ALL ACCESS PASS: Chasing History and the Drive to Win It All
- kentuckysportsmemo
- Feb 19
- 2 min read
The Legacy
In Louisville, St. Xavier High School stands as an example of athletic excellence, renowned for its unparalleled achievements across a spectrum of sports. While their prowess in swimming, football, soccer, golf, etc., might be impressive—winning over 150 state titles in the past 60 or so years—their dry spell in basketball since 1962 remains.
A glance back at history reveals the last titans who triumphed in basketball from St. X are their 1962 boys' basketball team. Their championship win marked a peak not repeated since, despite St. Xavier's dominating presence in other athletic fields.
The 1962 Team
The tale of St. Xavier’s 1962 basketball season isn’t just a simple chapter in a dusty history book; it's filled with unexpected twists and raw determination. The 1962 team entered the season with high expectations, boasting a squad rich with talent and game experience.
"We really did have an advantage over a lot of the teams because we were such a veteran team," recalls Vince Stamp, the starting point guard.
Yet, the season's narrative took an unforeseen turn when veteran coach Gene Rhodes resigned and a rookie, 23-year-old Joe Reibel, took the reins just as the journey began.
"I just kind of inherited not only the kids but Gene Rhodes' experience in teaching them," Reibel remembers. But the players, once led by a disciplinarian, found new freedom under Reibel's more relaxed coaching style, a change that Bob Bohn claims allowed them to play "looser" and eventually helped them win the championship.
The Future Awaits
St. Xavier's 1962 Sweet 16 victory awaits its echo—and perhaps this is the year.
As of right now, St. Xavier is dominating with a 25-2 record and a 14-game winning streak. This places them No. 1 in the Kentucky rankings. They also remain the unanimous No. 1 in the boys' basketball media poll, per the Courier-Journal.
After a long 63 years, St. Xavier just might conquer the Sweet 16 once again!
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