In 1922 tiny Joseph high school out of Wallowa County, worked its way through the Eastern Oregon district to join Astoria, Ashland, Pendleton, Eugene, Newberg, North Bend and Redmond in Salem. Early in the 1922 campaign, the state association handed down a key decision that may have been critical in helping Joseph reach the state tournament.
At the ’21 state basketball tournament, the Baker Bulldogs had used an ineligible player who was over age and in fact was considered a professional. That the player, Blakely, was dominating the teams at the tournament was no surprise and Baker figured to have the title in the bag before news broke of Blakely’s past.
Then, in the fall of 1921, Baker was rolling along on the gridiron, running up good scores en route to a strong record in eastern Oregon. District 1 foe Prairie City learned early in the season that Baker was again using an ineligible player on the football field and protested to the state association.
The player in question was Lloyd Tunnicliffe was actually 21 and had competed more than four years of high school. Prairie City protested early in the season but Baker continued to use Tunnicliffe during the season. When the state association learned of Baker’s disregard of the rule, they had no option but to ban the Bulldogs from interscholastic competition for the school year. [1]
The association’s decision to ban Baker was the correct decision and was a clear sign to other schools to reconsider breaking the rules.
It was also a decision that may have altered the 1922 eastern Oregon basketball season. Without the district’s biggest school, schools like Joseph, Haines and Enterprise found themselves in a heated playoff race in late February. Down the stretch in the 1922 season, the Jo-Hi Eagles had stiff competition from Enterprise and Haines. As of late February, Enterprise led the league but suffered their first loss of the season after a 24-10 loss to La Grande. The night before, the Joseph Herald reported sarcastically that Enterprise “did the unexpected by defeating the Elgin team on the Apple Pickers own floor, a feat which all other teams in the district were able to accomplish.” But in the game, star guard Tippets suffered a sprained ankle and he was unable to play against La Grande. [2]
The loss to the La Granders was important because it was the Enterprise’s first loss of the season and it came to a La Grande team that had already been eliminated from playoff consideration. Union and Elgin were also eliminated by late February leaving just Joseph, Enterprise and Haines in the race.
With Enterprise now in the loss column, Joseph and Haines were now back in the playoff mix with two losses apiece.
With three games to play, Joseph had to beat Haines once, and Enterprise twice to advance to the state tournament.
Both Joseph and Enterprise handled Haines easily setting up a two-game match-up for the championship. Jo-Hi, with one less loss than Enterprise, had to defeat the county-seaters twice, once in Joseph and once on the home floor of enterprise.
Before the game, the Joseph Herald talked about the impending showdown and where Joseph stood:“From what has been seen of the work of both teams, there is strong suspicion that Joseph will take the measure of the county-seaters on the local floor. The tables may be turned on them when they play at Enterprise but (Joseph coach) Jury’s boys play a mighty fast game here at home…” [3]
Another area of concern for Joseph and the Joseph press was the issue of refereeing. Interesting that during this era, there were no ref associations so oftentimes a coach from another team would ref the contest or someone even attached to a school competing would referee the game. This wasn’t going to be the case when Joseph and Enterprise hooked up.
“The authorities of both schools have agreed on a strictly neutral referee, Rosenbaum of La Grande, who has refereed some of the outside games of the two team and the style of playing is to be left to him.” [4]
The paper goes on to encourage the fans and spectators to behave themselves during the heated contest.
“Let us see that order is kept along the sidelines and that both teams be given every advantage to put up a good, clean exhibition. There is a position of honor to be attained by the winner and the cleaner the victory the higher that honor.” [5]
Finally the day arrived and the town was abuzz. Sensing a large crowd, school officials organized for the installation of bleachers on the stage behind the basket, increasing the capacity of the gym. They also roped off the floor, guaranteeing the players full run of the floor.
Turns out, school officials were spot on.
Over 500 fans crammed into the local gymnasium to witness the biggest game in school history.
[Editor’s note:] I wonder what this scene was like. Since photos from this era are all black and white, I often imagine the scene in black and white. But I’ll bet the gym was full of color. School colors, letter sweaters, hand painted signs on the walls. Color everywhere. What did the crowd cheer? Did they yell at the referee? Did they make noise during foul shots? Did they stand up as one and chant “Deee-Fense” when Jo-Hi was on defense? It is fascinating to me to consider.
