MAKING HISTORY
Drago's' Jackets Reached
Pinnacle In 1960 Season
Legendary Coach Knew Star's Grandparents
By JENNIFER HILL • The Freeman's Journal & HOMETOWN ONEONTA
![](https://www.allotsego.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/tony-drago-295x300.jpg)
ONEONTA – Defying predictions, a boys’ basketball team from a small Otsego County town takes an early, wide lead over a big city team in the state’s final tournament, dominates throughout, and wins its first-ever state championship.
That happened on Sunday, March 17, 2019, when Cooperstown’s Hawkeyes beat Buffalo’s Middle Early College, 71-61, for the Class C state championship.
Almost 60 years ago, March 27, 1960, virtually the same thing happened. The local team was the Oneonta High School Yellow Jackets.
In 1960, the boys took an early, wide lead over Syracuse Central Tech, kept the lead throughout the game – at one point, they were 19 points ahead – and won, 64-53. It was OHS’ – and the county’s – first state-level win.
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