WAVERLY'S WIN WEDNESDAY IS END OF AN ERA; WAVERLY GRAD DAVE OWEN RECALLS FIRST GAME PLAYED IN 'NEW GYM;' JUDSON, TOMASSO, BIRNEY ALSO REFLECT (February 29, 2024)

By TIM BIRNEY
Valley Sports Report
WAVERLY — The Waverly boys basketball team played the last game in the original incarnation of the Waverly High School gymnasium Wednesday night, and retired it in grand fashion with a 60-48 win over Dryden in the Section IV, Class B semifinals.

(The gym is set for a total renovation beginning March 4.)

The Wolverines weren’t as fortunate in the first game played in the gym, a three-point loss to Sayre on Jan. 10, 1967.

Dave Owen, a 1968 Waverly grad affectionately known as "Big O" by those fortunate enough to know him, played in that first game. Owen went on to play collegiately at Utica College and still holds the single-game record for rebounds with 31.

Owen’s teammates that year were Sam McNett, Craig Dimon, Dean Chamberlain, Rich Ray, Eddie Robinson, Eric Collins, and Mark Chamberlain.

"Early in my junior year, we moved over into the new gym," said Owen. "We were 4-1, and had played every game in the little gym (Elm Street School, which was the high school).

"We were going to open up the gym against Sayre — at the time it was a big rivalry," Owen said. "We knew it was going to be a tough game, and there were a few jitters.

"(Sayre) had some good players, like Garnett Mower, Gerard Zeller, and Mike Dennis was a sophomore," said Owen. "It was a back-and-forth game, the lead changed hands the entire second half.

"I look back at it now … our best player, Dean Chamberlain, who was first-team all-SCL (Southern Counties League), got appendicitis earlier in the week. He played, but he probably wasn’t at full strength.

"Sayre pulled it out in the end," added Owen. "I still think of that gave every day."

Owen said the first time he and his teammates dribbled the ball on the floor was game night.

"We didn’t have any practice time on the floor, so we didn’t know what to expect," he said. "The first time we stepped on the floor was the night before the first game, and it was slippery … it felt like someone mopped it with grease."

The game, perhaps not at the time, was secondary, however, to the new gymnasium.

"Being in the that gym wasn’t really about the bigger court, because we played our road games on bigger courts," added Owen. "It was about the lighting, the locker room, the bleachers on both sides, the new smell, that was the big thing."

To put it in perspective, Owen began his varsity career playing in the old high school, which is now the Elm Street Elementary School.

"There was so much history in that gym. We really didn’t have a gym to compare it to, we always played in that gym — youth basketball, intra-murals — everything," said Owen.

"It was a band box," he noted. "The stage was on the sideline, nobody took the ball out-of-bounds on the side where the stage was. The benches were right on the floor … it felt like we were playing where they play the U.S. Open tennis — everyone was right on top of you.

"We would call a time out, and you could not hear (Coach Al) Geppert talk because the people were right there. You’d get kneed in the back by a fan during a time out, and people would grab you.

"The first time I came out of the locker room, I cut my head open on the exit sign at the entrance to the court," laughed Owen.

"In the big games, the bleachers would be packed," continued Owen. "The theater seats in the balcony would be packed, and they would open the curtains, and put rows of chairs four or five deep on the stage, and that would be packed. Then, you’d have noise coming at you from both sides."

Owen said Waverly may have lost a bit of a home-court advantage with the move to the new gym.

"I think the smaller court probably effected the other team more than it did us," he said. "I mean we beat Heights at home, and lost there in a close game, same with Horseheads.

"It was our place, it was a unique little gym," Owen added.

Owen notes the Wolverines regained a home-court advantage quickly, and only lost one other game on their home floor in his final two seasons.

Owens also notes he and his teammates, which included McNett, Eric Collins, Tom Palmer, Don Rogers, Rudy Drummond, Jimmy Capwell, and Marc Collins during his senior year went on to make life-long memories in the new gym, including winning the first Valley Christmas Tournament in December of 1967.

"We inaugurated (the Valley Christmas Tournament) in the new gym," said Owen. "It was Waverly, Bath, Athens, and Elmira Southside.

"We rolled Bath in the first night, and then played Southside in the finals," noted Owen. "You talk about games in that gym … Southside was undefeated at 8-0, and so were we.

"We didn’t know what to expect. Southside had beaten Athens by 11 the first night, and we knew Athens had a good squad.

"The second night was unbelievable. It was standing-room only … we were so fired up," said Owen.

"We beat them 91-83, they started running with us, and they couldn’t keep up. We had 91 points without the 3-pointer.

"The place was nuts," added Owen with a laugh. "That was probably the best game we ever played, and one of the great games in that gym."

The championship game was played on Owen’s birthday, and he was named MVP.

