North Tonawanda Lumberjacks Basketball: Hall of Fame Inductees
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George Bancroft was a high school math teacher and led the Lumberjacks Basketball Program from 1956-65. As the leader of the Jacks, he compiled a record of 124-56, giving him a winning percentage of .688. He was fortunate to have coached great players such as Tom Chester, Jim Maglisceau, Dick Goltz, and Al Kozen as he molded them into fine basketball players. In 1958, he guided the Jacks to a 16-5 record that took them all the way to the sectional championship where they fell to Amherst 53-52. In 1959, Bancrofts squad made an appearance in the sectional semifinals. 1961 saw Bancroft and the Jacks return to the sectional championship game where they defeated Frontier 57-50, giving them an 18-2 record and the Section VI Class AA Championship. Bancroft would lead the Jacks back to the semifinals twice more, in 1964 & 1965, before retiring from coaching.
1956-57 4-10
1957-58 16-5 Section VI Class AA Runner-Up
1958-59 15-4 Section VI Class AA Semifinalist
1959-60 12-5
1960-61 18-2 Section VI Class AA Champions
1961-62 9-9
1962-63 11-7
1963-64 13-6 Section VI Class AA Semifinalist
1964-65 14-6 Section VI Class AA Semifinalist
Career Record: 124-56 (.688)
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Tom Chester played in 54 varsity games between the years of 1956-59. During that time he collected 532 rebounds (4th all-time) while scoring 911 career points (17.2 ppg). His career point total was a school record when he finished in 1959. As a junior, he set the single season scoring record with 381 points. During the 1958-59 season, he broke his own record, tallying 388 points. Chester led the team to a 35-19 (.648) record during his days on the North Tonawanda hardwood. This includes 16 wins and a trip to the sectional championship as a junior in 1958. He is one of just six players in the history of the program to average 20-plus points per game for an entire season, averaging 20.4 points in 1958-59. He also topped the 30-point mark three times in his career, with a career-high of 36 points, which at the time was a school record. He went on to play collegiately at Canisius College where he helped the Golden Griffins to a berth in the National Invitational Tournament.
1956-57
14 games played
142 points (10.1 ppg)
138 rebounds (9.9 rpg)
Team Record: 4-10
1957-58
21 games played
381 points school record at the time for a single season (18.1 ppg)
200 rebounds (9.5 rpg)
Team Record: 16-5 Section VI Class AA Runner-Up
1958-59
19 games played
388 points broke his own school record for a single season (20.4 ppg)
194 rebounds (10.2 rpg)
Scored career high 36 points vs. LaSalle (1/9/59) school record at the time for a single game
Grabbed career high 18 rebounds vs. Niagara Falls (2/6/59) & Trott Vocational (2/24/59)Team Record: 15-4 Section VI Class AA Semifinalist
Career Totals
54 Games Played
911 points school record at the time for a career (16.9 ppg)
532 rebounds school record at the time for a career (9.9 rpg)
Team Record: 35-19 (.648)
Miscellaneous
One of just six players to average 20+ points per game for a single season
One of just nine players to average double figures in points & rebounds for a single season
One of just six players with (2) 300+ point seasons
One of just five players with 900+ career points
One of just four players with 500+ career rebounds
Went on to play college basketball at Canisius College (Buffalo, NY)
Current Career Ranks as of Mar. 2006
Points 5th
Rebounding 4th
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Varick Cutler is arguably THE greatest Lumberjack of all-time. He was the school's first 1000 point scorer, totaling 1262 career points in 60 games (21.5 ppg). That includes 12 games of scoring 30+ points. He is also 2nd all-time in rebounding with 759 career rebounds (12.7 rpg). He was a unanimous all-league selection as a junior and senior and holds two of the top three single season scoring efforts in school history, including a record 508 points (26.7 ppg) in 1970-71. He went on to attend Maryland University of the ACC where he competed for one year before transferring to the Atlantic 10's LaSalle University. Varick was one of the most dominant players the Niagara Frontier League has ever seen. With a great touch around the basket and seemingly unlimited range with his jump shot he was basically impossible to defend. Had the three-point line been instituted during his playing days his point totals may have been more astounding than they already are. During his career, NT compiled a record of 40-20 and that includes trips to the sectional semifinals as a sophomore and the sectional finals as a junior. Perhaps the best game of his career came in the 1970 sectional semifinals when he erupted for 33 points and 18 rebounds to knock off perennial powerhouse Amherst.
