Published - Leslie Yearbook, 2005
1962
The first year we won the state tournament was in 1962 at Mulberry. We played Waldo in the finals and won by 49 - 48. Leslie's coach was Gene Harness and Waldo's coach was Donavon Horn, formerly? from St. Joe, Arkansas. I remember walking in the gym at Mulberry that night and seeing about 100 people from Leslie. The trip to Mulberry was about 150 miles (no freeway or interstate). There were people at the game that had never been to a game in Leslie. We were behind by one point seven seconds to go in the game, and Sharon Blair shot a long shot (would be a three pointer today). Everyone thought it short, but SWISH - nothing but net. The game was over and we WON! Lib Jenniings scored 21 points, Sharon Blair scored 24 points and Carolyn Fendley scored 4. When we got back to Leslie about one o'clock in the morning, the town was all decorated signs congratulating the "State Champions". I didn't think anyone was left in Leslie to do the decorating. Thelma Kimbrell, Lib Jennings, and Sharon Blair made the All-State Tournament Team that year.
1963
"The next year, 1963, the state tournament was held in DeWitt. We played Stephens in the finals. This year Jerry Passmore was our coach. We won the final game by a score of 50 to 42. Lib Jennings scored 18 points, Sharon Blair scored 20 and Jackye McBride scored 12. We placed four girls on the all state tournament team - Lib Jennings, Sharon Blair, Thelma Kimbrell, and Pauletta Sitton. Lib Jennings was also named the Most Valuable Player of the Tournament.
"This same year Leslie also won the very prestigious Joe T. Robinson Tournament - a tournament that was represented by the "cream" in both classes A and B. One of the games we won in that tournament was to beat Bradley 48 to 47 in the last four seconds of the game to end a 38 game winning streak for Bradley. In the final game Leslie beat England by the same 48 to 47 score in the last seven seconds of the game. Both of these games were won at the free throw line by scoring two free throws to win the game.
"I remember well these exciting games. Leon Jennings and Edna Lee Seeger spent a lot of time in the lobby because they couldn't stand to watch. They simply got too nervous. Someone would stand at the door and give them a 'play by play',
"We traveled all over the state to play really good teams. In the early 60s not all schools had girl's basketball. So we would travel to play schools like Mulberry, Alma, Lavaca, England and Lewisville to name a few.
"We spent many hours in the gym. Gene Harness said, 'You play like you practice.' --- So we practiced hard. Then everyday after a hard practice, all the forwards would have to make 10 free throws in a row before we left the gym. Coach Harness said, 'all close games are won or lost at the free throw line, and you will be shooting when you are tired.' He was right. Two of the games were won by making two free throws in the last seconds of the game to win by one point.
"What wonderful memories and I'm glad to share them with you. It's hard to believe it's been over 40 years ago. I'm not that old! " - Jackye McBride Adams