Vienna High School Boys Basketball, T.I.A., Sectional, and District Champions, 1954

The Vienna High School 1953-54 boys varsity basketball team finished its regular season 22-0 and followed the season with an eight-game win tournament record. The Flyer's season boasted a record 30 wins and one loss under the direction of coach Bob Herman.

The 1953-1954 Vienna Flyers made history by rewriting the Trumbull Interscholastic Association (T.I.A.) record books in nearly all respects. During the regular season the team won all 22 of their scheduled games, including two consecutive wins over rival Liberty and an impressive 75-42 win over Youngstown North. Early in the season, Mineral Ridge was the only team to threaten Vienna's record, but the Flyers came through with a surprising 54-51 win over the Ramblers.

The Flyers entered the T.I.A. Tournament with determination as they beat Hartford 60-43. Then came Champion; the Sweeney coached squad put up a fight but fell in the latter half of the game and Vienna ended up on top with a score of 77-40. Then, as twice before, the Flyers defeated the Liberty Leopards, but this time by 23 points. Then in the championship match they beat the Ridgers by a score of 63-46. For the first time in 34 years of basketball, Vienna became T.I.A. Basketball Champions.

Backing an undefeated record of 26 wins, the Flyers ventured to Youngstown to meet Warren St. Mary's in a game which was a thriller. The Flyers came through with number 27, breaking Champion's T.I.A. record of 26 consecutive wins. The score was 80-55 when the final buzzer sounded. Going into the final round of the N. E. O. Sectional Tournament, the squad met Liberty for the 4th time. The score was close for the first half, but the amazing team from Vienna pulled through and beat Liberty 59-44 to qualify for the District Tournament at Kent. The Flyers lost in the regional finals to Copley by a narrow 57-56 margin.

Contributor: Christine Novicky