Pictured are the state champs in 1948. Front Row L to R Curtiss Greenhill, Bill Maness Rowan, Hoyt "Tooter" Woods, Thomas "Bucket" Morris, Mitchell Putt, Herman Surratt. Back Row L to R - Lowell Wallis (Mgr), Buddy Wardlaw, Wayne Parks, Hoyle Penna, Hickman Miller, James "Babe" McCarthy (Coach).
Coach McCarthy had been coach at BHS for only a short while, but piloted the amazing team above to the finals in Jackson. They played the semi-finals on a Saturday afternoon and advanced to the final that was played that same evening.
The games were broadcast on radio and after the townfolk heard the Bearcats were going to be playing for the championship that night, quite a few people loaded into cars and literally "burned the road up" going down to root for the team.
After the game was over the court was swamped by fans and the team carried high on people's shoulders. A news reporter asked Coach McCarthy if he could believe they had won. He shrugged his shoulders, put on his little grin, and said "well, that's the only reason we came down here today".
9 comments:
Lots of blanks but:
??? Hoyle Penna, Hickman Miller, Babe McCarthy, ? Bill Maness Rowan, Tooter Woods, ?? Hershel Suratt.
Mitchell Putt? Bucket Morris?
Are there two Rowans in the photo? Bill is on the front row, and I think the third from left in back row is also a Rowan. "Guessing"
Maybe the other Rowan is Charles. At least that rings a bell.
Buddy Spight has a similar photo minus the top left person, and it has the names of all. If we fail to get all id'd I'll try to get them from Buddy when I can.
definately Bucket Mouth Morris on the front row.
Help me pick out the Seniors who went to Sunflower Junior College and play for Babe the next season. I know Tooter went to Mississippi State. This was my sister's class and I recall the SJC team coming to Baldwyn Christmas, 1948 to play in a tournment at NEJC. We hosted some of the players due to the tradition of the times.
Ok guys here are the names:
Front Row L to R
Curtiss Greenhill, Bill Manes Rowan, Hoyt "Tooter" Woods, Thomas "Bucket" Morris, Mitchell Putt, Herman Surratt
Back Row L to R
Lowell Wallis (Mgr), Buddy Wardlaw, Wayne Parks, Hoyle Penna, Hickman Miller, James "Babe" McCarthy (Coach)
Jim G
Thanks for the names, Jim. They were a terror in those days, I read.
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