Beginning with a Class A state championship in 1954, the Muskegon Heights Tigers emerged two years later as one of the most dominant basketball teams in the history of the state tournament. The 1955-56 and 1956-57 squads captured consecutive Class A basketball championships, their second and third in four years, to establish a prep dynasty that is arguably among the finest ever seen in Michigan. Legendary coach Oscar “Okie” Johnson’s teams were led by towering High School All-American center Ed Burton plus a supporting cast of talented teammates, many with All-State credentials.

Over the two years, the Tigers won 40 of 41 games, losing only to Benton Harbor in the first year 52-50. The average margin of victory over the two seasons was well over 20 points and the team was seldom seriously challenged even in tough tournament competition. The Tigers subdued Hamtramck 63-53 in the ‘56 title game and crushed Detroit Austin 61-49 in the ’57 finale to punctuate their incredible two-year dominance of Michigan High School basketball. The remarkable winning chemistry of the ‘56 and ’57 championship teams was something that blessed a high school program once in a lifetime and for many schools will never be – a true “dream team” for the ages.

Team members were Terry Banta, Dan Barberini, Roland Bingham, Harry Bomers, Ed Burton, Floyd Cook, Jr., Cliff Cummings, Larry Eikenberry, David Fox, Lucius Green, Richard Hanson, Earlie Harris, Fred Hilliard, Kennedy Howell, J.B. Huey, Nate Hunter, Steve Jackson, Ossie McCarty, Willie McCarty, Michael Murphy, Lieutenant Myles, Tom O’Neil, Art Oliver, Pete Peliotes, Ted Perry, Ron Peterson, Ron Piasecki, Ron Robinson, Don Sanborn, Bob Slezak, Leon Smith, Jim Stapel, Lloyd Swelnis, Paul VanOveren, Dan Wright and Ron Zimmer.