Teams

1972-73 Lincoln (IL) High School Boys’ Team

Year Inducted: 2001

Category: Teams

Schools / Organizations: Lincoln (IL) High School

Biography: The 1972-73 Lincoln Railsplitters finished with a 30-1 record for the second time in four years but this time made the Class AA Elite Eight in Champaign under Duncan Reid.. All-state player, Norman Cook, who played at Kansas and was a first-round NBA draft pick of the Boston Celtics, was the focal point for the Railsplitters. Cook was Lincoln’s all-time leading scorer at the time but had plenty of support as three-year varsity starters Tim Bushell, who played at Illinois, and Mike Schneider were part of the nucleus of a 25-0 regular season. They claimed Lincoln Thanksgiving Tournament, Edwardsville Christmas Tournament, Big 12 Conference, IHSA Regional and IHSA Sectional titles and were ranked No. 1 in the final Class AA Associated Press poll. Lincoln beat Bradley Bourbonnais 61-49 in the super-sectional at Illinois State but fell 62-54 to Lockport Central in the quarterfinals.

Team Members in the Picture:

Back row (left to right): Greg Ely, Jeff Boss, Steve York, Clayton Reed, John Bunner and John Williamson.

Front row (left to right): Dale Ritchhart, Norman Cook, Coach Duncan Reid, Tim Bushell, Mike Swingle and Mike Schneider.