Two Schools, Two Championships, One Year Apart
In March 1971, Eddie Burke's St. Joseph's Prep beat Cardinal O'Hara 64-58 at the Palestra to win the Catholic League championship. Senior guard Maurice "Mo" Howard went 12-for-18 from the field and 5-for-8 from the free-throw line for 29 points — a CL postseason record. Bill Truskey added 13 points and 12 rebounds. The Hawklets had taken a 49-46 lead in the fourth on two Howard baskets and a Truskey hoop, and never gave it back.
The next year, Burke was coaching a different team at a different school. He had moved to St. Thomas More — a once-powerful South Philadelphia Catholic League program — and brought a group of players with him into the 1971-72 season. In March 1972, St. Thomas More beat North Catholic 54-42 at the Palestra to win the Catholic League championship. Carl Kenty collected 13 points, 19 rebounds, and eight blocks. Emery Sammons scored 16. Larry Sanders grabbed 13 boards. North's fans, apparently not pleased with the result, pelted the court with stink bombs and then — as the Golden Bears celebrated — with empty beer cans.
Eddie Burke had just become the first coach in Catholic League history to win back-to-back championships at different schools.
