IHSA's March Madness -- 1956 Boys

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1956 Boys Summary

Boys - Girls | 1955 — 1957

Rockford (West)
State Champions
Front row, left to right: Alex Saudargas, Bob Washington, John Wessels, Nolden Gentry, Don Slaughter, Tom Blake. Second row: Jack Flynn, Craig Peeples, Roger Peacock, Jay Health, Chad Coffman, Max Warner.

Box Scores of All Games
Super-Sectionals
Quincy (Sr.) 52, Springfield (Lanphier) 48
Edwardsville (H.S.) 73, Effingham (St. Anthony) 68
Peoria (H.S.) 66, LaSalle (L.-Peru) 58
Oak Park (O.P.-River Forest) 62, Chicago Heights (Bloom Twp.) 57
Rockford (West) 66, Galesburg (H.S.) 64 (2 OT)
West Frankfort (Frankfort) 45, Pinckneyville 42
Chicago (Dunbar) 88, Winnetka (New Trier) 56
Rantoul 79, Taylorville 74
Quarterfinals
Edwardsville (H.S.) 68, Quincy (Sr.) 44
Oak Park (O.P.-River Forest) 63, Peoria (H.S.) 48
Rockford (West) 82, West Frankfort (Frankfort) 70
Chicago (Dunbar) 73, Rantoul 58
Semifinals
Edwardsville (H.S.) 88, Oak Park (O.P.-River Forest) 61
Rockford (West) 61, Chicago (Dunbar) 48
Third Place
Chicago (Dunbar) 73, Oak Park (O.P.-River Forest) 56
Final
Rockford (West) 67, Edwardsville (H.S.) 65

Summary of State Finalists

   School                      Coach                     W-L Enroll
1  Rockford (West)             Alex Saudargas           28-1   1560
2  Edwardsville (H.S.)         Joe Lucco                28-6    889
3  Chicago (Dunbar)            Erwin "Dutch" Rittmeyer  29-4   2102
4  Oak Park (O.P.-River Forest Harry Kinert             18-9   2480
   Peoria (H.S.)               Dawson "Dawdy" Hawkins   25-5   1550
   Quincy (Sr.)                George Latham            27-6   1100
   Rantoul                     Carlos Van Auron         23-8    400
   West Frankfort (Frankfort)  George Iubelt           21-11    754
   Chicago Heights (Bloom Twp. Bert Moore               18-2       
   Effingham (St. Anthony)     Jim Belz                 29-2       
   Galesburg (H.S.)            John Thiel               26-3       
   LaSalle (L.-Peru)           Gene Vance               20-7       
   Pinckneyville               Merrill "Duster" Thomas  29-4       
   Springfield (Lanphier)      Arlyn Lober              22-7       
   Taylorville                 Robert Lyons            13-17       
   Winnetka (New Trier)        Charles Lauer            18-8

Top Scorers

Scoring Totals of All Teams

Player and School                               G  FG  FT Pts
John Wessels, Rockford (West)                   4  42  23 107
Mannie Jackson, Edwardsville (H.S.)             4  40  14  94
Govoner Vaughn, Edwardsville (H.S.)             4  39  14  92
Mel Davis, Chicago (Dunbar)                     4  40  10  90
Alphra Saunders, Chicago (Dunbar)               4  28  17  73
Don Slaughter, Rockford (West)                  4  21  11  53
Roger Horsky, Oak Park (O.P.-River Forest)      4  19  15  53
Nolden Gentry, Rockford (West)                  4  18  14  50
Joe Comeford, Oak Park (O.P.-River Forest)      4  16  13  45
Charles Dixon, Chicago (Dunbar)                 4  17   9  43
Rod Hartless, Oak Park (O.P.-River Forest)      4  18   7  43

All-Tournament Team

Player & School                              Ht.    Yr.  
Nolden Gentry, Rockford (West)               6-7    Sr.    
Mannie Jackson, Edwardsville (H.S.)          6-2    Sr.    
Don Slaughter, Rockford (West)               6-3    Sr.    
Govoner Vaughn, Edwardsville (H.S.)          6-3    Sr.    
John Wessels, Rockford (West)                6-7    Sr.

AP Final Regular-Season Poll

No  School                                   W-L
 1  Rockford (West)                         19-1
 2  Herrin (H.S.)                           24-2
 3  Galesburg (H.S.)                        21-2
 4  Pinckneyville                           24-3
 5  Edwardsville (H.S.)                     20-5
 6  Peoria (H.S.)                           19-4
 7  Moline (H.S.)                           17-6
 8  Mt. Vernon (H.S.)                       19-5
 9  Lincoln                                 21-2
10  Rock Island (H.S.)                      16-7
11  Shawneetown                             26-0
12  Quincy (Sr.)                            21-5
13  Salem                                   21-4
14  Collinsville                            20-6
15  LaSalle (L.-Peru)                       
16  Joliet (Catholic Academy)

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