OPPONENTS/SCORES DURING STREAK T - Tournament PLRS - Public League Regular Season PLP - Public League Playoff CT - City Title NL - Non-League 1975-76 (13 Wins) Kind West Opp. Holy Trinity (N.Y.)  T 68 66 Roxborough PLRS 100 47 Simon Gratz PLRS 78 59 Germantown PLRS 72 64 Central PLRS 94 67 Edward Bok Tech PLRS 94 71 John Bartram PLRS 75 61 Overbrook PLRS 102 75 Southern PLRS 102 72 Olney PLP 97 56 Murrell Dobbins Tech PLP 71 49 Overbrook PLP 89 78 Bishop Kenrick CT 71 61     1113 826 1976-77 (30 Wins Kind West Opp. West Catholic T 46 39 Malvern T 72 45 Murrell Dobbins Tech NL 79 53 University City NL 101 48 Martin Luther King PLRS 91 43 Benjamin Franklin NL 97 50 Roxborough PLRS 83 38 Kennedy (Cleveland) T 68 37 Brashear (Pittsburgh) T 69 65 Simon Gratz PLRS 76 57 Germantown PLRS 75 60 Central PLRS 65 36 George Washington PLRS 105 45 Olney PLRS 91 62 Northeast PLRS 93 33 Frankford PLRS 86 73 Coatesville NL 95 63 Southern PLRS 77 61 Edward Bok Tech PLRS 118 61 John Bartram PLRS 69 48 Overbrook PLRS 83 72 Abraham Lincoln PLRS 96 42 Jules Mastbaum Tech PLP 83 59 Olney PLP 89 52 Dunbar (Baltimore) NL 80 65 Overbrook PLP 61 51 Georgetown Prep (D.C.) T 62 50 McKinley (D.C.) T 72 69 St. John's (D.C.) T 71 56 Father Judge CT 72 52     2425 1585 1978 (25 Wins) Kind West Opp. Bishop Neumann NL 70 59 Germantown NL 76 47 Norwin (Pa.) NL 84 64 Abington NL 93 64 Concord (Del.) NL 60 48 University City PLRS 83 49 William Penn PLRS 66 61 Durham Jordan (N.C.) T 97 49 Durham (N.C.) T 89 63 Durham Hillside (N.C.) T 81 61 Jules Mastbaum Tech PLRS 75 70 Benjamin Franklin PLRS 73 53 Thomas Edison PLRS 99 49 Murrell Dobbins Tech PLRS 62 54 Darby Township NL 93 69 Olney PLRS 104 54 Northeast PLRS 103 55 Abraham Lincoln PLRS 90 54 Frankford PLRS 69 55 East Orange (N.J.) T 80 67 Weequahic (N.J.)  T 77 68 Southern PLRS 80 54 Edward Bok Tech PLRS 81 57 John Bartram PLRS 62 58 Hamilton West (N.J.)  T 79 59     2026 1441   TOTALS / Average: 83.3-56.6 5664 3852 Rotations of Teams 1976 Starters Gene Banks Clarence "Eggy" Tillman Darryl "City Lights" Warwick Ron "Weiner" Williams Louis Crawley Key Subs Don Watkins Cliff Riddick Tony Roots 1977 Starters Gene Banks Clarence "Eggy" Tillman Darryl "City Lights" Warwick Joe Garrett Mike Nichols Key Subs Mike Powell Vincent Ross 1978 Starters Clarence "Eggy" Tillman Vincent Ross James "Pee Wee" Thomas *Burt Biggs Kevin "Rock" McCray Key Subs Ken Riddick Mark Davis *Later known as Tyrell Biggs (pro boxer)

Tribute Page West Philadelphia's 68 Straight Wins This story was written in 1977 by Mary Flannery, of the Philadelphia Daily News, after the Speedboys finished a 30-0 season by beating Father Judge for the City Title . . .

This story was written after West Philly won the 1976 Public League
championship . . .

This story was written after the streak ended on Feb. 21, 1978, with a 62-61 loss at
arch-rival Overbrook . . .

