rhs 1965 basketball team
With a 33-5 overall record, the 1964-65 Rector Blackcats basketball team was reported, at the time, by the “Arkansas Democrat” to be the best team ever seen in Northeast Arkansas. Many think that the team was one of the best in the State of Arkansas that year.
The five (5) losses were to four (4) different teams: Valley Springs by one point at Valley Springs; Harrison by one point at Harrison, Trumann by one point, Bay by two points, and Bay by 12 points. During that season, Rector beat Trumann by 20 points and Bay by two (2) points and also by 23 points. Brian Schisler, the Coach Of Bay, is quoted as saying, "AT THEIR BEST, RECTOR IS BETTER THAN WE ARE AT OUR BEST"
The team that was STATE RUNNER-UP was composed of the following players: Bill Cossey, Garvin Gatewood, Marvin Gatewood, Rick Gatewood, Ted Glaub, Bob McKeel, Allan Pruett, Wes Stallcup, Jim Wagster, and Alan Williams. At one point in the season, the team had 16 consecutive wins. For the season, the team averaged 73.7 ppg (before the three-point line); shot 50% from the field; shot 72% from the free-throw line; scored 2,799 points.
The State Championship game was the only loss for the team by more than two (2) points. Three losses were by only one (1) point. According to the ‘Jonesboro Sun’, with reference to the State Tournament in 1965, "Observers have termed this the best field ever assembled for a class ‘A’ event"
In the opening round of the County tournament, Rector defeated Knobel 91-74 and then won the championship game over Piggott by a score of 83-66 (at Piggott).
In the NEA tournament, Rector defeated Nettleton 62-49 in the opening round. In the second game, Rector defeated Marianna 60-46. In their third game Rector lost to Bay 67-69.
In the District tournament, Rector’s average margin of victory was 33 points. The team defeated Hoxie 93-44 in the first game, Osceola in the second game 70-50 and Piggott 82-52 in the final game.
In the State tournament, Rector defeated Lavaca 84-74, Marianna 55-41, Green Forest 60-50 and fell to Bay 69-81.
ALL-NEA: BILL COSSEY AND ALLAN PRUETT
ALL-DISTRICT: BILL COSSEY, BOB MCKEEL, ALLAN PRUETT, ALAN WILLIAMS
ALL-STATE: BILL COSSEY AND ALLAN PRUETT (Both have previously been inducted into the Rector High School Sports Hall of Fame as individuals.)
ARKANSAS HIGH SCHOOL ALL-STAR BILL COSSEY
HONORABLE MENTION ALL-AMERICAN BILL COSSEY
FOUR (4) PLAYERS BECAME OUTSTANDING COLLEGE PLAYERS. ONE WAS CONFERENCE MVP—ALLAN PRUETT IN THE SOUTHLAND CONFERENCE. TWO ARE IN THEIR COLLEGE’S HALL OF FAME—BILL COSSEY AND BOB MCKEEL.
The “B” team included the following players: Radius Baker, Dennis Cate, Carroll Clayton, Phil Clayton, Jerry Drope, James Ferguson, Ron Hardin, John Mack, Tony Moseley, Tommy Pruett, Samuel O’Dell Rogers, Freddie Smith.
The managers were: Sam Cossey, Mike Linam, Ronnie Stahl.
The team was coached by “District Coach of the Year” Jess Bucy and assistant Robert Rudi.
[Pictured above: Standing...Odell Rogers, Alan Williams, Garvin Gatewood, Marvin Gatewood, Bill Cossey, Ted Glaub, Bob McKeel, Mike Linam; Seated...Coach Jess Bucy and Rick Gatewood. The empty chair represents Allan Pruett.]
The five (5) losses were to four (4) different teams: Valley Springs by one point at Valley Springs; Harrison by one point at Harrison, Trumann by one point, Bay by two points, and Bay by 12 points. During that season, Rector beat Trumann by 20 points and Bay by two (2) points and also by 23 points. Brian Schisler, the Coach Of Bay, is quoted as saying, "AT THEIR BEST, RECTOR IS BETTER THAN WE ARE AT OUR BEST"
The team that was STATE RUNNER-UP was composed of the following players: Bill Cossey, Garvin Gatewood, Marvin Gatewood, Rick Gatewood, Ted Glaub, Bob McKeel, Allan Pruett, Wes Stallcup, Jim Wagster, and Alan Williams. At one point in the season, the team had 16 consecutive wins. For the season, the team averaged 73.7 ppg (before the three-point line); shot 50% from the field; shot 72% from the free-throw line; scored 2,799 points.
The State Championship game was the only loss for the team by more than two (2) points. Three losses were by only one (1) point. According to the ‘Jonesboro Sun’, with reference to the State Tournament in 1965, "Observers have termed this the best field ever assembled for a class ‘A’ event"
In the opening round of the County tournament, Rector defeated Knobel 91-74 and then won the championship game over Piggott by a score of 83-66 (at Piggott).
In the NEA tournament, Rector defeated Nettleton 62-49 in the opening round. In the second game, Rector defeated Marianna 60-46. In their third game Rector lost to Bay 67-69.
In the District tournament, Rector’s average margin of victory was 33 points. The team defeated Hoxie 93-44 in the first game, Osceola in the second game 70-50 and Piggott 82-52 in the final game.
In the State tournament, Rector defeated Lavaca 84-74, Marianna 55-41, Green Forest 60-50 and fell to Bay 69-81.
ALL-NEA: BILL COSSEY AND ALLAN PRUETT
ALL-DISTRICT: BILL COSSEY, BOB MCKEEL, ALLAN PRUETT, ALAN WILLIAMS
ALL-STATE: BILL COSSEY AND ALLAN PRUETT (Both have previously been inducted into the Rector High School Sports Hall of Fame as individuals.)
ARKANSAS HIGH SCHOOL ALL-STAR BILL COSSEY
HONORABLE MENTION ALL-AMERICAN BILL COSSEY
FOUR (4) PLAYERS BECAME OUTSTANDING COLLEGE PLAYERS. ONE WAS CONFERENCE MVP—ALLAN PRUETT IN THE SOUTHLAND CONFERENCE. TWO ARE IN THEIR COLLEGE’S HALL OF FAME—BILL COSSEY AND BOB MCKEEL.
The “B” team included the following players: Radius Baker, Dennis Cate, Carroll Clayton, Phil Clayton, Jerry Drope, James Ferguson, Ron Hardin, John Mack, Tony Moseley, Tommy Pruett, Samuel O’Dell Rogers, Freddie Smith.
The managers were: Sam Cossey, Mike Linam, Ronnie Stahl.
The team was coached by “District Coach of the Year” Jess Bucy and assistant Robert Rudi.
[Pictured above: Standing...Odell Rogers, Alan Williams, Garvin Gatewood, Marvin Gatewood, Bill Cossey, Ted Glaub, Bob McKeel, Mike Linam; Seated...Coach Jess Bucy and Rick Gatewood. The empty chair represents Allan Pruett.]