Few towns have had a longer-running love affair with their hometown team than Shelby and its 1971 and 1972 Tigers. “Oh my goodness,” said Mary Beckman, whose older brothers, Fred and Stan Sanford, played on those teams along with her husband, Bob Beckman. “We’re still talking about those teams. They had a chemistry and such a sense of pride. We haven’t seen anything like it here since.”

Few towns of any size ever have. The Shelby boys teams which won back-to-back Class C state titles were close-knit squads that galvanized the whole town. Outside of Shelby, the two most recognized names from those teams are Coach Ed Douma and center Paul Griffin. Douma, who retired with a 561-295 record compiled over 31-years at the collegiate level, began his coaching career at Shelby. Griffin played in the NBA for seven years. For the folks in Shelby, the names Beckman, Sanford, Plummer, Van Duinen, Inglis, Danville, Raeth, Dawson, McDonald and Gosselin are just as legendary. Both titles truly were team efforts.
Their win over previously unbeaten Stockbridge in the 1971 title game completed a perfect 24-0 season. Despite three losses — to West Michigan Conference co-champ Scottville Mason County Central, Manistee and Western Michigan Christian — the 1972 Tigers beat Saginaw St. Stephen 71-61 in the 1972 title game.

Members of the 1971 Shelby team were: Bob Gosselin, Jack Griffin, Brian McDonald, Bob Beckman, Brad Plummer, Tom Inglis, Scott Dawson, Stan Sanford, Dan VanDuinen, Curt Raeth, Kimm Griffin, Paul Griffin, Alan Griffin, Steve Danville, Fred Sanford, Steve Pearson and Tom Lipps.

Members of the 1972 Shelby team were: Jeff Near, Norm Donker, Syl Flores, Jim Hoekenga, Paul Byl, Bob Erickson, Blair Hutchinson, Jake Vandehoef, Paul Tate, Stan Sanford, Bob Beckman, Scott Dawson, Dave VanDuinen, Curt Raeth, Paul Griffin, Steve Danville, Dan VanDuinen, Jack Griffin and Bob Gosselin.