Sixty years after winning the Class S Championship, the Exeter boys basketball team of 1963 is being recognized for the achievement with an induction into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame.

Set for Dec. 13 in Springfield, the basketball-focused luncheon will see five individuals and two other teams inducted.

On Friday, at the first varsity boys game of the season, the team was recognized in their home gym. Posting a record of 35-0 in the 19621963 season, the Tigers slipped by Crane, 43-42, in the first game of the season, then later defeated Pierce City, 57-53, for the Spring Valley Conference Tournament title and Midway, 63-38, en route to a Ozark 8 Conference championship.

The Tigers won the regional tournament to qualify for state, facing South Iron in the title game, coming away with a 54-43 win. Exeter was the No. 1 team out of 241 Class S schools in Missouri at the time.

“In an article from the championship season, Tom Hewgley, the 27-year-old mastermind of the Tigers stated, ‘I think the secret to this team’s success is the teamwork; these boys are the finest I have coached. They are a great bunch to work with and good students,’” said Ashley Fly, Exeter athletic director. “The Exeter community has always admired this group of young men. They were honored in 2013 for the 50th Anniversary of the State Championship at a home basketball game. Some of the team members still come to Exeter events regularly to support the Tigers.

“The Exeter community has always been proud of their Tigers. This honor of the 1962-1963 team has created a renewed excitement for future, current, and past Exeter Tigers.”

Members of the team included: Byron Tucker, senior; Jim Cowherd, senior; John Edie, senior; the late Jim Cox, senior; Gary Hopkins, junior; the late Johnny Beattie Jr., junior; the late Tim Mattingly, junior; John McNabb, junior; Jerry Swearingen, junior; the late Terry Moore, junior; Allen Moudy, junior; Sherrell Cassity, sophomore; managers Perry Epperly and Clyde Brown; and the late coach, Tom Hewgley.