"Right after the Christmas tournament, we played Elmira Heights in the new gym," said Owen. "They were loaded, and had won three Section titles in a row.

"Eric Collins hit a jumper from the corner with 2 seconds remaining to beat them," he added. "The crowd was just like the Christmas Tournament, it was packed and nuts."

The most memorable game in the new gym for Owen, however, was his final home game.

"Athens took the lead, at 64-63, with 5 seconds to go. We called a time out, and had the ball at the far end of the court.

"We expected a full-court press, but coming out of the huddle, Gep said they might not come up because he had scouted them," said Owen. "Sure enough, Athens was in a half-court 2-2-1 … so Donnie Rogers rolls the ball to Sam McNett, then the Athens guards Gary Fairbanks and Ayres realize what’s happening, and go for the ball. Sam (McNett) grabs it, takes two or three dribbles, and shoots in a floater from just beyond the foul line.

"I’m headed into the paint to rebound, and the shot is nothing-but-net," laughed Owen. "We won the game at the buzzer, and we won the SVIAA (Susquehanna Valley Interscholastic Athletic Association) title in our first year in the league — it was icing on the cake.

"It was the last game I ever played on that floor, and I’ll never forget it," added Owen. "It was a great game, and I can still see that shot at the buzzer."

The Wolverines have only won two Section IV titles since moving into the new high school — 1972 and 1996.

Current head coach Lou Judson, in his 21st year, has his team in position to make it three after Wednesday night’s win over Dryden, thanks in large part to a 39-point performance by senior Joey Tomasso, who will leave WHS as the school’s all-time leading scorer, and tops among 3-point shooters.

Tomasso, who currently has 1,730 points and 172 3-pointers, was pleased to win his final game in his home gym.

"It’s another good way to go out," he said. "We went out in style in football, and this was a good way to go out in this gym.

"I have lot of good memories in this gym," noted Tomasso. "I’ve been playing in here for as long as I can remember, when I was real little, and obviously since 8th-grade on varsity … there is definitely a special connection for me, and it feels nice to go out with a big win, and a chance to play for a Section title."

Judson has many fond memories of the gym as well.

"I think it’s one of the greatest places to play a basketball game," he said. "The crowd is right on top of you … everyone is in the moment, it’s a great atmosphere, and the community has always supported us.

"I don’t think there’s a better gym in the area to be able to get that feel for a high school basketball game.

"We’re definitely going to miss it, we’ve had some very special moments in this gym, tonight probably being the second-best moment for me, winning a semi-final game," added Judson.

The top moment for Judson was watching his team clinch its first berth in the Section IV champions game during his tenure.

"I’d say beating Seton Catholic in the semi-final game in 2015, after they beat us by three points the previous year. and they returned most of their guys; that was a pretty good win.

"Tonight, ranks right up there with it, though," Judson added.

Judson said the end of an era is bittersweet.

"It’s tough to say good-bye, we’ve had some outstanding games in this gym, but I am looking forward to the new gym as well," he said with a smile.

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FROM THE AUTHOR: I have a ton of memories in that gym as well — as a fan, a player, and for the last 35 years as a sportswriter.


The 1984-85 (the year after I graduated) team, led by Pat Bonning, Gino Higgins, Jason Moore, and Craig Mennig also reached the Arena, but fell short of the elusive Section IV title.

Dave Bennett became Waverly’s all-time leading scorer in the early ‘90s, but it was a short-lived record as Dave Sickler topped the mark in 1994, and held it until this year.

(I’ve said this before, but I’ll say it again: Lou Judson and Dave Sickler are the two best all-around players I’ve ever covered on a daily basis. Both rarely made mental mistakes, and were so smooth with the basketball in their hands. That said, Joey Tomasso may be the best offensive players I’ve covered. He can score from anywhere, and uses his body against taller defenders in the paint to get to the free-throw line with regularity.)

My favorite memories in the Waverly gym as a sportswriter are of the 1996 Section IV title team, led by seniors Robbie Ward and Kevin Wheeler, junior Brandon Uhl, and sophomores Kevin and Aaron Holler, with Brian Gray, Ryan Parks, Cory Robinson, and Josh Correll among others coming off the bench.

Shortly after that, Katie Histed graced the WHS court, and to this day is the best female player I’ve ever seen on a day-to-day basis.

Flash ahead to the teams in the early 2010s and the Waverly teams with Nick Zwierlein, and Ryan Hewitt dominating the IAC.

In 2016, high-scoring Hunter Bodine, who set most of the 3-point records and single-game points record that Tomasso broke in the last two season, led Waverly back to the Arena.

Scott Woodring, currently playing at Mansfield, a wonderfully talented 6-8 big man would have broken Sickler’s scoring record in 2020 had it not been for a knee injury suffered prior his junior season.