Fairhaven High School Alumni Association, Fairhaven, Massachusetts 02719

Hall of Fame Honors 1960-1961 Basketball Team

On Sunday, June 26, 2011 the FHS Hall of Fame honored the Mel Entin coached FHS Boys’ Basketball Team for their “memorable season” in 1960-1961. Pictured are: (L-R) Assistant Coach Dick Norman, Skip Hall, Mike Fitzgerald, John Kidd, Henry Knutsen, Bob LeBeau, Dick Goodwin and Peter Fermino.

MEMORABLE SEASON
BOY’S BASKETBALL 1960-1961

The 1960-61 Fairhaven High School Boys Basketball team was Tri- Champions of the Bristol County League.  They split with Durfee and Attleboro and went on to post a 15-2 regular season record.

The Blues were led by Jr. Mike Fitzgerald, Sr. John Kidd, Sr. Norm Tate, Jr. Bob Lebeau and Jr. “Skip” Hall.  A strong bench was led by Sr. Henry Knutsen, Sr. Dick Goodwin, Jr. Peter Fermino, Sr. Charlie Fermino, Sr. Rich Calife and Jr. Steve Toland.  The team included Hall of Fame Honored members, Mike Fitzgerald, Bob Lebeau, Henry Knutsen and “Skip” Hall.

The memorable season is all about what these individuals accomplished as a team under the direction of legendary Hall of Fame coach Mel Entin and assistant coach Dick Norman.  One would often hear the Blue were the underdogs, in any particular game, or the team’s early success was due to a lack of competition (in beating weaker teams by 20-30 points).  Fairhaven was a team who believed in themselves far more than those outside the team, other than the rabid Fairhaven fans. 

In one of the best games ever at Hastings Jr. High, FHS defeated Durfee 60-41 before a sellout crowd of 300 fans.  Mike Fitzgerald led the way with 20 points.  John Kidd had 18 and Norm Tate with 11.  An “upset” 53-51 victory at home over highly regarded Attleboro followed by a 59-57 win over Taunton and The Standard Times Schoolboy Scrapbook headline of, “Fairhaven ‘Arrives’ As Power in County” caused everyone to take note.  “First and foremost it was a ‘team’ victory of the highest order.” wrote sports reporter Don Harrington.  “There’s nothing more rewarding in high school basketball than five youngsters playing together, each contributing to the success of the team.  It was like that with Fairhaven.”

This team, playing in a league with the likes of N.B. Voke, Taunton, Attleboro and Durfee, more than held its own.  The team’s success was rewarded by a trip to the State Tech Tourney at historic Boston Garden. The team was ranked 3rd in the Class A Tech Tourney.  Fairhaven, led by Mike Fitzgerald’s 38 points, defeated the favored (17-0) “Cinderella” Silver Lake team 75-56.  Fairhaven was eliminated, in the semi-finals, by their Bristol County League rival, Attleboro.