Newport Alums Recall 1967 Trip To State Final

When the 1967 Newport High School boys' basketball team made it to the state final against Renton, the players' hopes were high.

But they had to settle for second best.

Two players from that team became high school coaches, and continue to strive for that elusive championship.

Tom Ingles, Liberty High football coach, made it in 1988 when he directed the Patriots to the state Class AA championship.

Bruce Case, Jefferson High basketball coach, twice has been named coach of the year during his career, including his first of five seasons at the Federal Way school.

But Case, who played basketball for the University of Washington, still is seeking his first prep coaching championship.

This year's Newport team is only the second to play in the state tournament. Bill Green, who coached the squad 23 years ago, now is Newport's track coach.

Case and Cale Harvey, 6-foot-8 center, were the team's top scorers. Another starter on the '67 Newport squad, Steve McFarland, played baseball in the Pittsburgh Pirate organization.

Don Cummings graduated from Stanford and became an engineer. Lou Greenberg owns an insurance brokerage in Kirkland.

Other members of the 1967 squad were Jim Bird, Bob Cline, Jim Hofteiser, Dale Soden, Bob Brewer, Scott Leveque.

The current Newport team's exploits have piqued the old Knights' interest.

``I've followed them in the sports pages. It's exciting to see them doing so well,'' Greenberg said.

``We'll see if they can take it all the way, and avenge our loss in the final.''

Renton won the 1967 title game 61-39.

``We lost to a real fine Renton team. Renton was the biggest school in the state at that time,'' Ingles said.

Renton's 1967 squad is regarded as one of the state's all-time best. It was headed by Dave Willenborg, who became Case's teammate at the UW.

Another Renton starter, Tim Cummings, is the Auburn High boys' basketball coach.

``If you take a look at the spread of our four games, the closest was 16 points. To win a final by that much, not too many teams have dominated a tournament like that,'' Cummings said.

The best memories come from winning, in his view.

``Finishing first is like night and day,'' Cummings said. ``Finishing second is not a lot of fun. I've got a little of the attitude that you're not completely satisfied until you take it all.''

Cummings has won five league basketball titles at Auburn. Two years ago Auburn was third at state.

Case agreed that people normally do not remember second-place teams. But he called the 1967 tournament ``a memorable experience.''

``Newport was not ranked in the Top Ten. We had to beat Garfield, who was in the top five, and Central Valley, which was ranked second.

``We played real smart, took care of the ball, played some real good defense and pulled some upsets.''

For this year's Newport team, ``getting to state has to give them a special feeling,'' Case said.

KingCo schools have won only five Class AAA titles: Bothell in 1927, Juanita in 1984, Mercer Island 1985 and Redmond 1988 and 1989.