By Ted Silary
  From the beginning, it was obvious that the Public League basketball happening at Overbrook High yesterday afternoon
would be remembered for years to come, but with just 11 seconds remaining and The 'Brook on top, 60-59, it was not
yet clear for what reason.
  No one was quite sure whether the game would go down in history as just another victory (albeit with all kinds of
excitement) in a West Philadelphia streak that had reached the lofty heights of 68, or whether it would REALLY be the
day that the Speedboys came tumbling down.
  Only one guy, effervescent Panther point guard Ricky Tucker, could fill in the blanks, and, luckily for cardiac units
at hospitals throughout the area, he was not one to dilly-dally as the hearts of an estimated 950 people who had
sardined their way into a 700-capacity gym began to pound profusely in syncopated rhythm.
  AFTER ABSORBING A gentle shove near midcourt from All- American Clarence Tillman during a dribbling exhibition
that had begun 12 seconds earlier off an inbounds play, Tucker quickly and confidently gave the Speedboys the kind of
hard push they had not received since Jan. 24, 1976 by hitting nothing but net on both ends of a one-and-one.
  After what seemed like an eternity - which included a basket by West's Kevin McCray at 0:06, a 'Brook timeout at
0:02 and a midcourt interception at 0:01 by Tillman, who never got off a shot - the final count, 62-61, was all but
dancing on the scoreboard. And the Panther fans, who had false-started twice already, were all but dancing on the
shoulders of their heroes.
  That was the way it was when a streak of previously-unheard of proportions in hoop-rich Pennsylvania came to an end
. . . players hugging fans, fans hugging players, players hugging players, fans hugging fans. And for the first time in a long
time, they were NOT from West Philly.
  "All I had to do was step to the line, take a deep breath and let 'em go," said Tucker, who finished with 11 points and
countless kisses from female admirers in the mayhem. "I had a long time to think about shooting free throws because I
knew I'd have the ball and I knew they'd foul me from the time the ball went out of bounds (at 0:23 as West's Vincent
Ross blocked a Tony Costner shot)." 
  "ACTUALLY, I'D BEEN waiting for a situation like that since we lost to West a year ago tomorrow. And I knew I'd
make the most of it."
  "I feel gooooood," said 6-3 forward Carlton Willis, who totaled a game- high 25 points and a team-high 11 rebounds,"
so good I can't even describe it. I'd never played in a game like that, one with so much pressure. But it was a good kind
of pressure and we did a good job under it. We knew we could do it all the time. I mean, we were fired UP!!"
  At the outset, it seemed like Overbrook's fire was going to be snuffed out before it ever got a chance to rage. West
stormed to an 8-0 lead after just 2:09 on two free throws by Tillman (24 points, 11 boards), a banker by James (Pee
Wee) Thomas on a pass from Kevin McCray, a Tillman turnaround and a McCray drive.
  But the School Up on the Hill gradually regrouped to forge a 29-25 halftime lead, then expanded it to 44-33 by making
seven of its first nine shots in the first 4:10 of the third quarter. But back came West, using a low-post bucket by Tillman
with 6:43 remaining to go ahead, 49-43.
  In the stretch run, however, Overbrook was clearly the team with its head screwed on straight and Coach Mark (Max)
Levin gave much of the credit for that development to John Bartram, which forced his team to blow a seven-point
lead in the final 1:43 of regulation while absorbing an 81-80 overtime setback in the first of the Not-So-Holy-Wars.
  "MORE THAN ANYTHING," said Levin, "losing to Bartram helped us beat West. Right after that game, we began
to bring out our clock again at practices and we set up every situation imaginable . . . down 10 with 3:00 to go, down 13
with 4:00 to go, up five with 1:00 to go. We wanted the kids to become conscious of the score-time relationships and
how to deal with them. We knew - at least we thought - we could stay with West and that the extra work might make
the difference.
  "When we had the one-point lead (58-57) and West committed that turnover (a walk by Burt Biggs with 1:08 to go),
we went right into 'Hold 'em,' " said Levin. "It's not a total freeze, but we do want drives only. We didn't go into the
deep freeze then because, really, we don't pull that off too well unless Ricky inbounds the ball, catches it and never
gives it up. We wanted a three-point lead and Ricky gave it to us with that drive (at 0:54)."
  All game, Tucker was the Hilltopper catalyst, more than negating playalike McCray, who was limited to six points
and, more importantly, just three assists.
  "Mr. Levin told us Tillman would be the man, but that McCray would be the key," said Tucker. "We're always
trying to outdo each other. He talks to me, I talk to him. He elbows me, I elbow him. He tried to get me off my game,
but it didn't work. No matter how hard we go at each other, we always wind up shaking hands."
  WHICH WAS THE same thing that happened between Levin and West Coach Joe Goldenberg. In fact, they
eventually left the building all but arm-in-arm with plans for dinner and a night at the Palestra.
  "I might even pay for the meal," said Goldenberg, laughing. "Wait, I will pay for the meal."
  "Nah, I think we'll go Dutch," said Levin. "I'll tell you, the fact that I can still be friends with Joey after all the wars
we've had on the court is something I really cherish."  
  Here's to good friends and a day that was something special.
  --
  The Streak: 68 games (13 to finish '76, 30 in '77, 25 in '78). Began with 68- 66 victory over Holy Trinity on Jan.
25, 1976 in consolation game of Long Island Lutheran Invitational. Gene Banks scored 22 points.
  Last Defeat: 92-85 to Long Island Lutheran on Jan. 24, 1976 in opening round of LILI. Banks totaled 46 points,
7 rebounds, 7 assists and 5 blocked shots as West played minus injured soph Clarence Tillman.
  Last Local Defeat: 72-68 in overtime at La Salle on Dec. 1, 1975 in first game of season. Mike Finley (26 points)
led the Explorers, Banks (fouled out) and Don Watkins each scored 16 for West.
  Last Public League Defeat: 55-54 at Overbrook on Feb. 14, 1974 in next-to- last game of regular season. Michael
(Moon) Black scored 16 points and gave Overbrook the lead for good at 52-51 with two free throws.
  Miscellaneous Facts: West had won 55 straight Public regular season games, beginning with 63-55 victory over
Southern on Feb. 21, 1974 . . . West had won 104 of 106 over four years, 121 of 128 over five.

