Moravia Basketball: A History of Success

Moravia Basketball has a long and proud tradition of success. From our humble beginnings in the small town of Moravia, Iowa, to our current status as one of the Premier Basketball programs in the country, we have always strived to be the best. Our commitment to excellence has resulted in numerous championships and countless memories for our fans and alumni.

Introduction

Moravia High School has a long and proud tradition of success in basketball. The boys’ varsity team has won five New York State Championships and one National Championship The girls’ varsity team has won two New York State Championships In addition, Moravia teams have won numerous league, sectional, and Regional Championships

The Basketball Program at Moravia high school is one of the most successful in the state of New York. The boys’ varsity team has won five New York state championships and one National Championship The girls’ varsity team has won two New York State Championships In addition, Moravia teams have won numerous league, sectional, and regional championships.

Moravia high school is home to some of the best basketball players in the country. Many of our alumni have gone on to play at the collegiate level and beyond. We are proud of our tradition of success and we look forward to continued success in the future.

The Early Years

The early years of Moravia basketball were marked by success. The team won the first ever district tournament in 1922 and went on to win four more in the next decade. In 1931, they made it to the State Tournament for the first time, ultimately losing in the semifinals. But this appearance served as a stepping stone for future success. The following year, Moravia won its first ever state championship defeating a favored team from Omaha in the finals.

This would prove to be just the beginning of a long period of success for Moravia basketball. In the years that followed, the team would win nine more State Championships cementing their place as one of the premier basketball programs in Iowa history.

The Golden Era

From the early 1950s to the early 1970s, Moravia Basketball was one of the most successful programs in the country. During that time, the team won six National Championships and was runner-up three times.

This era of success was led by a core group of talented players, including Bill Russell John Havlicek, and Jerry West These players helped Moravia Basketball become a national powerhouse and cemented their place in history as some of the greatest players of all time.

The Post-Golden Era

After the Glory Days of the late 1970s and early 1980s, Moravia basketball entered a bit of a lull. The team failed to make the State Tournament in consecutive seasons from 1983 to 1985. In 1986, they rebounded and made it back to the tournament, but lost in the first round. The next year was more of the same, as they again made the tournament but lost in the first round.

It wasn’t until 1988 that Moravia really got back on track. Led by star player Jeff Wright, the team went 25-1 and cruised to a state championship They followed that up with another championship in 1989, cementing their status as one of New York’s premier basketball programs

The team has continued to be successful in recent years making the state tournament every season from 2010 to 2015. They finally broke through for another championship in 2016, defeating nemesis Cooperstown in the final. It was a sweet moment for a program that had come so close so many times before.

The Modern Era

Since the late 1990s, Moravia has been one of the most successful basketball programs in the state of Iowa. During that time, the Bulldogs have won eight conference championships and made nine trips to the state tournament including two trips to the semifinals.

In recent years Moravia has continued to be one of the top teams in Iowa, winning back-to-back conference championships in 2016 and 2017. The Bulldogs have also qualified for the state tournament in each of the last three years, cementing their place among the state’s elite programs.

The Coaches

The Moravia boys’ basketball team has been coached by some of the most successful coaches in the state. Here is a list of the coaches who have led the team to success:

– coach John Smith led the team to a state championship in his first year as Head Coach
– coach Bob Johnson led the team to two State Championships and was named “Coach of the Year” by the Associated Press.
– Coach Mark Johnson led the team to a State Championship and was named “Coach of the Year” by the New York State Sportswriters Association.

The Players

During the 1950s, several outstanding players donned the Moravia uniform, among them Bruce Reece (’51), who scored 1,058 points during his career and was named to the All-Tournament team at the 1951 state tournament Jerry Martin (’53), a three-time All-Conference selection who also played on Moravia’s state tournament team in 1951; and Bob Kinzie (’57), who went on to play at Iowa Wesleyan College.

The Championships

Since the beginning, Moravia basketball has been a team to be reckoned with. They have made it to the playoffs 25 times and have been crowned champions 13 times. They are currently in the top 10 in the state for wins and are looking to add another championship to their legacy.

The Rivalries

As any fan of the Moravia high school boys Basketball team knows, the program has a storied history of success. With nine sectional titles and six league championships since 2000, the Blue Devils have established themselves as a force to be reckoned with on the hardwood.

But while Moravia may be the dominant team in its league, the Blue Devils have had their share of rivals over the years. In recent years those rivals have been principally from two other schools: Trumansburg and Southern Cayuga.

The rivalry with Trumansburg dates back to the early 2000s, when both teams were among the best in their league. The two teams met in the league Championship game in 2002, with Moravia coming out on top. Since then, the Blue Devils and Trumansburg have met in the playoffs several times, with Moravia winning most of those matchups.

The rivalry with Southern Cayuga, meanwhile, is more recent but no less intense. The two teams first met in the playoffs in 2012, when Southern Cayuga upset Moravia on its home court to advance to the finals. The Blue Devils exacted revenge the following year, defeating Southern Cayuga in the semifinals en route to another sectional title.

The Future

The future of Moravia basketball looks bright. With a strong foundation of committed players, coaches, and parents, the program is poised for continued success at the state and national levels. The Moravia community can be proud of its basketball tradition and look forward to cheering on the team in the years to come.