Article in the Gazette on the '95 team (9/21)
Posted: Thu Sep 21, 2006 7:06 am
Ed West: Homegrown talent played key role on '96 MSU team
By ED WEST
Of The Gazette Staff
In the winter of 1991, Scott Hatler was a standout player at Great Falls who was looking forward to college. Adam Leachman was a budding junior at Bozeman and Dan Sullivan was a sophomore at Billings West, just learning what playing on the varsity was all about.
Five years later that trio was celebrating a Big Sky Conference basketball championship at Montana State and a trip to the NCAA tournament.
Over the past several years, the three of them have made their homes in Billings. Leachman is a physical therapist, Sullivan sells orthopedic equipment and Hatler is a trust and investment manager. They play on the same city league basketball team and they get together for golf.
They'll be together again Friday night, returning to Bozeman as the 1996 Bobcat team will be inducted into the school's hall of fame. "It's exciting," Sullivan said. "It's something you never expect when you're playing, but that team definitely deserves it."
The Bobcats started to come together during the 1994-95 season and it carried over.
"You definitely have to have that camaraderie," Hatler said. "We got along and you have to have that to be a championship team."
Hatler and Leachman were both starters on that team and Sullivan was among the first players off the bench. Center Quadre Lollis, forward Nico Harrison and Hatler were all-conference first-team selections as the Bobcats posted a 21-9 record.
MSU won the regular-season title by a game over Weber State and Montana. They followed up by claiming the conference tournament title with an 81-70 win over Weber State before a roaring crowd of over 7,000 at Brick Breeden Fieldhouse. Freshman Danny Sprinkle sparked the Bobcats with 30 points and earned tournament MVP honors.
Things didn't go so well in the NCAA tournament, where the Bobcats were paired against Big East power Syracuse. The Orange rolled to an 88-55 victory and advanced to the championship game, where they lost to Kentucky.
"Obviously, playing Syracuse was a highlight, to get the opportunity to play on that level," Sullivan said. "Growing up in Montana, you dream about that. Winning the Big Sky championship before the home crowd and watching (Danny) Sprinkle go off, you never forget that."
Leachman recalls how close-knit the team was and is looking forward to seeing his former teammates.
"I haven't seen some of them in 10 years and it will be fun to see them again. We got along so well, on and off the court. We did a lot of things together. Everyone accepted their role. It was a special situation."
For Hatler, the fact that four Montana players made a contribution was significant.
"One of the neatest things is four guys (from Montana) played a pretty big part in it and there was coach (Mick) Durham. Coach (Brad) Huse was on the staff. It's not all about Montana, but it's a pretty neat deal."
Durham was a star guard for the Bobcats in the 1970s and will also be among the inductees. He resigned last year and Huse was hired as his replacement. Huse then brought Sprinkle back as an assistant coach.
"It's pretty cool for that group of guys to be remembered after 10 years," Hatler said. "It should be fun."
By ED WEST
Of The Gazette Staff
In the winter of 1991, Scott Hatler was a standout player at Great Falls who was looking forward to college. Adam Leachman was a budding junior at Bozeman and Dan Sullivan was a sophomore at Billings West, just learning what playing on the varsity was all about.
Five years later that trio was celebrating a Big Sky Conference basketball championship at Montana State and a trip to the NCAA tournament.
Over the past several years, the three of them have made their homes in Billings. Leachman is a physical therapist, Sullivan sells orthopedic equipment and Hatler is a trust and investment manager. They play on the same city league basketball team and they get together for golf.
They'll be together again Friday night, returning to Bozeman as the 1996 Bobcat team will be inducted into the school's hall of fame. "It's exciting," Sullivan said. "It's something you never expect when you're playing, but that team definitely deserves it."
The Bobcats started to come together during the 1994-95 season and it carried over.
"You definitely have to have that camaraderie," Hatler said. "We got along and you have to have that to be a championship team."
Hatler and Leachman were both starters on that team and Sullivan was among the first players off the bench. Center Quadre Lollis, forward Nico Harrison and Hatler were all-conference first-team selections as the Bobcats posted a 21-9 record.
MSU won the regular-season title by a game over Weber State and Montana. They followed up by claiming the conference tournament title with an 81-70 win over Weber State before a roaring crowd of over 7,000 at Brick Breeden Fieldhouse. Freshman Danny Sprinkle sparked the Bobcats with 30 points and earned tournament MVP honors.
Things didn't go so well in the NCAA tournament, where the Bobcats were paired against Big East power Syracuse. The Orange rolled to an 88-55 victory and advanced to the championship game, where they lost to Kentucky.
"Obviously, playing Syracuse was a highlight, to get the opportunity to play on that level," Sullivan said. "Growing up in Montana, you dream about that. Winning the Big Sky championship before the home crowd and watching (Danny) Sprinkle go off, you never forget that."
Leachman recalls how close-knit the team was and is looking forward to seeing his former teammates.
"I haven't seen some of them in 10 years and it will be fun to see them again. We got along so well, on and off the court. We did a lot of things together. Everyone accepted their role. It was a special situation."
For Hatler, the fact that four Montana players made a contribution was significant.
"One of the neatest things is four guys (from Montana) played a pretty big part in it and there was coach (Mick) Durham. Coach (Brad) Huse was on the staff. It's not all about Montana, but it's a pretty neat deal."
Durham was a star guard for the Bobcats in the 1970s and will also be among the inductees. He resigned last year and Huse was hired as his replacement. Huse then brought Sprinkle back as an assistant coach.
"It's pretty cool for that group of guys to be remembered after 10 years," Hatler said. "It should be fun."
