Goats Capture the Top Spot in 1998
A perspective by Dennis Rahm, the long-time “Voice” of the Goats
My how time flies. It’s hard to fathom that 20 years has already passed since the Chelan Goats captured the 1998 Class A Boys State Basketball Championship at the Tacoma Dome. Bringing home that Gold Ball trophy marked the completion of goals and dreams of not just the players and coaches, but of an entire community.
Dennis Rahm’s 1998 pre-game interview with Coach Joe Harris
Enjoy this trip down memory lane as we revisit through words, audio and photos a very special time in the history of Chelan athletics.
Opening Day
The Goats rolled through the tourney in almost unprecedented fashion. You can’t win a State title without winning on day one, and Chelan accomplished that goal by defeating Toledo 57-47 in what would prove to be their closest game of the tournament.
Quarter Finals
Next up….the quarter finals and a matchup with Life Christian Academy where Chelan cruised to a 32 point win 67-35. In this contest Chelan was fueled by their best offensive performance of the tournament. The game marked the only time the Goats would put up 60 or more points and it would also prove to be their largest margin of victory. The victory puts Chelan into the final four.
Semi Finals
Although basketball pundits expected a tight game in the semi-finals against tradition rich Lynden Christian, the Goats again won comfortably by the final score of 55-41. Ranked Number 1 all season, Chelan was a defensive minded squad that survived the pressure of tourney favorite with the aid of one of the top talents in the State in 6’9″ senior Phil Cullen who would go on to play college basketball at the University of Utah. After securing an impressive win in the semi’s, the Goats were now just one victory away from accomplishing their goal of a State Championship. Next up, Seattle Christian Academy.
The “little guy” staring up at the Gold Ball in awe – would grow to become the NBA’s “Joey Buckets” aka Joe Harris – currently playing for the Brooklyn Nets
Championship Game
It’s Saturday night, March 7, 1998 at the T-Dome and the excitement was palpable. After nearly four full days of girls and boys state basketball games featuring teams from all over the state, it all came down to this one game to crown a new champion.
As the play-by-play announcer for KOZI Radio, I remember setting up the broadcast equipment that evening arriving early as always to ensure there would be no surprises for the game to come a bit later and thinking how eerily quiet it was after days of loud student sections, cheer squads and bands. Not to worry, as the lull in the storm of a championship night wouldn’t last long. After securing coach interviews, starting lineups and conferring with Ray Dobbs who was out and about recording fan-in-the-stands interviews to use over the course of our broadcast, the countdown to tip off was on. With pre-game show guests lined up, the Dobbs fan interviews in hand, and having confirmed lineup information, all was in readiness. The Tacoma Dome was packed that night, including a large contingent of Chelan Goat fans sporting their Red and Green.
One of the most vocal supporters of Chelan basketball was longtime fan Bill Nickell who had the distinction of being serenaded by the Chelan crowd with the singing of Happy Birthday. Says Nickell now “I couldn’t have dreamed of a better way to celebrate my 50th birthday. What a special night that was.”
Since there’s no need for a spoiler alert, this story finishes with a happy ending as the Goats victory allows the team to earn only the second ever Chelan Boys basketball championship. (Chelan boys also won State way back in 1951.)
Coach Joe Harris and his team wore down the competition with a combination of execution, talent, discipline, and tough as nails defense. Seattle Christian also relied on their defense and kept it close at the half with Chelan up 19-14 in a tough and physical low scoring affair. A couple of big 4th quarter buckets by Phil Cullen and Lucas Dobbs were too much for Seattle Academy to overcome.
Click the arrow below to listen to highlights from the 1998 game broadcast
As they had throughout the tourney, Chelan would wear down their opponent and pull away late to win the State Championship 43-27. The Goats were once again keyed by outstanding team defense and the dominating play of tourney MVP Cullen who had a monster game with 19 points, 14 rebounds and 7 of his single Tournament record 25 blocked shots. Fellow senior Dobbs contributed 16 points in the victory, but as it was throughout that season, success in the title game was triggered by outstanding D and an unselfish team commitment to do whatever it takes to win.
Dennis Rahm interviews Phil Cullen back in 1998
A big part of the teams defensive success in addition to Cullen closing down the inside, was the tough on-ball pressure applied by senior guard Ryan Waller and junior guard B. J. Mitchell.
LakeChelanNow caught up with Phil Cullen in his office at the San Antonio Spurs. He was excited to talk about his years playing basketball in Chelan and noted that the State Championship was a culmination of years of hard work with a special group of guys coming from a very special, and ‘very supportive community.
Click the arrows below to listen to a recent two part phone interview with Phil Cullen. In part one he talks “hoops” then and now. In part two, he recalls that the success of the championship team can be traced back to their grade school years at MOE.
Chelan completed the 1997-98 season with an overall record of 24-2, including a close loss to fellow Caribou Trail League member and longtime rival Cashmere in the District Championship game.
Immediately following the state Championship game, a post game celebration was quickly organized and held at a nearby hotel in Tacoma.
The banner says it all!
That would not be the last party however, as the team and coaches were later feted at a community celebration held at Campbell’s Resort and Conference Center.
What a year and what a special season it was 20 years ago! I had a chance recently to chat with now retired head coach Joe Harris about this incredible journey through a championship season. Give a listen to Joe as he reflects on what it meant to bring the Gold Ball home to Chelan.
Listen to this recent LakeChelanNow interview with Hall of Fame Coach Joe Harris
We hope you enjoy our photo gallery from this memorable time in CHS basketball history. If you have photos from that historic season that you would like us to post, please email them to sports@lakechelannow.com with 1998 Basketball in the subject line.
