
You Can’t Top the Six Points in One Second That Won a Title
Rex A. Parker. December 11, 2024
The 1955 trip to Champaign, Huff Gymnasium, and the Sweet 16 State Basketball Tournament started in March 1953. For several years, The Belvidere Community had hosted a sophomore basketball tournament. The tradition was that the Belvidere tournament winners, when they were seniors, had always joined 15 other schools for the State Finals in Champaign. This held true for our West Rockford team in 1955.
In 1955, we were members of the Big Eight conference, which included East Rockford, the two Aurora schools, Freeport, Elgin, Joliet, and LaSalle Peru. It was recognized as one of the most competitive conferences in the state. We went undefeated in the conference and only lost to Rock Island.
On our journey to Champaign, we stopped at Illinois State University for an hour of practice. The University basketball team, coaches, and students welcomed us.
When we arrived at Huff Gymnasium and entered the facility that seated 7,000, I was totally amazed. The facility’s size and the bleachers’ closeness to the playing floor were unreal. I was completely dumbfounded when I saw the mammoth Illinois State map on the South wall with 16 Burning Lights. None of us revealed our feelings at that moment, but I am positive we all knew we wanted the top light to still be burning at the end of Saturday night.
Our schedule during the season did not include any overnight stays. So, when we checked into the Inman Hotel, along with several other teams, including Shawneetown, and received our roommate assignments, it was a new experience for a number of the players. I’m not sure how many of our players had ever stayed in a hotel before. Since we were in the lower bracket, we had an opportunity to visit the student union, play some pool, and walk around the campus. We watched several games on Wednesday since our first round was at 1:45 on Thursday. Being on the campus for the first time was exciting. At the same time, I think we were all quite nervous, worried, and inspired. We had been ranked #1 all season and the papers were giving us the overall ranking to win the championship.
In addition to the games, 14 Sweet 16 Women Candidates were selected from their respective high schools. (Two all-boys schools were not represented.) Representing West Rockford was Carol Cleveland, who just happens to be Carol Cleveland Parker. We have been married for 67 years. All 14 candidates met for an orientation meeting in the Illini Union. Carol was hosted by the Chi Omega sorority while on campus. The candidates were entertained and hosted at several events during the four days.
Our overall average height was 6 foot 4 inches. I believe we were the tallest team to ever play in the Sweet 16. Nolden Gentry and John Wessels were 6 foot 6 inches, Fred Boshela was 6 foot 4 inches, I was 6 foot 1 inch, and Rod Coffman was 6 feet.
Our first round was against the Decatur Runnin Reds. They had been ranked in the top 16 all year, and we recognized they would be very tough. I know we were a little on the nervous side, but I remember coach Saudargas saying to the reporters after the game, “We will improve.” The final score was 58-54. Nolden Gentry led the scoring with 21 points, and Jim Lee from Decatur had 20 points.
In the quarter-final game, we faced the Lincoln Railsplitters on Friday. Beating Lincoln put us into the semifinals on Saturday afternoon against Pinckneyville.
If there was one team the northern players constantly heard about and totally respected, it was Duster Thomas’ Pinckneyville Panthers. We knew they played a slow, deliberate, unhurried, and controlled game. They were always a major threat to their opponents. Before we arrived in Champaign, I think many of us thought that if we did meet Pinckneyville and could beat them, we had a good chance of winning the championship. We adjusted our strategy to slow down and play a deliberate and controlled game. We did beat Pinckneyville 54 to 46. Fred Boshela led West with 21 points, and Daffron and Lazenby both had 12 points for Pinckneyville.
In the final game, West played Elgin. It was very unusual for two teams in the same conference to play for the state championship. Being in the same conference, we had been playing against each other for the past three years and knew each other quite well. Our early game in the season was also a nail-biter, with West coming out on top 62 to 56.
We knew, and everyone else believed, that the final game would be a hard-hitting battle from the start. Elgin did take an early 16-point lead in the first quarter and was ahead at halftime 40 to 27. As we entered the locker room, our heads were hanging; we were totally beside ourselves and embarrassed with our performance and score. The Elgin team had the adjacent locker room. All we could hear were their cheers, yells, and statements that they would be the next state champions. I know that totally changed the attitude of each one of us. Our mood, enthusiasm, attitude, and atmosphere changed 180°. Saudargas had us come out of the second half with a zone press, which made a difference; however, as the game progressed, we switched back to a man-to-man defense. At this time, both Coffman and myself had four fouls. We were still one point behind 47 to 48 beginning the fourth quarter. We did close the gap but were still trailing 57 to 51 with 2:19 left in the game. I’m certain that at that point, the vast majority of the 7,000 fans, those listening on the radio and watching TV, felt that Elgin had it made and that they would be the next state champions.
But with 2:19 remaining, Nolden Gentry shot a jump shot from about 18 to 20 feet. He made it and was fouled after he came down. He was awarded a one and one and made both free throws. This gave him a four-point cluster. At that point, Elgin threw the ball into Gary Siegmeier. Both he and I went up for the ball. When we came down, the referee called a foul on #43. It just so happened that both Siegmeier and I wore uniform #43.
In fact, both of us had 4 fouls. (Elgin is still debating who really committed the foul.) I went to the free throw line and made my one-and-one, adding two points to Gentry’s 4 for a total of 6 points. The clock had just ticked off one second and now showed 2:18 left in the ball game. Bill Gleason, who wrote for the Chicago Sun-Times for many years, stated that the six points “was the most memorable event he had ever covered.”
