| Tiger Sports: Basketball |
| 8/14/07 - Dr. Billy Wilbanks announces new website: www.TexasBasketballChamps.com Includes indexed lists and narratives about 341 boys state championship teams (1921-2007) and 249 girls state championship teams (1951-2007). The 590 narratives include season records, names of coaches and players, leading scorers, state tournament scores/info, All-State Tournament Teams, championship history of each of the schools, and more. Site also includes Miscellaneous Facts about the state tournament via a quiz and tables. Billy will update the site with later career information on players and coaches and make corrections based on input from site's viewers. He's collecting photos of the 590 teams where available and will make a disc of them available later. Billy would appreciate feedback, corrections, and additional materials. He says, "This is a non-profit venture and represents the work product of my 'retirement hobby.' I hope you see it as worthwhile." Contact him at WilbanksWilliam@hotmail.com |
| BHS State Championship Basketball Team, 1958. Front: Calvin, Richard, James, Billy, Dennis, and Will. Back: Bernard, Tommy, Dale, Jarrell, Buster, and Dick. |
| Who: Our beloved Tigers What: One of the high points of our high school career When: March 8, 1958 Where: AA State Basketball Tournament, Austin, Texas Eight points behind with 2 minutes and 45 seconds to go, our cagers got hot. Billy Wilbanks hit 5 of the last 6 field goals, and James Brantley sank 3 free throws to take the game into sudden-death overtime. James was good for the last 2 free throws, giving the Tigers a 58-56 victory over New London. Then we could all breathe again! Billy led the Tigers with 14 points, followed by James and Richard, each with 13. Mack Birtchet was head coach; Joe Pirtle, assistant coach; and Dell Mack Hyer, team manager. |
| On his website, www.drbillywilbanks.com, Billy reports, "....10 of the 12 went to college on athletic scholarships: Wilbanks played basketball at Texas Tech and Abilene Christian College; Inman went to Oklahoma for football and track; West went to Texas for basketball and baseball; Tommy Normand went to Hardin-Simmons for football; Dennis Watson played basketball at Howard Payne; Jarrell Hayes and Calvin Hayes played football at Texas A&I; Bernard Bartek played football at TCU; Willie Garner played basketball at Temple Jr. College; and Dick Baker played football at Tarleton State. Three had outstanding college careers as Inman twice won the Big Eight shotput title; Jarrell Hayes was all-Lone Star Conference in 1961 and led his team to the National NAIA (football) championship in 1959; and Bartek was all-SWC at TCU. Also, all 12...graduated from college and four obtained doctorate degrees (Wilbanks in criminology, Normand in law, Watson in chemistry, and Baker in dentistry)." |
| One of our Tigers' Finest Moments |
| 1958: Head Coach, Mack Birtchet |
| 1958: Assistant Coach, Joe Pirtle |
| 1984: The 1958 Belton Tigers are honored at the Frank Erwin Center, Austin. Front row: Billy, Calvin, James, Will, Bill, Dick Back row: Coach Pirtle, Dell Mack, Tom, Jarrell, Dale, Bernard, Coach Birtchet |
| Not Fade Away... |
| June 7, 2008: Unveiling and Dedication of Basketball Monument (Thanks to Judy E for this photo.) |
| Left front: Tommy N ('58), Buster/Bill, James B ('58), Calvin, Will, Dick. Behind them: Jarrell H ('58) Dennis. Right front: Billy W ('58), Dell Mack H ('59) Mrs. Birtchett. Behind them: Dale, Richard, Coach Pirtle. |