SILVER DOLLARS AND WOODEN NICKELS: No doubting Tom, he was the best

The Nevada Appeal’s Silver Dollars & Wooden Nickels feature recognizes achievements from the capital region and, when warranted, points out other acts that missed the mark.

SILVER DOLLAR: When it comes to the Virginia City boys basketball dynasty and the success of Carson High boys basketball from the 1950s through the 1970s, there was one constant: Tom Andreasen.

Andreasen wasn’t feeling well when he was diagnosed with cancer six weeks ago, leading to his death a week ago Friday at the age of 71. Even with all the success he had, Andreasen was more respected as a man. The respect his family has also is a testament of Andreasen as a man.

As a player and coach, Andreasen was part of four state titles at Virginia City and Carson High from 1959 through 1975. He won state titles as a player at Virginia City in 1959 as a freshman and in 1962 and as a coach at Virginia City in 1972. He went on to coach Carson High to three straight state tournament appearances from 1973 to 1975 before winning it all in 1975.

Andreasen also served as Carson High’s athletic director and was inducted into the NIAA Hall of Fame in 2002.

SILVER DOLLAR: To Carson High students Eleanor Sturm, Gabriel Covington, Ethan Lopes, Nick Rosen, Henry Sturm, Rylan Kane, Nicholas Bowler and Emma Rosen and Carson City’s Aleyna Gilson, who attends Sierra Lutheran High School, who will be playing with the Reno Youth Symphony Orchestra at New York City’s Carnegie Hall on May 27.