AAHS Boys Basketball History
Altoona Basketball dates back to 1911. Over the past 104 seasons, the Maroon and White have compiled a record of 1676-742. Though a state title has eluded the program, Altoona has competed in four state title games, made eight Western Final appearances and won 37 District 6 championships.
The school's first ever state final appearance came in 1933, when the Mt. Lions won 19 consecutive games only to fall to Lower Merion, 21-16, in the title game. The Lions returned to the state championship again in 1938. Though the score was tied at 2-2 after one period and 10-10 at halftime, the Mt. Lions lost to Hazelton, 29-27, in front of 9,000 screaming fans at the Palestra on Penn campus in Philadelphia.
The Mt. Lions put together five 20 win seasons-including four straight District 6 crowns from 1956-1959 - under coach Jim O'Donnell in the 1950s. Led in scoring by sophomore standout Jim Curry, the 1957-58 Mt. Lions made it to the state championship for the third time in school history, where they lost to Haverford 67-45.
Coach Frank Mastrocola took over the program in 1960, and in 1966 his Mt. Lions went 21-2 before falling to Uniontown in the western semifinal. Senior Dick Johnston left his mark in the record books that season. His 1,427 career points came without the benefit of the three-point line.
In 1968, Coach John Swogger took the reins of the Mt. Lion basketball program. His teams won nine District 6 championships during his 12 years as head coach. In the 1970s, the Mt. Lions won 44 straight home games. Fans would fill every seat at the Jaffa Mosque to watch Swoggers Mt. Lions run their trademark fast break.
Led by seniors Larry Betar, Bill Moore, Galen Bickel, Terry Acker and Reese Piper, the 1970-71 team went 23-2. With Moore pounding the boards, Betar receiving the outlet pass, and Acker and Piper breaking for the basket, the Lions fast break was a work of art.
The 1979-80 Mt. Lions, including standout players Johnny Swogger, Louie Schmitt and Corey Gehret, also boasted an intense style of play that led them to a 27-3 record on the year. In one of the best games ever at Altoona High, the Mt. Lions ranked fifth in Pennsylvania, battled Philadelphia Overbrook, rated number one in a five state area. Johnny Swogger's last second jumper rimmed out for the Lions and Altoona came up on the losing end, 60-59. That season marked the end of an era in Mt. Lion history, as Coach Swogger retired after the season.
Larry Beta, who had coached the Mt.Lion jayvees to a perfect 24-0 record in 1980, ascended to the head coaching position where he compiled 289 victories in fourteen years. His 1985 team won an amazing 27 straight games before falling to Brashear in the western final. One of those wins came over St. John's of Washington D.C in a double overtime thriller before 3500 fans at the Field House. Future professionals Doug West and Mike Iuzzolino led the team, but Betar emphasizes, "we had a lot of other good kids - they weren't all pros."
Iuzzolino went on to play for the Dallas Mavericks and in Italy professionally, while West, who scored 1607 points without the benefit of the three-point line at AAHS, enjoyed a 12 year NBA career playing for the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Vancouver Grizzlies. Two other Altoona products, Johnny Moore and Danny Fortson, have gone all the way to the NBA. Moore played college basketball at Texas and had a long career with the San Antonio Spurs in th e1980s. Fortson's NBA career included stints with Denver, Boston, Golden State, Dallas and Seattle.
In 1991, Fortson and teammate Brian Rehm, a first team All-State selection, along with Steve Taneyhill broke Altoona's 30-year drought in state championship appearances. Fortson scored 24 points as a freshman in a losing effort against Glen Mills in the state title game in Hershey.
Coached by Art Taneyhill, the 1997-98 teams thrilling playoff run included buzzer beater wins over State College and Pittsburgh Central Catholic, which advanced them to the state semifinal game.
The 2002-03 team under Kraig Hetz finished 25-5. They beat State College to win Altoona's 35th District 6 championship and advanced to the western final game. The team was ranked No. 3 by Harrisburg Patriot-News in the final AAAA poll.
Larry Betar returned to coach the Mt. Lions from 2006 until 2009. The 2007 District Champions featured fast breaks and tough defense and finished with a 24-5 record.
Paul Hasson took over as head coach from 2009-2016. The 2013-14 Altoona Mt. Lions won the 37th District 6 championship.