MONTICELLO - As a child growing up in Monticello, Jim Zweifel would often sneak in to watch high school basketball practice and wait until a break when he could go on the court to shoot.

He won't have to sneak into the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame induction ceremony Oct. 2 at the Madison Marriott Hotel in Middleton. Zweifel joins Monroe alums Bob Anderegg and Keith Burrington in the Hall of Fame as players.

"I learned more on the court and the playing field that impacted my life than in the classroom," Zweifel said. "I am appreciative and think it is a testimony to the support of the school, teachers, coaches, teammates and fans. It is not so much my honor, but a small community that provided support and of course my teammates who passed the ball when they could have shot. I am kind of awed when I think that only 30 players have been selected to the Hall of Fame and three are from Green County. I am in good company along with the coaches, referees and friends of basketball."

Zweifel was a four-year starting sharpshooter for Monticello who played more than a half century ago. He led Monticello to two sectionals in the late 1950s. Zweifel scored 44 points in a sectional loss to La Crosse Logan in 1957 when there was no division or class system for basketball and in an era where there was no 3-point line. In 1958, Zweifel scored a game-high 53 points almost lifting Monticello past Janesville in a sectional game. He was voted all-conference, all-area and all-state for two years. Zweifel set the fifth highest state single season scoring record (935 points) and also scored 2,303 points in his career, which ranks eighth all-time in Wisconsin.

Zweifel led Monticello in knocking off No. 1 ranked and previously unbeaten Cuba City in the Little 16.

"It was a thrill to win the subsectional and winning 47 games in a row against smaller schools was nice," he said. "For a school of 109 students, we were in good company."

He still recalls the sectional runs where Monticello played La Crosse Logan his junior year and Janesville his senior season.

"I don't think we felt like underdogs, but maybe a little awed by the setting," he said. "Actually, talent wise we were evenly matched, but could have profited from a tougher schedule. I think we were better than La Crosse Logan when we lost my junior year in a close game in the sectional finals."

Basketball games drew big crowds at Monticello. Zweifel was impressed by the support.

"Our tournaments were some of the best attended in Wisconsin," he said. "The spirit was there. The atmosphere with the chairs surrounding the court, stage filled and standing room only was exciting."

Zweifel also played baseball and led Monticello to the sectional final where they lost 1-0. He walked four in the 12th inning after giving up just four hits in his first 11 innings on the mound.

Zweifel went on to play basketball and baseball at Valparaiso University in Indiana. He averaged 10 points per game his sophomore year when Valparaiso handed small college champion Evansville its only loss. In his junior year, Zweifel set the school's single season scoring record with 480 points and the single game record with 41 points against Ball State. He was named Valpo Athlete of the Year and Most Valuable Player.

Zweifel averaged 17 ppg as a senior and led Valparaiso to the small college finals. As a freshman at Valparaiso, Zweifel recalls watching Bobby Plump of Butler play. The movie "Hoosiers" was based on Plump and his Milan team.

"The state of Indiana was very passionate about basketball," he said.

After getting his master's degree in educational administration, Zweifel began a 43 year career in education. He taught and coached at Monticello and Loyal with two teams making it within one game of the sectional. He went on to serve as a principal at Dodgeville and a principal and superintendent at Waterford.

Zweifel continued playing basketball on various semi-pro and city teams. He became a state-ranked tennis player. He served as a guidance counselor in Clearwater, Florida for 20 years.

Zweifel has seen changes in basketball the last half century.

"Players are bigger, faster and benefit from better training like weight lifting," he said.

Zweifel has noticed facilities are more advanced for basketball, players have improved in the areas of watching film and scouting opposing teams and players' tendencies. He also points to the increase of summer programs and leagues.

"The only negative I can see is that some of the players do not shoot well and rely on their physical talents," he said. "Some of the shooting form is atrocious."