Early Years of Youth Basketball In Portage
Submitted by: Bob Miller
- Home Page
- Early Years of Youth Basketball In Portage
- 1959-1960 – 1st
- 1960/1961 – 2nd
- 1961/1962 – 3rd
- 1962/1963 – 4th
- 1963/1964 – 5th
- 1964/1965 – 6th
- 1965/1966 – 7th
- 1966/1967 – 8th
- 1967/1968 – 9th
- 1968/1969 – Portage Youth Basketball Begins
- The Following years
- 2019/2020 Season
- Impacts on Portage Sports/Community
- Memories
- Acknowledgements
- About the contributor
1960/1961
The 2nd Season
It is not known why, but in the next year the league decided to associate with the Biddy Basketball organization. The league was once again for boys 9-12, one division. The league received sponsorship from the Portage Optimists and Bud Samuel was the League Supervisor/Executive Secretary of the league.
Biddy Basketball was meant to be played with the basket goals at 8.5 feet versus 10 feet. Portage Biddy Basketball teams would play on 10-foot baskets except during all-star tournaments against other cities until 1967-68 season.
Additionally, the league began playing games at the high school on Saturday afternoons vice weekdays at Garyton.

VM November 11, 1960

VM September 20, 1960

VM November 9, 1960
The league would conclude play in March 1961 with the Sausman team winning the tournament.
Once again the team coached by Heinz Lindner finished as runner-ups.


VM March 20, 1961

VM March 17, 1961

Portage Biddy Basketball Tournament Champions 1960-61 season
Sausman team- Portage Biddy Basketball Tournament Champions 1960-61 season
(photo courtesy of Jim Samuel)
Front row: Alan Lindley, Ken Sausman, Jerry Rankin, Paul Sausman, Bill Cooley
2nd row: John Curtis, John Martin, Jim Samuel, Larry Rankin Back row: Coaches Jim Sausman and Bill Cooley

Portage Biddy Basketball Tournament Champions 1960-61 season
Sausman team- Portage Biddy Basketball Tournament Champions 1960-61 season
(photo courtesy of Jim Sausman)
Front row: Coach Sausman, Ken Sausman, Jerry Rankin, Paul Sausman, Alan Lindley
2nd row: Bill Cooley, Alan Rankin, Jim Samuel, John Curtis, John Martin

1960/61 team coached by Martin Wagner
The 1960/61 team coached by Martin Wagner. Coach Wagner coached eight seasons from the initial 1959/60 season thru 1966/67, winning several championships in the later years.
Front Row. Steve Augustinovich, Phil Jasper, Ray Sisco, John Williams, Bruce Needs
Back row: Hull, Bob Ozbolt, Mike Buergler, Dawson, McPherson, Coach Wagner.
(photo courtesy of Steve Augustinovich and also Kevin B. Wagner (Coach Wagner’s son))
- Home Page
- Early Years of Youth Basketball In Portage
- 1959-1960 – 1st
- 1960/1961 – 2nd
- 1961/1962 – 3rd
- 1962/1963 – 4th
- 1963/1964 – 5th
- 1964/1965 – 6th
- 1965/1966 – 7th
- 1966/1967 – 8th
- 1967/1968 – 9th
- 1968/1969 – Portage Youth Basketball Begins
- The Following years
- 2019/2020 Season
- Impacts on Portage Sports/Community
- Memories
- Acknowledgements
- About the contributor