1932 Basketball Team

With “Honest” John Warren entering his fourth year at the AHS basketball helm, followers of the local high school cage program would have been disappointed with anything short of a state championship.

After taking the state title in 1930 and a third-place finish in 1931, Astoria was one of the heavy favorites to take home another crown in 1932. After all, the Fishermen were loaded with talented local youths that would go on to etch their names in the state of Oregon’s hoop history. Many are still household names in Clatsop County some 75 years later.

Seven players off the 1930-31 team that closed out the previous season with a 23-8 mark, returned for another campaign. Among those on the 1931-32 team were: Robert Bergstrom, Edward Makela, Wally Palmberg, Tom Hayashi, Robert Lee, James Mackey, Erling Orwick, Harold Wright, Leland Canessa, and Pern Averill.

Astoria finished the season with a 29-4 record; the most ever wins by an Astoria squad. At home, the purple and gold were 15-1. All four losses during the regular season were avenged.

Both frosh teams from Pacific niversity and Willamette University were among the teams that fell to the Fishermen.

Astoria had two players that were on the state championship unit of 1930. Senior Wally Palmberg started for three years and would become the Fishermen’s all-time career scoring leader during his final year. Junior Pern Averill was elevated to the varsity as a freshman and would play one more season on the 1932-33 Astoria team that went on to grab another third place state trophy.

Bob Bergstrom finished his high school career right behind Palmberg on the career scoring list. He was the only player off the winning squad to be named to the all tournament team. Palmberg and Ed Makala were placed on the second team.

Both Bergstrom and Palmberg would start for Slats Gill and the Oregon State Beavers a few years later. After the tournament, Oregon Governor, A. W. Norblad, presented awards to the victorious teams. It was extra special for Norblad who was an Astoria resident.

Astoria almost did not get a chance to play in the 14th annual hoop tournament. All-state performer and leading scorer, Wally Palmberg did not enter school until the fourth week of school, choosing to use a valid work permit. Lower Columbia League member, Westport High School, claimed that Palmberg be declared ineligible.

The district athletic board awarded the county title to Westport. A few days went by before the state athletic board over-ruled the district decision saying that Palmberg’s paperwork was in order. After a lenghty protest and a dominating win over Westport, (54-12) the local cagers were off to Salem and their second title in three years.

Palmberg would go on to shake off the missed school time, later becoming the president of a Wyoming community college.

Another eligibility challenge came up on the opening day of the state tournament. A Portland lawyer, representing a Portland high school, presented a birth certificate that showed Palmberg was over the 19 year old age limit. Palmberg’s brother was sent back to Astoria to obtain a copy of Palmberg’s acturl birth certificate from the family’s safe, which proved the other to be falsified.

State Champions - 29-4

62 Warrenton 7

32 Westport 14

42 Warrenton 9

54 Woodburn 15

27 Lincoln 16

18 Benson 27

20 Lincoln 21

29 Ilwaco, WA 27

31 Franklin 18

35 Longview, WA 31

28 Knappa 20

19 Kelso, WA 15

39 Kelso, WA 16

31 Knappa 21

18 Salem 19

33 Salem 27

37 Longview, WA 23

41 Tillamook 22

30 Seaside 11

36 Ilwaco, WA 22

26 Tillamook 21

29 Willamette Frosh 14

28 Seaside 14

26 Salem 21

23 Salem 31

54 Westport 12

21 Pacific Univ. Frosh 16

District Playoffs

40 Rainier 16

30 Rainier 21

State Tournament

32 Baker 16

30 Medford 29

26 Benson 25

32 Salem 29