By Mike Donahue

Moapa Valley Progress

Moapa Valley High School (MVHS) celebrates homecoming next week with a series of events that includes honoring a former coach whose varsity team won the state basketball championship in 1956, the same year the school was made part of the Clark County School District.

The road to the championship 55 years ago is a story of determination and perseverance by a team that exemplifies the can-do, never-say-quit attitude that still exists at MVHS today.

The 2010-11 Pirates also won the state basketball championship. Thus, honoring Coach Jerry Brown, and the young team he led to victory in the state finals in 1956, is especially fitting for this year’s homecoming. He will be the Grand Marshall of this year’s parade and other events.

Basketball team members in 1956 include Doug Jones, Elmer Cottam, George Cottam, George Alderette, Vaughn Pulsipher, Bud Sprague, Calvert Lyon, Merlin Sprague, Paul Jensen, Lloyd Whitmore, Ronnie Leavitt and team manager Larry Cannon.

Brown was a wrestler at Brigham Young University when he graduated in 1955. Born in a log cabin in Duchesne County, Utah, his history includes a stint on an aircraft carrier while serving in the Navy; a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and service in Korea as U.S. Army lieutenant.

In addition to BYU, Brown attended Utah State Agriculture College (today USU) and the University of Arizona.

After MVHS offered Brown a coaching job, he and his young wife, Joyce Burr Brown, moved to Overton excited about the new job, the new town and the potential for a new future.

Although Brown’s primary sport was wrestling, he was to coach all the different sports at MVHS.

Brown said Moapa Valley athletes were a great bunch of kids who especially loved basketball.

“They worked hard and were fast learners,” Brown said. “They paid the price and they did what it takes to have a successful season.”

Although the Pirates had been beaten twice during the regular season by arch rival Virgin Valley, the team went to the state championships eager to show what it could do.

“In the first round we beat Tonopah,” Brown said. “Then we beat Battle Mountain, which had won state the previous year. Then we once again faced Virgin Valley for the championship.

“It was nip and tuck all the way with the lead changing many times,” Brown recalled. “At the end of regulation we were tied and the game went into overtime. The overtime period was frantic.”

With three seconds on the clock MVHS was up by 2 points but fouled a Virgin Valley player. He went to the line to shoot two shots. He made the first, Brown said. This was crucial. He shot the second and it rolled around the rim and then off to one side. Elmer Cottam rebounded the ball and threw it down court and the game was over.”

“Bedlam!” Brown said. “MVHS fans flooded the court. We had just won the first state basketball championship in years. That group of young men was special. They were winners.”

Brown left Moapa Valley after one year, taking a coaching job at West High School in Salt Lake City.

He said he’s honored to return as grand marshal and meet old friends, including members of the 1956 championship team.

This year’s homecoming activities include:

• Monday — Sign painting in the cafeteria at 7 p.m.

• Tuesday — Powder Puff Game at Jeff Keel Field and Stadium at 7 p.m.

• Wednesday — Homecoming tailgate party at 6:30 p.m.

• Thursday – Parade around the school begins at 5 p.m. with a homecoming assembly in the Gary Batchelor Gym after the parade where the 2011 Basketball Championship Banner will be unveiled.

• Friday – Pre-game festivities include lighting the “M” and a short parade around the stadium track at 6:30 p.m., with the football game following at 7 p.m.

• Saturday — Homecoming dance in the Old Overton Gym at 8 p.m.