Bradley A. Huebner

Titles for our Town star Don Hennon reads about his era.

1955 Wampum High undefeated state champion Don Hennon reads Titles for our Town about small-town dynasties like his and Kutztown's and Fountain Hill's. A few years later Hennon was a first-team All-American at Pitt with Chamberlain, Baylor, Oscar, Rodgers, and Boozer. Find out how he became a great scoring guard.

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Wow, Dick Allen recorded a song in the 1960s. Much better than I thought it would be.

Rich Allen & The Ebonistics "Echoes Of November" The famous baseball player Dick(Don't call me Ritchie) Allen did this song in 1968 on the Groovey Grooves label160 He was one hit wonder! It is really not ...

John Silan's health began to deteriorate in 1988, which was a painful blow to the Silan family. Though John presented a rough face on the basketball court, he was a different person—mellow and loving—at home. An emotional scene occurred in April 1988 when John paid daughter Lynn Silan a rare visit and, after exchanging small talk and an embrace, told his daughter he loved her.

E-book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CN612211

John Silan attempted to bring Kutztown's basketball dynasty back, but an unexpected illness placed him in a coma for eighty days. Even though he recovered, physicians forbade him from going back to coaching, which marked the end of an era. Mike Miller, the assistant coach at Reading High, took over, only after winning Silan's blessing.

E-book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CN612211

Basketball coach and author Dr. Charles "Chic" Hess relaxes on Kailua Beach in Oahu, Hawaii, reading "Titles for our Town."
Chic was a highly successful high school and college basketball coach who coached Sam Bowie at Lebanon High and wrote a wonderful book called "Prof Blood and the Wonder Teams" about a New Jersey high school coach who almost always won.

John Silan went back to Kutztown High to coach in an attempt to win back his old school. The team had demonstrated it could win again under another coach. Players with size were again in the school and on the roster. Silan was trying to remake the dynasty in the 1980s.

E-book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CN612211

John Silan, who was well known for his demanding teaching style, recruited players like 6-foot-10 Don Sechler and his son John Silan Jr. of Kutztown after making the move to coaching at Delaware Valley College. At first more laid back, Silan's signature intensity reappeared as the roster filled with quality. When Silan's kid saw how different his father was on the court versus at home, he underwent a startling transformation.

E-book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CN612211

Dick Braucher of Kutztown captained a youthful squad and displayed his all-state abilities in the 1964–65 season. Following a loss in the middle of the season, Kutztown strengthened its defense and won the following 11 games. They played Columbia in the District 3 title game, a team that had been haunted by Kutztown's 1959 stint at the top and was eager for retribution. The matchup was as intense as the NBA Finals, with Chip Beaston, the standout player for Columbia, uncertain because of an ankle injury.

E-book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CN612211

MAKE IT A SONNY DAY!
With rain and snow in the forecast, take a breath to read my book "Titles for our Town", available through Amazon.com.

Below, basketball legend Sonny Vaccaro reads his copy. All Sonny did for basketball was start a national all-star game for high-school ballers (Dapper Dan), sign a young Michael Jordan for Nike, convince Nike to market sneakers by providing them to college coaches and teams and paying coaches, and help college athletes benefit from some of their name/image/likeness sales. Not bad for one guy from Trafford, Pa., near Pittsburgh! Sonny continues to impact basketball around the world.
My book captures all-time basketball greats from Pennsylvania like Vaccaro, Dream Team coach Chuck Daly, Princeton coach Pete Carril, Kentucky coach John Calipari, Final Four announcer Billy Packer, and many more during the golden age.
When you pause from reading my book, watch the movie "Air" about Sonny's life and times at Nike when he helped create the brand "Air Jordan." Matt Damon plays Sonny; Ben Affleck plays Nike co-founder Phil Knight. (Photo taken by Pam Vaccaro)

Shoutout to Nick after Michigan win!

Great defensive effort by Michigan against a potent offense.

The white jerseys worn by Kutztown and Avalon in the state championship game at Rockne Hall presented a visual riddle. Referees flipped a coin to determine who would wear the home whites. Silan was briefly distracted. An administrator represented Kutztown, but he lost the coin toss, giving Avalon an early psychological advantage in the final.

E-book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CN612211

Be careful shoveling. The snow is water-logged and heavy. Don’t overdo it.

Kutztown pursued an unprecedented third-straight state championship in 1951–1952, after seasons marked by an incredible 84-6 record. Even if Ronnie Weidenhammer had gone on to Penn State, Silan's youth program kept a strong core intact. Younger players were motivated to strive for excellence by emulating the heroes of Kutztown. But, Avalon High in the west was motivated to win the title and settle a score thanks to a trio of Mayer, Tobin, and Toward. It was going to be an epic struggle between skill and willpower.

E-book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CN612211

I do not give Facebook permission to use my photos.

