Pride of the Comstock: An Oral History of Virginia City Basketball

With the departure of Hall of Fame coach Fred Gladding, and the end of the 93-game win streak, the Virginia City Muckers would enter a new era in 1988, striving to continue their success.  Unfortunately, the Muckers would find it difficult to rekindle that magic.

The Virginia City Muckers entered the 1987 season on a 92 game win streak and had captured five consecutive Nevada State Basketball Championships.  But 1987 would mark the end of an era, unmatched in the history of Nevada high school athletics.

The 3rd and final season of Pride of the Comstock is set to debut on April 28th.  The story will pick up in 1987 and cover the next four decades of Virginia City Basketball.

Joyce Hess has watched Virginia City Basketball for over 60 years, having seen three generations of family play Mucker hoops; her husband, her three children, and her seven grandchildren.  We visited with Joyce at her home in Virginia City.  Here is our conversation with Joyce Hess.

Shari Andreasen is the youngest daughter of Virginia City basketball legend Tom Andreasen. Shari sat down with us at the home of Fred Andreasen, Tom's brother, and shared memories of her father.  Here is our conversation with Shari Andreasen.

Fred Gladding is arguably the most significant figure in the history of Virginia City Basketball, having played on three state championship teams as well as coaching five title teams.  Fred is also a member of the NIAA Hall of Fame.  Here is our conversation with Fred Gladding.  

Todd Hess  captured four state championships at Virginia City High School and would leave with a perfect career record of 84-0.  After graduating from the University of Nevada-Reno he would return home for a 30 year career in education.  Todd would serve as teacher, coach, athletic director, principal, and superintendent over those three decades.  He would have tenures as both the boys and girls basketball head coach, leading the girls to the first state title in 2010.  Here is our conversation with Todd Hess.

Chris O'Brien arrived at Virginia City High School at the start of 10th grade, with limited basketball experience.  He would blossom into an all-league player and be part of state championship teams in 1985 and 1986.  Here is our conversation with Chris O'Brien.

Ted Martinez was a member of two state championship teams at Virginia City High School, 1985 and 1986.  He would return to the Comstock to teach and coach in Storey County before retiring in 2023.  Here is our conversation with Ted Martinez.

Bum Hess, class of 1984, was both an elite scorer and point guard during his four years at Virginia City High School. He would help lead the Muckers to consecutive state championships in 1982, 1983, and 1984.  Bum is also a member of the NIAA Hall of Fame. Here is our conversation with Bum Hess.

Hector Bucchaneri was a senior on the the 1984 state championship basketball team at Virginia City High School.  He would return a generation later to serve as head coach of the Muckers.  We met with Hector at the Old Globe in Carson City. Here is our conversation with Hector Bucchaneri.

Kevin Holloway arrived at Virginia City High School from Dayton at the start of his junior year.  He would be a key contributor on two state championship teams, 1982 and 1983.  Here is our conversation with Kevin Holloway.

Tony Lane, class of 1982, grew up in Virginia City idolizing the Mucker players he cheered on and dreaming of winning a state championship of his own.  He accomplished that goal in 1982 and fondly remembers his time on the Comstock.  We spoke with Tony by phone from his home in Southern California. Here is our conversation with Tony Lane.

Mike Longero played three seasons for Virginia City legend Tom Andreasen at Carson High School,  Mike was the 3A MVP in 1975, guiding the Senators to the state championship.  He would later return to Carson High School as a teacher and assistant coach under Andreasen, where his son Cody would also play for Andreasen.  Here is our conversation with Mike Longero. 

Frankie Bleuss, class of 1978, arrived on the Comstock at the start of his sophomore year.  He would help guide the Muckers to back to back titles in 1977 and 1978.  Here is our conversation with Frank Bleuss.

Ron Millim, class of 1978, was a member of two state championship teams at Virginia City High School.  He also made two of the most important free throws in Mucker hoops history.  We spoke with Ron at his home in Carson City. Here in our conversation with Ron Millim.

Eddie Booth coached two seasons at Virginia City High School, 1977 and 1978, and helped return the Muckers to glory, capturing the state championship both years.  He would leave the Comstock for Winnemucca, where he would have a very successful career in the Humboldt County School District as a coach, teacher, athletic director, and administrator.  Eddie is also a member of the NIAA Hall of Fame.  We spoke with Eddie in a conference room at Pershing County High School in Lovelock. Here is our conversation with Eddie Booth.

Gary Adams, Virginia City class of 1978, was a member of two state championship teams, 1977 and 1978.  He also had the distinction of playing on the worst team in Mucker history.  Here is our conversation with Gary Adams.

John Seymour, class of 1973, was a member of the 1972 state championship team at Virginia City High School.  He finished his career as the all-time leading scorer in Mucker hoops history.  Here is our conversation with John Seymour.  

Dan Nevin, class of 1971, was a member of the 1969 state championship team at Virginia City High School.  Here is our conversation with Dan Nevin.

Bob Rudnick, class of 1972, would be part of two state championship teams at Virginia City High School, 1969 and 1972.   Bob would have a distinguished 30-year career in law enforcement, retiring as Douglas County Undersheriff in 2005.  Here is our conversation with Bob Rudnick.

Bobby Gallagher, class of 1972, is the younger son of Hugh Gallagher Sr.  Bobby won two state championships at Virginia City High School, 1969 and 1972.  He would go on to a distinguished career in education in Elko County, serving as a teacher, coach, athletic director, and administrator.  Bobby, along with his father and brother, is a member of the NIAA Hall of Fame.  We visited with Bobby at his home in Elko.

