Moment: Rouge Ends '60s with 6 Titles
April 16, 2020
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
After three years without a championship, River Rouge returned to the Class B Final in 1969 and won its sixth title of the 1960s by defeating Kalamazoo Hackett 83-50.
The Panthers finished 25-2 for the season, and the championship began another string of four straight that concluded in 1972.
Rouge dominated the 1969 Final led by 6-foot-4, 250-pound forward Dwayne Johnson (reaching for the rim in bottom photo), who scored 23 points. Teammate Rod Wimphrey added 16 points, but more importantly held Hackett's Bob Calligton to nine. Calligton had scored 31 points in Hackett's Semifinal win one night earlier.
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Moment: Wilburn Becomes Legend in '62
April 13, 2020
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Ken Wilburn solidified his legend status in leading River Rouge to a repeat Class B boys basketball championship in 1962, playing what legendary coach Lofton Greene called after Wilburn's "best game ever today."
The 6-foot-5 senior forward had 26 points, 15 rebounds and 11 steals in the 69-36 win over East Grand Rapids, scoring 13 points during the third quarter as the Panthers broke away.
He was joined by 5-6 Napoleon Hudson, a defensive standout who added 16 points.
River Rouge finished 1961-62 with a 25-1 record. Wilburn went on to play at Central State University and for four franchises in the NBA and ABA.
MHSAA Moments is looking at Rouge's six 1960s boys basketball championships throughout this week.