Teams

1996-97  Warsaw High School Boys’ Team

Year Inducted: 2003

Category: Teams

Schools / Organizations: Warsaw High School 

Biography: 

“Where we go one, we go all,” was the motto of the 1996-97 Warsaw Wildcats, who finished with a 29-3 record, a No. 13 final regular-season Associated Press ranking and a Class A state championship. It wasn’t the individual talent that made this team special but the collective heart that led to dramatic overtime wins over Spring Valley Hall 92-85 in the championship game and 68-66 over Pleasant Plains in the supersectional. Bill Heisler and Craig Wear earned first-team all-tournament honors and Heisler, who went on to play at Western Illinois University, was named one of the 100 Legends of IHSA Basketball in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the state tournament. Heisler’s 114 points in the tournament were second to the 116 by Hall’s Shawn Jeppson and Wear scored 85 points.

Warsaw trailed much-taller Pleasant Plains by 11 at halftime and 10 in the fourth quarter but used a gritty defense and some key 3-pointers to force overtime and earn a trip to Peoria. Heisler had 26 points and four 3-pointers, Wear had 19 points and 7 rebounds and Dan Buelt had 14 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists. Warsaw outscrapped Nokomis in the quarterfinals 64-51 as Heisler had 30 points and 9 rebounds.

A half-court shot, 12-for-12 free-throw shooting and more gritty defense helped lead Warsaw past a more athletic (Chicago) St. Francis deSales squad 73-59 in the semifinals. Wear had 24 points and 10 rebounds and Heisler had 22 points and 6 assists. Warsaw lived the “Ultimate Experience” in the title game with six lead changes in the final four minutes. Down by 3 points with 15 seconds left, Warsaw called timeout and drew up a play. Two passes and a screen later, Heisler launched the shot that forced the fifth overtime championship game in 90 years. Heisler finished with 36 points and shot 6-for-9 on 3s and Wear had 29 points and 13 rebounds. At the time Warsaw was the third-smallest school to win an IHSA boys’ state basketball championship.

Team Members in the Picture:

Front row (Left to Right): Cameraman Brad Heitman, Paul Figge, Casey Shaw, Ryan Jacquot, Bobby Thomas, Randy Crow, Chad Thompson.

Back Row (Left to Right): Dan Buelt, Bill Heisler, Scott Meyer, Bob Manley, Craig Wear, Matt Froman, Aaron Wehner, Mark Quimby.

Coaches (left side): Assistant coaches Kevin Stuckwisch and Brad Froman.

Coaches (right side): Head coach Jeff Dahl and assistant coach Rob Hymes.