Friends of Basketball

Anton “Tony” Demichelis

Year Inducted: 1995

Category: Friends of Basketball

Schools / Organizations: Cherry High School
Bureau County High School
(Spring Valley) Hall High School
Cherry Grade School

Biography:

 Anton “Tony” Demichelis was superintendent, teacher and coach at the old Cherry High School from 1934-1947.  From 1947-1975 he was teacher, coach, and scorekeeper at the tiny Bureau County High School.  DeMichelis continually came up with winning basketball seasons despite the hardships the players faced.  Cherry had no gymnasium and played all its games on the road.  Many times during the winter the players had to shovel snow off the outside court to practice.  Many nights practice required earmuffs and gloves.  A former player said, “When we got in a gym we were in heaven, Tony would take us to the LaMoille gym once a month to practice inside and, when he did, he had a hard time getting us off the floor.”  For four seasons DeMichelis coached the freshmen-sophomore team at Hall Township High School in Spring Valley.  From 1985-1994 DeMichelis, then retired, took on the task of scorekeeper for the Cherry Grade School teams.  Tony DeMichelis is a truly devoted friend of basketball.  Tony died on October 15, 2014 at the age of 87.