This photo was taken from the 1925 Ishpeming High School year book. (Photo courtesy of the Ishpeming Historical Society)

ISHPEMING — Due to delays in finishing the new gymnasium (now the ‘old’ gymnasium) the 1925 Ishpeming basketball team had only five days to practice before their first game. “With but five days to get the squad in condition before the first game Coach Watson started in hard from the beginning,” (1925 Yearbook, Page 67)

Predictably, the team lost its first game to Marquette, 19-12. “The defense of both teams was better than the offense, which accounts for the comparatively low score” (Iron Ore, January 10, 1925) The team went on to win nine straight games. One of the reasons may have been Ishpeming senior Raymond ‘Bud’ Kemp. He stood 6ft, 6 inches tall, and was probably the tallest person on the court for most games.

The first game played in the new gymnasium was against Champion High School. “The new gymnasium was formally opened last Saturday night, when the Champion highs and the local school basketball five met in the first school game of the season here. The locals won the opener, the score being 22 to 11.” (Iron Ore, January 17, 1925)

“The new gymnasium has a large seating capacity, and the seats are so placed that all can see the game at all times.” (Iron Ore, January 17, 1925)

“The Ishpeming highs, showing greatly improved form over the previous week, on Saturday night too the Crystal Falls high school five into camp by the decisive score of 22 to 5. The locals showed much better teamwork than their opponents from the Menominee range, and also had better luck in finding the basket.” “The locals won from Newberry, 17 to 16, in the latter place, Friday night, but were in good condition when they took the floor against Crystal Falls. “ (Iron Ore, January 24, 1925)

High school teams in that era were called highs, to distinguish them from city teams and in some years, the industrial league. Entertainment choices were limited, and sports were immensely popular with both players and spectators.

“The Ishpeming blue triumphed over the yellow and gold of Negaunee, last Friday evening, when the two schools met in their first basketball game of the two-game series to be played by these teams. The final score was 13 to 10. Close to 1,500 fans witnessed the battle, the attendance being the largest on record for a basketball game in Ishpeming. The big gymnasium, recently opened, was taxed to capacity to take care of the spectators.

“In an exceptionally fast game of basketball, played here last Friday evening, the Ishpeming highs took the measure of the Gladstone school five, 15 to 13. The game was witnessed by another large crowd and the local players are given fine support by the basketball fans.” (Iron Ore, February 7, 1925)

While Ishpeming played most teams once in a season, they met Negaunee and Marquette twice that season. With both Negaunee and Marquette, in the regular season, they won a game and lost a game.

“The Ishpeming highs won their seventh straight basketball victory, Friday evening, when they defeated the Marquette school team, 19-14, on the local gymnasium floor. It was a real contest from start to finish with both fives fighting will all they had and Ishpeming having a slight advantage.” (Iron Ore, February 14, 1925)

“The Ishpeming highs added another basketball victory, Friday, by defeating the Munising school five, 18 to 12. This makes a record of nine games won and only one lost for the local basket shooters, but the real test will come this (Friday) evening when Negaunee will be met on the Negaunee floor.” “Ishpeming made 11 foul plays in the Munising game, seven of these being in the final quarter. Kemp was taken from the game for having four personal fouls charged against him.” (Iron Ore, February 28, 1925

“On Friday evening the Hematites were taken into camp by the Negaunee school five, 21 to 10, on the Negaunee floor. These teams have divided their series and may meet again at the Soo, Saturday. The Negaunee gymnasium had its largest crowd on that night, the rivalry between the two schools always aiding the door receipts, and Negaunee won because it played the better basketball. The Ishpeming boys had difficulty in locating the baskets, only three being made during the play.” (Iron Ore, March 7, 1925)

One more game in the regular season was played the following night, with Ishpeming winning over Gwinn. “A good size crowd was on hand for the final battle and to see Ishpeming complete its record of winning every game played this season on the new floor. ‘Bud’ Kemp did his best work in this contest, getting three field baskets.” (Iron Ore, March 7, 1925)

The Ishpeming high school has closed its regular schedule of basketball games and its team is at the Soo, to participate in the district basketball contests and determine which two teams of this district will take part in the upper peninsula tournament for Class A schools, at the Northern State Normal school.” (Iron Ore, March 7, 1925)

“By winning second place in the district basketball tournament, held last Friday and Saturday in Sault Ste. Marie, the Ishpeming school five won the right to be entered in the annual upper peninsula meet for Class A and B schools at the Northern State Normal school.” (Iron Ore, March 14, 1925) Ishpeming defeated Marquette in the first match but lost to Negaunee 17 to 13.

“Ishpeming won its first game in the preliminary round in Class A from Hancock, 14 to 8, with MacDougall and Kemp tied for scoring honors. The local boys next met Menominee and on again, 10 to 8, with MacDougall getting six of the points. The outcome of this contest was rather a surprise to the followers of the sport, as Menominee was credited by many with being the strongest contender for first place. Menominee did not score a point during the first half, which ended 8 to 0 in favor of Ishpeming.

“The great battle of the tournament came Saturday afternoon, when Negaunee and Ishpeming fought for first place in Class A. At the close of the four regular periods of play the score was a tie, 16 to 16, and it was necessary to play three extra periods of five minutes each to determine the winner. Ishpeming was unable to count again and Negaunee made a field basket, making the final count 18 to 16. It was anybody’s game, but the Ishpeming team made a grave error when the boys decided to take a technical foul and give Negaunee a free throw, doing this in order to gain a few minutes of rest. This was the most exciting of all of the games and both teams had plenty of rooters to boost for them. “ (Iron Ore, March 21, 1925)

Negaunee then met Lake Linden for the championship, but the tired Negaunee players “were not in condition for another hard contest and could not stop the speedy copper country lads.” (Iron Ore, March 21, 1925) They lost the game, 33 to 26.

“Ishpeming was similarly handicapped and could not put forth its best against Wakefield, the team which they played to decide third honors.” (Iron Ore, March 21, 1925) Ishpeming also lost, by a score of 21 to 20, thus ending the 1925 basketball season.