Roadblocks in Early Years

Posted by Dan Jensen

Lamar Consolidated and Alvin were tough opponents as Coach Carlisle was building his program.

That memorable buzzer beater on a right-handed layup by left-handed Jimmie Goodman shocked the host team, 38-37, in the finals of the Lamar Consolidated tournament in 1954, but the Mustangs bounced us from the regional tournament that year, 59-57.

We had won 28 straight games without a loss that year when Alvin knocked us off 56-51 in district play.  We had beaten the Yellowjackets earlier and took two straight in the playoff for the league championship, 61-45 and 53-51.

We lost three of four to Lamar Consolidated the next year, 1955, and split two games with Alvin.  We had lost 64-55 in the first round district game.  Clinton Taylor, a good guard on the 1953 Alvin team, was a student at Sam Houston State the same time I was and we would discuss the two teams. 

He had a broad smile after that first game and was smiling when he asked me the score of the second game.  With great delight, I told him that his boys had been demolished, 72-43.  Shocked, he lamented, "I thought Coach (Mike Johnstone) would go on the court and sit on the ball before he would let that happen."   I'm telling you, it was plumb loverly.

We took command the next two years, going 2-0 against Lamar Consolidated and 3-0 against Alvin in 1956 and advancing to the state tournament with a 32-0 record.  The next year, we beat Lamar Consolidated by 27 and 21 points and Alvin by 23 and 19.

We had left our two old nemises in the dust and were clearly on a different level.

Comments

[Ed Davis]

I remember that Alvin was always a tough game for us during the 57-59 years. Seems like we were always playing them in the finals of our own tournament - probably not, but it sure seemed that way.

I remember a great guard they had by the name of Billy Roland, who went on to play quarterback at Rice. He was a prolific scorer and very hard to stop. I remember that we did manage to shut him down in the second half of one of our tourney finals and came out the winner, even though we were down at the half. At least that is the way I remember it. I am sure Dan Jensen will set me straight if not.

[Dan Jensen]

Ed, you probably are thinking of the tournament finals of your senior year when Roland scored six points in the last half. But Alvin won, 50-42 and Roland had 16 for the game.

Alvin beat us in the finals of our own tournament in your junior year also.

[Ed Davis]

Wishful thinking on my part. However, I was probably remembering the Alvin game we won a little later, 43-42.

By the way, I do distinctly remember that I drew the assignment on guarding Roland in the 2nd half of the tourney game. Coach outlined for us the move that Roland made each time he drove off of a screen and that by anticipating this move we could stop him. Well, I listened, did what he said, and it seemed to work.

[Dan Jensen]

I failed to mention earlier that, while Roland had 16 points, Edward Davis had eight and that was the margin of defeat in the 50-42 game.

I think most mathematicians would say that Sir Edward was the reason we lost that game. Probably the only exception would be one at Midway High School near Waco.

[Ed Davis]

You can never trust Sam Houston State math. In actuality, by shutting down Roland in the 2nd half to 4 points less than in the first, it is like I actually scored those 4 points more myself, giving me 12 for the game. This is more than the 8 point difference. So it must have been one of our lesser players that was responsible - you know, guys like Bennie Lenox and Paul Timmins who never ever scored much anyway!!

[Dan Jensen]

I wonder what kind of math Sir Edward would use to explain away the 27-14 record that year, the worst in the Carlisle glory years?

He is right though about Lenox, a junior, and Timmins, a sophomore, on that team. I don't recall that they ever contributed much to the program, even as seniors--although they may respond with some Bertram and Cleburne math.