With the six points, the score was tied 57-57. With 1:35 remaining, Fred Boshela scored for West, and 15 seconds later Whitey Smith dropped in a basket for Elgin tying the score 59 – 59. I called time out. Coach gave us a few instructions, and we asked the Lord to help us play our best. With about 10 to 15 seconds remaining, Wessels took a shot; it bounced around the top of the rim several times. Gentry went up and tipped it in. At that point, there were about 8 to 10 seconds left, and Whitey Smith took the ball and dribbled down the right side of the court for Elgin. He was holding the ball when the gun went off.
When the final buzzer sounded, the entire gymnasium went hysterical. The hoopla broke loose from the West 900 fans. The Elgin fans could not believe the climax. Unrestrained joy broke out among the West partisans. Boshela led West with 17 points, Coffman 15, and Gentry 14. Smith had 18, and Hudgens had 16 for Elgin.
The game ended the Great Final’s Day of Competition. Elgin had a great comeback to defeat Princeton, and we outlasted the stubborn Pinckneyville team in our semifinal game. As the scores indicated, all four teams we played were outstanding. We scored a total of 247 points, and our opponents scored 223, a difference of only 23 points for four games or an average of 5.75 points per game.
On Sunday morning, we were scheduled to leave the Inman Hotel at approximately 11:00. But Nolden Gentry could not find his luggage, so we were delayed. There was an 8-car caravan that was organized, and we headed off at 11:25. Earl Sudduth, a former Golden Gloves champion and, at that time, a Rockford police officer, drove the lead car. Riding with Mr. Sudduth were sports writers from the Chicago Daily News, Chicago Sun-Times, The American, and the Rockford paper.
When we got to Bloomington, there was a traffic tie-up. Mr. Sudduth contacted the Bloomington police, and they escorted us through the city and, in turn, contacted the other towns on our route to provide escort service through their cities. At about 2:15 in the afternoon, we arrived in Mendota and stopped for a lunch break. Following lunch, the Mendota police escorted us through the city.
Many residents in Mendota had been alerted and were cheering along the highway. At Jct. 51 and 30, a permanent police escort picked up our caravan about 37 miles South of Rockford. From this point on, 40-50 cars were joining the caravan. About 50 cars were waiting at Route 64, about 20 miles South of Rockford, to join the extended motorcade. In addition to the caravan, a solid line of cars was on the shoulder, and cheering fans were waving frantically.
The rain started just about the time our 400-car procession arrived at the south city limits of Rockford. We switched to convertibles with the tops down; YES, we got wet, but it didn’t dampen our spirits or the fans along the parade route. In addition to the caravan, a Rockford Fire Department Engine and a Rockford Ambulance celebrated the occasion and were part of the parade.
I remember the Rockford Ambulance had a large sign reading QUIET PLEASE ELGIN IS AT REST IN HERE. Police Captain Paul Pirrello, who coordinated the parade and reception, said he had not seen anything like it since the VJ day celebration in 1945. Captain Pirrello estimated that at least 100,000 fans and a minimum of 25,000 cars would be participating. It had taken one hour and 20 minutes to travel 10 miles through a tremendous crush of well-wishers.
During the tournament games, unbeknownst to many of the 7,000 fans in attendance and those listening on the radios, Coach Saudargas faced another challenge. His wife Alice, who was pregnant, was advised that she probably should not attend the tournament; she made the trip anyway and was sitting in the bleachers for each of our four games. On Sunday, she was also in the caravan for the trip to Rockford.
On Monday at 6:00 AM, following our celebrations on Sunday, Coach Saudargas and his wife celebrated the birth of their 10th child. As the coach announced, the score was now tied, five boys and five girls. The Saudargas had decided that if it were a boy, they would select the first name of one of the players, and if it was a girl, they would select a name from one of the West High cheerleaders. Patty Terranova’s first name was chosen because it was a girl, and Victoria was the appropriate middle name.
Mr. James Blue, Principal of West High, declared a special holiday and arranged a Monday morning assembly. Mayor Lundstrom, dignitaries, and others from the city and other communities were in attendance, as well as our student body. Many individuals spoke and gave recognition to the coaches, players, managers, cheerleaders, and fans. The support, many dinners, banquets, special events, and enthusiasm came from the politicians, business leaders, and civic leaders for many months following the championship game.
One of the many special highlights was sharing the spotlight as guests of honor with the baseball heroes of the past at the Chicago Press Club Family Night Baseball Buffet at the Chicago Sheraton. John Carmichael, one of the best baseball writers and sports editor of the Chicago Daily News, was the toastmaster and asked us to stand as he gave an inspiring ovation to the West team and coaches.
Seventy years have gone by, but there are still many memories that are conversed and debated about our first state championship. That was the last of the Sweet 16. Read more about Huff Gym.



Related Articles
Related
Illinois High School Glory Days Website 20th Anniversary
The Glory Days website became an active internet site on February 05, 2005. The site was developed to memorialize the histories of closed or defunct high schools in the state of Illinois. For the past 20 years we have been collecting memories, photos, and facts regarding high schools that are no longer in service.
A Day in the Life of a Collegiate Basketball SID
The experience I had as an SID at Illinois left me with some incredible memories, which I’m sure is the same with anyone who had the same opportunities at other schools.
IBCA Hall Of Fame Birthdays
IBCA Hall Of Fame Birthdays | The Basketball Museum of Illinois celebrates all Hall of Fame inductees, in all categories.