Let's Repeat That Game!

Posted by Dan Jensen

I recently saw something on TV about arrangements being made to repeat a game of the past between two teams.  I think it was on the high school level but don't know any details at all about it.  That got me to thinking about some Clear Creek games that I would have wanted to see repeated.  I think the TV folks were talking about a game of just a few years ago.  My games would be impossible to repeat because of the ages now of the players involved.

 

I will list some mighty big disappointing defeats below, in order, and am glad that some actually were repeated in that season.

 

1.  1956 Phillips 84-81 in the first round game of the state tournament.  We made our first trip to Austin undefeated in 32 games and lost a heartbreaker that still stings after almost 54 years.  I recall Orland Sims of the Austin American describing it "a game that appeared to be verging on the impossible."  It was the state record in all classes for total points scored for several years.  I sure would have liked to play that one again.

 

2. 1960 Linden-Kildare 61-51, again the opening round of the state tournament.  We went to Austin worrying about tall and talented Belton and felt mighty good when it was beaten in the game right before ours.  Linden-Kildare put a lot of pressure on our guards since sophomore Bill Doty was not a scoring threat at that time.  Bennie Lenox, the state's best player regardless of classification, made only 2 of 17 field goals and fouled out with just nine points.  That would never, never happen in a repeat.

 

3. 1963 Deer Park 44-43.  This stinger came in the opening game of district play in Henry Bauerschlag's first year as head coach and broke a seven year district winning streak and some think that Chuck Stamper's last second shot actually was on time.  But the game was played in Deer Park.  We did repeat that game in the second round and we won easily at home.  And that team went on to win a state championship.

 

4. 1966 San Antonio John Marshall in the state tournament and I don't remember the score.  Maybe Paul Hackett does.  I do recall that we were on the verge of winning when we had the ball stolen twice for layups in the waning moments and we lost in overtime.  Being close to a state title is a rare occasion.  This was Bill Krueger's first Clear Creek team.

 

5. 1954 Alvin 56-51.  We had won our first 28 games before stumbling on the road.  (We didn't lose big games at home in those days.)  Happily, we did get a repeat--actually two--on this.  They were playoff games for our first district championship and we won, 61-45 and 53-51.

 

Some others, in no particular order:

1959 Devine 41-38.  This was in the regional finals at Victoria and prevented a fourth straight trip to the state tournament.  We did get a repeat the very next year and Bennie Lenox led us to a very easy rout.

 

1960 Madisonville 49-40.  A break in our district schedule.  We had won an earlier game, 52-38 at home and took a 32-1 record on the road.  Madisonville had a pitiful excuse for a gym and the game was more pitiful.

 

1968 Conroe.  Had a 35-0 season ruined in bi-district.  Scooter Lenox will have to give some details on this disappointment.  We had won a close game earlier in the year and I fully expected to win.

 

I hope that some of our old players and fans will add their selections and thoughts.  And, it doesn't have to be just basketball.  In 1964 we played Deer Park on our field for a district championship.  Joe McKinney had a great game but we lost, I believe, by 34-28.  I would like to repeat a 1957 regional baseball game against San Antonio Northside.  I would pitch junior Chuck Trcka instead of senior Gary Brizendine.  Both were fine pitchers but Trcka was throwing better late in the year--and it was his turn.

 

Have at it guys--and girls.

Comments

[Buddy Carlisle]

From a loss standpoint, I would want to repeat the famous "chocolate cake" game at home vs. Clear Lake in 1988. We were both ranked in the top 5 in the state at the time and it was basically for the district title. We led by 20 midway through the second quarter and someone from Lake threw a layered choclate cake onto the floor right over my shoulder. It actually nicked my sport coat(it was brand new and i never wore it again) and landed on the court near the sideline. It took about 15 minutes to clean up good enough so we could play again. We lost all momentum and they cut the lead to about 10 at half. They continued to cut into the lead and forced overtime where we lost on a baseline jumper by Troy Valentino at the end of the 2nd OT in an absolute heartbreaker.

I would love to play that one over again minus the cake!

On a positive note, it would be fun to relive the Galveston ball game in 1969 where we packed what is now the girls gym or Butler Gym. The gym was filled right after school at 4:30 and we had a pep rally and left no room for the Ball fans to sit except for their team and subvarsity kids. The fire marshall locked the gym before any Ball fans could get in and people were looking in the windows at the end of the gym. Many windows were broken out and it was the last boys game played in there since Carlisle Field House opened the next year. We led big but they came back and took a one point lead late and had the ball. I was lucky to deflect a pass into the backcourt in our 1-3-1 trap and took it to the hole only to be fouled before getting the shot up. I made the one and one and we held on to win, our 16th district title in a row. That is one I wouldn't mind replaying with the same result!!!

[paul hackett]

The 1966 OT game was a Heartbreaker. Both teams had opportunities late in regulation to win but our poor first half shooting was really our undoing.

Final Score: 64-60 John Marshall

[Scooter Lenox]

The 1968 Conroe regional game was a tremendous disappointment to us all. Conroe had a very good team and an excellent game plan. We ran the l-3-l and they had us spread out so far and moved the ball so quickly that they had uncontested perimeter shots and were making them. They shot 67% the lst half and ended up at around 60% for the game. We had beaten them earlier in the season in Texas City and we won by l point. If we could play that game over again in TC, I would like to,and lose that one in trade for the regional game. The only thing that game in TC did was let us keep an undefeated season in tact. Who cares about all the games you win if you get your butt kicked in regionals. I could sense something bad was going to happen. Our team was way to cocky.

[Terry Mathis]

My basketball game to play over again would be the South San Antonio game that we lead by 14 at the half and were beaten by 2 points, in the semi finals of the state tourney in 1967. My baseball games would be the 2 losses in the regional play offs against Beaumont Forest Park in 1967. If we could just play them over again. What if?

[Dan Jensen]

Terry, how about some details on those two Forest Park losses? We have to tip our hat to the Beaumont team, it beat Scooter Lenox, a really good junior pitcher, in one of those games. We had an outstanding team and you were a good enough shortstop to be drafted in the sixth round by the Phillies.

[Terry Mathis]

We lost the 2 games by a total of either 2 or 3 runs. We had torrential ran all day and night the day before the double header and were told that we would probably not play the next day. So all of the Seniors stayed up all night at our Senior Party, and got no sleep at all. The next day we were told that we were going to play in Beaumont. I think Scooter was beaten 1-0, and he pitch a great game, we just didn't get many hits. And the rest is history. Also Forest Park was beaten in the State Championship game 2-0 by South San.

[Richard McDowell]

I understand before the Clear Creek school district came into existance, both Webster and League City had their own high schools.  Did League City have a football team?  I looked under the list of teams Webster played and they were nowhere to be found.  Maybe someone can clarify this. 

[Dan Jensen]

Both had high schools but the League City Cardinals played six man football against such schools as Adicks and Danbury. Johnny Cucco was an outstanding drop kicker.

League City's 17 year old basketball tournament was transferred to the consolidated school and it now is probably the oldest tournament in the state.

[Dan Jensen]

I have since found out that we do not have the oldest basketball tournament in the state. This false information sure floated around for a long time. Buddy Carlisle did some research on this and has the details.

[Dan Jensen]

Here is a possibly incomplete list, courtesy of Buddy Carlisle:
Canadian, 83 years
Reagan County, 80 years
Clear Creek, 78 years
Houston ISD, 71 years
Dallas Coca Cola, 61 years
Lubbock Caprock, 52 years
Waco Midway, 50 years

Huntsville was once as old as ours but no longer hosts a tournament.