1966-67 Men's Basketball Team
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- Induction Year:
- 2018
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- Sport:
- Basketball
The SC4 men’s basketball program dominated teams around the state during the 1960s as it won numerous conference titles.
One of the most successful seasons came in 1966-67 when the Skippers compiled a 27-1 record.
Coach Robert “Sam” Kromer’s team featured a tenacious defense and a high-powered offense.
“There was a stretch there for a number of years where we averaged more than 100 points a game for the season,” said Kromer, who was assisted by Dick Groch. “We played in some small gyms and our gym was small, so we didn’t waste any time getting the ball up the floor. We wanted to get shots up before the other teams could set up their defense.”
The Skippers climbed to No. 5 in the national poll after opening the season with 24 consecutive wins. They defeated national power Vincennes 92-67 during a Christmas tournament, but it was Vincennes that ended their winning streak and perfect season 78-70.
“I think the biggest problem for the coaching staff was to get a group of freshmen, who were used to being individual players, to play together,” said Mike Branaugh, the Skippers’ center. “I actually think the key to our winning was our bench strength. Our greatest victory was 136-69 over Schoolcraft.
“All in all my experience at Port Huron was outstanding. My only wish is that we could have kept that same team together for four years. I just wonder how good we could have been.”
The team members were Jerry Warkentien, Dan McLemore, Branaugh, John Kirk and Ben Robinson, Bill Ford, Delbert Jennings, Phil Conger, John Agbay, Isaiah Jones, Jerry McCoy, Charles Payne, Ted Koc, Richard Cloutier, Ron Schock and Joe Wilcox.
