Longest Lewis Basketball Game…Ever

“When the legs go, the heart soon follows.”

John Wooden

A game played on Sunday, January 10, 1960 is arguably the most memorable game played in Lewis College/University history.  The game matched rivals Lewis versus Loras College. It is memorable because the game went into six overtimes and was won in “sudden death.” 

What makes the game even more memorable is the fact that the last point to win the game was scored by a player who had not made a point before that. That play earned junior, Vern Gaugush, a claim to fame recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records.

My teammates and I were exhausted after the game but that didn’t stop us from reconvening in Sheil Hall that evening to analyze this remarkable game.  I took a break from the guys, went back to my room, and composed a poem that would provide the highlights of the game.  I came back to the guys and read what I had written.  They weren’t impressed, but I have saved that paper for others, who have better literary tastes, to read with my commentary. Following is my “Ode to Gillespie.” January 10,1960

The game was played on Sunday,
Of thrills it gave no hint;
Between the Loras College,
And the Lewis College quint.

To the circle stepped ten men,
All fresh and really fired;
Who was to guess that these same men,
Would end up damn dead tired?

Twenty minutes of dogged hustle,
Gave Lewis tired joints,
But with much sweat they scorched the net,
To lead by fourteen points.

Coach Gillespie was always known for his half-time speeches, and he let us know that the game was far from over even though we had a big lead.  He was concerned that we would let down, so he told us to take control of the game in the second half.

In the Flyer locker room,
Gillespie classically warns,
“To win this pull we’ll grab the bull,
Not by the tail but horns.”

The second half the Lewis men,
Seemed to lose their stride;
And at the end they did descend,
‘Til now the score was tied.

Coach was upset that we lost the lead and the momentum going into overtime.  To say that he was upset was an understatement. He was hot.

With face distorted and all red,
The Gord was in a fit;
Came cries from all the crowd,
But the cry we heard was…”shit!”

The overtimes came one by one,
And finally came six;
Gord gave two orders: “Get the ball,
And yell out all those picks!”

After the fifth overtime, all the players were completely exhausted.  Leg cramps became common and we weren’t sure if guard Bob Thayer could continue.  But he did. Substitutions were made quickly to keep us as fresh as possible, but confusion reigned during a timeout and some of us weren’t sure if we were in the game or not.

Time out was called and Gord was balled,
And really all in doubt,
As to who was in, who wasn’t in,
And who was really out.

After getting the right players back into the game, both teams fought hard despite nearly complete exhaustion.

Well, not really. Although the game was extremely long, it hardly went past 4 hours. After five overtimes, both coaches agreed on “sudden death” where the first team to score would win.  That may have been the last time Lewis ever played with this terminal aspect in a basketball game. 

Back on the court the two teams,
Had really one intent;
To win this game was their aim,
To lose not be content.

With weary limbs and feet like lead,
Five Flyers fought for breath;
Then through the stall they stole the ball,
And won in sudden death!

Out broke mad cries from all the crowd,
Even Gord began to yell;
But over on the Loras bench,
Through sobs was heard, “Aw, hell!

Yes, the game was played on Sunday,
But who was to forewarn,
It would not end on Sunday,
But on Monday morn.

The following post script was written some years later in recognition of forward Vern Gaugush who scored the winning basket on a tip in to end the game.  It was Vern’s only basket and earned him and Lewis recognition in Ripley’s Believe It or Not.

It wasn’t ‘til later when facts became straighter,
That Lewis was Ripley connected;
The basket by Vern that caused the game to adjourn,
Was the only one he had collected.

A final word: Tom Dedin at that time was playing for Loras College.  The next year, Tom transferred to Lewis where he was a star in both basketball and baseball. Look at the box score for details.