Champaign Basketball History
HARRY COMBES
A three sport athlete at Monticello H.S., Harry entered the University of Illinois in the Fall of 1933. He earned freshman numerals in basketball and baseball and then concentrated on basketball. He lettered for three years ('35, '36, and '37) and played on two Big 9 conference championship teams. Combes was leading scorer his junior and senior seasons and 4th in conference scoring in 1937
At the time of Harry's graduation in the Spring of 1937, CHS was looking for a young coach to succeed Les Moyer, who wanted to give up his basketball duties after one more season so he could concentrate on his responsibilities as Athletic Director and football coach. Doug Mills at the U of I recommended Combes to Moyer, calling him "the finest coaching prospect I have ever seen come through the U of I." Moyer hired Combes who served as his assistant for the 37-38 season and then started a nine year head coaching career in the 1938-39 season. His record of 254 wins and 46 losses (.847) is unmatched in the school's history. During this nine year span, his teams qualified for the Sweet Sixteen seven times, won five conference titles and had a fourth place finish, two second place finishes, and one first place finish in the State Tournament.
Harry also coached baseball at CHS where he compiled a winning percentage of .710. He accepted the head basketball coaching position at the University of Illinois in the Spring of 1947, succeeding Doug Mills. In his first five seasons at the U of I, Combes had three Final Four teams. He completed a highly successful 20 year career at the U of I in 1967. Combes passed away in 1977 and his wife Becky, is also deceased. Their daughter, Jane Combes Austermiller, lives in Inverness, IL.
THE GRADE SCHOOL PROGRAM
Combes always credited much of his success to the grade school athletic program initiated and maintained by Les Moyer, athletic director at Champaign. There were eight grade schools (grades 1 through6) at the time - Colonel Wolfe, Columbia, Doctor Howard, Gregory, Lincoln, Marquette, Southside, and Willard. In basketball (Moyer had similar programs for touch football and softball as well as a Field Day for track), the eight schools played a round robin schedule with four games every Saturday morning during the season. These games were played at the Junior High (now Combes Gym at Central High School) with two games being played at the same time running crosswise (east-west) with a canvas curtain between the courts. The games had six-minute quarters and each school had a U of I student in Physical Education as their coach. This included some of the U of I players. This competition at an early age, before 200-300 fans, provided excellent preparation for playing at the junior high senior high levels. These grade school games were covered by the local papers with articles and box scores in the Sunday morning edition.
BACKGROUND (1945 - 1947)
These "Golden Years" of CHS basketball resulted in a cumulative record of 106 won and 7 lost (34-2, 38-1, and 34-4). The teams were unbeaten at home those three seasons and won two Big 12 titles, three regional titles, three sectional titles, a first place state trophy and two second place state trophies. Home games were played in the Junior High (now Combes) Gym and the team practiced from 4:30 - 6:00pm since the junior high teams were practicing after school. CHS had a varsity team and a reserve team, with the reserves playing a prelim game to the varsity. Home games were played before capacity crowds. Bleachers extended completely along both sides and were very close to the floor. A set of bleachers also extended high up on the stage. Built in 1934, this gym was "State of the art" in the 1940's.
Coach Combes' first goal each season was to win the Big 12 championship. There were twelve schools in the conference including two Peoria teams as well as Pekin and Streator. He prepared the team for conference play with a strong non-conference schedule including such opponents as Centralia, Mt. Vernon, Paris, Taylorville, Waukegan, Morton (Cicero), East St. Louis, and Vandalia. CHS played in holiday tournaments each year including four team tourneys at Decatur and at home in 1945 and at Centralia in 1946 and 1947. Fan support was tremendous and the players were "heroes" in the community. School faculty members attended the home games and several followed the team on the road. Local papers (Gazette and Courier) covered every practice and full articles ran the next day with coaches' comments, player updates, statistics, and info on upcoming opponents. This was an exciting time for CHS basketball both in school and in the community.
HIGHLIGHTS (1944 - 1945)
As the season started, hopes were high as CHS returned three of their top six (Clements, Paterson, and Cottrell) from their 4th place state team the previous year. Dick Kelly, a 6'2" senior, was picked to replace conference scoring champion, Don Terrence at center. The fifth starting spot was between junior Earl Harrison and three sophomores, Ted Beach, Fred Major, and John McDermott. At the first practice, Combes told the team they would be using a new defensive concept, a full court switching man to man defense for the whole game. Practices were primarily devoted to the new defense and while it took some time to perfect, it proved to be a big factor in the CHS success story over the next three seasons. Combes' plan was to always have someone jump in front of the dribbler. This created so much havoc and frustration, teams were constantly turning over the ball and giving up steals for easy lay-ups.
After easy doubleheader wins to open the season (Combes played two games against area schools to get more players in action), the Maroons won two big games against Morton (Cicero) in Huff Gym before a big crowd and on the road at Mt. Vernon. The first conference win showed the new press defense to the full extent as Mattoon was held to 16 points. A weekend trip to Vandalia and Centralia provided two more wins. CHS was 9-0 heading to Decatur for a battle of the unbeaten teams. The Reds prevailed on their home court 52-50 despite a stunning 24-point performance by Captain Clements. This was the Maroons only loss until the state title game.