1968-69
20 games played
276 points (13.8 ppg)
204 rebounds (10.2 rpg)
Team Record: 13-7 Section VI Class AA Semifinalist
1969-70
21 games played
486 points school record at the time for a single season (23.1 ppg)
263 rebounds (12.5 rpg)
Grabbed career high 23 rebounds vs. Niagara Falls (12/30/69)
Team Record: 15-6 Section VI Class AA Runner-Up
1970-71
19 games played
508 points school record still stands today for a single season (26.7 ppg)
291 rebounds (14.0 rpg)
Scored career high 36 points vs. Lockport (12/18/70) & Kenmore East (2/5/71)
Team Record: 12-7
Career Totals
60 games played
1262 points school record at the time (21.5 ppg)
759 rebounds (12.7 rpg)
Team Record: 40-20 (.667)
Miscellaneous
Widely regarded as the greatest basketball player to ever come out of North Tonawanda
First 1000-point scorer in school history
Only player to average 20+ points per game for a single season twice
One of just two players to average 20+ points for a career
One of just five players to average double figures in points & rebounds for a career
Had 12 games of 30+ points during his career
NFL Scoring Champion as a junior and senior
All-WNY as a junior and senior
Selected as a High School All-American
Listed in the Top 100 High School Players in the country by Sports Illustrated as a senior
Went on to play college basketball at Maryland University (College Park, MD) & LaSalle University (Philadelphia, PA)
Enshrined in the North Tonawanda Athletic Wall of Fame on Feb. 7, 1997
Current Career Ranks as of Mar. 2006
Points 3rd
Rebounds 2nd
Tony Franc (1939-43) - Inducted February 2, 2007 (Legends Category)
Kurt Hollasch (1961-63) - Inducted February 2, 2007
Ed Janulionis (1952-54) - Inducted January 18, 2008 (Legends Category)
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68 Jim Maglisceau was the first four-year letterman in team history, appearing in 76 games from 1957-61. In that time he helped the Jacks to an astounding 61-15 (.803) record while scoring 964 points (12.7 ppg) and grabbing 860 rebounds (11.2 rpg). In 1960-61, he led the Jacks to an 18-2 season, culminating in the first (and only) Section VI Class AA Championship. Following graduation, Maglisceau continued his basketball career at Cornell University.
1957-58
21 games played
171 points (8.1 ppg)
145 rebounds (6.9 rpg)
Team Record: 16-5 Section VI Class AA Runner-Up
1958-59
19 games played
202 points (10.6 ppg)
195 rebounds (10.3 rpg)
Team Record: 15-4 Section VI Class AA Semifinalist
1959-60
17 games played
200 points (11.8 ppg)
198 rebounds (11.6 rpg)
23 rebounds on 2/9/60 vs. Kenmore West school record at the time for a single game
Team Record: 12-5
1960-61
20 games played
391 points school record at the time for a single season (19.5 ppg)
322 rebounds school record at the time for a single season (16.1 rpg)
30 rebounds on 1/13/61 vs. Lockport still school record for a single game
Scored Career High 27 points vs. Kenmore West 12/20/60
8 Blocked Shots (still tied for school record for a single game) vs. LaSalle on 2/24/61
Team Record: 18-2 Section VI Class AA Champions
Career Totals
77 games played
964 career points school record at the time for a career (12.5 ppg)
860 rebounds still school record holder for a career (11.2 ppg)
Team Record: 61-16 (.792)
Miscellaneous
1st 4-Year Letterman for basketball in school history
5 Games with 20+ rebounds
4 Games with 25+ points
1st Team All-NFL as a senior
One of just two players to average a double-double for 3 consecutive seasons
One of just five players with 900+ career points
One of three players with (3) 200+ point seasons
Went on to play in college at Cornell University (Ithaca, NY)
Current Statistical Rankings as of Mar. 2006
Games Played (77) 2nd
Career Points (964) 4th
Career Rebounds (860) 1st
Best Single Season Point Total (391) 8th
Best Single Season Rebound Total (322) 2nd
Best Single Game Rebound Total (30) 1st
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Ted Moore was a high school physical education teacher and he took over the program in 1965, succeeding George Bancroft. He coached until the completion of the 1975-76 season. He was the all-time leader in wins by a coach until Greg Ross passed him during the 2002-03 season. To his credit, Moore coached three of the greatest Lumberjacks of all-time in Varick Cutler, Al Ridge and Paul Szczepaniec. Between 1965-76, Moore compiled a record of 135-74, good for a .646 winning percentage. His teams reached the sectional semifinals in 1969 and 1976. In 1970, his Lumberjack squad reached the sectional final by defeating perennial powerhouse Amherst in the semis but ultimately fell to Hutch-Tech 42-41, as Cutlers corner jumper rimmed out at the buzzer.
