80's High school BBALL in Western AA

[Mavman]

I thought Alan Nielson had just graduated when he was killed?

 

[Grizbacker1]

I thought Alan Nielson had just graduated when he was killed?

I honestly can't remember, even though I should, but you may be correct. I even spelled his name incorrectly, it is Allan Nielsen. Nevertheless, Allan was a great Mt HS and College player.

 

[LittletonGriz]

Allan Neilson had just graduated and was working on a highway contstruction project. He was killed in a construction accident. Jud Heathcote once said that a 5 foot shot was always better then a 25 foot shot, unless Allan Neilson has shooting it. One of the best pure shooters the Griz ever had. Wasn't he from Westby?

Julio Delgato of Whitefish was a great basketball player who was offered by the griz but chose to play baseball at Mesa Junior Collece and Gonzaga. He was actually a better point guard then TYom Peck from Libby who was the point on the 75 team that lost to UCLA. Julio went on to be a great High School coach.

Who was the center from Andaconda that went to Minnesota and played a while in the NBA.

Wayne Estes was the greatest player to come from Montana. He wasn't the greatest high school player but was the best college player. The Lakers were going to take him with the first pick in the draft. In practice, he would make over 200 freethrows without missing. There was a poll in utah and he was recognized as the best collegite player to ever play in Utah. He is a legend there.

LK is the best basketball player to come out of a Montana hiogh school and play at a Montana college. Micheal Ray Richardson was the best college player to ever come out of Montana.

 

[putter]

gary kane - butte

Gary wasn't 80's I believe he graduated in 90, maybe 89. You want to talk about Butte High and the 80's, how bout Chris Rasmussen??

Gary was '80's. He graduated in 1989 and was on one of the best HS teams to not win a State Championship (21-1)

Rasmussen could have been one of the best but he signed early with BYU and then he crapped down his leg because he had nothing to prove. Won state in 1984 and took last in 1985

 

[Mslacat]

Allan Neilson had just graduated and was working on a highway contstruction project. He was killed in a construction accident. Jud Heathcote once said that a 5 foot shot was always better then a 25 foot shot, unless Allan Neilson has shooting it. One of the best pure shooters the Griz ever had. Wasn't he from Westby?

.

I remember when Allan Neilson was injured. The word went out that day that he very seriously injured and there were various accounts in the hours afterwards as what his injuries were, but the one thing that they were having problems with was blood. So all the radio stations were calling for blood donations. My buddies and I jumped on our bikes and headed down to give blood (we were high school and younger students at the time), and when we got there we were turned away along with at least 50 (maybe more) students. The Missoula blood bank set a record that day. It was really cool to see. Even after it was clear Allen was gone people stuck around and gave blood. I was very proud of my Missoula that day. It was like we all lost a brother that day.

 

[late_addition]

Anaconda High?
Minnesota?

Had to be Ed Kalafat. Most in-the-know say that he's the best player in MT history, but he played long before the '80's.

 

[wbtfg]

Allan Neilson had just graduated and was working on a highway contstruction project. He was killed in a construction accident. Jud Heathcote once said that a 5 foot shot was always better then a 25 foot shot, unless Allan Neilson has shooting it. One of the best pure shooters the Griz ever had. Wasn't he from Westby?

.

I remember when Allan Neilson was injured. The word went out that day that he very seriously injured and there were various accounts in the hours afterwards as what his injuries were, but the one thing that they were having problems with was blood. So all the radio stations were calling for blood donations. My buddies and I jumped on our bikes and headed down to give blood (we were high school and younger students at the time), and when we got there we were turned away along with at least 50 (maybe more) students. The Missoula blood bank set a record that day. It was really cool to see. Even after it was clear Allen was gone people stuck around and gave blood. I was very proud of my Missoula that day. It was like we all lost a brother that day.

These days donating blood for an athlete would probably be an NCAA violation.

 

[Grizbacker1]

Allan Neilson had just graduated and was working on a highway contstruction project. He was killed in a construction accident. Jud Heathcote once said that a 5 foot shot was always better then a 25 foot shot, unless Allan Neilson has shooting it. One of the best pure shooters the Griz ever had. Wasn't he from Westby?

.

I remember when Allan Neilson was injured. The word went out that day that he very seriously injured and there were various accounts in the hours afterwards as what his injuries were, but the one thing that they were having problems with was blood. So all the radio stations were calling for blood donations. My buddies and I jumped on our bikes and headed down to give blood (we were high school and younger students at the time), and when we got there we were turned away along with at least 50 (maybe more) students. The Missoula blood bank set a record that day. It was really cool to see. Even after it was clear Allen was gone people stuck around and gave blood. I was very proud of my Missoula that day. It was like we all lost a brother that day.

These days donating blood for an athlete would probably be an NCAA violation.

NCAA will accept blood from turnips though. :thumb:

 

[jimmy-laws]

I have always been a big fan of Anaconda's Wayne Estes

 

[nwbikertrash]

Another phenomenal Class C player from the late 80's, anyone remember Todd Reich from Hot Springs?

