In photo, kneeling from left, are: Curtis Archer, Greg Parkin, Shawn VanSlyke, Doug Schindler and Seth Halftown. Standing are Mike Miller, Tim Boswell, Mark McHale and Jim Hassett. Missing from photo are Doug Lay and Coach Mark Benton.
A trip down memory lane
Twenty years ago, the Gowanda Varsity Boys' Basketball Team captured the CCIAC Division I championship and finished the season with 15 wins and four losses. Twice during the 1983-84 campaign, Gowanda defeated Dunkirk, which was the No. 1 ranked team in Western New York. Playing in front of another full house at the GCS gym, Gowanda lost to Buffalo Traditional 87-75 in the sectional playoffs.
Following the season, seniors Shawn VanSlyke and Tim Boswell were selected to the first all-star team and voted co-Players of the Year in the CCIAC. High-scoring junior Doug Schindler made the second all-star team. Unsung heroes Seth Halftown and Mike Miller, both juniors, received honorable mention. Mark McHale played consistently all year as the team's sixth man while Greg Parkin was very dependable in the front court. Jim Hassett, Curtis Archer and Doug Lay played valuable minutes in various situations throughout the season as the Panthers won several close games.
The team's coach Mark Benton, a former first team all-star at Gowanda, was voted "Coach of the Year."