‘Cinderella Bulldogs’ upset Worland to win first state championship in 1953

When the Lovell Bulldogs beat Cody 44-40 on March 15 to win the Class 3A state championship, it was Lovell’s 10^th boys basketball championship in school history.

The Bulldogs also brought home the big trophy in 1953, 1963, 1979, 1986, 1987, 1992, 2002, 2003 and 2013.

Here’s a look back at Lovell’s first state championship in 1953.

The Bulldogs, under new head coach Dean Larsen, a Utah State University graduate, were deemed a Cinderella team when they won it all in 1953, going 3-0 in Powell to win the Class A title. The Bulldogs beat Lusk 61-53 in the first round and Reliance (just north of Rock Springs) 70-50 in the semifinals before what the Powell Tribune said was “an estimated crowd of nearly 4,000 fans after a daytime blizzard.”

Lovell then upset Worland 70-65 Saturday in a championship game “played before nearly 4,500 excited, roaring and approving fans,” the Tribune reported.

The Bulldogs had placed third at the Big Horn Basin District Tournament in Riverton the previous weekend, falling to Worland 65-56 in the first round Thursday, then battling back to eliminate Cody 51-45 Friday and host Riverton 62-53 Saturday morning. Lovell beat Greybull 62-50 Saturday evening to place third.

Playing close to home in Powell for the state Class A tournament, Lovell met Lusk, champions of the Southeast District, in the first round on Thursday and beat the Tigers 61-53 in what the Lovell Chronicle described as a “thriller finish.”

“The score was tied 12 times during the fast battle – four times in the first quarter, four in the second and four in the final period,” the Lovell Chronicle reported. “But it was bounding sophomore Larry Felt, who poured in 16 points, who kept the Bulldogs in the game.

“Lusk held the lead at the half and a 43-to-38 bulge at the three-quarter mark. Lovell moved ahead to a 45-45 tie with six minutes to go. Lusk held the lead briefly once more at 53 to 52. From there, Lovell spurted ahead and won by an eight-point margin.”

After Felt’s 16 points, Chuck Wagner scored 15, Bill Hovis 12, Ron Morrison 9, Alvin Johnson 5 and Ron Bergslein 3. (Reported scoring adds up to 60.)

Semifinal over Reliance

The Chronicle reported that the Bulldogs “had little trouble with the boys from Reliance” in a Friday semifinal contest.

“Wagner was the sparkplug of the Bulldog attack, racking up 21 points for his night’s outing. Four others helped the cause – Hugh Frame with 11, Felt with 12, Hovis with 10 and Morrison with 12.”

Ellis Brinkerhoff scored 4 points off the bench, and other substitutes were Johnson, Dee Cozzens, Dan Bischoff and Bergslein.

According to the story, the Bulldogs showed that they “meant business” from the start of the game, “scooting to a 19 to 9 (first) quarter lead and stretching it to 34 to 15 at intermission. They went into the last quarter leading 54 to 32.”

Lovell went on to win 70-50.

Championship game

The championship game was reported in a flamboyant fashion by the Chronicle on March 19, 1953, with the headline “Coach Larsen’s Bulldogs Win Class ‘A’ Ball Title!” A subhead read “Coach Makes Most Startling Record in History of High School Basketball – Team Whips Into Shape Late in Season to Place Third in Sub-State Meet – Finals at State Tourney Leave No Question About Superior Morale, Condition and Ability of Lovell Boys.”

The actual article begins, “All the hopes and dreams of Lovell high school basketball fans, both students and loyal townspeople, as well as a large number of rooters from neighboring communities, came true at the final game of the Wyoming state class A basketball playoff in Powell last Saturday evening when Coach Dean Larsen’s Bulldogs played one of the smoothest games of high school basketball ever staged in Wyoming.

“Taking command when the first whistle started the game, the Bulldogs never faltered for four full quarters as they outclassed and outplayed the Worland Warriors with a final score of 70 to 65.”

The Chronicle continued that, thanks to the strong play of all-state players “Chuck Wagner, playmaker, and Hugh Frame, center” the Bulldogs jumped out to a 23-11 after the first quarter and held a 38-25 lead at halftime and a 53-44 advantage after three.

Lovell held off Worland to win by five, 70-65.

“Through deadly feeding by Wagner, Frame of Lovell was able to dunk 21 points to lead the champs, while Wagner picked up 18 and Larry Felt counted 12,” the Chronicle wrote. “Ron Morrison played the finest game of his high school career for Lovell, both on defense and offense (9 points). Bill Hovis, Bulldog regular, became ill just before game time and had to sit out most of the contest (5 points). Alvin Johnson substituted in fine fashion (4), as did Ron Bergslein (1).”

Larry Moncur was also a member of the squad, and Glenn Engelking served as an assistant coach.

Coach Larsen and the team wrote a letter of thanks that appeared on the front page of the paper that week. After noting the “remarkable support” from the citizens of Lovell, the letter concluded, “We acknowledge the fact that much of our success has been due to this fine spirit of support over the years.”

The team was honored the following Monday with a ‘victory banquet’ organized by the Lovell Chamber of Commerce and held at the Burlington Café in Lovell, with Frank H. Brown acting as master of ceremonies. The team and coaches were honored, along with principal Chester “Chris” Christiansen and Superintendent Ralph Belnap.

L.E. Andresen presented each of the players a gold chain to carry the gold basketballs they had each been presented as tournament champions. Coach Larsen was presented a gold watch engraved with “Coach of the Year 1953.” Engelking was presented a table radio for his work.

Ardent fan Merrill Clague presented the team an autographed basketball he had obtained from the world champion Minneapolis Lakers, having known a Lakers coach during his own coaching career.

Cody attorney Joe Fitstephens was the principal speaker at the banquet and in what the Chronicle described as a “sincere and inspiring address” noted how the team always stayed in games “with the odds many times against them.”

A decorated cake from the Scott Bakery was also presented to the team by master of ceremonies Brown.