Hall of Fame
The Joplin HS Boys' Basketball team posted 32 straight victories on their way to a MSHSAA Class L State Runner-up finish.
The Eagles, under the direction of Hall of Fame coach Russ Kaminsky, rolled throught the regular season and into the MSHSAA Class L State Championship game.
Joplin swept through the Ozark Conference with an 8-0 record (two victories each over Hillcrest, Central, Parkview, and Fayetteville) and also claimed tournament titles in the Parkview Preview Tournament, the Springfield Greenwood Blue & Gold, and the Springfield Tournaemnt of Champions.
The Eagles defeated Webb City 44-42 in the region semifinals and earned the region crown with a 64-52 victory over Carthage at JHS. They opened the state tournament play with a 54-50 victory over West Plains at Southwest Missouri State College (now Missouri State University). The Eagles advanced to the quarterfinals at Washington University in St. Louis and dispatched Raytown 66-51.
In the semifinals, the Eagles avenged a loss from the 1958 quarterfinals to St. Charles with a 45-43 "sudden death" double overtime victory with Richie Howerton ending the game on a 12-foot jumper.
In the championship game Christian Brothers College denied Joplin its perfect season with a 75-63 setback.
Kaminsky, who guided the Eagles to three state basketball titles in 1950, 1955, and 1967, told former Joplin Globe sports editor Wendell Redden, "the 1959 team was tge best team I've ever coached," as it averaged less than three turnovers a game. The team still holds the school record for wins in a season.
1959 Basketball Team Members
Seniors
Donnie Ensley
Rex Galbraith
Wayne Frace
Richie Howerton
Mal Bass
Rick Daugherty
John Harrison
Jim Stratton
Larry Keeling
Juniors
Sam Cushman
Dick Cole
Steve Wright
Bill Gritts
Staff
Russ Kaminsky, head coach
William "Red" Haynes, assistant coach
Ben Wilson, student manager
