1940's All-Decade Honorable Mention Team Announced

It turns out my fear of the 1940’s All-Decade team was unfounded as research over the past couple of weeks has led to another solid three teams. Having not been around during that time, I can really only base my selections on the information I have so I have again left some worthy candidates off the list. If any of them are reading, I sincerely apologize.

The 1940’s were a groundbreaking time for the smallest classification. It finally received it’s own tournament, separate from the big schools with equal representation. It had some very good players and teams including the 1944 Powers state champions who some watching the tournament felt could have taken on “A” school champion Ashland and given them a good game.

World War II took many of our nation’s finest boys and forced them to grow up much too fast. Rationing and reassessment of priorities led to smaller state tournaments as citizens were encouraged to forsake their own desires for that of the nation. And the nation complied.

Then, with the war won and the US standing tall as the most powerful nation in the world the little brothers of our soldiers took to the floors and fields throughout the country to begin the slow healing process from the devastating war. They were years of unparalleled prosperity and security for the United States. A complete 180 from the Depression years and the war years of the past 15-20 years. Our boys and girls could be kids again!

The 1940’s were epic in terms of national events and monuments. In the much smaller scheme of small town basketball in Oregon, they were no less epic.

Click the "Read More" link to see the 1940's Honorable Mention Team.

Guards
Earl Elkington – Umapine – Umapine, located in Umatilla County, actually made four trips to the state tournament before 1950. They went back-to-back in 1935 and 1936 and then again in 1948 and 1949. Elkington, a 5-7 guard helped lead the Chiefs into the state tournament in 1949 and was a good scoring guard. He tallied 11 points in each of the first two games of the ’49 tournament, including 11 in a 51-45 loss to Jacksonville in the semifinals. In the third place game, Union, one of the top programs in the state during that era, defeated Elkington and the Chiefs 51-33 with Elkington scoring eight points for Umapine.

Ralph Wallace – Monroe – Possibly the younger brother to former Bellfountain standout Harrison Wallace, Ralph moved over to Monroe when Bellfountain closed its doors not long after the championship run. Wallace led Monroe with 27 points in the two state tournament games, barely edging out Butte Falls forward Eddie Ellis for scoring honors. Monroe won two close games at the state tournament in 1940, knocking off Helix 19-17 in the first round and outlasting Butte Falls 42-38 in a thrilling overtime game to capture the state “B” title.

Forwards

Bob Hoefs – Butte Falls (pictured at right) – Hoefs was a two-time first team All-State tournament player for Butte Falls. Hoefs was the MVP of the 1939 tournament after scoring 20 points in two games and teaming with fellow forward Eddie Ellis to lead the Loggers to the “B” championship contest vs. Monroe where they were undone by a high-powered Oakridge team. Hoefs led the Loggers back to the state title game in 1940, only to lose the close one to Monroe in overtime. Hoefs tallied 37 points in four games over two years at the state tournament.

Eddie Ellis – Butte Falls (pictured at left) – Ellis and running mate Hoefs were a handful for opponents during the height of Butte Falls’ run in the early 40’s. Ellis came back in 1940 after earning second team honors in 1939 to capture 1st team honors in 1940. Ellis was second to Wallace in the 1940 scoring race with 26 points in the two-games of the “B” tournament. Though I have no stats for Butte Falls’ contest with Baker in the 1940 consolation game against Baker, Ellis and teammate Hoefs had to factor in heavily in a 34-32 double overtime loss.

Center

Ray O’Neil – Corbett – O’Neil manned the center slot for the Cardinals in their first ever trip to the state tournament in 1941. It was a successful run, as the Cardinals advanced all the way to the state finals before losing to Wesport, who was in the middle of an incredible run of four-straight state tournament trips. O’Neil made the Cardinals click and led the 1941 tournament in scoring after tallying 50 points in the three games. He led off with 18 of Corbett’s 28 points in a 28-23 win over Lowell in the first round game. The Cardinals breezed into the finals after a 40-18 win over Reedsport in the semifinals where O’Neil scored 14 points. In the finals, battling Westport’s star center Don Nelson, O’Neil poured in 18 points in a 52-34 loss. He was the second-highest vote getter during the 1941 tournament to Wesport’s Nelson though Nelson didn’t even crack the Top-5 in scoring.

Others

Lawrence Tuom – Wesport (pictured at right) – Tuom, the 6-1 forward was second to Ray O’Neil in scoring at the 1941 tournament. Tuom was a part of three-straight state tournament trips with Westport and was named second team All-State as a sophomore and first team all-state as a senior in 1941 when Westport captured the state championship.

Jack Bradbury – Drain – Bradbury led Union to the 1949 state championship over Alsea. Bradbury played in the frontcourt for Union and led the 1949 tournament in scoring with 38 points in three games. He was second to teammate Frank Baum in the all-tourney voting.

Doug Strahm – Arlington – Not a high-scorer for Arlington but helped lead the Honkers to a third place finish in 1941. Twice named to the all-district tournament team.

Buster Clough – Arlington – Clough, like Strahm, was a two-time all-district performer and played a key role on Arlington’s back-to-back state tourney teams in 1941 and 1942. Clough was the third highest vote-getter in the 1942 tournament, despite his teams’ 1-2 finish in the tournament.