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I recently found my old program to this game....played 64 years ago in Peoria
The US Olympic Basketball team took on the AAU Peoria Caterpillar Cats at Robertson Memorial Fieldhouse on 10/27/1956
The Olympians were playing the AAU 'Cats' as a warmup in preparation for the '56 'Summer' Olympic games to be held in Melbourne, Australia in late November...the 'Summer' games were held late as the Australian seasons were the reverse of the US.
The Peoria Cats played the Olympians even until the 1 minute mark - with a minute left, the score was tied 67-67....Olympian 6'8 forward Burdy Haldorson (from AAU champ Phillips 66/U of Colorado) scored for a 69-67 lead with 55 seconds remaining.
Cats' 6'9 center BH Born(mentioned earlier in a post down the page a ways)then missed a hook -rebounded by US Olympic center Bill Russell 6'10 (U of San Fran) -who quickly got an outlet pass to his old college teammate -guard KC Jones.
KC was fouled by Cat's star guard Howie Crittenden (Murray St) on a steal attempt...with KC Jones making both FTs (1 & 1 bonus)... USA 71 Cat 67
A turnover gave the ball back to the Olympians again & once again Crittenden fouled KC Jones while attempting another steal...Jones hit two more FTs
Final
US Olympic team 73 Caterpillar Cats 67
KC Jones led the Olympians with 19 pts -Bill Russell had 18...another star for the Olympic squad who was no stranger to Robertson Field House was former St Louis U star 6'5 Dick Boushka ....a 3 time all Missouri Valley selection.
Jim Bingham '65 (E Kentucky) led the Cats with 17 pts, followed by Howie Crittenden's 14.
The US Olympic BB team would go on to win the Gold Medal in Australia...winning all 8 games...beating the Silver Medal winning Russians twice.
Bill Russell, who had delayed joining the NBA Celtics to play for the US Olympic team, joined the Celtics after the games & still managed to play in 48 of the Celtics 72 games as a rookie - leading Boston to the NBA title over the St Louis Hawks
The US Olympic Basketball team took on the AAU Peoria Caterpillar Cats at Robertson Memorial Fieldhouse on 10/27/1956
The Olympians were playing the AAU 'Cats' as a warmup in preparation for the '56 'Summer' Olympic games to be held in Melbourne, Australia in late November...the 'Summer' games were held late as the Australian seasons were the reverse of the US.
The Peoria Cats played the Olympians even until the 1 minute mark - with a minute left, the score was tied 67-67....Olympian 6'8 forward Burdy Haldorson (from AAU champ Phillips 66/U of Colorado) scored for a 69-67 lead with 55 seconds remaining.
Cats' 6'9 center BH Born(mentioned earlier in a post down the page a ways)then missed a hook -rebounded by US Olympic center Bill Russell 6'10 (U of San Fran) -who quickly got an outlet pass to his old college teammate -guard KC Jones.
KC was fouled by Cat's star guard Howie Crittenden (Murray St) on a steal attempt...with KC Jones making both FTs (1 & 1 bonus)... USA 71 Cat 67
A turnover gave the ball back to the Olympians again & once again Crittenden fouled KC Jones while attempting another steal...Jones hit two more FTs
Final
US Olympic team 73 Caterpillar Cats 67
KC Jones led the Olympians with 19 pts -Bill Russell had 18...another star for the Olympic squad who was no stranger to Robertson Field House was former St Louis U star 6'5 Dick Boushka ....a 3 time all Missouri Valley selection.
Jim Bingham '65 (E Kentucky) led the Cats with 17 pts, followed by Howie Crittenden's 14.
The US Olympic BB team would go on to win the Gold Medal in Australia...winning all 8 games...beating the Silver Medal winning Russians twice.
Bill Russell, who had delayed joining the NBA Celtics to play for the US Olympic team, joined the Celtics after the games & still managed to play in 48 of the Celtics 72 games as a rookie - leading Boston to the NBA title over the St Louis Hawks
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