On a cold January evening in Bradford, one of the greatest teams to ever don the Owls’ home whites took the floor.
The public address announcer introduced the team.
Number 50, a forward, Tim Simons.
Number 52, center/forward, Cory Mead.
Number 34, a guard, Jason Wells.
Number 42, forward, Aaron Bowes.
Number 14, guard, Joe Irons.
And now for your starters.
Center, number 40, Nate Willson
Point guard, number 22, Cory Hayden.
Shooting guard, number 44, Andrew Terwilliger.
Forward, number 54, Mike Manning.
Guard, number 32, Jerry Burgos.
The Owls are coached by Mike Manning Sr. and head coach Dave Fuhrman.
Fast forward 30 years.
Era photo by Wade Aiken
The Bradford High School boys basketball program honored its historic 1994-95 team at the Owls’ home game Friday evening against DuBois. During that dream season 30 years ago, the Owls went 24-0 in the regular season, winning the Class AAAA District 9 championship and advancing to the state quarterfinals, and brought the entire community along for the ride. Shown, from left, are Head Coach Dave Fuhrman, Assistant Coach Mike Manning Sr., Jerry Burgos, Mike Manning Jr., Andrew Terwilliger, Cory Hayden, Jason Wells, Cory Mead, Tim Simons and manager Kevin Minich. Unable to attend were Joe Irons, Aaron Bowes and Nate Willson.
That team did, in fact, take the court Friday evening at the Owls Nest, as the Bradford High School boys basketball team honored the 30th anniversary of, arguably, the best group to ever do it.
The tribute read, “The 1994-95 Bradford Owls basketball team finished the regular season unbeaten with a perfect record of 24 wins and 0 losses. It was the first unbeaten regular season since the 1941-42 team, and the team set the program record for the most wins in a season with 27. The team’s average margin of victory that season was 16 points. The team’s trademarks were balanced scoring and pressure defense as the team held 19 of its 28 opponents under 50 points.
“The team was often referred to as the Dream Team.”
Holding things together was manager Kevin Minich. “Coach Fuhrman always recruited his team managers from his classes and Kevin was one of the best the Owls ever had.” He resides in Elizabeth Township in the Pittsburgh area with his wife, Meghan. Kevin is a golf superintendent at Westwood Golf Club in West Mifflin.
“Bowes lives with his wife, Jennifer, just outside of Washington, DC, and their two children, sixth-grader Alistair and fourth-grader Alexandra. He works for Parsons Technology as their Director of Digital Solutions for Major Projects Division.
“Irons, the only sophomore on the varsity team that season, resides in Lakewood, N.Y., with his three children, Jack, 14; Leo, 12; and Aubrey, 10, and is involved in coaching their youth sports. He owns his own insurance business in Jamestown, N.Y.
“Simons was a reserve forward on the team. Tim was a physical presence off the bench and had the sharpest elbows on the team. Tim really pushed his teammates at practice to be their very best.
“Mead was appropriately nicknamed “The Hammer” because of the physical presence he brought to the Owls. Cory was athletic and quick jumper who could rebound in traffic and defend in the post. He could also score when the team needed him to.
“Wells was an excellent ball handler and defender with quick hands. He could also knock down a perimeter shot when it was needed. Jason was a versatile player and a key part of the Owls’ success. He secured the biggest rebound of the season versus McKeesport to end the game.
“Willson was a quick jumper and played much bigger than his 6-2 height. Nate was a good shot blocker and rim protector in the Owls’ pressure defense and had an array of low post moves.
“Hayden was the quarterback of the Owls’ pressure defense and his cat-quick hands caused many a turnover that led to easy baskets for the Owls. He was an excellent ball handler and passer and could drive to the basket and knock down the perimeter shot.
“Terwilliger was the best pure shooter on the team and was excellent at turning into his shot coming off screens. His silky smooth shooting form made him an excellent mid-range and 3-point shooter. Twigs was the ‘Olean-killer’ that season scoring 27 points in each of the Owls’ two wins over their arch interstate rival.
“Manning was the team’s “Swiss Army Knife” as he could play inside and out. Mike could play any position and guard any position on the floor. He made the two game-winning foul shots versus McKeesport with 20 seconds to go. Mike went on to play baseball at St. Bonaventure University and later was drafted by the Cleveland Indians now the Guardians and played minor league baseball in their organization for several seasons.
“Burgos was a slasher who could really score in transition and get to the basket. He was athletic and an excellent defender with quick hands and a great anticipator in the Owls’ pressure defense. Jerry was the Owls’ leading scorer and made the game-tying three-pointer versus McKeesport in the last minute. Jerry lived with Coach Fuhrman and his family during his senior season and became their foster son so he could stay in Bradford and finish his senior year after his father and family was transferred to Georgia by the federal prison system, for which his father worked. He went on to play college basketball at Armstrong State in Savannah, Ga.
“Owls JV and Assistant Varsity Coach Mike Manning resides in Butler with his wife, Mary. Mike is fortunate enough to live close to his four sons Mike, Joe, Patrick and Shawn; and his 12 grandchildren, who range in age from 2 to 21. Mike still works in sales for the Sports Locker.
“Owls Head Coach Dave Fuhrman resides in Butler with his wife, Nancy. Dave served 32 years as a business teacher at Bradford High before retiring at the end of the 2018 school year.
Fuhrman was the head coach of the Owls from 1990 to 2010, during which time his teams won 11 District 9 championships and 10 District 9 league titles.
“Coach Fuhrman is now retired and spends most of his time traveling between his two kids, Shelly, who lives in Maryland, and Pug, who lives Evans City; babysitting his three grandkids; and golfing and going to sporting events with Nancy.
“The Owls won the District 9 Quad A championship at Clarion University as they defeated the DuBois Beavers for the third time that season, 58-51. The Owls entered the PIAA 4A state playoffs and were matched up against Uniontown from the WPIAL District 7. It should also be noted that the Owls were Quad A, which was the largest classification in the state at that time, by one boy — making them the smallest 4A team in the state. The Owls defeated Uniontown at Clarion University in a tight game by a score of 65-61. The win broke a string of 12 consecutive losses in the PIAA state playoffs for the Bradford Boys basketball program.
“In the second round the Owls took on the No. 1 ranked team in the state, the McKeesport Tigers, before a packed house at Clarion University. The Owls defeated McKeesport 71-69 in an exciting come-from-behind win. Next for the Owls in the state quarterfinals was Butler again at Clarion University. The Owls’ perfect season came to a heartbreaking end when a potential game-winning basket with 2 seconds to play was wiped out on a controversial charge call in a 61-58 loss.
“The ending did not diminish what the 94-94 Owls Dream Team did for their school and the Bradford community during their historic run in the regular season and the district 9 and PIAA state playoffs. The enjoyment and excitement that the 94-95 Owls team brought to the Bradford Area School District and the Bradford community will long be remembered.”
The 1994-95 Bradford basketball team, fondly remembered for its unforgettable unbeaten regular season that year, was recognized Friday evening at the Owls’ Nest for its 30th anniversary. Shown, the Owls huddle at center court once more as head coach Dave Fuhrman and assistant Mike Manning Sr. look on. For full coverage of the game that followed versus DuBois, see Sports on page B-1.
