East Brady lost something during the recently completed PIAAbasketball championships.

When Elk County Catholic won the boys Class A title, East Brady lost the distinction of being the last District 9 boys basketball squad to win the state crown.

The 1980 Bulldogs finished 29-2 and won their last 20 games, repeatedly rallying from halftime deficits to win postseason games.

"We were a team that believed in ourself and in each other,"center Bill Olcus said. "We played together since second grade and always seemed to find a way to win."

Olcus, the team's leading rebounder, tore ligaments in his ankle during the regular season and did not return until the district championship game. Olcus stood 6-foot-6 and dominated the boards, but was ably replaced by 6-2 sixth-man Dean Fair during his absence.

The other starters were point guard Dave Kerschbaumer — now the girls basketball coach at Karns City — guard and current East Brady resident Mike Vasbinder, and twin forwards Dan and Kevin Kelly, brothers of NFLHall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly.

"We all grew up together and we won at every level,"Kevin Kelly said. "Each player was more thrilled to lead the team in assists than in scoring.

"Assists and rebounds were what mattered. The points were gonna happen."

Kerschbaumer agreed.

"Everybody could do everything,"he said. "Play defense, shoot, pass, it didn't matter. Some teams would concentrate on shutting down Olcus and someone else would burn them.

"I think every starter had a 25-point game or close to it at some point during that season."

As ninth -graders, East Brady posted a 15-1 record. The contingent was a combined 20-3 during junior high.

East Brady averaged 80 points per game during the 1980 varsity season and allowed 50 per contest. All five starters averaged in double figures.

Kerschbaumer led the team with 15 points per game. Olcus averaged 11

The Bulldogs lost in the Western semifinals in 1978 and in the Western Final in 1979 before winning the 1980 championship. John Jamison coached all three of those squads and compiled a 77-12 record during that time.

"Some of our best games occurred during junior varsity or practice,"Kerschbaumer said. "East Brady had so many good athletes back then. Jim Kelly had just graduated and sports were big in that town.

"Everybody was so competitive. You didn't even want to get beat in practice."

"Kerschbaumer was the best athlete out of all of us,"Olcus said. "We were not a real athletic team. I played a year at Butler County Community College, a couple of other guys played a year of college ball and got hurt. ... Nobody really distinguished himself that way."

East Brady cruised to the District 9 title in 1980 by defeating DuBois Central Catholic 79-44, Northern Potter 77-45 and Cameron County 73-59.

Kerschbaumer scored 25 points in a 78-67 win over Girard in the Bulldogs' first state playoff game. Olcus made his presence felt in the second playoff game, scoring 19 points and grabbing 17 rebounds in a 56-50 win over Father Geibel.

Against Bishop Carroll in the third round, East Brady trailed at halftime for the third consecutive game. But a Kerschbaumer three-point play gave the Bulldogs a 51-44 lead with 3:49 left.

Bishop Carroll rallied, but a pair of Dan Kelly free throws with 23 seconds left gave East Brady a 55-52 lead and cemented a 56-54 victory.

In the Western Final, East Brady defeated Fairchance-Georges 60-56 as Kerschbaumer scored 26 points. His layup with 35 seconds left snapped a 53-all tie and gave the Bulldogs the lead they never lost.

Darby Township fell victim in the championship game, 72-66, as East Brady rallied from a 10-point deficit in the second quarter.

Dan Kelly made 14 of 16 free throws in that game — including 10 of 10 in the fourth quarter — and led the team with 24 points. Vasbinder sank four field goals in the first quarter, but turned an ankle after hitting a buzzer-beating 25-footer.

Vasbinder sat out the second quarter, but returned in the second half and scored 20 points in the contest.

Olcus grabbed 20 of East Brady's 51 rebounds in the game. East Brady won the game despite 25 turnovers and being outgoaled, 25 to 24. The Bulldogs sank 26 of 37 free throws and three Darby starters fouled out.

"I'm very surprised a District 9 (boys) team hadn't won a state title since we did,"Kevin Kelly said. "I knew we had a very good team.

"I guess we had a great team."

The 1980 East Brady squad had a reunion in Hershey the weekend Elk County Catholic ended the District 9 title drought.

"It felt good to see it,"Olcus said. "It felt better to do it."