“The year was 1924 and the day March 16th.  St. Pat and the Irish took a back seat, however, as some 3000 Medford area residents gathered at the railway depot and celebrated the Patron Saint’s day one day early It was a day for honoring the Red and Black, not for ‘wearing’ other green. Medford’s FIRST state high school basketball championship team had come home from triumph”, stated the Mail Tribune. By their state championship they qualified for the national prep championship in Chicago, Illinois.

Mervyn Chastain who excelled in many student body activities: Class Officer, Crater staff, Student Body President, President of Order of “M”, baseball catcher, track star, and captain of this great team was also named First Team All-Stater. He gained top recognition because of his clean, fast and accurate basketball and his general ability on the floor.

Merv entered the University of Oregon in 1925 and continued 4 very success­full years of basketball activities. Merv’s wife, Ethel, of Medford said he was an enthusiastic sport fan and very grateful to his coaches, Ed Durno and Prink Callison, and the Medford High basketball opportunities that so enriched his later years.