SPORTS HALL of FAME 2016 LEGACY AWARD
1972-'73 Boys Basketball
Unbeaten Section IV Champions (21-0)
"Hitory is often created, changed and forgotten...but a moment as bright as this in the annals of Sidney sports will hopefully serve as an example of persistence and sportsmanship as long as the tradition is continued at Sidney High School."
That was the paragraph appearing at the end of the 1972-73 Tri-Town News recap article as written by the manager and scribe for this unforgettable team, John C. Landers. And it is so true. The "Jones Era" for boys basketball had really taken off the year prior as a team whose main contributors were underclassmen - a rarity - which set the stage for greatness the next season. Four of five starters returned and the bench got deeper than it ever had before, ready for 1972- 73.
With high expectations and a pre-season expectations that matched their high-powered offense, Coach Jack Jones emphasized defense-first as a way to create offense. It would be his signature style for the rest of the decade.
This team averaged 70 points per game while limiting their opponents to just 54. Only five games were won by less than ten points and even two games were won in overtime. But there were so many offensive weapons and such a deep bench that it was rumored the second team could place 2nd or 3rd in the Susquenango Northern Division.
Sometimes they needed that bench, as All-State 1st team selection Doug Hobbs and league all-star Ron Egli both sat a game with injuries and reserves Bob Davie and Dave Richards filled in admirably. The other regular starters, seniors Don Laird and Bob Daugherty led the defense in shutting down the opposition's best shooters, while junior Bernie Finnegan was the team's playmaker and the catalyst to many a fast break.
As the season went along, the buzz for an undefeated season grew. Huge victories over state-ranked Whitney Point in a Christmas Tournament (first-round!) as well as some "off-night" squeakers versus Hancock and Delhi proved the Warriors were up for the task. By the Section Four tournament, played back then on neutral courts, the vision for a 21-0 mark was in sight. A first-round bye was followed by a 72-54 quarterfinal win past Trumansburg.
That set up a local quarterfinal Class A battle with Oneonta. For reasons attributed mostly to a large anticipated crowd, officials deemed the game to be played a Hartwick College's Binder Fieldhouse in Oneonta. Ironic venue, too, since Sidney was the higher seed. No matter. Even with two technical fouls called on Hobbs (they were not personal fouls in 1973), his 27 points were almost half of the 55 total Sidney had and they won by eleven.
The SUNY-Binghamton West gym was the site for Game 21, the final game and rematch with Whitney Point for the Section Four Class A title. Quality basketball for 32 minutes ensued under the watchful eye of four radio and one TV station in addition to the estimated 2500 fans. Doug Hobbs (19 points) Don Laird and Bernie Finnegan (14 each) paced a balanced attack. Sidney's double-digit second half lead dwindled to just 4 midway through the final quarter. The final of 65-59 capped off still the only unbeaten season (21-0) in modern basketball school history. Would they have won the NYS title? It's only speculation, so what 1972-73's memorable season will show is that they were in the discussion for the greatest Sidney boys team of all time.
1972-73 Boys Basketball is the 10th Legacy Team
to be inducted into the Sidney Alumni Sports Hall of Fame.