The 1993-1994 Men’s Basketball Team

As an athlete and team, it is a goal to win a regional championship and qualify for the national tournament. The 1993-94 team was no different. But, their chances were becoming slimmer and slimmer as time was running out at the regional tournament in Mason City.  Donnie Giles was not going to let that goal slip away as he threw up a three pointer as the buzzer sounded.  That shot led the Lakers to a 28-8 overall record and a 4^th place finish at the NJCAA National Tournament.

Tory Meiborg had this to say about his team, “We benefited from a fortunate shot to beat an Ellsworth team that not many believed we could beat. We carried that momentum into the National Tournament and gave the defending national champions all they could handle. But we still had the pride to go and win the next two. I’m very proud I was a part of that team.”

The season was filled with many awards and records being broken.  Region 11 awards included first team honors: Dan Heller & Marcus Owens; second team: Tory Meiborg; and honorable mention: Ben Meier & Antoine Morris.

Region 11 All-Tournament Team members were Dan Heller, Antoine Morris and Marcus Owens.

NJCAA National Tournament honors were All-tournament team: Tory Meiborg.  “Best Small Man Award” Antoine Morris. Tory also set an NJCAA National Tournament Single Game 3-point Record with 7

Team awards were plenty as well.  Co-Captains were Dan Heller & Antoine Morris. Most Valuable Player(s) were the starting five: Ben Meier, Antoine Morris, Tory Meiborg, Dan Heller & Marcus Owens.  The Special Award was given to Donnie Giles- for hitting the winning shot against Ellsworth in the Regional Final. And Manager of the Year was David Boever.

There were numerous records that were etched to the Laker Record Book that season:

Antoine Morris: Single season assists (326), Single Game Assists (19), Career Assists (326)

Marcus Owens: Single Season Points Scored- 707, Career Points Scored- 1,372

Dan Heller: Career Points Scored- 1,033 and Single Season Field Goals (300)

Tory Meiborg: Career Points Scores (1,298), Single Season 3-Pointers (108) and Single Game 3-Pointers (7)

Many went on to play at the next level.  Antoine Morris- Delaware State, Dan Heller- Morningside College, Tory Meiborg- North Dakota State University, Marcus Owens- Hawaii Hilo and Ben Meier- Cardinal Stritch

Coach Grems had this to say about the 1993-94 team: “This team had a great balance of sophomore leadership and freshmen talent.  As this team matured, everyone understood how important it was to sacrifice individual success for the good of the team. They played the game with passion and intelligence.  Not only were these guys great team basketball players but they were even better people. These men were winners before they arrived at Iowa Lakes, were winners while they were here and have continued to be winners in their family life and careers.”   

A few memories that stick out with this team are: going to nationals, playing cards on the bus rides, getting together with adoptive families for dinners, learning to play basketball at a higher level, listening to Coach Grems say (as a matter of factly), “We’re not gonna make any noise, we’re gonna just sneak in, then sneak out…..with a victory!”  and the friendships formed and the brotherhood bonds that were created.  There was that one not so great memories, like running telephone poles on the gravel roads. 

There were many influential people that this group of gentlemen thought very highly of in their time at Iowa Lakes: Coach Grems & Jean, Linda & George Heldt, Carol Ayres, John & Carolyn Walz, Daryl & Sue Madison, Chuck & Sue Tostenson.

Congratulations to Antoine Morris, Ben Meier, Dan Heller, Rue Hough, TJ Newsom, Tory Meiborg, Greg Nelson, Marty & Mark Herman, Cory Heiman, Marcus Owens, Kevin Sweeney, Donnie Giles, Head Coach Bob Grems, Assistant Coaches Brent Kuker & Lance Winter, Courtside Executive Richard Doc Wagner, Manager David Boever and Team Doctor Bill Moreau of the 1993-1994 Men’s Basketball Team on being named to the Laker Athletics Hall of Fame.