March 5, 2003
It was back to the future for OCHS sports
By TOM WILLIAMS
Sports Columnist
Phil Schaffer might have been nervous had he realized that three of the finest point guards to ever wear the
Ocean City High School colors – Ken Leary, John Cranston and Ed Paone - were watching him play
against Hammonton last week.
There is also a bit of the Tom Adams fluidity in the moves of young Jack Nixon.
But Ocean City’s 2002-03 basketball team held up fine under the scrutiny last week, making 50 percent of
its shots and defeating Hammonton on Hall of Fame Night at the Intermediate School.
Like so many things during this snowy February, the event had been postponed twice. The purpose this
season was to present Hall of Fame awards to Cranston, former basketball coach Jack Boyd and former
football star Doug Colman. Another new member, Pat Lynch, received his award earlier this winter prior to
a wrestling match with Absegami, where he is an assistant coach.
In addition to the three new Hall of Famers last week, five others who had already been inducted were on
hand to add their congratulations. In addition to Adams, Leary and Paone, multi-sport star Andy Jernee
was there along with former girls basketball coach Pat Dougherty.
Colman received his award from his father, Wayne, who was his high school coach in both football and
track. The two comprise the only father-son combination in South Jersey to both play in the NFL. Doug is
also the only CAL grad to play on a national champion in college (Nebraska) and play in the Super Bowl
(Titans).
Boyd received his award from Leary, who coached against him many times while Leary was at
Pleasantville. Boyd was comfortable on the Intermediate School court – his teams never lost a home
tournament game in that building. He was also the only person introduced who received a standing ovation
from the cheerleaders.
Cranston’s award was presented by Skip Castaldi, considered by many the greatest basketball player in
Mainland history. They had many a battle on the court in the 1960s but have become very good friends
over the years.
Cranston captained the 1964 Ocean City team to a state championship, making an even more special
memory when he tossed in a hook shot from half-court in the state final to beat the buzzer ending the first
half at the Atlantic City Boardwalk Hall.
Boyd, Dougherty and Paone are regular visitors to the Intermediate School. Boyd still teaches math at
OCHS and frequently works as part of the support staff at home games. Dougherty is on hand watching
promising freshman Dave Beyel play on the junior varsity team, the son of her close friends Dave and
Sandy Beyel. And Paone’s son, Eddie, plays for the Raider junior varsity team.
The person who drew the most attention from some of the Hall of Famers was Dick Grimes, a regular at
the games this year, much like he has been since the 1950s. Adams, Leary and Cranston all visited with
him.
Adams also told the story of his visit to Duke, while considering colleges as a high school senior. “Jack
Boyd was one of the guys who showed me around,” he remembered. “He told me to be sure I had any
scholarship they offered in my hand. He said the place was filled with high school all stars.” Adams ended
up going to Delaware where his college freshmen coach was an under-graduate baseball player named
Dallas Green.
Boyd started at Duke and played against such well-known athletes as NBA coach Doug Moe and NFL
coach Mike Ditka.
It was a merging of the generations last week in the finale of the 2002-03 season. Great athletes from the
past, seven OCHS seniors who were playing their last game and a number of young players who hold the
future of Raider basketball in their hands.
Whenever you bring together people like John Cranston, Jack Boyd, Doug Colman, Andy Jernee, Dr. Tom
Adams, Ken Leary, Pat Dougherty and Ed Paone it becomes a night to remember.
Complete OCHS Hall of Fame