Even though I was born about a decade and a half later, I still enjoy hearing sports stories from the late 1950s and 1960s. My dad graduated from high school around that time, and it’s fun to hear about how the games were played then compared with the way they’re played now.

On Friday, I was able to meet some of the members of the 1960 Austin High School boys basketball team. The team is memorable not just because of its great players, but also because it was the state runner-up that year, upended by Edgerton, a town of about 1,000.

Edgerton’s story is now the subject of a book, and both Edgerton and Austin were honored at the Class ‘AAAA’ title game at Target Center Saturday on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of that 1960 state finale.

But on Friday, it was all about Austin.

Team members of that great 1960 team joined together for a reunion at George’s Pizza Friday night, surrounded by fans and friends both young and old.

It was a who’s who of Austin sports from that era.

Forward Earl ‘Butch’ Butler was there.

Butler helped organize the reunion and now lives in San Jose, Calif.

As a player on the 1960 team, Butler played a back-up role to two all-state forwards.

He felt right at home Friday, wearing a shiny, white sweater, complete with an “A” letter on the front.

The sweaters were given to each member of the team for this occasion.

“I love it,” Butler said about the reunion. “I’m so excited about this.”

Starting right guard Terry Brown was also there. In addition to basketball, Brown lettered in both baseball and football.

“Austin back then, we had a feeling we couldn’t lose,” Brown said.

Lyle Cline was in the house.

Cline was the starting point guard for the Packers who was also an accomplished halfback on the football team.

In his senior year during football season, Cline scored four touchdowns against Winona.

The only member of the 1960 basketball team who still lives in Austin, Cline dished passes left and right to the big men, but could also take over if he was needed.

“We had a fast breaking offense,” Cline said. “I’d hit the forwards, and they’d shoot it. There were a couple of times I had to take over, but not very often.”

Cline loaded up with assists, but was also a consistent shooter, hitting 90 percent free throws and 50 to 60 percent field goals.

“When I did shoot, it was going to go in.” Cline said.

The 1960 Austin high school boys basketball team was a great chapter in Austin sports.

Congratulations to each player for their accomplishments. It was a job well done.