Hansch Led Rockets With Defense, Desire At 5’ 0”, Jim Hansch was the shortest player ever to take the court at the B state tournament. When the Rockets made an appearance at the big dance during his sophomore season, the press dubbed him “The Mighty [Continue Reading]
Category: Castle Rock Basketball
Birthday Party at the Bike Park
Oldest grandson, Carter, kicked off his 10th birthday celebration with a session at the Castle Rock Bike Park on Saturday. His brother, Cameron, two cousins - Nick and Sam, and two of Carter’s buddies were there as well. Carnage was very minor. The pump [Continue Reading]
Locals Race at Sandy Ridge
Several local riders competed in the Spring Super D at Sandy Ridge on March 27. This OBRA-sanctioned event is one stage in the Sandy Ridge Super D Series. “It was rainy, cold, miserable and a total mud-fest,” said Thomas Mueller of Growlers Gulch [Continue Reading]
Neil Williamson, ’83
Point Guard Extraordinaire Neil Williamson was one of those special players who got as much joy from setting up a teammate’s score as he did from dropping in a shot of his own. That unselfish attitude—in combination with superior quickness and ball-handling [Continue Reading]
Eric Swanson, ’84
Swanson Looms Large in Rocket Record Book In a game against Toledo in 1984, former Rocket Eric Swanson could do no wrong. “I was in a zone,” said Swanson, who is now the head coach at Toutle Lake. “It didn’t matter whether I was shooting 20-footers or power [Continue Reading]
Richard Moore, ’62
Richard Moore - Backcourt Thief During the 1962 hoop season, Richard Moore teamed with Larry Downing to form one of the most dynamic backcourts in Castle Rock basketball history. Jim Strain, sportswriter for the Cowlitz County Advocate, called the 5’ 8” [Continue Reading]
Dwight Cranston, ’51
Dwight Cranston—Power in the Paint At 6’ 3” and 200 pounds, Dwight Cranston was a powerful force on the basketball court and football field for the Rockets from 1949 through 1951. As a senior, Cranston averaged nearly 15 points a game and led the Trico League [Continue Reading]
Floyd LeBaron Coached Basketball, Taught Life
This column was published in the Daily News on November 13, 2025 When I was a kid growing up in Castle Rock during the 1950s and ‘60s, I never missed a home basketball game. I dreamed of wearing the red-and-white and playing for Rocket coach Floyd LeBaron. I got [Continue Reading]
Short Quotes from Former Players
Jim Hansch (1956): “Coach was a real competitor and a real inspiration to me. I’ve always thought the world of him.” Steve Hansen (1957): “When you played for Coach LeBaron, you hustled your butt off. He was all about discipline, fundamentals, [Continue Reading]
Reminisces - Ken Burgoyne, ’69
Coach LeBaron had a knack for elevating your game. Not just the game of basketball but the game of life as well. He was a man that always had concern for others but seemingly never for himself. One of my most cherished times with Coach was when Rand got us together [Continue Reading]
Reminisces - Dave LeMonds, ’72
The start of the ’72 season was a train wreck. Before the very first game (maybe even before practices got going) several starters quit the team in apparent protest to Floyd and his “old-school” coaching style. We were left with one returning [Continue Reading]
Reminisces - Coach Charley Baker
As a coach and teacher Floyd LeBaron did a most excellent job, not only in knowing how to win but also in helping many exceed beyond their own expectations. Floyd was a treasured and tremendous friend that I enjoyed spending time with, whether it was going [Continue Reading]
Reminisces - Jack Gillen
My grandpa was, simply put, a legend. He taught me everything I know today about life. Spending time with him was always a joy. Whether it was on the basketball court, on the links, or fishing on the river, just being in his presence was something special. Win [Continue Reading]
Reminisces - Don LeBaron
My uncle Floyd accomplished so much in his life, and I speak for everyone in our family when I say we love this man. Most will focus on the strength of his teaching and coaching, but I will always cherish the way he loved people. With kindness and sincerity he [Continue Reading]
