Athletics
Pearl High School definately offered boys basketball and boys track. They may have also offered
baseball. Coach's names, team records, and great accomplishments of Pearl High School are being sought.
Boys Basketball
The Pearl High School boys brought home one District title during their existence. We
are interested to know of the other great seasons at Pearl where IHSA hardware was not won, but a perhaps a conference
title or 20 win season needs to be discovered. The District basketball title is listed below.
1933-34
Pittsfield District Tournament Coach's
name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Hull 43-13
Pittsfield beat Kinderhook in title game 1934-35
Pittsfield District Tournament Coach's
name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Pleasant Hill 39-14
Pittsfield beat Kinderhook in title game 1935-36 Postseason scores, record, and coach's
name needed. 1936-37 Postseason scores, record, and coach's name needed. 1937-38 Postseason
scores, record, and coach's name needed. 1938-39 Postseason scores, record, and coach's name needed.
1939-40
Milton District Champions Coach's
name & record needed
Early Rd Scores Needed Title
Game Beat Milton 36-32
Top 2 Teams Advanced to Regional
Pittsfield Regional Tournament
1st Rd lost to Pleasant Hill 37-35 (2 O/Ts)
Milton Beat Pittsfield in title game 1940-41
Pittsfield District Tournament Coach's
name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Pleasant Hill 39-14
Pittsfield beat Kinderhook in title game 1941-42 Postseason scores, record, and coach's
name needed. 1942-43
Nebo District Tournament
Coach's name & record needed
1st Rd Beat New Canton 38-37
Semi-final lost to Milton 44-22
Nebo beat Milton in title game 1943-44 Postseason scores, record, and coach's
name needed. 1944-45
Milton District Tournament
Coach's name & record needed
Semi-final lost to Nebo 34-24
Milton beat Nebo in title game 1945-46 Milton
District Tournament
Coach's name & record needed
1st Rd Beat Manchester 50-40
Pearl lost in Semi-final Rd.
Kinderhook beat Milton in title game 1946-47
Milton District Runner-Up Coach's
name & record needed
1st Rd Beat Alsey 58-38
Semi-final Beat Kinderhook 58-22
Title Game lost to Milton 45-34 1947-48 Nebo
District Tournament
Coach's name & record needed
1st Rd Beat Baylis 2-0 (forfeit)
Semi-final lost to Alsey 63-43
Alsey beat New Canton in title game 1948-49
Pittsfield Regional Tournament Coach's name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Winchester 79-27 Pittsfield
beat Winchester in title game 1949-50
Pittsfield Regional Tournament Coach's name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Milton 48-33 Winchester
beat Pittsfield in title game 1950-51 Barry
Regional Tournament Coach's name
& record needed
1st Rd lost to West Pike 56-49 Griggsville
beat Pittsfield in title game 1951-52
Pittsfield Regional Tournament Coach's name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Perry 80-64 Perry
beat Pleasant Hill in title game 1952-53
Pittsfield Regional Tournament Coach George
Lemons Season
record needed
1st Rd lost to Perry 69-40 Pittsfield
beat Perry in title game 1953-54 2 - 21 Griggsville
Regional Tournament Coach George
Lemons
1st Rd lost to Pittsfield 61-28 Griggsville
beat Pleasant Hill in title game
| Pearl High School Basketball Teams 1953-54 |
|
| Submitted by Judy Hurdle |
Names of players in photos above:
Tournament Squad L to Right Coach George Lemons, Leroy Ashburn, Robert Heavner,
Lyundle Scott, Benny Todaro, Larry Hauger, Donald Reeder, Don Patton, Richard
Turner, Ronnie Turner, Bill Thurman, Jerry Miller (Manager)
Basketball
Squad
Front Row L to R Gladys Smith, , Jean Johnson, Barbara Martin, Donna
Wyatt
Second Row Seated L to R Leroy Ashburn, Robert Heavner, Lyndle Scott,
Benny Todaro, Larry Hauger, Donald Reeder, Don Patton, Ronnie Turner, Bill
Thurman
Back Row Coach George Lemons, Dean Booth, Kenny Donohoo, Paul
Shanks, Harold Scott, Paul Dean Crater, Richard Turner, William Greenstreet,
Manager Jerry Miller
| Pearl HS 1953-54 Basketball Schedule from Yearbook |
|
| Submitted by Judy Hurdle |
1954-55 17 - 6 School's Final Season Coach
George Lemons
Pleasant
Hill Regional Tournament
**1st
Rd lost to Perry 61-49
Winchester beat Pittsfield in title game
**Final boys basketball game for Pearl High School, consolidated to East Pike High School (Milton) in the summer of 1955.
