A pair of Richmond standouts will be honoured at the River Rock Hotel and Casino Saturday when Basketball B.C. Hall of Fame’s 2018 class is officially inducted.
Former Richmond High star Ron Putzi and Hugh Boyd grad Maren Corrigal are among the five inductees to be recognized in three different categories.
Putzi starred for the Colts in the 1980s, winning provincial tournament MVP honours in 1988 as Richmond High made it two straight B.C. titles under legendary coach Bill Disbrow. He is considered one of the greatest high school players in the province, named to the B.C. all-time “Dream Team” and player of the decade for the 1980s.
The high-scoring standout took his career to New Mexico State University on a full-ride scholarship where he enjoyed four consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances. In 1992 he captained the team and led the Big West Conference in three-point shooting percentage.
Putzi then played professionally in Europe, winning a Swiss League championship in 2000. Along the way their were national team appearances, including the FISU Games in 1991 and 1992.
He was added to the Richmond Sports Wall of Fame in 2015.
Corrigal was a key member of a dominant Simon Fraser University team that went undefeated during the 2001-02 season, winning the CIS national title. SFU will be inducted into the team category.
She was also a fixture in the Basketball B.C. provincial program, playing in the 2001 Canada Summer Games while appearing in four B.C. Summer Games.
Upon graduating, Corrigal taught for two years in Korea then moved with her husband to Nunavut where she teached for six more years. The couple has since settled in Grand Prairie, Alberta.
Other inductees Saturday include Bev Barnes and Doug Brinham joining Putzi in the players category while Bob Steeves will be inducted as a builder.
“This group of inductees for our 16th Annual Hall of Fame Gala represents over 60 years of excellence in our province and country,” said Basketball B.C. executive director Lawrie Johns. “From elite women’s basketball, including Olympian Bev Barnes from the 70s and the undefeated 2001-02 SFU women’s team to the men’s game exemplified by one of the top high school players in B.C. history that led Ron Putzi to a memorable NCAA and international career and a stalwart from the extraordinary Alberni Athletics in Doug Brinham to a builder Bob Steeves who has worked tirelessly as a player, coach and organizer of senior basketball for over 50 years.”