Jim Miller arrived on the Comstock from Southern California in 1965, as he began his freshman year at Virginia City High School.  He would be part of three state championship teams and later become Storey County Sheriff.  Here is our conversation with Jim Miller.

The Virginia City Muckers had captured three consecutive state championships and entered the 1985 season on a 51-game win streak.  Many new faces were now on the roster as Coach Fred Gladding worked to continue the run of success.

The Muckers captured the 1982 B-League State Championship and entered 1983 with a roster ten deep.  The team’s style of play led to a season of domination and a whole lot of wins.  

The conclusion of the 1981 season brought another coaching change to Virginia City High School.  Former Mucker star Fred Gladding, a winner of three state titles as a player, was named the new head coach. His hiring would trigger a run of success that would rewrite the record books.

The Virginia City Muckers entered the 1978 season as the defending B-League State Champions.  With four starters returning from the 1977 title team the Muckers were primed for a repeat, but one challenger was not going to go down without a fight.

After four years in the wilderness the 1977 Virginia City Muckers are back in the hunt for another Nevada state basketball championship, this time led by the disciple of a VC coaching legend.

1972 would mark the end of an era for Virginia City Basketball and usher in a period of disappointment.  Legends would leave the Comstock, while another generation looked to put its stamp on the Mucker program.

The 1970 season ended in heartbreak for the Virginia City Muckers with a loss in the state championship game.  1971 offered great promise, but a new rival, this one from the south, was looking to stand in their way.

Virginia City captured their 8th state championship in 1969.  In 1970 Hugh Gallagher Sr. turned to a legendary Mucker player to take over as head coach of the Virginia City basketball program.   Tom Andreasen had won two state championships as a player and two as an assistant coach.   Could he now guide the Muckers a ninth state title?

The 1968 season ended in defeat for the the Virginia City Muckers in the state championship game, ending their streak of six consecutive titles.  The 1969 team would add a pair of freshman, Bob Gallagher and Bob Rudnick, and they would leave an indelible mark on the program.

Premiering January 28th!

George Del Carlo, class of 1968,  was the last of the eight Del Carlo brothers to graduate from Virginia City High School. He was part of three state championship teams, 1965, 1966, 1967.  We visited with George in the library at Virginia City HS.

Nick Bowler, Gary Batchelor, and Gary Hickman all played significant roles in the storied success of Moapa Valley High School athletics.   They were all also in the Las Vegas Convention Center the night the Pirates defeated Virginia City with a buzzer beater in 1968 Nevada State Basketball Championship.  We spoke by phone with all three about their careers at Moapa Valley as well as that historic title game.  Here is our conversation with the three Moapa Valley legends. 

Hugh Gallagher Jr. captured four Nevada State Basketball  Championships from 1962 to 1965, losing just one game in that four year span.  He is a member of the NIAA Hall of Fame, as is his father, Hugh Sr., and his younger brother Bobby.  We visited with Hugh at his home in Virginia City.   

Ed Gladding was a member of the historic class of 1965 at Virginia City High School, capturing four Nevada state basketball championships during his time as a Mucker.  He is the older brother of Fred Gladding, who won titles as both a player and coach at Virginia City.   Here is our conversation with Ed Gladding.  

Doug Bacus played on three state championship teams at Virginia City High School.  He led the Muckers in both scoring and rebounding his senior year.  We spoke to Doug by phone from his home in California.  Here is our conversation with Doug Bacus. 

Rollie Hess played on three state championship teams at Virginia City High School and was one of the most prolific scorers in Mucker history.  Along with his brother Greg, he brought a toughness that would be a signature trait of VC hoops for generations.   Here is our conversation with Rollie Hess.

Greg Hess played on two state championship teams at Virginia City High School and would later see his two sons play on five title winning teams.  Greg has spent a lifetime dedicated to Storey County and the preservation of its rich history.   We visited with Greg at his home in Virginia City.  Here is our conversation with Greg Hess.  

Lyle Damon is one of the most successful coaches in the history of Nevada High School Basketball.  In six seasons at Virginia City High School he captured five state championships, losing only five games in those six years.  He is a member of NIAA Hall of Fame.  We visited with Coach Damon at his home in Reno.  Here is our conversation with Lyle Damon.

Ron Gallagher was the leading scorer on the 1959 Virginia City High School basketball team, leading the Muckers to their first state championship.  He is the nephew of Hugh Gallagher Sr and cousin to Hugh Gallagher Jr.  Here is our conversation with Ron Gallagher.

Leroy Goodman played on the 1959 Nevada State Championship team, the first Mucker squad to do so.   He would later go on to teach and coach at Virginia City's biggest rival, Fernley High School.  After leaving education Leroy would become a prominent civic leader in Fernley, eventually becoming Mayor.  We visited with him at his home in Fernley. Here is our conversation with Leroy Goodman. 

Pete Pradere was a starting guard on the 1959 squad, the first team to capture a Nevada State Basketball Championship for Virginia City High School.  We sat down with Pete at his home in Carson City to discuss his time on the Comstock.  Here is our conversation with him.

Heading into 1966 Virginia City had captured four consecutive state championships, but a lot of changes were on the horizon.  In the season finale we  learn if the Muckers can keep the streak alive? 

In January of 1964 the Virginia City win streak had been stopped at 55.  Could the Muckers regain their mojo and add to their run of state titles?

The Virginia Muckers have become the class of B-League basketball in the early 1960s, but a rival is about to challenge them for hoops supremacy.  

1959 marked a season of change for the Muckers that culminated in the first state championship for Virginia City Basketball.

We look back at the two most important foundational figures in the history of Virginia City Basketball, Jake Lawlor and Hugh Gallagher Sr.  

Premiering January 10, 2024.