Recalling Badin’s amazing 28-0 run in 1988.
Though Badin football and baseball have a richer history, the basketball program might have the best team in the history of the Rams.
Growing up around Badin athletics, there are few names that are spoken of frequently. Former running backs, ace pitchers and of course the coaching titans. “Who is Terry Malone?” He is practically on Badin’s entrance exam, and for good reason.
But one team rises above the rest, the 1988 state champion basketball team led by head coach Gerry Weisgerber.
Kevin McGuff, John Brinck and John Richter are names that have been heard traveling through the air inside Mulcahey Gym for more than three decades.
Countless times starry eyed kids have looked up at the banner which honors the team in amazement. That amazement came from the record which bluntly displayed 28-0.
Undefeated. In the three decades since only 11 programs have been able to finish an undefeated season. Two have happened in Division III, just like the Rams did. Bedford St. Peter Chanel and Akron St. Vincent St. Mary, the latter of which had some freshman by the name of LeBron James.
Though Badin ended the season with a zero in the loss column, it didn’t always look to be heading that way for the Rams. In fact, twice in their last three tournament games they were facing a deficit late.
After winning their first five playoff games by an average of 23 points Badin finally met their match in the regional finals. Springfield Central Catholic took a 44-42 lead over the Rams with seven seconds remaining in regulation.
Badin ran a play to get the ball in the hands of Kevin McGuff. The guard caught the ball on the wing, drove towards the lane and nailed a jumper to send the game into overtime. From there on, the Rams took over and were heading to state.
After dominating Sparta Highland in the state semifinals, they pointed their focus towards Zoarville Tuscarawas Valley.
In the championship game the Rams were trailing 55-47 with five minutes remaining in the game. And, like they’ve done all season and most recently in their previous two games, kicked in another gear towards the end of that decisive game.
Badin scored 21 of the final 29 points in order to win the first and only Badin boys basketball championship, 68-63. The reason for that stretch? Flawless shooting from the free throw line.
The Rams hit a jaw dropping 37 of 48 shots from the charity stripe. And the trio of premier scorers, Brinck, McGuff and Richter went 30-36. Not only that, but the three combined for 52 of their team’s 68 points.
After that late run, it was celebration time for the Rams. The state trophy was coming back to Hamilton, and with the perfect season completed they will forever be immortalized by the state.
Brinck, McGuff, and Richter were accompanied by Ed Larkin and Matt Thompson in the starting lineup. Sid Imhoff, Kevin Keene, Doug Rosmarin, Jon Webster, Tony Brown, Ken Horner and Dan Richter rounded out the championship roster.
In December of 2017, Badin celebrated the 30 year anniversary of the team. Unsurprisingly, much of that roster still makes an impact at Badin to this day.
Gerry Weisgerber came back to the helm of the Rams’ basketball program after nearly two decades away. Matt Thompson was the program’s coach for three years before Weisgerber took back over. Ed Larkin is the Chair of the Board of Trustees. Sid Imhoff is the Assistant Principal and Dean of Students at Badin.