1974-75                         Return to Year-by-Year                      HOME

 STATE CHAMPIONS  5A: Hutchinson  4A: Salina Central  3A: Parsons  2A: Sacred Heart-Salina  1A: Natoma

     Hayden Side in 1975 - Bueltel Activities Center.

                    Hayden returned as Centennial League Champion for the first time since the Bueltel era. Coach Bartley had an experienced team that at times dominated their opponents. Kevin Lutz and Joe Cassidy led the offense to big wins over Topeka West, Seaman and 3A Sub-State foes. The team was ranked in the 3A top five for most of the year. 

                     Early in the season, Hayden suffered 2 upset losses on the home court. Leavenworth took advantage of the team's lack of intensity and Shawnee Heights did the same (although several starters for Hayden were fighting the flu).  Still, the team seemed to have it together when they faced Highland Park for the championship of the Topeka Invitational. Highland Park overcame an earlier 20 point loss with great defense and rebounding to hold off Hayden's bid for a first ever post-Christmas tournament championship.

                      Interest was high for the re-match Centennial League game at Hayden 2-4-75. Reporter Alan Askew described the triple OT win by Hayden as "one of the best High School basketball games" ever played in Topeka. 3,000 fans jammed the Hayden court to see Kevin Lutz sink 2 free throws with 2 seconds left in regulation to apparently sew up the victory. Clifton Lewis, of Highland Park,  threw in a 40 footer off the backboard as time expired to send the game into overtime . In the first OT there was little scoring and Highland Park took the last shot that missed for the chance to win. In the second OT neither team was able to score. Hayden finally scored a basket when Highland Park's excellent defense cracked slightly allowing Mike Christian an easy score. Mike Halpin was fouled rebounding a missed Highland Park shot with 4 seconds left. He hit 2 free throws for the final 4 point margin of victory. The emotionally drained crowd saw the score tied 12 times and the lead change 22 times. During the celebration, Coach Bartley called the game the "greatest win he ever had."  (TDC & TSJ game reports). 

                     Hayden slipped at Topeka High and let the Trojans steal a victory, but otherwise rolled on through the rest of the season and the 3A Sub-State at Hayden. Kevin Lutz scored 33 points against Council Grove. The team shot over 60% in defeating Leavenworth (Pioneer's Brad Sanders scored 44 points in the losing effort). A vocal crowd carried the team to the Sub-State championship over Wamego. 

                     The loss to Parsons in the first round basically was caused by the overwhelming performance of Parsons star Henry Morton in the first half. The team lost composure until early in the 3rd quarter when they mounted a comeback from a 23 point deficit. A tremendous effort brought Hayden within 2 points with seconds left in the game. Parsons made their free throws to hang on for the win.  Seven Seniors played their last game for Hayden in the 75-71 loss.