Former Teton High School basketball player reminisces about 1975-77 undefeated seasons

Undefeated for three seasons – with a record of 75-0: That was the Teton High School Redskins boys basketball team from 1975-77. The team won the A-3 title in 1976.

The Idaho High School Athletics Association honored that team last weekend with a plaque and a halftime ceremony during the state boys basketball tournament in Boise.

One of those players was Gary Furniss. He stopped by KIDK Eyewitness News 3 studio. Anchor Todd Kunz asked him about those years.

“It was an amazing time. It was a time where small community, great support. If you’ve seen the movie ‘Hoosiers,’ that was it. We used to travel from city to city and play and standing room only crowds. The fire marshal had to lock the gyms down, and we’d go play and the fans were great. East Idaho fans are great. There are great traditions here at Madison, Rigby. You’ve got some great fans and great people. And we were, in the early days from ’75, ’76, ’77, went undefeated, won 75 in a row. It was a great time,” said Furniss.

As for the honor in Boise –

“You know, in sports, we play, we win, we love that. But there is that element of friendship, like a band of brothers. It was nice to see them. Forty-three years, that’s a long time, but the guys came back, and it was good to see them. They are all healthy, that’s awesome. And we just enjoyed the time.”

Furniss went on to play one year at Utah State University, then served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He later finished his college career at Brigham Young University and played with the likes of Danny Ainge in 1981, when BYU made the Elite Eight in the NCAA Tournament.

Furniss is from Driggs, Idaho.