Pittsburgh Press, March 24, 1952
What is the state record for the longest winning streak?
Pittsburgh Press, March 18, 1952
by Bill Gaffey for pahoops.org
But what is the record to beat? Well pahoops.org did some research at
the State Library based upon an inquiry from a person who visits our
Pennsylvania Basketball Website. They told us to investigate the
records of West End St. James from Pittsburgh in the 1950's. We did,
and we found that St. James holds the record with 66 straight wins and three
state championships over four seasons.
If you look in the dictionary, the noun RECORD is
defined as the following:
-the state of being recorded, as in writing
-an account in writing or the like preserving the memory or knowledge of
facts or events
-a report, list, or aggregate of actions or achievements
Over the years, some accomplishments are forgotten if they are not
recorded somewhere. Some records are myth rather than fact if they are
passed on by word of mouth without supporting materials. Some records
are based upon misreported information. For some reason, the 1944-1947 run
by Allentown High School was always reported as the longest winning streak
in state high school basketball. But then when Carbondale fashioned a
59 game winning streak in the 1990's, they claimed the record citing
that the state titles of Allentown had been disputed by the PIAA.
Allentown and Carbondale were both PIAA schools, the Pennsylvania
Interscholastic Athletic Association. The accomplishments and records
of schools who played under the PCIAA banner, the Pennsylvania Catholic
Athletic Association were left on the shelf and have largely been
disregarded since it disbanded in the 1970's.
On February 1950, West End St. James lost 40-39 to St. Mary's of Mt. Washington, then they reeled off 66 wins and three state championships before being stopped in the second game of the 1952-53 season. They lost to St. Adelbert's 33-31 on December 6, 1952.
61-From 1944 to 1947, Allentown High School recorded 61 consecutive victories. The 1946 and 1947 championships were disputed by the PIAA.
59-Carbondale 30-0 State title in 1993, then a 29-1 Runner Up team in 1994.
58-1977-1979. The "Golden Girls" of Pottsville Nativity High School set the Lower Anthracite Region's all time win streak with 58, including a 48-41 win over Johnsonburg in the 1978 state championship game.
57-York Catholic boys' from 1989-91, the all-time York-Adams area winning streak
57-The Cranberry girls won 57 straight after an early season loss in 93-94, they didn't lose again until the PIAA Western Finals in 94-95.
54-Carbondale Area Girls were undefeated in 1977 winning the AA state title at 31-0, then going 23-2 in 78.
54-Darby-Colwyn boys. Between Mar '61 and Dec '63 coach Hal Blitman's "Rams" won 54 consecutive games. (streak stopped by Sharon Hill 52-45).
53-Northwest Area boys. Their streak ended March 3, 1984 when Milton upset them on the Northwest court 43-42,
53-Montrose boys. From 1963 to 1965 they won 53 in a row before losing to Northern Cambria in the 1965 Class B Championship Game.
52-In 1964, Uniontown went undefeated the entire season, and in 1965 went undefeated until the WPIAL semi-final game, losing to Aliquippa.