Teams

1963-64 Pekin Community High School Boys’ Team

Year Inducted: 1991

Category: Teams

Schools / Organizations: Pekin Community High School

Head Coach:  Dawson Hawkins

Team Record:  30-3 (IHSA State Champions)

Biography:   The 1964 Pekin basketball team was one of the finest Pekin teams to ever grace a basketball court. What the 1963-64 team lacked in size, they made up with quickness and intelligence. Coached by Hall of Famer Dawson Hawkins, the 1964 team started a run which would see Pekin win two state titles in four years. The 1964 team, with no player taller than 6’3”, won 30 games and lost only 3 by a combined margin of 11 points. They won the Mid-State Eight and Illini Conference titles and finished first in the Pekin Tournament and second at the prestigious Pontiac Holiday Tournament.

After edging their conference rival (Peoria) Woodruff High School 43 – 41 in the sectional finals, Pekin defeated Streator High School 61 – 46, Glenbard East High School 84 – 41, (Rock Island) Alleman High School 69 – 38 and Cobden 50 – 45 enroute to the school’s first basketball title. Dave Golden and Jim Sommer were named to several All-State teams while Golden, Sommer and Ron Rhoades were first team All-Tournament selections.

Team Members in the Picture: (L-R) Trainer Jim Lee,  Assistant Coach Duncan Reid, Richard Pitsch mgr, Mike Gilliam, Ron Ahten, Tom Waskowski, Dave Golden, Stephen Noreuil, Tony Buzick, Jim Sommer, Amel Massa, Jim Couch, Fred Quade, Dan McDonald, Rick Venturi, Ron Rhoades, Terry Vogel mgr, Assistant Coach Joe Venturi, Coach Dawson Hawkins.