Editors Note: I pulled the following from the January 15, 1985 issue of the Beacon Town Gazette:
BEACON TOWN, NEBRASKA – Prior to this point in the season, senior point guard Scott Howard hasn’t shown a great deal of ability. Coming into tonight’s game against the Meechum Cadets (8-7, 3-2 league), Howard’s Beacon Town Beavers have struggled to an 0-15 record. In fact, in their last outing the Beavers suffered a humiliating 71-12 defeat at the hands of Mick McAlister’s undefeated Dragons, a game in which Howard was held scoreless. The game was so tough that head coach Bobby Finstock was overheard telling his team “Don’t worry boys, only 12 games left.”
However, Friday was a different story for the Beavers. Following Howard splitting a pair of free throws seconds into the game, there was a fight for a loose ball involving most of the players on the floor. In an image that will be burned into this reporter’s brain for the rest of time, Howard emerged from the pile with the ball, covered in hair. It appeared that Howard had transformed into some sort of fur-covered monster, resembling the legendary sasquatch. The whispers from the crowd suggested otherwise: that Howard had been turned not into a sasquatch, but some sort of teenager-wolf hybrid, or Wolf-Teen (trademark pending). Oddly enough, it wasn’t only his external appearance that changed after that pile-on: Howard’s wolfish nature seemed to instantly grant him heretofore unprecedented athletic skills. What followed was the single most impressive performance in a high school basketball game in Nebraska in 50 years.
Scott Howard, post Wolf-Teen transformation
Howard, a career 5.4 points per game scorer, exploded for 47 points, 19 rebounds, 10 assists, and a league record 25 steals, in leading the Beavers to a 79-41 victory over the Cadets. The win, which represented the Beavers’ first in over 3 seasons, sparked a firestorm in the Meechum locker room. When reached for comment, Meechum head coach Fred Taylor said “I just feel sorry for my boys, they worked hard and prepared for the game, and to lose when a player on the opposing team turns into a mythical creature? It’s tough to comprehend.” Meechum guard Tony Applebee was slightly more blunt exclaiming “What in the [expletive] was that? I mean seriously…is that even [expletive] legal?”.
The Wolf-Teen is almost solely responsible for the Beavers victory, since the other players on the team are so obviously lacking in natural ability. Beavers forward “Chubby” even went as far to consume both an apple and what appeared to be a liverwurst sandwich while actually participating as an active player in the game. The fact that the 5-foot-4 Howard was starting in the first place alerts observers to the dearth of talent on the Beaver roster.
Beacon Town is back in action next Tuesday against cross-town rival Beaconville.
Game Notes:
- Howard fell 2 blocks short of the first quintuple-double in Nebraska high school basketball history.
- Beacon Town received a technical foul in the 3rd quarter when their cheerleading squad insisted, in spite of multiple warnings, on remaining on the playing floor during the game.
Turning Point of the Game:
Scott Howard turning into a wolf.
Louie Renown
Dr. Greenbaumberg
Martha Lee
E. Honda
Scott Howard
Career Sergeant Zim
Kirk Gibson
The overlooked aspect of young Mr. Howard’s breakout game is how bad the team had been relative to actual high school basketball. Where are these high schools where the team, even collectively, has no basketball skill whatsoever? I mean, Normal-Teen Howard’s body moves up and down in concert with the ball while he dribbles? Chubbs’ shooting form resembles a poor imitation of a soccer throw-in?
My high school team was middle of the pack at best, yet those guys had some athletic ability – wicked two-handed set shots being primary among them. I wish I’d known of Beacon Town. I’d have transferred and been a solid seventh man off the bench.
What is remarkable here is the athletic ability of Scott Howard’s entire family. Although almost a footnote, Scott Howard’s cousin Todd was a decent boxer in his time.