Anoka, Chisholm 1973 basketball teams reunite 50 years after State Tournament

MINNEAPOLIS — Two Minnesota highschool basketball groups simply loved a reunion 50 years within the making.

The yr was 1973 – Chisholm had gained the Class A match and Anoka gained the Class AA title. Then they performed one another the Monday after to maintain among the big-school, small-school allure.

Final week, the 2 groups returned to Wiliams Area.

Chisholm, Minnesota was turning into synonymous with basketball within the Nineteen Seventies. With head coach Bob McDonald in cost, they made common visits to the state match, successful the Class A match.

In 1973, that meant they might play the Class AA champion on a Monday night time and Anoka was prepared, successful the sport, however each have been thought of state champions.

Fifty years later, they might meet once more at Williams Area. This time to re-live the sport and to re-live their youth.

“You realize…It actually, actually brings again quite a lot of nice, nice recollections,” Bryan Rohs, the Anoka All-State Guard, mentioned.

The one identified video is grainy now, however these recollections are crystal clear – of the whole match.

“From the time we left Chisholm – we left on a Wednesday, get again on a Tuesday. What child will get to come back down, keep on the Curtis and play hoops,” Tim Casey, the 1973 Chisholm Group Captain, mentioned.

They will not be in sport form anymore, however they bear in mind after they have been – that magical week 5 a long time in the past.

“The following quarter I scored 14 factors, and we obtained a lead and we did lose it,” Loren Erickson, the Anoka Middle, recalled.

Chisholm would return the following two seasons and win it once more in 1975.

Anoka’s tall and proficient senior class moved on, however on this present day, they have been allowed to really feel younger once more. As life takes all of them on twists and turns for all of them, it can’t take away that staff, that title, that bond.

“Everyone sat in like a bit ‘U’ so we might see one another, and all people obtained up and simply talked about recollections. And it was enjoyable…It was particular, very particular,” Rohs mentioned.

Whilst you by no means lose the sting of defeat, it was a very good day to be with one another.