Brocton High School “Purple Martins”

Brocton High School, like most small town schools, embraced its basketball team.  Baseball and track were probably offered as well.  School team nickname, team colors, school fight song, team records, and coach’s names are among the many items we are searching for.

Brocton “Midgets” Basketball Team – 1933

Coach Pete Van Horn, Ray Witt, Max Turnipseed, Jacob Housely, Paul Kiley, Gene Ogden, Roy Patchett

Boys Basketball

The basketball program at Brocton High was a force to be reckoned with in their neck of the woods.  A Regional title in the 1936-37 season was the hi-light of the school’s athletic history.  BHS followed this with a pair of Distict titles (www.ihsa.org).  All three titles were won in three consecutive seasons.  Great job Brocton High School boys of the late 1930s!!  Team records and coach’s names of these and other great BHS teams are being sought. Several scores from the IHSA Tournament involving Brocton were located on a site titled “Illinois Postseason Basketball Scores.” These scores are listed below.

Coach Pete “PJ” VanHorn was said to be the leader of several great teams in the 1930s at Brocton High School.  Coach VanHorn can be viewedin the picture to the right with his “midget” basketball team of 1933.

1921-22               Charleston District Tournament            Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Westfield 25-15

Westfield lost to Kansas in semi-final

Kansas beat Charleston in title game

*Atwood HS lost in State Title Game to Centralia this year!

1922-23 through 1932-33  Postseason scores, records, and coaches’ names needed.

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1927-28   Record & Post Season Scores Needed.         Coach Wayne Hance

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1928-29   Record & Post Season Scores Needed.         Coach Wayne Hance

        –       EDGAR COUNTY CHAMPIONS

        –       (See team photo at bottom of page.)

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1929-30   Record & Post Season Scores Needed.         Coach Wayne Hance

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1930-31   Record & Post Season Scores Needed.         Coach Wayne Hance

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1931-32   Record & Post Season Scores Needed.         Coach Wayne Hance

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1932-33   Record & Post Season Scores Needed.         Coach Wayne Hance

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1933-34               Tuscola District Runner-Up               Coach Wayne Hance

                            1st Rd Beat Atwood 26-14

                            2nd Rd Beat Newman 38-9

                            Semi-final Beat Tuscola 35-23

                            Title Game lost to Longview 25-24

Longview lost Sectional Title Game to Champaign HS

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1934-35               Tuscola District Tournament               Coach Wayne Hance

1st Rd lost to Arthur 22-20

Arthur lost to Villa Grove in semi-final

Villa Grove beat Tuscola in title game

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1935-36               Paris Regional Runner-Up                 Coach Wayne Hance

1st Rd Beat Metcalf 45-13

Semi-final Beat Kansas

Title Game lost to Paris 25-23 

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1936-37              Tuscola Regional Champions            Coach Pete “PJ” VanHorn

1st Rd Beat Hammond 33-24

Semi-final Beat Cerro Gordo 29-20

Title Game Beat Bement 26-22

Casey Sectional Tournament

1st Rd lost to Charleston 21-19

Charleston lost to Vandalia in semi-final

Vandalia beat Paris in title game

Vandalia lost in Elite 8 Rd.

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1937-38              IHSA District Champions                    Coach Pete “PJ” VanHorn

                           District Scores Needed

                           Paris Regional Tournament

                           Title Game lost to Paris 43-18

Paris placed 3rd in IHSA Tournament

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1938-39              IHSA District Champions                    Coach Pete “PJ” VanHorn

                           District Scores Needed

                           Matoon Regional Tournament

                           1st Rd lost to Windsor 42-28

Windsor lost to Charleston in semi-final

Charleston beat Matoon in title game

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1939-40  Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.

1940-41  Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed

1941-42  Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed

1942-43  Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed

1943-44  Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed

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1944-45              Ashmore District Tournament                Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Newman 26-24

Newman beat Oakland in title game

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1945-46              Kansas District Tournament                  Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd Beat Ashmore 46-35

Semi-final lost to Kansas 53-33

Kansas beat Redmon in title game

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1946-47              Brocton District Runner-Up                Coach’s name & record needed

Early Round Scores Needed

Title Game lost to Kansas 33-28

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1947-48  Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.

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1948-49              Brocton District Tournament                  Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd Beat Westfield 51-49

Semi-final lost to Chrisman 43-40

Chrisman lost to Redmon in title game

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1949-50              Newman District Tournament                Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Longview 56-41

Longview lost to Newman in semi-final

Newman beat Chrisman in title game

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1950-51  Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.

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1951-52              Newman District Tournament                Coach’s name & record needed

**1st Rd lost to Chrisman 51-46

Chrisman lost to Kansas in title game

**Final game as Brocton High School, became Brocton-Redmon High School in the summer of 1952.

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Need Your In-put

If you have any information regarding the Brocton High School athletic program and other school programs offered there, please share them with us. We are especially interested in sharing photos of the old high school building and great teams and coaches.  Please share with us by completing a School Submission Form or a Guest Commentary Form.  You can also reach us by the following means:

E-mail – ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net