Decatur was 14-0 when the two teams met again in the finals of the Reds' four team New Year's Day tourney. Decatur geared their defense to stop Clements playing a tight zone that clogged the middle, but left Beach open to shoot from Outside. He hit 12 of 18 shots and the Maroons got revenge with a 44-42 win. The teams remained 1-2 in the state rankings for the rest of the season. The press was always a problem for the opposition, particularly rival Urbana who was held to one point in the entire first half in a game at Huff Gym. The closest call for CHS was a conference game at Danville when it took a basket by Paterson to save a 43-42 win.
Champaign entered the Regional ranked #1 in the state after Decatur was beaten by West Frankfort in their final regular season game. CHS breezed through the regional with three 30 points wins and went to the Danville sectional with a 29-1 record. A five-point win over tiny Milford and a tough 44-38 victory over Danville moved the Maroons into the Sweet Sixteen again. An unlikely string of illness/injury hit the Maroons as their ten man roster was reduced to seven players. IHSA rules at the time did not allow teams to replace players on the tourney roster. This rule was later changed. The night before the first game, Cottrell was taken to the hospital with pneumonia. McDermott suffered a broken leg in the first game when he crashed into the support under the South basket. Between games, reserve senior Dell Cantrell twisted his knee jumping off the bleachers at Huff. Only Cottrell played again and that was a brief one minute "token" appearance in the final game, as he was just out of the hospital.
The Maroons' first game on Thursday morning was against Morton (Cicero) coached by Combes' best friend and college teammate, Jim Vopeka. CHS missed Cottrell and struggled throughout the game until they staged a terrific rally in the final 3 1/2 minutes. Trailing 45-33, CHS scored 12 straight points, tying the game on two Beach free throws in the last minute. After a Morton free throw, Major hit a rebound basket with 12 seconds to play for a thrilling 47-46 comeback victory. That night Decatur escaped in one of the best games in tourney history, a 73-72 win over Galesburg. Champaign won its quarterfinal game over Somonauk and set a state tourney scoring record with 77 points. After an easy win over Quincy, the Maroons were set to play Decatur for the third time.
The result was a major disappointment for CHS players and fans. Decatur, led by 6'7" George Riley and All-Stater Bob Doster built a 7-point halftime lead and won 62-54. Clements, in his final games, led CHS with 19 points and was named to the All-tourney team. Jesse was also a first five News-Gazette all-state player, a tribute to one of the greatest all-around athletes in school history. The final record was 34-2 with the two losses to state champ Decatur. However, Maroon players and fans will always feel that the loss of Cottrell, McDermott, and Cantrell cost the team the coveted state title.
HIGHLIGHTS 1945 - 1946
With a solid nucleus back from the state runner-up team of the previous year, everyone felt this could be "the year" for the Maroons. Still a young team with Cottrell and Harrison the only seniors in the playing rotation, fans felt the team was ready for the next step. A talented sophomore, Rod Fletcher, joined the strong junior class and CHS was again ready to go. After the usual "doubleheader" wins to open the season, Champaign went to Morton (Cicero) who was looking for revenge for their close state tourney loss the previous March. Many of the same players were on the floor and CHS prevailed in a tough game 53-45. The home record remained clean with an early season romp 75-25 over unbeaten Effingham. The closest early season game was a two overtime win at Taylorville on a basket by Fletcher. The Maroons were 9-0 and top ranked in the state heading into the Centralia Holiday Tournament, the toughest in the state.
After wins against good Marion and Wood River teams, CHS suffered their only loss of the season against West Frankfort in the semi-finals. The game was like Murphy's Law for Champaign where everything went wrong. Thirteen points behind at the half, the Maroons never made it close and lost 56-44. Champaign was looking forward to a rematch with West Frankfort in March, but the Redbirds didn't make it out of their Regional. In conference play, Combes' team was undefeated including lopsided wins over two good teams - Bloomington 70-28 and Lincoln 83-43. These were high scoring totals for that period and an indication of the team's offensive power when they were hitting on all cylinders. After the close call with Taylorville early in the season, CHS won by 24 points in the return game at home. Hall of Fame coach Ernie Eveland at Paris said his team would not be bothered by the Maroons' press. He was proved wrong as his team scored only 10 points in the first half and lost by 20. Another highlight was an inter-state game with Indiana powerhouse, Hammond Tech. Combes took his team to the Civic Center in Hammond and beat the Hoosier team 51-42 before 5,000 fans. The team was again ready for tourney play. Their regular season was over with a 29-1 record and #1 ranking. They had three players on the all-Big 12 first team - Cottrell, Beach, and Major.