Its final game was held in 1951 at the deteriorating University of Pittsburgh Pavilion. Coach Silan's Kutztown Cougars left for the Class B state championship, 270 miles away, while Avalon, nine miles away, was waiting. Now Avalon, the massive assassins of the western bracket, faced off against the 26-2 eastern winners. In postseason play, Silan's club had a winning run of twenty-four games, except the 1949 Eastern final. Nevertheless, boys instead of lads into the state final yet again.

E-book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CN612211

Catholic schools and public school teams such as Fountain Hill frequently fought for talent in the 1950s. Certain schools, such as Wampum and Kutztown, had distinct circumstances since they relied on local players and occasionally brought in move-in transfers, such as Allentown's Dick "Inch" Suter. Suter's talents caught the interest of both the Allentown Central Catholic Vikings and Allentown High, demonstrating that brilliance might be discovered in unexpected places. When his parents relocated, Kutztown was the beneficiary.

E-book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CN612211

Wishing you joy, success, and laughter in 2024! May each day sparkle with new opportunities, and may your dreams shine brightly. Happy New Year to you and your loved ones!

The Milan Miracle was a treasure that was kept somewhat hidden outside of Indiana , where dreams were heard resonating through the wooden floors. The author of "Hoosiers" and "Rudy," Angelo Pizzo, saw the power of underdogs and wrote stories about little people growing up to be enormous. The 1980 Olympic hockey underdogs who defeated the Russian professionals are the kind of heroes the world loves to see—people who overcome impossible odds. Like once-in-a-lifetime experiences of small-town basketball in Pennsylvania, these tales evoke the romanticism of a bygone age of sports.

E-book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CN612211

Wishing you joy, love, and laughter this Christmas! May your heart be light, your home be warm, and your days be merry and bright. Merry Christmas to all! 🎄🎅🎁

In 1988, the Silan family faced the distressing decline of John Silan's health. Despite the tough exterior on the basketball court, at home, John was a different person—mellow and full of love. In April 1988, a poignant moment unfolded when John, on a rare visit to Lynn Silan's home, showed his candor, hugged her, and expressed his love before departing.

E-book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CN612211

Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/dp/196306402X

Hardback: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1963064038

John Silan's health deteriorated, and on April 19, 1988, the revered coach passed away at home. Despite not dying on the bench as he had once wished, his impact on Kutztown's basketball legacy was indelible. Silan's coaching record of 527-117 reflected a remarkable career, and Kutztown's subsequent basketball fortunes struggled to reach the pinnacle he had established.

E-book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CN612211

Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/dp/196306402X

Hardback: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1963064038

John Silan's attempt to revive Kutztown's basketball dynasty in his third season was thwarted by a sudden illness that left him in a coma for 80 days. Though he pulled through, doctors prohibited his return to coaching, signaling the end of an era. Reading High assistant coach Mike Miller took the reins, seeking Silan's blessing before taking the position.

E-book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CN612211
Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/dp/196306402X
Hardback: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1963064038

Returning to coach at Kutztown High in 1985, John Silan sought to reclaim success in his familiar territory. The team, led by tall standouts like Mark Erb and Scott Hauck, showed promise with a 23-0 start. In a Berks League final against Reading, Erb's unlucky roll in the final seconds denied Kutztown the title in a closely contested match.

E-book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CN612211
Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/dp/196306402X
Hardback: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1963064038

📸 Look at this post on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/share/LTx8YfMQFMwq6Pxq/?mibextid=WC7FNe

Returning to coach at Kutztown High in 1985, John Silan sought to reclaim success in his familiar territory. The team, led by tall standouts like Mark Erb and Scott Hauck, showed promise with a 23-0 start. In a Berks League final against Reading, Erb's unlucky roll in the final seconds denied Kutztown the title in a closely contested match.

E-book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CN612211
Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/dp/196306402X
Hardback: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1963064038

Check out Philly Press Box radio tomorrow night on social media. I’ll be interviewed about my book by Chet Chesko. Philly sportswriter Paul Domowitch will be on talking Philly sports.

Titles for our Town: How Tiny Pennsylvania Communities Produced Basketball Dynasties And Shaped Basketball History During the Golden Age Pennsylvania's golden age of high school basketball (1950s-1960s) captivated blue-collar, ethnic Americans as standout players on dynastic teams lifted steel-tough towns to unprecedented glory. Norman Rockwell communities in Fountain Hill, Kutztown, and Wampum produced dynasties, led by heroes co...

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/book/1144467233?ean=9781963064032

My book is now also available through Barnes & Noble!

Titles for our Town: How Tiny Pennsylvania Communities Produced Basketball Dynasties And Shaped Basketball History During the Golden Age|Hardcover Pennsylvania's golden age of high school basketball (1950s-1960s) captivated blue-collar, ethnic Americans as standout players on dynastic teams lifted steel-tough towns to unprecedented glory. Norman Rockwell communities in Fountain Hill, Kutztown, and Wampum produced dynasties, led by heroes...