Regular Season

• The 1997-98 Wyandotte Bulldogs team finished the regular season with a 15-5 record and ranked 5th in Kansas Class 5A.
   

• Among the Wyandotte State Championship teams, only the 1976 State Championship team finished the regular season with more losses (6).
   

• Regular season highlights included two victories against Class 6A State qualifier F. L. Schlagle Stallions on the way to an undefeated 8-0 record in the KCK League.
   

• On January 27, 1998, the Bulldogs fell to the Topeka Washburn Rural Junior Blues 78-77 in a non-conference home game to fall to 8-5 on the season.  Three days later the home-standing Bulldogs blasted the Harmon Hawks 81-48 for the first of twelve straight they won to finish the season and win Wyandotte’s 20th State Championship.
   

• A key win in the closing stretch was a 70-57 road win over the Rockhurst Hawklets where the Bulldogs led 37-21 at half.

 

Substate Tournament @ Lawrence Free State High School

• In the semifinals, Wyandotte ousted the Lawrence Free State Firebirds 90-54. Charles Almond led the Bulldogs with 24 points.  Nathan Johnson & Victor Williams added 21 points each. 
   

• In the finals, Wyandotte edged the Topeka Highland Park Scots 57-55. Nathan Johnson broke a 55-all tie with a jumper with 9 seconds left to send the Bulldogs to the state tournament.  The Bulldogs trailed the entire game until Charles Almond tied the game with a jumper with 1:30 remaining. Highland Park had a 6-point halftime lead and led by 2 points at the end of the 3rd quarter. The Bulldogs took their only lead before Johnson’s game-winner with a Victor Williams basket with a minute left. Nathan Johnson led Wyandotte with 25 points including five 3-pointers.  Charles Almond contributed 13 points and Victor Williams added 12. 

 

State Tournament @ The Kansas Expocentre in Topeka

• In the quarterfinals, #5 seed Wyandotte outlasted the #4 seed Salina South Cougars 71-64 in overtime. After Salina South’s Greg Gibson hit a buzzer-beating 3-pointer (the last of his 31 points) at the end of regulation to tie the game at 59, the Bulldogs outscored the Cougars 12-5 in the extra session. In overtime, Cedric Frierson made a key basket off an assist from Victor Williams with 1:00 remaining to give the Bulldogs a 3-point lead they never relinquished.  Victor Williams led the Bulldogs with 34 points, 6 assists and 6 steals.  Charles Almond added 12 points and Nathan Johnson added 11.  Willie Young led the Bulldogs with 19 rebounds.
   

• In the semifinals, Wyandotte overcame top-seeded Andover's significant size advantage and ousted the Trojans 69-65. Andover’s roster included two 6’10” players and All-State player and future Kansas Jayhawk walk-on 6’5” Chris Zerbe. With Victor Williams saddled with foul trouble, the Bulldogs trailed Andover by 11 points early in the 3rd quarter and 5 points when Williams left the game with 4 fouls with 5:29 left in the 3rd quarter.  With Williams on the bench, the Bulldogs rallied to tie the game at 50-50 just prior to Williams re-entering the game with 6 minutes remaining.  In the game’s final 6 minutes, Williams scored 16 points, including four 3-pointers, to close the game.  Williams led the Bulldogs with 27 points. Charles Almond had 15 points & 12 rebounds.  Nathan Johnson added 12 points and Willie Young had 9. 
   

• In the championship game, Wyandotte dispatched the Buhler Crusaders 63-42. Wyandotte allowed only six 1st quarter points, took a 33-17 halftime lead, and cruised to a 21-point victory.  Victor Williams led the Bulldogs with 21 points on 3-3 from the 3-point line.  Nathan Johnson & Charles Almond both contributed 17.  Willie Young led the Bulldogs with 10 rebounds.
   

• The victory earned the Wyandotte Bulldogs their 20th State Championship and first since 1985.