| Athletics
When you talk of Sheldon High School athletics you must start, as the sport defined the town and really the region — boys basketball ! Many excellent seasons were enjoyed by the fans of Sheldon High. It is also believed Sheldon offered baseball and track for the boys as well as softball, basketball, and track for the girls.
The Sheldon boys also had a chance to play football. After several year of co-oping football with Watseka, in 1993 Sheldon High began a coop with Milford which netted 2 undefeated regular seasons in their first two tries. Several Sheldon boys played key roles during these and subsequent seasons.
| Sheldon HS Gymnasium – 2012 |
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Boys Basketball
The extensive records kept on the IHSA web site (www.ihsa.org) regarding Sheldon High School Rams boys basketball tell the whole story. Beginning with the 1925-26 school year when the Sheldon lads were led by Coach Arther “Red” Daugherty, every season is covered through the 2000-01 season.
And what incredible stories and great successes there are to tell !! How about this for a small town’s excellence in one sport:
17 – 20+ win seasons
1 – 35 win season
12 – District Titles
4 – Regional Titles
1 – Coach with 200 + wins
1 – Coach with 300 + wins
The best of the Sheldon Rams’ seasons are listed below. There have to be some great personal stories of the many great teams of Sheldon’s past. One article I have read regarding the Sheldon basketball team of of 1941-42 called it one of the most talked about small school teams in the state as they entered the state playoffs with 30 wins. This team went on to win the District and Regional titles enroute to a 35 – 2 overall record! Even yet, there were 39 total students at Sheldon High at that time! One of the basketball players, forward Elmore Clawson, was named to the All-State 3rd team.
When you look at the records of the great Sheldon teams below, notice how there was not just one major “spurt” of success. Success at Sheldon High School was achieved in many different decades, a sign that the town truly backed and supported their teams.
IHSA Tourney scores involving Sheldon High School were located on a website titled “Illinois Postseason Basketball Scores.”
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1919 through 1925-26 Postseason scores and coaches’ names needed.
1925-26 Record & Tourney scores needed Arthur “Red” Daugherty
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1926-27 Record & Tourney scores needed Arthur “Red” Daugherty
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1927-28 Record & Tourney scores needed Arthur “Red” Daugherty
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1928-29 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
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1929-30 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
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1930-31 Hoopeston District Tournament Coach Brown
1st Rd. lost to Hoopeston 34-11
Armstrong beat Hoopeston in title game.
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1931-32 Gilman District Tournament Coach L.E. Galitz
1st Rd Beat Chatsworth 23-20
2nd Rd lost to Watseka 17-10
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1932-33 Gilman District Tournament Coach L.E. Galitz
1st Rd lost to Watseka 34-25
Thawville beat Chatsworth in title game.
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1933-34 Milford District Tourney Coach L.E. Galitz & Kenneth Stephens
1st Rd Beat Buckley 25-17
2nd Rd Lost to Milford 24-19
Potomac beat Watseka in title game.
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1934-35 St. Anne District Runner-up! Coach Kenneth Stephens
1st Rd Beat Martinton 36-15
2nd Rd Beat Momence 31-22
Semi-final Beat Manteno 30-22
Title Game lost to St. Anne 33-20
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1935-36 18 – 10 Hoopeston Regional Tourney Coach Kenneth Stephens
(Sheldon did not compete in District)
Hoopeston Regional Score
1st Rd lost to Hoopeston 30-10
Hoopeston lost in title game to Potomac
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1936-37 20 – 8 Watseka Regional Tourney Coach Kenneth Stephens
(Sheldon did not compete in District)
Watseka Regional Score
1st Rd lost to Donovan 30-26
Donovan lost in semi-final round
Thawville beat Gillman in title game.
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1937-38 25 – 5 (Potseason scores unavailable) Coach Kenneth Stephens
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1938-39 18 – 6 Watseka Regional Tourney Coach Kenneth Stephens
(Sheldon did not compete in District)
Watseka Regional Score
1st Rd Beat Chatsworth 42-26
Semi-final lost to Watseka 24-19
Watseka won Regional tourney
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1939-40 16 – 6 District Champions Coach Kenneth Stephens
(Postseason scores unavailable)
Regional scores unavailable
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1940-41 27 – 9 IHSA Top 32 Finalists! Coach Kenneth Stephens
Crescent City District Champions
1st Rd Beat Ashkum-Clifton 50-18
Semi-Final beat Onarga 55-18
Title Game Beat Thawville 45-21
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Watseka Regional Champions
1st Rd Beat Donavan 49-25
Semi-Final Beat Kankakee 37-23
Title Game Beat Watseka 38-27
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Joliet Sectional Runner-up!
