Intro to Babbie & Basketball (FCJS-NY) 1969–1975 #FCJSbasketball #CoachMcDermott #FallsburgNYhigh

I**Fallsburg Central Boys Basketball (1969–1975) was more than a winning team — it was a dynasty built against the odds.**

This channel documents the untold story of a **small New York high school basketball program in Sullivan County**, where a **predominantly Black team—just 17% of the student body—competed, excelled, and dominated** during a turbulent era marked by poverty, racial stereotypes, and limited resources.

Coached by **James D. McDermott**, a quiet, stubborn, compassionate Irishman, Navy veteran, and Notre Dame graduate, Fallsburg’s varsity teams compiled an astounding **108–13 record**, won **3 league championships, 4 sectional titles, and 1 regional championship**, enjoyed a **33-game winning streak**, 1 perfect Season (1974), and defeated archrival **Monticello 11 straight times**, averaged **over 93 points per game**, and held opponents to just **52.6 points**.

Yet despite unprecedented success, **Coach McDermott was never named Coach of the Year**.

These student-athletes—many living **below the poverty level in predominantly Jewish communities**—defied every narrative placed upon them. From **1969 to 1975**, they maintained a **2.7 GPA**, saw **92% enter four-year colleges**, and achieved an **88% graduation rate**, guided by educators who believed basketball was a vehicle for dignity, discipline, and opportunity.

Today, this dynasty is recognized in the **New York State High School Basketball Hall of Fame**, but its story remains largely unknown.

This channel preserves that legacy — **Fallsburg basketball history, Black excellence, small-town New York sports, and the power of education through athletics** — so it will never be forgotten.

If this history matters to you, you’re in the right place.
Welcome to the Fallsburg story.
https://youtu.be/_iuOMHT33yM?si=hz6gK7V83DxxFCDJ

Видео Intro to Babbie & Basketball (FCJS-NY) 1969–1975 #FCJSbasketball #CoachMcDermott #FallsburgNYhigh канала Babbie & Basketball (FCJS-NY)