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Best BHS basketball team in 50th reunion
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| By: TOM GOETZ, DAILY LEADER Sports Editor |
October 08, 2009 |
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Turn back the pages of time and savor the memories. Brookhaven High School alumni gather this weekend for a homecoming celebration and members of the greatest boys basketball team are expected to be in attendance.
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Celebrating their 50th BHS class reunion is the basketball team from the 1958-59 season. To put it mildly, they were an outstanding group of athletes.
For the record, the team managers were Randy Owens and Donald Boone. Players included Chuck Minor, Hilton Ball, Dicky Morgan, Jerry Nevels, Mel Edmonds, El Edmonds, Bobby Shows, Nelson Anding, Charles Sears and Richard Rogers.
Coached by James Sinclair, the Panthers enjoyed the most successful season in BHS history. They compiled a record of 41 wins and 2 losses on their way to winning the Big Eight Conference and South Mississippi championships. In the A-AA state tournament, they were upset by Philadelphia in a narrow 93-91 defeat.
Twin guards Mel and El Edmonds signed scholarships with Ole Miss. Shows signed with Mississippi State, giving BHS three SEC signees on one team.
Sandra and Mel Edmonds are hosting a lunch/reunion for the basketball team Saturday morning at their residence on Pine Drive. They are looking forward to sharing memories with Coach Sinclair who still is an avid sports fan. The BHS gymnasium is named in his honor.
It was a great period in BHS athletics. A year earlier, BHS grads Lance Alworth and Ralph "Catfish" Smith signed big-time football scholarships. Alworth went to Arkansas and Smith to Ole Miss. Both later starred in the NFL and the old AFL.
"We had a great track season, too," recalled Mel Edmonds. "We beat Murrah for the state championship." The late R.L. Therrell coached the track team.
Coincidently, the Edmonds Twins and Shows moved to Brookhaven for their senior year. Edmonds and his family migrated here from Ariton, Ala., located near Ozark and Dothan. Shows moved from Mars Hill, in northern Amite County. Shows and the Edmonds later played against each other in SEC action.
Meanwhile Professor Hoopla B.S., was busy pulling up those For Sale signs secretly placed in his front yard after midnight. Some folks become seriously aggravated by his weekly football predictions.
Hoopla predicted the winners of 24 games last week and got 18 correct. Here's his forecast for this weekend, starting with a classic Thursday night special.
Loyd Star at Wesson: In a battle of undefeated, 6-0 teams, the Hornets end a 5-year losing streak to the Cobras. Loyd Star 17-14.
Pearl River Central at Brookhaven: Hunting a homecoming victory, the Panthers get their act together on King Field. Brookhaven 26-14.
Brookhaven Academy at Natchez Trinity: Games in the River City often take unexpected turns. Cougars remain unbeaten in eight games. Brookhaven Academy 29-19.
Bogue Chitto at Sebastopol: It's a long drive for BC's Bobcats but the trip is successful as they remain unbeaten in the region race. Bogue Chitto 19-12.
Enterprise at Hinds AHS: The Wardawgs give the Fighting Yellow Jackets a rude welcome to Utica. Hinds AHS 30-6.
Natchez Cathedral at West Lincoln: Can the Bears realize their third win of the season? Cathedral 22-20.
Crystal Springs at Lawrence County: For a change, the Cougars enjoy a breather on Friday night. Lawrence County 41-8.
Hazlehurst at Franklin County: This should be one of the better games in the area. Franklin County 28-20.
In other area action, Parklane over Bowling Green 27-21, North Pike over Port Gibson 45-6, and Wayne County over McComb 36-12.
After guzzling a root beer, Hoopla provides a preview of Saturday's college games starting with a pair of JUCO homecoming specials.
Pearl River at Co-Lin: Wildcats appear to have too much offense for the Wolfpack to handle. Pearl River 32-22.
Jones County at Southwest: Bears selected the wrong team for their homecoming celebration. Jones County 28-10.
Alabama at Ole Miss: Can the Rebels control the Crimson Tide's high-powered offense? Nope. Alabama 39-19.
Houston at Mississippi State: Going out on a limb, Hoopla takes his trusty parachute with him. State 28-21.
Southern Miss at Louisville: Looks like an offensive show. USM 32-24.
In other Magnolia State action, Jackson State over Arkansas-Pine Bluff 31-21, Valley State over Alcorn State 22-18, Delta State over West Alabama 35-21, Mississippi College over Huntington 17-10 and Belhaven over West Virginia Tech 20-13. Millsaps has an open date to promote its academic program.
Write to sports editor Tom Goetz, c/o The DAILY LEADER, P.O. BOX 551, Brookhaven, MS 39602, or e-mail sports@dailyleader.com
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©The Daily Leader 2009
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