1st Rd Beat Cullom 39-36 (2 O/Ts)
Semi-final Beat Proviso 30-28
Title game lost to Waterman 30-26
Waterman lost in Elite 8 round
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1941-42 35 – 2 IHSA Top 32 Finalists! Coach Kenneth Stephens
Donovan District Champions
Early Rd Scores Needed
Title Game Beat Donovan 63-25
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Regional Champions
1st Rd Beat Momence 44-19
Semi-final Beat Bradley 36-30
Title game Beat Kankakee 47-25
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Joliet Sectional Runner-up!
1st Rd Beat Morris 37-27
Semi-final Beat Aurora West 40-19
Title game lost to Streator 48-33
Streator lost in Elite 8 round.
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**The 35 wins by the Rams this season places them among the top 16 seasons in IHSA history! http://www.ihsa.org/SportsActivities/BoysBasketball/RecordsHistory.aspx?url=/data/bkb/records/index.htm
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1942-43 13 – 8 Crescent City District Tournament Coach Kenneth Stephens
1st Rd Bye
Semi-Final Beat Martinton 63-11
Title Game lost to Clifton 34-31
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1943-44 19 – 9 Donovan District Champions Coach Kenneth Stephens
Earl Rd Scores Needed
Title Game Beat Donovan 21-18
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Kankakee Regional Tournament
1st Rd Beat St. Anne 32-24
Semi-Final lost to Herscher 30-35
Kankakee beat Herscher in title game.
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1944-45 20 – 5 Crescent City District Champs Coach Kenneth Stephens
Semi-Final beat Clifton 62-26
Title Game Beat Chebanse 33-32
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Watseka Regional Tourney
1st Rd Beat Herscher 39-27
Semi-final lost to Kankakee 41-30
Kankakee won Regional title
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1945-46 24 – 6 Clifton District Champions Coach Kenneth Stephens
Early Rd Scores Needed
Title game Beat Donovan 54-28
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Kankakee Regional Tourney
1st Rd Beat St. Anne 49-32
Semi-final lost to Bradley 37-35
Bradley won Regional title
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1946-47 18 – 9 District Champions Coach Kenneth Stephens
District scores needed
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Hoopeston Regional Tourney
1st Rd Lost to Milford 34-31
Milford lost in semi-final round
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1947-48 13 – 13 Potomac District Runner-Up Coach Kenneth Stephens
Early Rd Score Needed
Semi-Final Beat Alvin 42-26
Title Game lost to Stockland 53-36
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1948-49 25 – 3 Wellington District Runner-up Coach Kenneth Stephens
Semi-final Beat Stockland 40-30
Title Game lost to Potomac 34-31
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1949-50 21 – 8 Sheldon District Champions Coach Kenneth Stephens
Early Rd Scores Needed
Title Game Beat Ashkum-Clifton 49-31
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Bradley Regional Tourney
1st Rd Beat Momence 46-36
Semi-final lost to Kankakee 53-43
Kankakee lost in title game
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1950-51 25 – 3 Wellington District Runner-up Coach Kenneth Stephens
1st Rd Beat Wellington 48-36
Semi-final Beat Crescent City 51-31
Title game lost to Rankin 41-39
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1951-52 19 – 7 Wellington District Tournament Coach Charles Pfeffer
1st Rd Beat Henning 68-58
Semi-final lost to Rankin 64-40
Rankin lost in title game
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1952-53 17 – 9 Rankin District Tournament Coach Charles Pfeffer
1st Rd lost to Rankin 60-48
East Lynn beat Potomac in title game.
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1953-54 16 – 8 Postseason scores needed Coach Larry Sieg
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1954-55 4 – 16 Postseason scores needed Coach Larry Sieg
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1955-56 11 – 13 Rankin District Tournament Coach Larry Sieg
1st Rd lost to Wellington 88-66
Potomac beat Rankin in title game.
