24-5 record (tied wins record)

Averaged 81.1 ppg

T-2nd NCIC

Regional Champions

State-ranked throughout the season

3 players receiving all-state mentions

Lineup included SHS Hall of Famers Dave Stockwell, Mark Holldorf and Wes Williams

Craig DeWitt: averaged 20 ppg

Dave Stockwell: two games of 30+ points during postseason run

The 1975-76 boys basketball team was one of the most talented to come through Sterling High School. A year removed from the historic 1974-1975 season, coaches Del Carr and Gary Lewison led Sterling to an impressive 24-5 record, tying the school record for wins. Returning many key players from the previous year's team, they tied Ottawa for second in the NCIC with a 9-2 record, losing close games to LaSalle-Peru (98-94), and Mendota (81-79). The regular season matchup against L-P drew a sellout crowd of around 2,500 people when the 8th-ranked Golden Warriors made the trip down to the Cavalier's gymnasium. Although they were unable to pull off the victory, the Golden Warriors would be given another chance at the L-P later in the season.

The team displayed their offensive firepower in wins against Geneseo (118-75), Naperville (114-43), and Newman (116-66). Blowout victories were common for Sterling as they scored at the second-highest rate in Sterling boys basketball history, averaging 81.1 points per game while holding opponents to just 62.1 points on average. After maintaining a spot in the state rankings throughout the season, the Golden Warriors went into the Geneseo Class AA regional ranked 14th. Sterling breezed through regionals, defeating host Geneseo (71-61), and Kewanee (98-66) in the championship, thanks to a 34-point performance by guard Dave Stockwell. To open the East Moline Class AA sectionals, the Golden Warriors were set up for a rematch against conference rivals L-P. The two evenly matched teams went back-and-forth into two overtimes, with Sterling coming out on top 69-65. Stockwell once again led the charge with a clutch 30 points against the Cavaliers, eight of which came in the second overtime.

In the sectional championship game against Moline, the Golden Warriors' magical season came to an end. The hotly-contested game included controversy as Sterling was called for a technical foul for allegedly not having a reserve player's name in the scorebook. Game reports indicate the official scorer failed to properly transfer the name of the player from Sterling's record book to the official scorebook. Despite scorer's admission, the call could not be reversed. Moline converted the free throw attempt and went on to win the game 69-68.

Members of the 1975-76 boys basketball team were
Kit Donner ’76
Andrew Cripe ’76
David Stockwell ’76
Wes Williams ’76
Terry Harts ’76
Steve Ebersole ’76
Tim Burch ’76
David Trueblood ’77
Tim Hess ’77
Mike Davis ’76
Jim Prescott '76
Scott DeWitt ’77
Lamont Deter ’76
Howard Melchi ’77
Craig DeWitt ’76
Mark Holldorf ’76
Tom Czupynski ’77
Chris Donner ’77
Jim Edison ’76