Farrell and Meadville

Credit: Mike Repas (who was called "Reeper" when he played for Coach McCluskey at Farrell)

Another amazing game  involved Farrell and Meadville in  1954.  Meadville was lead by 6' 9" Lloyd Sharrar and were up by at least 20 at half time.  I recall standing at a concession stand in the old Pitt Field House listening to Meadville fans happily discussing plans to travel to Philadelphia for the state championship.  Farrell was hampered by the limited availability of Don Talbert who had injured an ankle in Farrell's previous game.  Talbert hung in there and inspired the Steelers [not unlike Willis Reed's performance many years later with the Knicks].  Farrell not only came back......but won it going away. 

Then a few days later at the Penn Palestra, Farrell  defeated Chester 63-52 for the State Championship.

Lloyd Sharrer went on to  captain the 1958 West Virginia University squad that finished 26-2 and ranked No. 1 in the country. He was the MVP of the 1957 Southern Conference tournament and was a two-time all-Southern Conference first team selection (1957-58).  Jerry West was his teammate.

He was named a 1958 second team college All-American by the Associated Press and was selected by the Philadelphia Warriors in the second round of the 1958 NBA Draft. Sharrar is a member of the WVU basketball all-time team.
(Credit: West Virginia University Athletics Department).