Mt. Morris ‘Whiz Kids’

Courtesy Oregon (Illinois) School District

Four former Oregon-Mt. Morris athletic teams were recently inducted into the OCUSD Athletic Hall of Fame.

The first to be highlighted is the 1950-51 Mt. Morris Mounder basketball team. That ’50-51 season was the first for two consecutive outstanding Mt. Morris boys basketball squads. Gaining the nickname “big”, the team accumulated an overall record of 22-2 enroute to winning the Blackhawk Conference championship. After falling for the first time to Rochelle in the sixth game of the season, the Mounders went on to win an amazing sixteen consecutive games and go undefeated in conference play.

Mt. Morris was also earning votes in the media state rankings poll. Post-season play began in March with the team posting an easy 49-25 win over Forreston and then a 50-42 victory over Leaf River in IHSA Regional play. These wins set up a Regional final showdown versus Rochelle on the Hubs’ home floor. Unfortunately, the Whiz Kids fell short in the title game falling 61-52 and ending the Mounders post season run earlier than had been hoped for.

Junior Earl Hanke was named the team’s Most Valuable Player. Hanke had scored a then single game school record of 32 points during a mid-season win over Oregon. Senior Dick Sharer was voted captain.