Todd was a freak!!! He worked very hard for what he accomplished. I remember him blowing the starting blocks out of the ground and then the rest of the field racing for 2nd. He had his own fault line for javelin so he wouldn't throw into a field or over a fence. Use either hand to shoot with on the court.

 

[mtgriz]

You young guns on here probably won't recognize this name, but he is unquestionably one of the best to ever play hoops in MT. His name is Allan Neilson, from the little class C town of Westby. Allan had his life cut short or he may well have set a LOT of records at UM. The Allan Neilson Award was begun to honor the Griz BB player who best represents Grizzly basketball. Allan led the Griz in 1978 and was inducted into the Grizzly Hall of Fame in 1980.

I sure would like to know how many spots AN would ascend in the all-time Griz scoring record if there was a three point shot in his day. I will never forget the din he caused in the Fieldhouse when he would drain one from the corner.

 

[putter]

I think the best high school game I ever witnessed was the divisional game between Kalispell and Anaconda in 83. Played in Dahlberg, it was Hurley against Zanon, and neither disapointed. I can't remember all the details but I think they both scored well over 30. What a shootout, it was like they were the only players on the floor. That game really stands out in my memory!

Same here Hammer. Hurley and Zanon went mano-y-mano in that one. I can remember that one in which Zanon got the upper hand. Hurley had his payback with his half-court shot in the GrizCat game.....

 

[IntuitiveGriz]

gary kane - butte

Gary wasn't 80's I believe he graduated in 90, maybe 89. You want to talk about Butte High and the 80's, how bout Chris Rasmussen??

Gary was '80's. He graduated in 1989 and was on one of the best HS teams to not win a State Championship (21-1)

Rasmussen could have been one of the best but he signed early with BYU and then he crapped down his leg because he had nothing to prove. Won state in 1984 and took last in 1985

Butte's Gary Kane and Todd Ericson (#37) were a dominant Class AA guard combination in 1989...going 21-1. Gary Kane set the UM scoring record, having since been eclipsed of course.

Speaking of other good 1980's Butte baseketball players, Henry Klobocar, Scott Ferguson and Bart Black readily come to mind.

 

[Hammer]

I think the best high school game I ever witnessed was the divisional game between Kalispell and Anaconda in 83. Played in Dahlberg, it was Hurley against Zanon, and neither disapointed. I can't remember all the details but I think they both scored well over 30. What a shootout, it was like they were the only players on the floor. That game really stands out in my memory!

Same here Hammer. Hurley and Zanon went mano-y-mano in that one. I can remember that one in which Zanon got the upper hand. Hurley had his payback with his half-court shot in the GrizCat game.....

I was at that game in the brick. Krysko's last game as a Griz (regular season anyway). What a crazy ending. If their had been a 3 point shot back then Hurley may have averaged 40 points a game in HS as a lot of his shots were deep. His brother Rob could shoot it too.

 

[grizfnz]

gary kane - butte

Gary wasn't 80's I believe he graduated in 90, maybe 89. You want to talk about Butte High and the 80's, how bout Chris Rasmussen??

Gary was '80's. He graduated in 1989 and was on one of the best HS teams to not win a State Championship (21-1)

Rasmussen could have been one of the best but he signed early with BYU and then he crapped down his leg because he had nothing to prove. Won state in 1984 and took last in 1985

Butte's Gary Kane and Todd Ericson (#37) were a dominant Class AA guard combination in 1989...going 21-1. Gary Kane set the UM scoring record, having since been eclipsed of course.

Speaking of other good 1980's Butte baseketball players, Henry Klobocar, Scott Ferguson and Bart Black readily come to mind.

To clarify, Kane set a UM Freshman scoring record.

 

[IntuitiveGriz]

gary kane - butte

Gary wasn't 80's I believe he graduated in 90, maybe 89. You want to talk about Butte High and the 80's, how bout Chris Rasmussen??

Gary was '80's. He graduated in 1989 and was on one of the best HS teams to not win a State Championship (21-1)

Rasmussen could have been one of the best but he signed early with BYU and then he crapped down his leg because he had nothing to prove. Won state in 1984 and took last in 1985

Butte's Gary Kane and Todd Ericson (#37) were a dominant Class AA guard combination in 1989...going 21-1. Gary Kane set the UM scoring record, having since been eclipsed of course.

Speaking of other good 1980's Butte baseketball players, Henry Klobocar, Scott Ferguson and Bart Black readily come to mind.

I remember the 1989 state championship in Billings. Flathead vs Butte. It's hard to beat a very good team 4 times in a year (Butte victorious in the previous 2 regular season matchups, plus in the divisional championship). Flathead got the win in the state championship, by 3 points.

I remember Anaconda was the Class A runner-up that year as well. B-ball was strong in southwest mt.

Butte also finished second in the state in 1990, losing to Missoula Hellgate by 6 pts. Butte guard Curtis Smith (great guy) was their standout that year.