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1956-57 16 – 7 Sheldon District Runner-Up Coach Larry Sieg
1st Rd Beat Stockland 60-55
Semi-Final Beat Potomac 76-60
Title Game lost to Rankin 70-51
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1957-58 18 – 8 Rankin District Runner-up Coach Larry Sieg
1st Rd Beat Henning 48-33
Semi-Final Beat Stockland 61-53
Title game lost to Wellington 52-41
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1958-59 16 – 11 Sheldon District Tournament Coach Larry Sieg
1st Rd Beat Crescent City 38-20
Semi-final lost to Stockland 65-50
Stockland lost in title game
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1959-60 28 – 2 Potomac District Champions Coach Larry Sieg
1st Rd Beat East Lynn 88-42
Semi-final Beat Crescent City 88-64
Title Game Beat Potomac 62-48
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Hoopeston Regional Tourney
1st Rd Beat Bismarck 80-59
Semi-final lost to Watseka 74-72 (2 O/Ts)
Watseka lost to Rossville-Alvin in title game
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1960-61 29 – 3 IHSA Top 64 Finalist! Coach Larry Sieg
Sheldon District Tourney Champs
1st Rd Beat Stockland 90-33
Semi-Final Beat Crescent City 81-60
Title Game Beat Rankin 55-40
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Watseka Regional Champs
1st Rd Beat Milford 60-30
Semi-final Beat Cisna Park 51-49
Title Game Beat Hoopeston 50-44 (O/T)
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Urbana Sectional Tourney
Semi-final lost to Champaign 54-46
CHAMPAIGN (54): Clark 17, Bush 14, Anderson 10, Jackson 5, Armstrong 4, Hursey 4.
SHELDON (46): Trudeau 18, Liebenow 11, Akerly 8, R. Leucke 5, B. Leucke 4.
Champaign lost Danville Schlarman in title game
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1961-62 24 – 4 IHSA Top 64 Finalist! Coach Larry Sieg
Sheldon did not compete in District
Hoopeston Regional Champs
1st Rd Beat Milford 93-44
Semi-final Beat Cisna Park 86-54
Title Game Beat Watseka
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Paris Sectional Tourney
Semi-final lost to Paris 60-58 (O/T)
PARIS (60): Dickerson 25, Jordan 23, Sandstead 6, Ludington 4, Blume 2.
SHELDON (58): Cole 27, Trudeau 17, Sillworth 5, Luecke 5, Gooding 4.
Paris lost Urbana in title game
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1962-63 13 – 12 Potomac District Runner-up Coach Larry Sieg
1st Rd Beat Rankin 75-50
Semi-final Beat East Lynn 60-56
Title Game lost to Potomac 34-32
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1963-64 22 – 7 Sheldon District Champions Coach Larry Sieg
Early Rd Scores Needed
Title Game Beat Cissna Park 53-51
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Hoopeston Regional Tourney
1st Rd Beat Bismarck-Henning 66-55
Semi-final lost to Hoopeston 62-47
Hoopeston won Regional title
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1964-65 22 – 5 Rankin District Champions Coach Larry Sieg
Semi-Final Beat Cissna Park 80-60
Title Game Beat Wellington 80-68
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Watseka Regional Tournament
1st Rd lost to Rossville-Alvin 57-51
Hoopeston beat Melvin in title game
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1965-66 15 – 11 Sheldon District Runner-Up Coach Harold Finn
1st Rd Beat East Lynn 62-54
Semi-Final Beat Wellington 56-55
Title Game lost to Armstrong 70-59
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1966-67 7 – 16 Rankin District Tournament Coach Harold Finn
1st Rd lost to East Lynn 80-70
Armstrong beat East Lynn in title game.
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1967-68 18 – 9 Armstrong District Runner-up Coach Dan Lawson
1st Rd Beat Rankin 55-48
Semi-final Beat Crescent City 61-53
Title game lost to Armstrong 80-48
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1968-69 16 – 9 Armstrong District Tournament Coach Howard “Jack” Roemer
1st Rd Beat East Lynn
Lost to Potomac 54-51
Potomac won District title
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1969-70 16 – 11 Sheldon District Champions Coach Howard “Jack” Roemer
1st Rd Beat Wellington 76-46
Semi-final Beat Potomac 67-63
Title Game Beat Cissna Park 71-68
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Hoopeston Regional Tourney
1st Rd lost to Watseka 61-49
Watseka lost in semi-final round
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1970-71 20 – 8 Armstrong District Runner-up Coach John Bullock
1st Rd Beat Crescent City 38-36
Semi-final Beat Potomac 63-62 (O/T)
Title Game lost to Cissna Park 66-61
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1971-72 11 – 11 Watseka Class ‘A’ Regional Coach John Bullock
1st Rd lost to Milford 63-57
Milford lost in semi-final round
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1972-73 3 – 19 Watseka Class ‘A’ Regional Coach John Bullock
1st Rd lost to Crescent Iroquois 51-46
Watseka beat Cissna Park in title game.
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1973-74 11 – 14 Watseka Class ‘A’ Regional Coach John Bullock
1st Rd Beat Milford 59-56
Semi-Final lost to Watseka 104-56
Watseka beat Cissna Park in title game.