With over 500 fans shoehorned into the Jo-Hi gym, the local lads took care of Enterprise to the delight of the hometown supporters. Led by Ted Mays, Joseph won the game but the paper does not mention the final score in its write-up.Mays was active all game and his “work was so much appreciated by the opponents that two of their men were usually attempting to guard him.” [6]
“Altogether, the boys did splendid work and won a good, clean victory.” [7]
Enterprise was no match for Joseph this night. Despite good teamwork, Enterprise had no one man “who could register like Mays…but Kenneth Wrenn made a fine record of throwing fouls.” [8]
The victory tied Joseph and Enterprise in the standings. Enterprise had taken the measure of Jo-Hi in Enterprise earlier in the season and probably had to be favored to win the title and the trip to Salem. But the Jo-Hi lads surely must have been confident with the season on the line.
On March 11, 1922, Joseph and Enterprise met at Enterprise, the county seat of Wallowa County. Both towns filled the gym with a cacophony of spirit and noise urging their team on to victory.
The Joseph Herald described the scene, “There was an immense crowd present…every available inch of space was taken and many were compelled to be content with an occasional glimpse of the teams.” [9]
According to the paper, over $200 was taken in from the gate receipts.
Enterprise showed their usual brand of crisp passing with a patient offense and looked to control the game. As was the case in the game against Joseph, their “basket shooting” left something to be desired yet they still clung to a slim lead.
Things looked dire for Joseph until an injury to Allen Wrenn’s eye forced the center to retire from the contest. Aftr Wrenn left, Joseph seized the momentum.Gradually, Joseph chipped into the lead until they cut the lead to just one point, 28-27 with the end in sight. Then, Ted Mays came to Joseph’s rescue again and tossed in a basket to give the visitors a 29-28 lead. Joseph held onto the lead in the final seconds, as their defense denied the county-seaters the winning basket.
When the horn sounded, Jo-Hi had a 29-28 victory and chance to venture all the way across the state to the state capital in Salem.
Surely the boys returned home conquering heroes. Did Ted Mays have to buy a hamburger in Joseph that week? I seriously doubt it. Was he able to do his job at Ed Eben’s grocery store without a local popping in and slapping him on the back and complimenting him on his basket-tossing and fast play against the rivals from Enterprise? Again, I seriously doubt it.
The town celebrated its champions with banquets and feasts and parties until it was time to load the coaches and players onto the train for the long voyage across the state, out of Wallowa County, down the Columbia and into the Willamette Valley.While the 46 remaining members of the Joseph high school waited back in town, the Jo-Hi quintet pulled into Salem hoping to pull off an upset. But in reality, it would take a miracle for Joseph to pull off a win.
Joseph didn’t get a good draw, pulling Eugene high school out of the bag for the first round. With a student population of 744, Eugene clearly had the advantage in numbers.
After the long trek across the state, the Eagles played hard but were roundly hammered, 65-7 by Eugene. The loss knocked the Wallowa County champs from the tournament. In the romp Eugene had five players score in double figures. Joseph had just three players score led by forward Desler, who tossed in four of Joseph’s eight points. [8]
“Boys had Nice Trip” declared the Joseph Herald on March 23, 1922. They didn’t win a game in Salem but the outcome was secondary. The highlight of the season had to be the final week of the regular season, when ‘ol Mays led the Jo-Hi cagers out of Eastern Oregon and into the capital city for a chance to play with the big boys.
To the eight boys representing Joseph high school, Eastern Oregon Champs had just as sweet a ring to is as State Champs.
[1] “Baker School is Suspended,” Joseph Herald, 2 February 1922, Page 1
[2] “Championship Decided Soon,” Joseph Herald, February 23, 1922 Page 1
[3] “Stage is Set for Big Battle,” Joseph Herald, March 2, 1922, Page 1
[4] Ibid
[5] Ibid
[6] “District Title Still in Doubt,” Joseph Herald, March 9, 1922, Page 1
[7] Ibid
[8] Ibid
[9] “District Title Won by Joseph,” Joseph Herald, March 16, 1922, Page 1
[10] “Boys had Nice Trip,” Joseph Herald, March 23, 1922, Page 1
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