 

[mtgrizrule]

Gary wasn't 80's I believe he graduated in 90, maybe 89. You want to talk about Butte High and the 80's, how bout Chris Rasmussen??

Gary was '80's. He graduated in 1989 and was on one of the best HS teams to not win a State Championship (21-1)

Rasmussen could have been one of the best but he signed early with BYU and then he crapped down his leg because he had nothing to prove. Won state in 1984 and took last in 1985

Butte's Gary Kane and Todd Ericson (#37) were a dominant Class AA guard combination in 1989...going 21-1. Gary Kane set the UM scoring record, having since been eclipsed of course.

Speaking of other good 1980's Butte baseketball players, Henry Klobocar, Scott Ferguson and Bart Black readily come to mind.

I remember the 1989 state championship in Billings. Flathead vs Butte. It's hard to beat a very good team 4 times in a year (Butte victorious in the previous 2 regular season matchups, plus in the divisional championship). Flathead got the win in the state championship, by 3 points.

I remember Anaconda was the Class A runner-up that year as well. B-ball was strong in southwest mt.

Butte also finished second in the state in 1990, losing to Missoula Hellgate by 6 pts. Butte guard Curtis Smith (great guy) was their standout that year.

Not only was Class B SW strong then, but Plains still had 1 of the best programs in the state then. The Plains' program from mid 80's to early 90's was terrific under Coach Dumas. I'd love to see more small schools build a Class B and/or C program like that again. They were talented, fun, and disciplined (on and off the court). Their JV teams could beat many other Class B varsity teams.

 

[IntuitiveGriz]

Bigfork and Corvallis were extremely good B programs back then.
Unfortunately for every western B team then, Plains was "that damn good". To this day, the 85 to 89 Plains' teams were the funnest HS team to watch.

Also I will put Wayne Estes on the same level with LK! Unfortunately, his life was cut short. The sky was the limit for Estes from what I have heard. Sorry for leaving any players prior late 70's off here, but that is as far back as I go. I wish I could have witnessed Estes play.

During that time-frame, Plains won the Class B state championship in 1987. :clap:

'85 - Malta 95-Browning 90
'86 - Chinook 67-Lodge Grass 66
'87 - Plains 85-Wolf Point 81
'88 - Lodge Grass 52-Fairfield 48
'89 - Lodge Grass 91-Cut Bank 83

 

[IntuitiveGriz]

State championship games in the 80's:

1980 AA ...................... Billings West 67-Great Falls CMR 43
A ............................................... Browning 68-Fergus 63
B .................................. Lodge Grass 62-Red Lodge 58
C ............................................... Outlook 44-Opheim 35
1981 AA ..................... Billings West 66-Missoula Sentinel 59
A .................................... Dawson Co. 52-Custer Co. 41
B ................................. Frenchtown 63-Lodge Grass 58
C ........................................ Plenty Coups 63-Moore 53
1982 AA ........................... Flathead 59-Missoula Hellgate 56
A ............................................. Dawson Co. 59-Park 51
B ........................................... Lodge Grass 58-Circle 55
C ................................................... Bridger 45-Moore 36
1983 AA ....................... Helena Capital 46-Billings Senior 45
A ............................................... Park 104-Powell Co. 64
B .................................................. Conrad 75-Bigfork 74
C ................. Plenty Coups 68-Manhattan Christian 60
1984 AA ............................................ Butte 53-Great Falls 50
A ............................ Butte Central 76-Billings Central 73
B .............................................. Jefferson 38-Fairfield 36
C ................. Manhattan Christian 60-Plenty Coups 55
1985 AA ............. Missoula Hellgate 52-Missoula Big Sky 47
A ............................................. Park 99-Butte Central 97
B .................................................. Malta 95-Browning 90
C ............................... Absarokee 79-Medicine Lake 68
1986 AA ........................... Missoula Sentinel 60-Flathead 49
A .......................................... Dawson Co. 61-Fergus 41
B ....................................... Chinook 67-Lodge Grass 66
C .......................................... Absarokee 53-Hobson 51
1987 AA .................. Billings Senior 62-Missoula Sentinel 54
A ........................................... Dawson Co. 66-Hardin 58
B ............................................... Plains 85-Wolf Point 81
C ................................. Plenty Coups 72-Absarokee 66
1988 AA .......................... Bozeman 50-Missoula Hellgate 42
A ............................................. Custer Co. 58-Fergus 4
B ........................................ Lodge Grass 52-Fairfield 48
C ...........................................Hinsdale 78-Geradline 70
1989 AA ............................................Flathead 53-Butte 50
A .................................................. Park 79-Anaconda 70
B ..................................... Lodge Grass 91-Cut Bank 83
C .................................................. Gardiner 69-Saco 65

 

[IntuitiveGriz]

In 1984:

"Butte High was also in the Class AA state finals in Missoula against Great Falls on St. Patrick’s Day. The Bulldogs had the luck of the Irish on their side all week by beating Missoula Hellgate and then upsetting top-seed Missoula Big Sky to reach the finals."

Written by the late Pat Kearney, Butte Hall of Fame member