| Pearl High School Varsity Basketball Team 1954-55 |
|
| Submitted by Judy Hurdle |
Names for photos above provided by Judy Hurdle:
Tournament Squad L to R
Dale Akers, Harold Scott, Leroy Ashburn, Robert Heavner, Ronnie Turner,
Richard Turner, Benny Todaro, Lyndle Scott, Terry Edwards, Bill Thurmon,
Kenny Donohoo, Coach George Lemons
Basketball
Squad
Back Row L to R Leroy Ashburn, Billy Joe Johnessee, Jay Atherton,
Warren Wheeler, Charles
Fisher, Jerry Miller, Terry Edwards, William
Greenstreet, Virgil Carter, Coach George Lemons
Front Row
L to R Harold Scott, Ronnie Turner, Robert Heavner, Richard
Turner, Benny Todaro, Lyndle Scott, Bill Thurmon,
Kenny Donohoo
Cheerleaders L to R Margie Wyatt, Jean Johnson, Donna Laux, Gladys Smith
| Pearl HS Varsity Basketball Results 1954-55 |
|
| Submitted by Judy Hurdle |
Basketball memories:
**From William M. (Bill) Thurmon:
"I attended Pearl High School in 1953-54 and 1954-55. I was a Sophomore and a starting guard
on the Pearl High School team that in 54-55 went 17- 6. Our coach was George Lemons and he
was a former graduate of Milton High School class that went to the Sweet 16 of the Illinois State Basketball Championship in the late 30's or early 40's."
Boys Track & Field
One male athlete at Pearl High School brought home a medal from the Illinois High School State Track Meet.
Henry Grubs claimed a 5th place finish in the mile run in 1950. This was done under the old one-class
system. Great job Henry!
1949-50 Henry Grubs One Mile Run
5th Place
Seeking Further Information....
...about the many successes accomplished at Pearl high School. The great teams and individual efforts
of those who attended PHS should forever be remembered. If you would like to share information with us, especially a
photo of the old high school building, please e-mail us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net. or write to us at:
Illinois HS Glory Days
6439 N. Neva St.
Chicago, Il. 60631
| Pearl HS Baseball 1954-55 |
|
| Submitted by Judy Hurdle |
Back Row L to R Dale Akers, Harold Scott, Jerry Miller, Robert Heavner,
Terry Edwards, Virgil Carter,
Coach George Lemons
Front Row L to R Kenny Donohoo, Ronnie Turner, Lyndle Scott, Benny
Todaro,
Richard Turner, Leroy Ashburn, Bill Thurmon
| Pearl HS Second Team of 1953-54 |
|
| Submitted by Judy Hurdle |
Second Team Front Row L to R
Harold Scott,
Leroy Ashburn, Larry Hauger,
Donald Patton, Paul Dean Crater, Kenny Donohoo
Back Row Coach George Lemons,
Paul Shanks, William Greenstreet, Dean Booth, Manager Jerry Miller
| Pearl HS Basketball Second Team 1954-55 |
|
| Submitted by Judy Hurdle |
Second Team Members Pictured Above
Back Row L to R Dake Akers, Jay Atherton, Warren Wheeler,
Billy Joe
Johnessee, Jimmy Lemons, Coach George Lemons
Front Row L to R Jerry Miller, Leroy
Ashburn, Terry Edwards, Charles
Fisher, Virgil Carter, Harold Scott, William Greenstreet, Kenny Donohoo
| Pearl Basketball "Reserves" Results 1954-55 |
|
| Submitted by Judy Hurdle |
| Pearl High School Building Grounds - 2008 |
|
|
| Photo by Roberta VanBriesen |
| "Pearly" Street |
|
|
| Pearl, Illinois |
|
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