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1974-75 10 – 15 Watseka Class ‘A’ Regional Coach John Bullock
1st Rd lost to Crescent Iroquois 84-45
Watseka beat St. Anne in title game.
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1975-76 2 – 20 Watseka Class ‘A’ Regional Coach John Bullock
1st Rd lost to Crescent Iroquois 66-49
Watseka beat St. Anne in title game.
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1976-77 9 – 16 Watseka Class ‘A’ Regional Coach Tom Weirgacz
1st Rd Beat St. Anne 59-56
Semi-Final lost to Crescent-Iroquois 73-51
Crescent-Iroquois beat Watseka in title game.
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1977-78 18 – 8 Clifton Class ‘A’ Regional Runner-Up Coach Tom Weirgacz
1st Rd Beat St. Anne 61-59
Semi-Final Beat Donovan 63-48
Title Game lost to Watseka 77-71
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1978-79 26 – 2 Watseka Class ‘A’ Regional Runner-Up Coach Tom Weirgacz
1st Rd Beat Clifton Central 61-45
Semi-Final Beat St. Anne 74-55
Title Game lost to Watseka 69-60
From Dr. Rodney Merkle:
“Some of the top Basketball Players on the 1977-78 and 1978-1979 squads included John Gooding, Rich Gross, and Ken Laffoon. The 1978-79 team that was 26-2 lost both games to Watseka. Once during the Iroquois County Tournament championship game and also in the Regional championship game. Ironically the same player, Kenton Carley hit the winning shot in both games. The 1979-1980 team was lead by Rich Gross. The team captured three straight Iroquois Conference Championships 1977-78, 1978-79, and 1979-80. They were an excellent team that played the game the right way. Today, Ken Laffoon has done an outstanding job coaching the Danville (Iowa) Bears to two state basketball titles in class 2A earlier in this decade.
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1979-80 21 – 4 Watseka Class ‘A’ Regional Coach Tom Weirgacz
1st Rd Beat Crescent-Iroquois 73-63
Semi-Final lost to Kankakee Bishop McNamara 68-66
Watseka beat Bishop McNamara in title game.
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1980-81 14 – 9 Clifton Class ‘A’ Regional Coach John Spezia
1st Rd lost to Gilman 66-55
Watseka beat Crescent-Iroquois in title game.
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1981-82 11 – 12 Clifton Class ‘A’ Regional Coach John Spezia
1st Rd lost to Watseka 69-61
Watseka beat Crescent-Iroquois in title game.
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1982-83 13 – 9 Clifton Class ‘A’ Regional Coach Tom Crews
1st Rd lost to Clifton Central 60-59
Crescent-Iroquois beat Gilman in title game.
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1983-84 6 – 18 Onarga Class ‘A’ Regional Coach Tom Crews
1st Rd lost to Crescent Iroquois West 74-58
Mahomet-Seymour beat Gibson City in title game.
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1984-85 1 – 21 Watseka Class ‘A’ Regional Coach Joe Cowan
1st Rd lost to Milford 67-59
Watseka beat Crescent-Iroquois in title game.
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1985-86 9 – 16 Clifton Class ‘A’ Regional Coach Joe Cowan
1st Rd lost to Milford 76-54
Crescent-Iroquois West beat Milford in title game.
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1986-87 12 – 11 Watseka Class ‘A’ Regional Coach Joe Cowan
1st Rd lost to Clifton Central 50-41
Watseka beat Crescent-Iroquois in title game.
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1987-88 6 – 17 Herscher Class ‘A’ Regional Coach Ferdinand LeMarr
1st Rd lost to Clifton Central 82-65
Watseka beat Herscher in title game.
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1988-89 9 – 14 Postseason scores needed Coach Ferdinand LeMarr
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1989-90 6 – 19 Herscher Class ‘A’ Regional Coach Ferdinand LeMarr
1st Rd lost to Herscher 85-64
Crescent Iroquois beat Clifton Central in title game.
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1990-91 11 – 15 Clifton Class ‘A’ Regional Coach Tom Mulligan
1st Rd lost to Donovan 71-53
Clifton Central beat Donovan in title game.
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1991-92 17 – 9 Watseka Class ‘A’ Regional Coach Guy Skrobul
1st Rd lost to Donovan 92-71
Clifton Central beat Milford in title game.
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1992-93 16 – 12 Clifton Class ‘A’ Regional Runner-Up Coach Guy Skrobul
1st Rd Beat Clifton Central 66-50
Semi-Final Beat Watseka 66-62
Title Game lost to Crescent-Iroquois 67-65
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1993-94 9 – 17 Clifton Class ‘A’ Regional Coach Guy Skrobul
1st Rd lost to St. Anne 69-63
Watseka beat Crescent-Iroquois in title game.
