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Omaha Central Basketball,
1974 and 1975
Omaha Central, one of the state’s first
high schools and a grand institution all these years, won its
first basketball state championship in 1912, the second year of
the state tournament.
The Eagles, who’ve played good basketball
year in and year out, qualified for state a lot. But 62 years
went past before another state title trophy found its way to
Central’s hallways.
Credit in this Silver Anniversary award goes to
a determined group of athletes, several of whom played in grade
school and junior high together and stayed together in high
school.
The 1974 team ended the title drought,
finishing a 22-3 year by defeating Lincoln East in the Class A
championship game, 57-49. Before anyone hardly had time to figure
62 years down the road to see when Central might win again, the
1975 team posted a 24-1 record and made it two in a row with a
state title win over Omaha Creighton Prep, the only team to beat
the Eagles that year.
Consecutive state championships..... 66 wins
and just four losses in two seasons....The widest margin of
victory in the Metro Conference (20.6, 1974-75), a record which
still stands.....All-state honors for John C. Johnson and Clayton
Bullard, coach of the year honors for Coach Jim Martin.
Johnson was a high scorer both years. Sylvester
Pierce averaged in double figures both years. Bullard’s game
advanced in his senior year to the point where he was ready for a
career at Colorado in college. Michael Ashford was the 1974
scoring leader. Charles Lewis also was a double figure scorer in
1974. Many of the players on the two teams saw action most every
game.
One additional spot where they "own"
a piece of high school history: Their 1975 championship game was
the last game played in the Nebraska Coliseum. The Devaney Center
opened for the 1976 tournament.
Omaha
Central Basketball
1974 - 22-3
1975 - 24-1
Michael Ashford, 1974
Thommie Allen 1974
Albert Briggs 1975
Kevin Buckner 1974
Clayton Bullard 1974-1975
Greg Bullard 1974
James Dorsey 1974
John C. Johnson 1974-1975
Phil Jefferson 1975
James M. Kriss 1974
Charles Lewis 1974
Henry A. Moore 1975
Rodney Oliver 1975
Sylvester Pierce-Tally 1974-1975
Mitchell Pinkard 1975
Raymond Williams 1974-1975
Lawrence V. Wilson 1975
Steve Watson 1975
Head Coach
James Martin
Assistant Coaches
Paul Pennington
Stan Standifer
Athletic Director
Don Benning |
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