1996 Silver Anniversary Team

Columbus Discovers--1991-92

Do you know how many teams not from Omaha or Lincoln have won the state's big school basketball championship in the last 40 high school seasons (written in 1996)? 

Three: Fremont in 1961, Columbus in 1972 and Norfolk in 1987.  And Silver Anniversary team winner, the '72 Columbus bunch,  won its title at the Nebraska Coliseum with a 71-67 conquest of defending champion Lincoln East.

Coach Jack Johnson's team, a regular basketball contender in this era, flashed its talent and balance by almost making a rout of the championship game, getting a 20-point lead into the fourth quarter.  Then, typical of what happens in the state tournament, they had to dig down and show some grit to survive a rally by East to pluck the championship. '

The Discoverers won 19 of 23 games, were Class A's high scoring team that year and a well deserving state champion.

Roster from the 1972 State Tournament Program:

Frank Brower

Roger Brown

Larry Cattau

Les Cattau

Vernon Davis

Keith Davy

Tom Heiser

Rick Joseph

Dan Lannan

Dan Miller

Paul Potter

Scott Troffiolz

Jon Wagner

Mike Wagner

Coach

Jack Johnson

Assistants

Dennis Van Fossen

Richard Babst

Scorer Don Holscher

Student Manager Bruce Friedrichsen

Student Manager Neil Dankert