Songleader Nancy Olsen, Class of 1966

Black and white photo of Songleader Nancy Olsen, Lakes High Class of 1966, from 1966 Lakes Legend. Color photo of Nancy's sweater taken 8/23/2016 in Lakewood.

1963-1964 LAKES BOYS' BASKETBALL: Won 1964 Puget Sound League title, beat favored Renton at Highline High. Post-season (in Puyallup): Lost to Cleveland of Seattle. Beat Lincoln of Tacoma

In the 1963-1964 season, Lakes boys varsity basketball team won the 1964 Puget Sound League championship.


But, during the season it lost its PSL game on Fri., Jan. 10, 1964, in Auburn to the Auburn High School Trojans. This photo was taken during that game.


Lancer Bill Saxton (#33) at the free throw line. To the far right Whit Hemion (#41) and near right Rick Austin (#43). On the far left Gary Larsen (#45). 


On the wall of the Auburn gym in all capital letters was “EVERY SPORTS IS A GOOD ONE IF YOU ARE.”


In the PSL title game on Friday, March, 6, 1964, played in the Highline High School gym, Lakes beat Renton, 47-46.


By winning the title, Lakes had a chance to play in the 40^th annual (1964) Class AA State High School Basketball Tournament in Hec Edmundson Pavilion on the campus of the University of Washington in Seattle.


For the first time, the tourney was split into two parts, regional and finals. Four districts each held their own tournaments with four teams in each. Winners advanced to the state tournament. Thus, 16 teams competed to be the final eight to win the state 1964 tournament.


In Region 2, Lakes, Renton, Cleveland of Seattle and Lincoln of Tacoma competed in the Puyallup High School gym.:

·       Friday, March 13, 1964, Lakes lost, 89-48 to Cleveland.

·       Saturday., March 14, 1964, Lakes beat Lincoln, 49-39.

Seasons over for Lakes and Lincoln. Renton advanced to the state tournament where it lost in the championship game.

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March 14, 1964, Seattle Times reporting on the Friday, March 13, 1964, game in the Puyallup High gym said 2,300 fans saw it. 

 “Cleveland (was) Seattle’s first public high school team to play outside the city in 50 years.” 

 “Cleveland’s fast break never worked better than it did in the first half.” The Eagles had a 28-9 first quarter lead. Midway in the second period Cleveland’s lead was 44-11. At halftime, it was Cleveland by 55-19. 

 Center 6-foot-3 Rick Austin led Lakes with 12 points, followed by Whit Hemion and Steve Walker with 10 each. Hemion had 13 rebounds. 

 For the game, Cleveland out rebounded Lakes 75-52. In field goal shooting, it was Cleveland with 44.2 percent vs. Lakes 22.5 percent. Cleveland had 38 fields goals and Lakes 18.

In free throws, Lakes was 12-25 and Cleveland 13-24.

Coach Holly Gee – Clover Park, Lakes High Schools

=The 1963-1964 season was Holly Gee’s second as Lakes head boys’ basketball coach. He coached that sport at Lakes through 1969. He came to Lakes from Clover Park, where he was head baseball coach and an assistant boys’ basketball coach. At Lakes his resume included p. e. department chair, asst. baseball and asst. football coach, senior class adviser and administration rep to Lakes student govt.

=With additional info added, this from Winter 2016 Arches alumni magazine from Holly Gee’s alma mater, University of Puget Sound, Tacoma:

"In Memoriam" – Hollister Roland “Holly” Gee, College (now University) of Puget Sound Class of 1949, died Nov. 10, 2015. He was 91. Holly was a leader in the Lakewood, Wash., community, where he was a longtime educator and coach. He was instrumental in organizing youth sports programs in the area and had a passion for helping athletes accomplish their goals. His family remembers him for his compassion, work ethic, and quick wit. His wife, Mary Louise “Mary Lou” Rogers Gee, died at age 90 in 2013. A member of the College of Puget Sound Class of 1945, she was a Stadium High School (Tacoma) and UW (English, 1946) grad. Her background included teaching English at Clover Park High. A son, Ron Gee, and grandchildren Jevan and Dillon, survive Holly and Mary Lou.

=“In Memoriam” based on his obituary here:

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/tribnet/obituary.aspx?pid=176529171

=More about Holly Gee and his baseball connections here:

oldtimerbaseball.com/hall.php?name=Holly%20Gee

=Before Holly Gee came to the Clover Park School District (initially at Clover Park High School and later, when it opened in 1962, to the new Lakes High School), he was in Centralia.

July 2, 1952, Centralia, Wash., Daily Chronicle -- 'New Position For Gee at Clover Park 'Centralia high school was looking for another coach Wednesday -- one to replace Holly Gee who resigned from the Centralia district and will teach at Clover Park this fall. Gee has the head baseball coach at Centralia high, and also assisted in football and taught classes In health. At Clover Park, he will be the head junior high football coach, teach physical education and health in the high school, and will also probably have another coaching job in the high school. Gee said. Besides, coaching, Gee. has also been an active participant In sports in Centralia--usually on one of the teams sponsored by Dick Scott. During the summer, the former Centralia coach has been attending the University of Washington, completing his work for a master’s degree in physical education. He plans to complete moving to Tacoma this weekend.

Originally posted 12/13/2017