The year was 1960, and it was a bittersweet basketball season for the Austin High School boys team. The Packers advanced to the state tournament, but lost in the finals.

Austin took third at state in 1959 and won a state championship in 1958. In 1960, however, the Packers faced an unlikely opponent in Edgerton, a town of about 1,000.

Edgerton was undefeated heading into the finals with a record of 26-0 and stayed unbeaten after topping Austin 72-61.

It was like the “Hoosiers” of Minnesota minus Gene Hackman.

Some might take a look at that Minnesota high school boys basketball season and focus only on Edgerton and its amazing run to the state championship.

And that would be understandable given the great run that team had.

But the Packers also had a great season that year, so great that both teams will be honored at the Class ‘AAAA’ title game at the Target Center Saturday in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the 1960 state championship.

The organizers of the tournament did the right thing by honoring both teams from that historic game, and we congratulate all of the players from both Edgerton and Austin high schools for their involvement in that memorable season.