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1980 Beaver Falls Boys Basketball Team

1980 Beaver Falls Basketball Team

1980 Fighting Tigers WPIAL Class AAA Champions

The 1979-80 version of the varsity boys basketball team, under the direction of Coach Frank Chan, completed section play with an undefeated record of 12-0, an overall record of 26-4 and captured the Class AAA WPIAL Championship.

At the beginning of the season, the Tigers were ranked 14th nationally and prior to section play won 5 games including victories over Pittsburgh City League Peabody and Westinghouse. The only teams to defeat the Tigers in the early exhibition season were City League powers Brashear and Schenley.

Section play began with victories over Butler, 70-60 and New Castle, 77-52. Over the Christmas Holiday, the Fighting Tigers participated in the always tough, Johnstown tournament. During tournament play, the team claimed victories over W.T. Woodson and Ringgold and suffered a tough loss to Ben Franklin.

Section play continued as the Fighting Tigers in succession defeated Farrell, Ambridge, Sharon and Blackhawk. At the section break, The Fighting Tigers defeated Pittsburgh’s best, Taylor Alderdice, 82-67. Section play was then completed with 6 consecutive victories with one close call, a 52-51 win over New Castle.

As the WPIAL Playoffs started, the Tiger Cagers defeated the Beaver Bobcats, 78-55 and the Aliquippa Quips, 66-53. In the Semi-Finals, the Tigers defeated Uniontown, 64-56. In the WPIAL Championship game, Connellsville was no match for the Alley Cats as a decisive victory was claimed, 67-51. With the victory, the Fighting Tigers reigned as the 1980 WPIAL Class AAA Champions.

To begin the PIAA playoffs, the Tigers stung the Hickory Hornets, 95-65 and then defeated the Central Catholic Vikings, 82-57. The quest for a state championship ended with a loss to Erie Prep.

Three players were selected 1st Team All-Section – Seniors Dwight Collins and Forest Grant, and Junior, Ron Rowan.

Dwight Collins was named Section MVP and Coach Frank Chan was selected as Section Coach of the Year.

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Larry Bruno Foundation

Hall of Achievement & Museum

1112 7th Avenue
Beaver Falls, PA 15010

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