--

Individual Scoring in League Games/Playoffs During the Streak
1975-76	GS	Pts	Qtr	Semi	Final	CT	GS	Points
Gene Banks	8	194	26	26	23	24	12	293
Darryl Warwick	8	150	15	14	20	6	12	202
Ron Williams	8	92	10	8	12	14	12	136
Clarence Tillman	5	85	20	4	26	22	9	157
Tony Roots	5	62	2	3	2	2	9	71
Louis Crawley	8	42	4	5		3	11	54
Donald Watkins	4	23	14	9	2		7	48
Mike Nichols	4	19	2	2	2		7	25
Cliff Riddick	4	12	2		2		6	16
Mike Powell	2	6	2				3	8
Burt Biggs	1	4					1	4
Lawrence	1	2					1	2
Vincent Ross	0	0					0	0
	8	691	97	71	89	71	12	1016
1976-77	GS	Points	Qtr	Semi	Final	CT	GS	Points
Gene Banks	14	342	28	32	x	31	17	433
Darryl Warwick	14	230	6	15	6	9	18	266
Clarence Tillman	14	204	21	13	24	12	18	274
Joe Garrett	14	139	17	6	8	2	18	172
Mike Nichols	11	69		2	10	9	14	90
Mike Powell	12	72	9	8	13	7	16	109
Vincent Ross	9	44	2	4			11	50
Terry Scott	6	23		2		2	8	27
Burt Biggs	6	35		1			7	36
Greg McKinley	5	15		4			6	19
James Thomas	4	23		2			5	25
Randy Barr	4	13					5	13
	14	1209	83	89	61	72	18	1514
1977-78	GS	Points	X	X	X	X	GS	Points
Clarence Tillman	13	335					13	335
Kevin McCray	11	141					11	141
James Thomas	13	123					13	123
Vincent Ross	13	101					13	101
Burt Biggs	9	86					9	86
Mark Davis	11	81					11	81
Ken Riddick	11	58					11	58
Norman Winston	8	46					8	46
Derek Coleman	7	35					7	35
Karl Jones	7	17					7	17
Ira Potter	3	9					3	9
Greg McKinley	3	9					3	9
Greg Gaymon	2	6					2	6
	13	1047					13	1047

-

Total Points in Regular Season/Playoffs
Name	GS	Points
Clarence Tillman	40	766
Gene Banks	29	726
Darryl Warwick	30	468
Joe Garrett	18	172
Vincent Ross	24	151
James Thomas	18	148
Kevin McCray	11	141
Ron Williams	12	136
Burt Biggs	17	126
Mike Powell	19	117
Mike Nichols	21	115
Mark Davis	11	81
Tony Roots	9	71
Ken Riddick	11	58
Louis Crawley	11	54
Donald Watkins	7	48
Norman Winston	8	46
Derek Coleman	7	35
Greg McKinley	9	28
Terry Scott	8	27
Karl Jones	7	17
Cliff Riddick	6	16
Randy Barr	5	13
Ira Potter	3	9
Greg Gaymon	2	6
Lawrence	1	2
Totals / 83.2 average	43	3577