When Oak Lawn played in the IHSA state championship game against Thornridge in boys basketball, Jack Danilewicz watched the game on television.
“I’m told I enjoyed the game,” he said.
Danilewicz was just 2 years old at the time.
As the decades have flown by, Danilewicz has learned much more about that game and that legendary team and has written a book, “Once in Oak Lawn — a Tornado, a Town and a Team’s Ride to the 1971 Illinois State Final.”
It’s already out as an e-book and is soon going to be available in hardcover form on Amazon.
This is Danilewicz’s third book and given the narrow scope of the subject matter, the Palos Heights native and Shepard graduate doesn’t figure to get rich off of this multi-year project.
“I just want to get the story out,” he said. “Money is not a consideration. Money burns holes in my pockets anyway and I wouldn’t know what to do with it.
“But I just wanted to get the story out there for the people of Oak Lawn.”
He said he grew up with his parents talking about that team. The Spartans coach, the late Len Scaduto, became his stepfather when he turned 13.
“My parents went to Oak Lawn and they were caught up in the excitement of that weekend,” he said. “I lived the story because my parents were always talking about it.
“When I was 13, Len became my stepfather so I had a family connection from then on.”
The Spartans (30-3) lost the title game, 52-50 against Thornridge on March 20, 1971. It became a historically notable game because it was the final year of the one-class system and it was the only time two south suburban teams squared off for a state championship.
Thornridge was well known throughout the state with future NBA player Quinn Buckner leading the way.
Oak Lawn? The Spartans were the Cinderella team with players such as C.J. Kupec, Jim Bocinsky and Tom Dubetz running the show. The playoff run came four years after a devastating tornado hit Oak Lawn, killing 33 across the south suburbs and damaging many buildings including Oak Lawn High School.
Not many people knew the Spartans until a 67-61 victory over Lyons in a sectional final.
“Lyons won the state tournament the year before,” Danilewicz said. “That was great because Oak Lawn was on everyone’s radar after that.”
Danilewicz is living in Hawaii and had a career in the media before becoming a counselor.
He played football and basketball at Shepard and says he regularly watches the Astros online.
Meanwhile, he hopes that more than just Oak Lawn people will appreciate the book.
“This is really a Chicago story because of the life Len lived,” Danilewicz said. “He grew up in Lake View and was a big Cubs fan. I think a lot of people would identify with it.”