Reminisces - Rob Hippi
Coach LeBaron was a friend and mentor to me during my time as a high school basketball coach. My dad (Ted Hippi) met Coach LeBaron during a summer session at the U.W. in the early ’50s and they became friends. When dad left the Rock in 1953 to teach and [Continue Reading]
Reminisces - Jim Burgoyne, ’59
In the years I’ve coached football at Castle Rock, I’ve tried to pass on to the young players the same values taught to me by Coach Lebaron. Be a good student, person, and citizen. Treat your teachers, fellow students, and opponents with respect. As far [Continue Reading]
Reminisces - Hal Williams, ’55
Floyd LeBaron taught and coached at Concrete High School from 1948 until 1953. During these years he assisted in football and was head coach in boys’ basketball and baseball where he compiled winning records in both sports. During his last three seasons at CHS [Continue Reading]
Reminisces - Carol Belany Rutledge, ’60
In our lives a few people stand tall above the rest and Floyd LeBaron was one of those special people. As a cheerleader in 1959-60, he made us feel as important as the team, and we felt honored to be representing Castle Rock . In the late 1960,s I was employed at [Continue Reading]
Reminisces - Kurt Smith, ’60
I had a chance to work with Floyd for a brief time when I returned to Castle Rock as junior high principal from 1973-’75. At that time, he was still teaching. I remember having a difficult time thinking of him as “Floyd.” He was always the [Continue Reading]
Reminisces - Randi Buker Gay, ’69
My relationship with Floyd and Sue was as one of the local kids, and through Linda and I being best buds forever. It gave me a wonderful chance to be one of Floyd’s kids. He was a fantastic example of a dad, even to an extra daughter like myself. I will [Continue Reading]
Reminisces - Bob Rockett, ’61
Mr. LeBaron was a very dedicated teacher and coach. During my senior year, I had a life-threatening injury from football. Naturally, I wanted to play basketball at all costs. Coach LeBaron pulled me out of class for a “man-to-teenager” talk. He [Continue Reading]
Reminisces - Rob Andrew, ’69
I remember halftime of one game whenn we weren’t playing well. Coach was trying to impress upon us the importance of getting ourselves mentally prepared. Apparently, we weren’t paying attention. He didn’t yell or jump up and down but he smacked [Continue Reading]
Reminisces - Sam Cooley, ’69
For the ’69 team, Coach LeBaron was our mentor and a true father figure to us. Floyd dedicated his life to not only making us better basketball players, but better people. There are so many memories of Coach that I have, but the one that stands out was when [Continue Reading]
Reminisces - Jim Andrew, ’71
At this point in our lives, we’ve all had time to reflect on our playing days with Coach. I was so, so fortunate to be a part of a three-year varsity career with him that included three league titles, three trips to the district and state tournaments and a [Continue Reading]
Reminisces - Bob Chastain, ’62
Coach taught me that hard work, discipline, sacrifice and being a good person were more important than being a good basketball player. He was such a great role model for all of us who played for him. He also expected all of us to perform at a high level in the [Continue Reading]
Reminisces - Mike Berndt, ’71
One of the most memorable and influential of Coach LeBaron’s personality traits was his ability to remain a gentleman and maintain the highest standards of civility in the most adverse and unfair of circumstances. He was always a class act. I remember vividly [Continue Reading]
Reminisces - Richard McBride, ’62
I always called him “Mr. LeBaron” and still think of him as Mr. LeBaron - our teacher, coach, role model - and I always will. I have a lot of good memories about Mr. LeBaron, our team and our high school community at that time. If I remember [Continue Reading]
Reminisces - Larry Downing, ’62
I think it was a dream come true for any player that put on a Castle Rock Rocket uniform to play for Coach LeBaron. The character and ability of each player is different, and he had a way of bringing himself down to your level, working on your skills and then [Continue Reading]