1965-66 13-6
1966-67 12-7
1967-68 7-11
1968-69 13-7 Section VI Class AA Semifinalist
1969-70 15-6 Section VI Class AA Runner-Up
1970-71 12-7
1971-72 12-6
1972-73 12-6
1973-74 10-8
1974-75 14-5
1975-76 14-6 Section VI Class AA Semifinalist
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Erik O'Bryan is widely regarded as one of the fiercest competitors to ever come through the gym at North Tonawanda High School. His passion and desire to compete at a high level allowed him to excel individually, while also pushing his teammates to reach their potential. O'Bryan began his varsity career playing for his father, Archie O'Bryan, at Iroquois Central High School from 1991-93, before transferring to NTHS for his junior & senior seasons. Upon transferring, it didn't take long for NT Coach Greg Ross to realize he had a unique talent in the fiery 5'10" guard. Just five games in to his time at NT, O'Bryan erupted for a career high 37 points in a win over Niagara-Wheatfield. O'Bryan went on to cement his legacy as a senior, averaging 22.7 points per game & 7.4 assists per game. He holds numerous statistical records and totaled 1303 points in his career. Currently, O'Bryan continues his contributions to North Tonawanda Basketball, serving as the team's head varsity coach.
1991-93 @ Iroquois Central High School
33 games played
478 points (14.5 ppg)
1993-94
22 games played
326 points (14.8 ppg)
98 assists (4.5 apg)
107 rebounds (4.9 rpg)
Team Record: 8-14
Scored career high 37 points vs. Niagara-Wheatfield (12/14/93)
1994-95
22 games played
499 points (22.7 ppg)
162 assists (7.4 apg) - school record
92 rebounds (4.2 rpg)
71 steals (3.2 spg)
56 three-point shots made - school record
Hit school record 7 three-point shots in 35-point outing vs. Amherst (12/2/94)
Had six games of double-figure assists including school record 16 vs. Tonawanda (1/24/95)
Surpassed 1000 career points vs. Grand Island (1/6/95)
Team Record: 13-9
Career Totals
77 games played (1991-95)
1303 points (16.9 ppg)
At NT...
44 games played
Team Record: 21-23
825 points (18.8 ppg)
260 assists (5.9 apg)
199 rebounds (4.5 rpg)
6 games of 30+ points
Led team in scoring 29 times (66% of games played)
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Al Ridge became known for his tireless work ethic on the hardwood and made himself into one of NTs finest. Lettering from 1971-73, Ridge pulled down 543 rebounds (13.9 rpg) in just 36 games, while his 626 career points rank second amongst two-year lettermen. In that time he led NT to a 25-11 (.694) record. After collegiate stints at Erie Community College & Division II Lock Haven University, Ridge returned to the Lumber City and began a coaching career that culminated with his control of NT's varsity team from 1987-91.
1971-72
18 games played
240 points (13.3 ppg)
218 rebounds (12.1 rpg)
Team Record: 12-6
1972-73
18 games played
382 points (21.2 ppg)
325 rebounds (17.1 rpg) still school record for a single season
Scored Career High 36 points vs. Lew-Port on 1/10/73
Grabbed Career High 24 rebounds vs. Lockport (1/5/73) & Niagara Falls (2/23/73)
Team Record: 13-5
Career Totals
36 games played
626 points (17.4 ppg)
543 rebounds (13.9 rpg)
Team Record: 25-11 (.694)
Miscellaneous
1st Team All-NFL as a senior
Tonawanda News All-Area Team as a senior
4 Games with 25+ points
7 Games with 20+ rebounds
Highest Rebound Per Game Average in team history
2nd most career points for 2-year lettermen
Most career rebounds for 2-year lettermen
One of just three players to average a double-double for two seasons
Went on to play in college at Lock Haven University (Lock Haven, PA)
Current Statistical Rankings as of Mar. 2006
Career Points (626) 10th
Career Rebounds (543) 3rd
Best Single Season Point Total (382) 10th
Best Single Season Rebound Total (325) 1st
Best Single Game Point Total (36) Tied 4th
Best Single Game Rebound Total (24) 4th
Career Point Per Game Average (17.4) 3rd
Career Rebound Per Game Average (13.9) 1st
Coaching Achievements (1987-91)
1987-88: 7-11
1988-89: 7-12
1989-90: 10-10
1990-91: 14-7
Overall Record: 38-40 (.487)
Rebuilt the program after a decade of downslide. In 1990 & 1991 took the Jacks to their 1st back-to-back Sectional Playoff appearances since 1975 & 1976. Was responsible for laying the groundwork of the program that saw six winning seasons and a Section VI Class AA Semifinal appearance in the 1990s.
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Bill Strapko became the first player inducted into the Legends Category (pre-1950). Lettering from 1935-37, Strapko led his team in scoring as a senior and was voted to the St. Lawrence League All-Star Team. Following high school, Strapko had earned an athletic scholarship to attend St. Bonaventure University to play both football & basketball, but was forced to return home and join the work force during the tough times of the post-Depression era. He went on to serve our country with military service in World War II.
Paul Szczepaniec (1974-76) - Inducted February 2, 2007