HISTORY OF WEST HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL
Written and shared by a former West HS student, teacher and Varsity Basketball Coach...
First of all, have any of you started something and you find out that it is really taking a long time and things are not going the way you thought they would but you have invested too much time and energy not to finish so you keep going and going and going. Oh, well… if you have not given up on reading this… then continue…
Since I like to write and I can remember history…. Here we go… Apologies to Hal Kinard and Stan Albert, who were on West HS basketball teams coach by Gaston Santi in the 1950’s and were defeated in the State Championships. So, I will start with what I got to see….. 1962
Coach Mike Jurich and his group of Dickie Garcia, LeRoy Dack , Alvis Headen and crew… Undefeated for the first 10 games and leading the DPL with a perfect record, however, lost a couple games and fell into a tie with Manual HS for second place (2 teams went from DPL and 8 teams from across the State)…. East was first in league, Manual defeated West in the play-off game. East (semi’s) and Manual (finals) were both defeated by Greeley Central, the State Champs.
That was the start of the 60’s. The mid 1960’s had a team of Butch Clark, Rick Schrah and Bruce Abeyta came close, but lost to East on a last second tip in by J.R. Craig. That East team had future Pro Star - Chuck Williams. East defeated Pueblo Central 103-83 for the State Championship
To the late 60’s Another team coached by Mike Jurich and Lou Garramone - 1969 West Cowboy team with State Championship aspirations…. … this team led by Gary Rhoades, Jerry “Mouse” Davis, Calvin Jackson and crew… Ranked #1 in State most of the season, defeated a Larry Farmer Manual team (which was second in State Tournament) and defeated a South team with Mark Williams. South defeated Manual in the State Championship. West lost to a bad North team in the City Tournament. Ouch!
It’s time to run and gun and have some fun. The Fiery Freddie Sabel take’s the Cowboys to State Tournament by defeating East with a last second shot. Not sure if Dennis Medlock or David Medlock hit the game winning shot, but it was one of them. Thomas Davis controlled the boards and Mike Williams and June Bug Henderson gave the team some height. However their trip lost in the round of 8’s at the Coliseum.
The one thing that all of the players from West High School had in common is they played the pick up games at Baker Rec. Center, Barnum Rec. Center or the Ice Courts at Lincoln Park Housing Projects. The team of 1978 grew up watching the teams of the 60’s play and was coached by the players that played in the 60’s…
The players that benefited from those days formed the 1978 team. Manuel Martinez, Kevin Romero, Frank Morelli and Jeff Bohlen played on those courts and use the skills to tie for first place in the DPL. T.J. defeated West in a play-off game and then the Cowboys lost to Manual in the City Tournament. No State Tournament.
Now, we go to the 1980’s. Ricky Miltenburger and Mike Vigil got the Cowboys close. But the 1985 team got the Cowboys back to the State Tournament. During the season they defeated #1 team in State, G.W., defeated Manual, East and finished 3rd in the DPL. Four teams advanced to the top 16 teams in the state. There was only 3 Classifications at the time.
A tough lost to Bear Creek at the old Denver Auditorium Arena ended the season.
This team practiced and played the games hard…. I will name them all… Tim Bohlen, John Valdez, Bob Johnson, Robert Coyne, Mike Arellanas, George Wilson, Coach Kevin Romero, Danny Rendon, Coach Caton, Rene Wilson, Robbie Medina, DeJon Robles, Dan Fuentes, Mike Bernal, Gary Merritt.
Apologies to the teams at West that came later. I know Robert Hornbuckle had some great moments at West.
I want to wish the West HS team of 2026 the best Go Get It !!!… all of the players and people of the West Side will be there…. In person or in spirit…
Good Luck
Bob Caton