Beech Tree News Network

        Butler Co. High School Boys Basketball history 1960-61. America was entering a new decade. The USA had just elected President John F. Kennedy on the national and world front. America faced many new challenges from the communist USSR (*Soviet Union). On the home front, The Civil Rights Movement was sweeping the nation, especially in the deep South. 

        On the local news, Morgantown, Kentucky, and Butler County High School were looking forward to an upcoming basketball season. Now for you younger ones… FACTS to know: Girls basketball did not exist in Kentucky, and BCHS did NOT have a football program. So, for the small Morgantown and Butler Co. community, fans packed the gym on game nights to watch the Bears. 

        Again, for you younger readers, the high schools in the area of 1960-61 had names you will not be familiar with, but those of you who watched and grew up in that era will know them well. The BCHS roster was as follows: Hal White, Joel Duke, Tommy Burden, Darrel Burden, Ronald Smith, Tony Beliles, Johnny Tuck, Larry Guffy, Tod Porter, Albert Porter, Jim West, Billy Warren, Horace Hammers. 

          The Bears opponents of this season were as follows: Lewisburg HS, Beaver Dam HS, Drakesboro HS, Graham HS, Lewisport HS, Leitchfield HS, Fordsville HS, Hughes Kirk HS, Clarkson HS, Centertown HS, Park City HS, College High HS, Greenville HS, Munfordville HS, High Street HS, Irvington HS, Meade Co HS, Bowling Green HS, Central City HS, Russellville HS, Hart Memorial HS, Edmonson Co. HS, Owensboro Catholic HS, Muhlenberg Central HS. 

             The Bear's veteran head coach, Bill Warren, was in his ninth season and put a magical run at the end of the season in District and Regional play. The Bears would host and win the district in late February 1961 with three wins. Districts were much larger in that era; the Bears won over Edmonson Co. 66-64 in game one, then beat Leitchfield 58-55 in the semifinals. The Bears won 61-49 in the district championship over Caneyville High School.  

               In the regional tournament in March 1961, the Bears won the opening round game over Central City HS 71-69; stats note that senior Tod Porter hit a game-winning shot. In the semifinals, the Bears won over Irvington HS by a score of 71-49. The Region 4 championship Butler Co. would take on Beaver Dam HS for a chance to a first-ever trip to the KHSAA Boys State tournament. But Beaver Dam High School won the Regional Finals by a score of 74-67. 

The Regional All-Tournament team included three BCHS Bears, Tod Porter, Billy Warren, and Jim West. The Bears ended the 1960-61 season with a record of 21-12, District champions and Region 4 Runner Up. Again, thank you for the memories of Coach Bill Warren and the team of 1960-61. 

Note* research and photos thank Mrs. Stacy Rice, BCHS Librarian, and David Clark Butler Co. Sports historian and stats.