"Silver is just as good as gold any day..."
Donnie’s high school team fell short of a state championship in 1970. After the game Donnie would make a statement; words he would likely not repeat now but a phrase, stated at that moment, revealing a true piece of his character; a trait he continues to demonstrate today.
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No one expected the Paullina High Panthers to be challenged in the 1970 State A tournament championship game against the Golden Hawks of Mid-Prairie. In the Panthers semi-final contest, the two-time defending state champion cruised to their 75th straight win getting 34 points from the 2-time all-state player, Neil Fegebank.1 The 6’ 7” Fegebank would finish his high school career as a three-time all-state player, scoring 1,777 career points, and snagging 1,258 rebounds. He would continue his basketball career at the University of Iowa.2 Fegebank and his teammate, 6’ 7” junior Mike Fiddelke, who would go on to play collegiately at Kansas State, created an unstoppable inside presence for the Panthers.
Nonetheless, the stellar play of Cal Hickman’s squad over the past eight tournament games, a fast-paced, exciting style of play could help the Golden Hawks garner support from the non-partisan fans as the underdog. The Hawks were playing their best basketball at a time when they would need it most. More importantly, throughout the season Hickman had instilled confidence in them. They always believed they could win.
Mid-Prairie displayed confidence early taking a 21-18 lead at the end of the first quarter. But Paullina would go on a run and secure a 38-30 lead at the half, then add another point to their lead in the third period, to go up 61-52 as both teams entered fourth-quarter play. Late in the fourth period, Golden Hawk, Steve Mast made a bucket to cut the Panthers lead to two, 68-66. After a made free throw and another basket, Paullina stretched their lead back to five, 71-66 with over three minutes to play. Then Donnie stepped up and on the next two Golden Hawk possessions, he nailed back-to-back clutch baskets to cut the score to 71-70 with a little under three minutes to play.3 If the Panthers had not felt any pressure in defending their two state titles at this point in the season, they likely did now. On the very next play, Steve Mast stole the ball from a Panther guard and was fouled.
Mast, a clutch performer, a junior on a team laden with senior talent, stepped to the line for his first free throw; he would have to hit the first one to get the second shot. Paullina fans roared. Mid-Prairie supporters kept quiet, fixated on Mast at the foul line; the gravity of the moment realized. Mast missed the free shot. Paullina rebounded the ball and would finish the game with seven straight points for a 78-70 victory and their third straight state championship, extending their streak to 76 straight wins.4
Stunned, proud, and emotionally drained, both the team and the community turned disappointment into a celebration. No school in the Mid-Prairie consolidated district, not Westchester High, Kalona High, or Wellman High had captured the interest of the community in the manner that Cal Hickman’s Hustlin’ Hawks did during the 1969-70 season. As the team returned home, a welcome party greeted them. If one had not attended the state tournament they might have assumed the Hawks brought home the gold trophy. Over 1,000 people packed into the Mid-Prairie gym. Both Cal Hickman and assistant coach, Tim Grady spoke and then Coach Hickman introduced each member of the team one by one, inviting them to the microphone to share a few words. When Donnie took the microphone, with a touch of humility and gratitude he stated, “Silver is just as good as gold any day.”
His comment in reference to the second place trophy.5 A statement that reflected an appreciation of the moment and a recognition of their shared experience, while hiding his true competitive spirit. A desire to always do his best while striving to win. A mindset needed when he would later represent the United States in international competition - where silver is never considered just as good as gold.
Donnie led the Hawks in scoring his senior year with a per-game average of 18.1 and in free throw percentage at 81.8%. He shared co-captain first-team all-tournament honors with Fegebank and was a first-team All-Eastern Iowa Hawkeye Conference selection. The Iowa Press Association named him third-team all-state.
Hickman’s Hustlin Hawks captured not only the hearts and enthusiasm of the community but set the stage for future success. Young, future Mid-Prairie players had witnessed the spectacle of the past season and wanted their chance to shine and experience the thrill of playing for the Golden Hawks. Little did Donnie know at the time how much this new enthusiasm for basketball in the community would impact him in the future or how he would later contribute to it.
Mid-Prairie Hawks vs. Paullina for Title (Eileen Hill) Washington Evening Journal
https://sites.google.com/site/iahsaasports/iowa-high-schools/defunct-high-schools/paullina/paullina-boys-basketball
Fegebank’s 42 points put streak at 76. (Ron Maly) Des Moines Register.
Fegebank’s 42 points put streak at 76. (Ron Maly) Des Moines Register.
Royal Welcome for Hawks (Eileen Hill) Washington Evening Journal