*Honorable mentions of note: Bentley Benson-Minden (gotta love that name), Rick Moore-Fairbury, Mark Pryor-Omaha Cathedral, Jeff Krejci-Schuyler, Mark Cooper-Lincoln Pius X, Greg Loy-O'Neill, Hugo Gray-Om. Ryan, Chris Hoffman-Columbus Scotus, Jeff Schuman-Imperial and Bob Reuth-Gretna.

*1977 Class A All-State 1st Team

Mike McGee- Omaha North - 6-5, Senior (38.7 ppg)

Tom Trieschman-Grand Island - 6-5, Senior (18.5 ppg)

Dan Clausen-Omaha Benson - 6-7, Senior (23.1 ppg)

Jerry Heckman-Lincoln High - 6-5, Senior (18.5 ppg)

Jim Gregory-Omaha Burke - 6-3, Senior (27.1 ppg)

2nd Team:

Doug Berka-Lincoln Northeast - 6-0, Senior (15.9 ppg)

Stan Haas-Lincoln Southeast - 6-0, Senior (12.2 ppg)

Jeff Finn-Grand Island - 6-5, Senior (19.8 ppg)

Pat Lynch-Papillion- 6-5, Senior (12.1 ppg)

Gary Karthauser-Lincoln Northeast - 6-4, Senior (14.7 ppg)

*McGee scored 916 points during the 1976/77 season, then went on to LEAD MICHIGAN all four of his years in scoring. The incomparable McGee scored 522 points his freshman season, 511 his sophomore campaign, 622 his Junior season, then a monster 732 points his final year for the Wolverines. Here are the categories he still is ranked in at Michigan. This is UNREAL. 1st in career field goals made (1,010) 1st in career field goal attempts (2,078) 2nd in career points (2,439) 2nd in single season field goals made (309 in 1980-81 season) 3rd in single season points (732 in 1980-81 season) 3rd in single season field goal attempts (600 in 1980-81 season) 5th in career points per game (21.4 points per game) 5th in free throws made (406).

McGee went on to play 9 seasons in the NBA with the LA Lakers, Atlanta Hawks, Sacramento Kings, and the New Jersey Nets. He was a member of the Lakers 1982 and 1985 NBA Championship teams.

Paul Treischman of GI went on to have a fine career at Creighton and went head to head with Indiana State's Larry Bird on more than one occasion. Jeff Finn was a starter at tight end at Nebraska, Jim Gregory had a great career at UNO, scoring 1,196 points during his 4 year stint there. Jim was also an Academic All-American his senior season at Nebraska-Omaha and now was a well recognized Anesthesiologist last I knew around 10 years ago. He may be retired by now.

*1977 Super-State 1st Team

Mike McGee- Omaha North - 6-5, Senior (38.7 ppg)

Jim Honz-Omaha Ryan - 6-9, Senior (23.7 ppg)

Dan Clausen-Omaha Benson - 6-7, Senior (23.1 ppg)

Jim Gregory-Omaha Burke - 6-3, Senior (27.1 ppg)

Paul Trieschman-Grand Island - 6-5, Senior (18.5 ppg)

*1977 Super-State 2nd Team

Doug Holtmeier-Lexington - 6-5, Senior (25.0 ppg)

Jerry Heckman-Lincoln High - 6-5, Senior (18.5 ppg)

Jeff Finn-Grand Island - 6-5, Senior (19.8 ppg)

Doug Berka-Lincoln Northeast - 6-0, Senior (15.9 ppg)

Stan Haas-Lincoln Southeast - 6-0, Senior (12.2 ppg)