Jon Norgaard

If Jon Norgaard was playing high school basketball today, locals and opponents alike would say that Norgaard had no respect. That is, no respect for that new fangdangled three-point line that today’s preps get three points entered into the scorebook every time they sink a basket from beyond the arc,

Those who saw Norgaard do his thing on the Astoria hardwood in the early 1960’s still remember how crossing the mid-court line was his cue to load up his picture perfect left handed jumper. If a player dared to challenge Norgaard on the perimeter, he would simply blow by his stunned defender for and easy score from a closer zip code.

Norgaard would burst onto the local basketball scene as a sophomore, scoring 10 points against Mark Morris of Longview in a 61-39 Astoria victory in the second game of the season. Unfortunately for Norgaard, he would not be the only thing to burst on the local front. Immediately after his double-figure outing against the Monarchs, his appendix burst and he found himself out of action for over a month. When he did return, Norgaard never regained his early season form for coach Jerry Mosby, who was in his fifth and final year of guiding the Fishermen.

When Norgaard returned for his junior year, Pete Bryant had taken over the reins of the Astoria hoop program. Bryant’s first move was to turn over the team to his outstanding point guard, and the rest is history. Astoria cruised to a 19-7 season record and finished in second place in the Metro League (15-3) behind the 16-2 Milwaukie Mustangs. Norgaard scored 312 points in his first full year with the varsity and poured in a season high 24 in a 60-47 win over Clackamas. He was rewarded for his play with first team All-Metro acclaim, along with junior teammate Dave Romppanen.

Norgaard became one of the most talked about juniors in the state after his showing at the 1962 state tournament. He scored points at a 17.0 PPG. rate in the Fishermen’s four tourney appearances and earned a spot on the first team All-Tournament unit. Astoria won its first two encounters at state, only to fall 50-48 to Grants Pass, the eventual state champion.

In Norgaard’s senior season the Fishermen rolled to a 20-6 overall mark and tied with Milwaukie for the top spot in the Metro, as both squads closed out league play with 15-3 ledgers. Norgaard and Romppanen repeated as first team All-Metropolitan League choices, with Norgaard scoring career highs of 26 points against Clackamas (75-51) and Centennial (81-51) during the Fishermen’s 1963 run to the title. At the 1963 state tournament, Astoria advanced to the third round undefeated, but fell to North Eugene 53-48. North would claim the state championship the next night.

Norgaard’s 332 points in his final season are still listed as one of the highest single-season totals for an Astoria point guard.

Norgaard dabbled in football and baseball before giving his full energy to basketball as a senior. He was a second team All-Metro selection at first base in his junior season, but put his glove into moth balls after that campaign.