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.