24 in '54!

Posted by Arthur Landriault and Ed Davis

The following are excerpts from two newspaper articles published in 1954 and submitted to this blog by Arthur Landriault, a player on the '54 Wildcat team from Webster High.  The first article describe events leading up to a game played against the LaPorte Bulldogs in which a victory would give the 'Cats 24 straight wins.  The second article gives us the results of that momentous game.

Included in this post are a couple of photos from that game that also came from Arthur (aka Art) showing action in the old Webster gym.  Faithful followers of Creek basketball will recognize some great players from the past and will enjoy reading some of the exploits of a team that started it all for Coach Carlisle and our beloved Wildcats. 

So sit back and enjoy the ride beginning with the article below which leads up to the LaPorte game that could give the Wildcats those 24 straight wins.

Undefeated Wilcats Play LaPorte and Alvin in Home Games

     The undefeated Webster Wildcats, riding the crest of a 23 game winning streak, begin a four game home stand against district 27-AA opposition Friday.
     Coach George Carlisle's winning combination meets the LaPorte Bulldogs on the Webster floor Friday night, then fact the strong Alvin five in Webster on Tuesday.
     The Wildcats scored two more victories last week, defeating LaMarque in a district game Friday night, and romping over Cedar Bayou 55 to 26 on Tuesday.
     Webster finished strong after a close first half to defeat LaMarque 49 to 38.  The score was tied 10-10 at the quarter and the Wildcats had only a 21 to 19 lead at the half.  A red hot third period gave the Wildcats a comfortable 40-25 lead at the end of that period.
     Billy Coleman led Webster in scoring with 16 points. Boonie Wilkening had 9, Jimmie Goodman 6, Joe Barba 5, Billy Crawford 5, Arthur Landriault 5, and Joddie Witte 3.
     The Webster B team won 40 to 37 with Paul Blanchard as its high scorer.
     Tuesday night the Wildcats romped over a highly regarded Cedar Bayou Team 55-26. They got an 11 to 7 lead in the first period then rolled up to a 31 to 10 score by halftime, and led 40-17 at the end of the third quarter.
     As usual, the Wildcats scoring was well distributed.  Wilkening had 12, Landriault 11, Coleman 10, Goodman and Larry Walker 6 each, and Barba and Frank Rendon 5 each.
     Again the Webster B team won.  This time the score was 43-27.  Lawrence Smith took scoring honors with 12 points.

After the LaPorte game, the following story was published.  Bask in its glory!

24 Straight for Webster Cagers

     Webster's magic number is 24.
     The Wildcats defeated defending 27-AA champion, LaPorte, 49-33 here Friday night.
     Webster holds the the best record of any cage team in this area with 24 straight wins without a defeat.
     Southpaw Bonnie Wilkening had 15 and Arthur Landriault 13 for the Wildcats.
     Webster also won the B game.

Photos from the LaPorte game in1954

   

The Wildcats are in white.  From left to right, the 'Cat players are Arthur Landriault (dribbling the ball), #27 Joddie Witte, #26 Billy Coleman, Boonie Wilkening (under the white backboard on side of court and mostly obscured by Bulldog player), and #22 Joe Barba. Click on this photo to enlarge for better viewing

#28 Arthur Landriault puts up a shot against LaPorte.  At far right is Billy Coleman and Joe Barba is on far side ready to rebound.  Click on this photo to enlarge for better viewing.

Comments

[Pat Jensen]

Excellent post! Good reading, and I especially enjoyed the pictures. Things are never as big over 50 years later, are they? I would have sworn our bleachers went higher and held more people than the picture shows. I also don't remember Arthur being that trim. (:~O)

[Dan Jensen]

These old newspaper clippings make for plumb loverly reading and I wish more of you would send copies of what you have to Ed.

[Hugh Taylor]

The old photographs are interesting. Those guye were surely not eating at McDonalds as slim as they were or was coach making them run more to get in shape. Where are the "Glass backboards"? I also thought the bleachers were higher.
Ed or Art, could we have directions to "Cedar Baylor"? Is it up by Waco?
Thanks, Art & Ed.

[Arthur Landriault]

Hugh,
I don't beleive that McDonalds even existed , at least in this area, at this time. The best hamburger I can remember eating was at Mabry's Cafe in Kemah, cost was 25 cents. An Coach did run our "tails off", bleachers and all.

Art

[Ed Davis]

OK, Hugh, I just typed in Cedar Baylor to see who was paying attention. Can't slip anything by you guys, though. And I do remember Mabry's with great fondness. I had my first cheeseburger ever there and I remember they gave us basketball players a discount for eating there, especially on game days. And I remember Ed Mabry fondly as our band director for a number of years.

[Ed Davis]

Just to get Mr. Taylor off my back, I have gone in and corrected the Cedar Bayou spelling. I kind of liked Cedar Baylor myself, but misguided Tech exes like Hugh would not understand such. That prairie wind out in Lubbock does strange things to people. Old age is my excuse for such, however.