100 years

a century of ironmen basketball

The first Ironmen basketball team was during the 1904-1905 Season. Below are some lists from past articles and pieces about NCHS Boys Basketball.

• Fran Somers, head coach at NCHS from 1954-65, lists his three best:
  “The three best basketball players during my tenure at Normal Community were ‘Bud Shoemaker’, Bill Kirby, and Everett Lockenvitz. Each of them made All-State.”

• 1984 list of All-Time Normal Community High School Basketball Team
  LESLIE MURRAY
  Captain of the 1931 team (13-5) and leading scorer, went on to be an all-conference player at ISNU.
  
  DON ANDERSON
  Led 16-12 team to the 1942 Sweet 16. Scored 493 points in his junior year and 1,238 total points. Later played at IWU.
  
  DICK METZGER
  Scored 719 points in 1952-53 season for the single season record, averaging 23.97.
  
  EVERETT LOCKENVITZ
  An excellent all around performer, he scored 1,063 career points. He graduated in 1957.
  
  WENDELL SWEARINGEN
  Scored 438 points in a single season. He was an All-Corn Belt Conference player in 1956, his senior year.
  
  BILL KIRBY
  Great shooting guard for Fran Sommers, scored 988 career points with a single season high of 466 in 1957-58.
  
  LARRY “BUD” SHOEMAKER
  All-time intercity player who scored 1,580 points in his four year career. He scored 50 points on 20 baskets and 10 free throws against Fairbury in 1960.
  
  JACK BARTON
  An exceptional rebounder for his size, he was all-conference in 1960 and 1961 and later captained the Millikan University team.
  
  DAVE MYERS
  Excellent outside shooter who scored 806 career points; graduated in 1960.
  
  GARY DAHLQUIST
  Scored 845 total points with a season high of 434 in the 1962-63 season, his senior year.
  
  TED NEUMAN
  Scored 1,403 points in three years. Played on the 1968-69 team that finished with a 26-3 record.
  
  BOB OLIVER
  Scored 930 career points and teamed with Neuman and Wells on the ’69 team. Later played at University of Denver.
  
  MIKE WELLS
  Great all-around athlete who scored 841 career points.
  
  LARRY NORD
  Scored 1,043 career points, graduated in 1967.
  
  HAROLD NORD
  1973 graduate who scored 1,064 career points and captured a school record 343 rebounds in the 1971-72 season.
  
  RANDY SMITHSON
  The all-time leading scorer for NCHS with 1,710 points. Played at ISU and Wichita State before being drafted by the NBA.
  
  JOHN MANN
  Member of the 1976 team (26-4, second best in school history) and played college ball at Georgia Tech.
  
  LANCE JONES
  Teamed with Mann and Smithson on one of McLean County’s all-time great teams. Played college ball for Eastern Illinois University.                                                                                                    

• List of Great NCHS players in Sentimental Journey in 1994
  Bill Kirby, John Mann, Scott Milliren, Larry Nord, Leslie Murrary, Chad Hutson, Todd Kagel, Larry Shoemaker, Mike Wells, Randy Smithson, Ted Neuman, Bob Oliver, Jack Barton, Everett Lockenvitz, Don Anderson, Dan Cox, Max Bissey, Lee Niepagen