Even during snow storms. That is the impact the 1984 Williamsport boys’ basketball team made on the community. This was long before the internet and streaming TV options, so arriving in person was the only way one could watch the Millionaires play.

They were must-see viewing and seemingly everyone around their look. Who could blame them? The 1984 Millionaires became one of the most dominant teams in Pennsylvania history, going 30-0 and steamrolling to the program’s first state championship.

“I have pictures from the Sun-Gazette of people waiting in snowstorms downtown overnight,” Williamsport forward Jeff Churba said. “They would camp out. It was insane. It really was unbelievable.”

Williamsport honored both the 1984 and 1999 Class AAAA state champions last Saturday during halftime of the Millionaires’ game against Loyalsock. It was like old times, too, because the gym was packed. And when those 1984 players and coaches were introduced, the cheers remained as if they had entered a time capsule and gone back 40 years.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Former Williamsport coach Pete White fist bumps a representative from the 1984 Class AAAA state championship team during Saturday’s ceremony. The Millionaires honored the 1984 and 1999 teams on Saturday.

A lot has changed since 1984 but that Williamsport team continues holding a special place in fans’ hearts. Time cannot touch the impact this team made.

“The ride was the best part,” Williamsport guard Victor Brace Harvey said. “We did something no one else had ever done.”

And they did it like few others ever have.

Williamsport absolutely overwhelmed the opposition, winning its 30 games by a 35-point average. The schedule was among the state’s best as well, driving home this team’s dominance. The Millionaires defeated powerhouses like Carlisle and future Syracuse standout Billy Owens as well as North Carolina point guard Jeff Lebo. They defeated teams with players from North Carolina State, Villanova and Lehigh among others. Elite programs like Altoona, Whitehall, Chester, Coatesville, Harrisburg, Norristown and Reading all went down and most went down hard.

“It was a lot of hard work. It was throughout the offseason and really all year-round,” Williamsport guard Scott Peterson said. “It was all the hard work we put into it jelling together.”

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Members of Williamsport’s 1984 Class AAAA state championship team are introduced during halftime of Saturday’s game against Loyalsock as the Millionaires honored the 1984 and 1999 teams.

That work included three-mile runs before each practice. Practices often lasted four hours and coach Pete White would bring in Lycoming legend Ron Travis’s 35-and-under semi-pro team to pound on the younger players. Nothing came easy at practice but that made the games feel pretty easy.

At least it looked that way as Williamsport decimated opponents and completed a journey that was a few years in the making. Every player had his part, White, coaches Lynn Datres and Larry Moore, as well as ninth-grade coach Rod Morgans, pointed the way and everything came together in remarkable fashion.

“You’re talking about holidays, four-hour practices, film sessions … Rod going down on the road and scouting for us and watching film and lifting weights,” Brace Harvey said. “We were ahead of the game.”

“They were by far the most prepared team I’ve ever seen,” Morgans said. “These guys faced the best in the state and they beat them by a margin of over 35 points. That shows you how good they were and how smart they were.”

The intelligence shined through on both ends. White’s offense featured a lot of moving parts. The defense was a frantic full-court press and the players had be smart since so much switching and helping was involved. Seemingly as soon as the opponent stepped off the bus, Williamsport was in its face, applying 90-feet of intense man-to-man pressure.

“The level of precision we showed in each game is what stands out,” Churba said. “To average that 35-point margin of victory blows my mind at any level.”

“Their fastbreak was exceptional, the way they drew charges was exceptional, the way they boxed out was exceptional,” Morgans said. “It was a lot of work but they did a lot of great things.”

That includes vanquishing those who ended their state title dreams the previous two seasons. Whitehall defeated Williamsport in the 1982 state quarterfinals and Chester in a heartbreaking 1983 state semifinal.

Williamsport players remember the Clippers have some fun at their expense. Winning the ultimate prize that March was the biggest highlight–but taking out Whitehall and Chester along the way sure was fun.

“Our senior year we took them both out. That made it even better,” Williamsport guard Marc Graves said. “When Chester beat us they put it in our face so when we beat them the following year it was awesome.”

So, too was coming back in the state final. Williamsport showed how great it was throughout the season as it stampeded its way to Hershey. But the final against Erie Prep was a battle all night. Williamsport trailed late but Pete White Jr., Graves and Churba ignited a big fourth-quarter run and Graves’ go-ahead layup with 2 minutes, 31 seconds put Williamsport ahead to stay. Churba hit two clutch foul shots and White six straight as the celebration began.

Judging by the way Williamsport fans cheered Saturday and/or still fondly talk about that team, the celebration continues today.