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1994-95 7 – 15 Watseka Class ‘A’ Regional Coach Guy Skrobul
1st Rd lost to Clifton Central 62-60
Watseka beat Clifton Central in title game.
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1995-96 3 – 24 Clifton Class ‘A’ Regional Coach Guy Skrobul
1st Rd lost to Donovan 45-41
St. Anne beat Watseka in title game.
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1996-97 3 – 23 Watseka Class ‘A’ Regional Coach Kevin Warner
1st Rd lost to Watseka 77-38
Watseka beat Clifton Central in title game.
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1997-98 1 – 19 Postseason scores needed Donald Emerson
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1998-99 8 – 16 Postseason scores needed Donald Emerson
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1999-00 13 – 13 Postseason scores needed Donald Emerson
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2000-01 5 – 21 Postseason scores needed Donald Emerson
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2001-02 7 – 19 Clifton Class ‘A’ Regional Coach’s name needed.
1st Rd Beat Milton 62-60
Semi-Final lost to Gilman Iroquois West 72-53
Iroquois West beat St. Anne in title game
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2002-03 Onarga Class ‘A’ Regional Coach’s name needed.
*1st Rd lost to Clifton Central 87-74
*Final boys varsity basketball game for Sheldon High School.
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OVERALL BOYS BASKETBALL RECORD AT SHELDON HIGH SCHOOL:
981 wins, 744 losses .570 Winning % 67 Seasons Recorded
If we had some of the season records from the 1920s and early 1930s it is a fact that Sheldon High School would top the 1,000 win plateau in number of victories.
Incredibly Great History!!!
Sheldon Player Ken Laffoon:
Brenda Stewart tells us the folloiwing about former Sheldon All-Star Ken Laffoon (Class of 1979):
“Ken Laffoon, a graduate of Sheldon High School “79” has led Danville Iowa Bears to two State Class 2A Basketball Championships (2000-01and 2001-02) and a State Class 1A Runnerup in 2010-11.”
An update to the great coaching career of Ken Laffoon is as follows:
“Ken Laffoon has retired from coaching at Danville HS in Iowa with his induction into the 2019 Iowa State High School Boys Coaches Hall of Fame. Laffoon finished with a career record of 508-181.. He led the Bears to the State championship in 2000-01 and 2001-02, and runner up finishes in 2010-11 and 2011-12. He also lead the Bears to a third place finish in 2012-13, a 4th place finish in 2014-15 and a appearance in the 2015-16 state tournament.”
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Girls Basketball
Though not as long, the girls also recorded a measure of success in basketball. Team records and coach’s names are not available. The Lady Rams basketball team of 1980-81 brought home an IHSA Regional title! The girls were also the first Iroquois County tournament champs ion their sport. We are seeking in-put on other great seasons as well.
1975-76 Iroquois County Tournament Champions
1980-81 Regional Champions
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Boys Track & Field
One male athlete won a medal at the State Track Meet. His accomplishment is listed below.
1953-54 Charles Darrough 100 Yard Dash 5th Place
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Baseball
It is known that Sheldon had a baseball program during it’s existence. Towards the later years of the school, Sheldon was involved in a co-op with nearby Watseka High School. One of the great pitchers from Sheldon was Josh Harris. In 2000, Harris threw two no-hitters for the co-op. We are sure there were many other great baseball players, and other athletes, to walk the halls of Sheldon High.
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Great Coaches
As you can see by viewing the basketball success above, two coaches in Sheldon High School history really stick out. Their accomplishments are listed below.
Coach Kenneth Stephens:
337 – 110 Overall in 17 seasons (one season record not listed)
7 – District Championships
2 – Regional Championships
1 – 35 win season (1941-42 – 35 – 2)
9 – 20 win seasons
16 – Winning Seasons – never more than 9 losses
GREAT JOB COACH STEPHENS!
Coach Larry Seig:
219 – 96 Overall – 12 seasons
4 – District Championships
2 – Regional Championships
5 – 20+ win seasons
1960,61,62 – 81 – 9 in these three consecutive seasons!!
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| Sheldon High School Student Body 1906 |
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| Submitted by Connie Voss |
Asking For Your Help
If you have ANY more information regarding the great successes attained at Sheldon High School we are hopeful you will share them with us. If the above photo is not the former Sheldon HS building or if you have a better photo to offer we would welcome and add it to the site. Team photos and personal stories are also welcome. You can e-mail photos and information to us a ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net.
| Sheldon HS Bldg 2012 – Southside View |
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| Sheldon Grade School |
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| Sheldon, Illinois |
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