Muskegon Heights High School is known statewide for its outstanding basketball tradition. One of the most memorable stretches in the Tigers’ storied history came in 1978 and 1979. The Tigers, under the direction of newly-minted head coach and former standout Heights player Lee Gilbert, ripped off back-to-back Class B state championships in those two seasons, ending both campaigns with 26-2 records.

In 1978, Muskegon Heights won the Class B state title by beating Ecorse 67-52 at Crisler Arena in Ann Arbor. Juniors Robert Kitchen and Cedric Scott were both named to the Associated Press All-State first team. Locals still talk about that team’s regular-season matchup with Benton Harbor, played in front of an estimated crowd of 6,000 fans – one of the largest in the history of the L.C. Walker Arena. The Heights, top-ranked in Class B,  beat the Class A top-ranked Tigers from Harbor, 55-52, in a thriller. Muskegon Heights defended their crown the following year with a 52-47 win against Saginaw Buena Vista in the title game. Scott and Kitchen were again awarded Class B All-State honors, while Donnell Plummer was special mention and Clayton Cochran and Doug Burse were honorable mention.

Members of the Muskegon Heights teams were: Calvin Brown. Doug Burse, Orlando Burt, Clayton Cochran, Thernell Davis, Jeff Doxey, Henry Henderson, Donny Houston, Jeff Johnson, Lenard Kelly, Robert Kitchen, Ronnie Mathews, Gene Miskel, Charles Patton, Donnell Plummer, Perry Riley, Cedric Scott, Michael Williams, Willie Wyrick, Chauncey Bryant (manager), Charles Penn (manager) and Lee Gilbert (coach).