WHEN COAL WAS KING: 1952 Black Diamond Basketball Team

The 1952-53 Black Diamond basketball team consisted of 12 players photographed in front of the old elementary school, with two fifth graders and ten seventh graders coached by George Hazen, a 4th grade teacher. Notable player Bob Lloyd went on to become center and co-captain at Enumclaw High School, led his league in scoring, and made the Washington State College varsity team as a freshman after the 1958 Hornets finished 4th in the State A tournament. Seven of the players were of Italian heritage, descendants of coal miners, reflecting Black Diamond’s history as a coal mining town where sports served as primary entertainment.