(7-14-21) The 1971-72 school year was the final year for the operation of Celina Immaculate Conception due to financial issues. Attempts were made by students and alumni who tried to raise funding to keep the high school open…but in the end it would not accomplish the goal.

The ‘final season‘ of basketball at IC was one to remember and a great final tribute to one of Ohio’s small schools.

The Spartans would win the Mercer County League title and go 17-4 on the season. Coach Bill Sacher was named MCL Coach of the Year and Junior Jerry Reichert was a member of the All-League team. The bump in the road came in the Class A Sectionals, IC entered as the top seed and a 12 game winning streak, being upset by Ft. Recovery who had a 4th quarter comeback and would pick-up a 63-59 win.

The Final Game

March 9th, 1972 Mercer County Chronicle

The transition to Celina Senior for the IC basketball program (1972-73) was a good one…the Bulldogs had lost a large group of veterans. The Bulldogs lost in the Class AAA semifinals in Columbus in the final four to Cleveland East Tech.

The ‘new look’ Bulldogs would put together one of the most successful seasons in school history. They were WBL Co-Champs with Delphos St. John’s with an 8-1 record and Jerry Reichert was named the WBL Player of the Year. The blend between the two schools was a winning combination, IC Head Coach Bill Sacher joined Dean White as an assistant coach.

November 30th, 1972 Mercer County Chronicle

NOTE: Celina IC Elementary School is still training Stateline area children.

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