Nice looking group of young men and women. I can
remember this team, but most of the Rockport students, in the late forties and early fifties, remember the basketball
teams and the cheerleaders. This team and the cheerleaders were winners, and brought home some trophies, but with no
Regional Tournament Winner's Trophy. I guess that I always wanted Rockport to win the regional tournament and advance
on to the State Tournament, but we just never quite made that trip. I think that this team came closer to the big win
than about any other team, although the teams of the forties were capable of reaching the finals of the Regional
Tournament. This team was probably the last chance. The small town teams of the fifties did not have much of a chance
of going the "Big Dance", as the bigger schools like Beaver Dam and Hartford had many more players to choose from. Our
teams from this small town would not have but a few more years and we would be no more. Sad.
The 1956 team would be the last High School Basketball Team from Rockport. The 1957 students were bussed to Beaver Dam
and a new era began.
As you probably noticed, there are two different teams and two sets of cheerleaders. The "A" team is
pictured at top with the "A" Team" Cheerleaders. The "B" Team is pictured above with the "B" Team Cheerleaders. In most
cases, the "B" Team would play a game first and against the other team's "B" Team. The "B" Team Cheerleaders would lead
the fans in cheers and perform their acts during "Dead" ball conditions. After the first game, there would be a twenty
minute or so intermission while the "A" Team warmed up and the "A" Team Cheerleaders would take over from the "B" Team
Cheerleaders. Now, it was time for game two. Imagine that! For the price of admission, which was about a quarter, a fan
could watch two complete games and most of the time, the "B" Team game would be a good one. No only that, but in the
late forties and early fifties, Bob Decker would sometimes cheer louder that the cheerleaders. Bob was our number one
fan for many years and he was certainly appreciated. No fan would appreciate a win more than Bob Decker and by the same
token, no fan would take a loss any harder. May the Tigers never be forgotten.
:)
See you..........
jrd
