By Billy Francis ’62
When I was a senior in 1962, Murdo had an outstanding Basketball team. We won the district championship and the regional tournament before going on to the State B in Sioux Falls. Our top 5 players were Obie Brunskill, Willard Bordeaux, Roger Strait, Gordon Niedan, and Chris Anderson.
Our star defensive players and top scorers all year were Obie and Willard. I had the job of guarding Willard in practice and he kept me on my heels. If he wanted to make a basket, he found a way.
We went into our first game with Pine Ridge handicapped. Willard had injured his ankle during the Regionals and it wasn’t doing well. Obie had to take up the slack which was exhausting. Often times, you could count on one of them to steal the ball before the other team made it back down the court. They were good.
Nevertheless, Murdo hung on thanks to Chris, Roger, and Gordon. Though he didn’t score much, Obie had a brilliant defensive game. Murdo managed an 11 point lead at the end of the 3rd quarter. Some of the Pine Ridge fans admitted defeat early and started to leave.
And then Pine Ridge had a 16 point outburst in the 4th quarter. At the end of regulation time, the game was tied 47-47 so it went into overtime. Willard who only made an unheard of 2 points the whole game, fouled out in the 4th quarter. His injury was a huge factor in the overall scheme of things.
Pine Ridge dominated in the overtime. Obie fouled out when our only hope was to send Pine Ridge to the free throw line in an attempt to get the ball back. He told me he was so exhausted he couldn’t see the difference in the colors of the uniforms and therefore, made some bad passes. It didn’t help that Pine Ridge made 8 of 10 free throws. The game ended Pine Ridge 55 and Murdo 51.
It was a tough loss for the Murdo Coyotes. Pine Ridge went on to win the tournament.
Those 70ish Girls 