In the opening regional game, Combes faced his alma mater, Monticello, CHS scored 92 points with the first five playing less than half the game. Two more easy wins and the team was in their own sectional. The first game was their toughest on the road to the state title, a 44-38 win over Danville. CHS trailed by two points after three quarters but pulled out the victory. An easy win over Cissna Park in the final and Champaign moved on to the state. Easy wins over Galesburg and Marion in the first two rounds set up a semi-final match with Rockford East, led by future Illini star, Bill Erickson. CHS led by one at the half, seven at the third quarter, and won by six. Beach led all scorers with 24 points and the team was ready for the title match with Coach Trout's Centralia team that had edged highly ranked Dundee in the semis.
Between the afternoon and evening games, the players rested and ate at their own homes and then met at super-fan Lloyd Hinds' house on South New street. Our coaches went over the Centralia scouting with us, we played some cards, and then drover over to Huff for the final. CHS got off to a good start and built a 10-point lead by halftime. When the lead went to 12 at the end of the third quarter, Maroon fans were celebrating, but it wasn't over. The Orphans got hot with the long "kiss shot" Trout coached and the lead was down to four when Cottrell fouled out. He went over to Beach before leaving the floor and said, "We've come this far, don't let it get away now!" McDermott stopped Centralia's momentum with a big three point play and while Centralia kept hitting, Beach scored 9 points in the last 3 1/2 minutes to secure the coveted championship. There were no injuries and no illnesses this time and Coach Combes, the players, and the town had the big trophy. After the game, on a rainy night, hundreds of loyal fans packed the junior high gym waiting for the champs and their trophy. On Monday, school was dismissed at noon after a big pep rally honoring the team. The players climbed on a Champaign city fire truck for a parade through downtown and another big rally for the entire community. Five year old Janie Combes was up on the stage with her daddy and was she proud! People in town took up a collection and sent the team and coaches to Chicago for big weekend. They enjoyed a tour of the Tribune, a top rated stage show, and a Chicago Stags, pro basketball game at Chicago Stadium. One final not: Time magazine ran a feature article on high school basketball tournaments and said "Champaign (Illinois) High School, with its fire wagon style of play, is the #1 high school team in the country." There was a picture in Time of the team celebrating after its semi-final win. This was a fitting tribute to a wonderful season. Cottrell and Beach made first team News Gazette All-State. Combes promised fans at the rally that it wouldn't take another 38 years to win the title as he saw four of the top six returning next season. Unfortunately, he was wrong on that one. The final record was 38-1.
HIGHLIGHTS 1946 - 1947
This was to be a veteran team with four seniors and one junior starting. All had played as regulars or top subs on the championship team. Combes had purposely built a tough non-conference schedule with teams like Morton (Cicero), Hammond, IN, East St. Louis, Waukegan, Centralia, Paris, and the Centralia Holiday Tournament. The Maroons were top ranked going into the season. A key early conference contest was against Peoria Manual before 5000 fans at the Bradley Field house. The Maroons won handily, 65-39, and moved through the rest of their conference games without a loss to earn another Big 12 title. Seeking a Centralia Tourney title, after losing their only game there last season, the Maroons got by Taylorville and Mattoon easily in the first two rounds. Then the Centralia "jinx" struck again as Kewanee upset Champaign by one point in the semis and went on to win the championship. Combes' team again finished third. A weekend trip to Mooseheart and Waukegan provided another disappointment. After winning by 72-39 at Mooseheart, CHS was hammered by #2 ranked Waukegan, 50-33. Playing in front of over 5000 fans at Huff Gym, the Maroons beat Urbana for the 10th straight time by a 61-33 score. The final Big 12 game for the Class of '47 was 71-17 win over Bloomington. This class was 26-1 in conference play over three seasons with only the 2 point loss to Decatur their sophomore year to mar the record. The home winning streak reached 52 by the end of the year.
Back on the IHSA tournament trail, Champaign won its own regional with big wins over Homer, Fisher, and Urbana. The sectional at Danville resulted in 20 plus point wins over Hoopeston and Danville. On to the state tournament at Huff Gym with the Maroons ranked #3 behind Dundee and Paris with Kewanee, who had beaten Champaign earlier in the season, at #5. An opening round win over Murphysboro set up a showdown in #1 ranked Dundee. Coach Combes never lost a first round state tourney game in seven tries. The quarterfinal game was a classic between the #1 and #3 ranked teams in the state. CHS built a 9 point first quarter lead, but it was trimmed to one by the end of the third quarter. Dundee tied the score at 45 in the final minute and Champaign held for the last shot. The bal wound up in Ray Walters' hands and he fired in a 15 footer with two seconds to play for the victory. Combes' team played their top game in a 73-53 semifinal win over Pekin setting up a final with #2 ranked Paris, who had defeated the Maroons at Paris in February. CHS came out flat and for the second time in three years the top proze eluded them. Paris dominated from start to finish, winning 58-37. Beach made the all-tourney team and first five News Gazette All-State. Major was third team All-State. It was bitter pill for the seniors who had set a second state title as their goal. It didn't happen and as the tournament ended high school coaches in the state were supporting Combes to be the new coach at Illinois. It didn't take long for Illinois to hire him and the Combes era at Champaign High School had ended.
