BLAST FROM THE PAST
Following is a look back at some Bartlesville sports history:
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April 1948
Of all the fantastic achievements on the basketball court notched by Phillips 66ers amateur men's team, perhaps none matched the significance of the win on March 1, 1948, at New York's Madison Square Garden.
That magical evening witnessed the 66ers declaw the University of Kentucky Wildcats, 53-49, in the championship game of the United States Olympic Basketball Tournament.
By capturing that game, Phillips became the king that season of all amateur basketball (AAU or college) in the United States.
More importantly, the triumph meant the 66ers qualified several players for the US Olympic Basketball team, and that the 66ers' head coach, Bud Browning, became the US team's head coach for the 1948 London Olympic Games.
Kentucky head coach Adolph Rupp became Browning's assistant for the Olympic team.
In order to beat the Wildcats in the final of the US Olympic tourney, the 66ers relied mainly on defense.
After having scored 33 points in the semifinals, Kentucky's Alex Groza scored just six points against the 66ers.
In fact, Kentucky failed for the first time in the tourney to score at least 75 points.
The Phillips team boasted a plethora of big-name former college players, including basketball's original seven-footer, Bob Kurland, and former Oklahoma A&M legend Jess 'Cab' Renick.
Gerald Tucker's free throw put the 66ers on top for good, with 5:30 remaining.
More than 18,000 fans watched the combustible contest.
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May 1936
Phillips Petroleum confirmed its plan to sponsor an A.A.U. men's basketball team, which would be headquartered in Bartlesville, company official Paul Endacott announced.
This was a new endeavor for Phillips, which previously had sponsored a league basketball club.
Tom Bickell had already been signed for the 1936 team. Bickell had been an All-American for the University of Arkansas.
Ray Ebling -- a University of Kansas hardwood product -- had verbally committed to play for Phillips.
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March 1940
Clad in their green uniforms, the Phillips 66ers basketball team made everyone else blue at the National A.A.U. tournament held in Denver.
The 66ers knocked off the Denver Nuggets, 39-36, in the final.
All five Denver starters played the entire 40 minutes.
But, even after the final buzzer sounded, the battles continued off the court.
The A.A.U. national basketball chairman suggested a limit to the number of teams participating in the tournament.
In addition, Phillips coach Charley Hyatt attacked the rule that allowed a free throw and ball possession to a team when one of its players was fouled in the final two minutes.
Hyatt complained the rule prompted the team that was ahead to stall out and force the other team to foul.
Hyatt proposed a jump ball after every goal in the final five minutes.
He claimed it wasn't fair that a team automatically lost ball possession after it scored.