On March 2, 1962, a cold, rainy Friday night, in front of only 4,124 fans in Hershey Park Arena, Wilt Chamberlain’s Philadelphia Warriors played the New York Knicks in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Wilt scored 23 points in the first quarter, 18 in the second, 28 in the third, and with the fans chanting “Give it to Wilt! Give it to Wilt!” and his teammates complying, he scored 31 in the fourth quarter. Wilt was the first and only in NBA history to total 100-points in a game.
The next morning, in Bolton Gym, nearly 1200 miles away in Alexandria, Louisiana, another offensive wiz named Barbara Walker went to work on Marion, helping the Hathaway Hornets girls to a 62-60 win and a berth in the Class C championship game that evening. The afternoon before, shortly before Wilt poured on his record score, Hathaway was pouring it on French Settlement 85-71.
While Wilt was a one-man show, Junior forward, Barbara Walker relied on a total-team effort. And the Hathaway girls’ team, they beat you at both ends of the floor. To play at the level they did, they had to. Unlike the current full-court, 5-on-5 format that boys and girls play today, girls basketball in the early-1960's played in a half-court, 6-on-6 format, which was effectively half-court, 3-on-3—each team had three offensive players (forwards) on one end and three defensive players (guards) on the other end.
During play, the three forwards tried to score against the opposing team's guards, and vice versa. When play went to the other side of the court, guards and forwards on one side could not follow the ball across to the other half of the court. Girls basketball in the early-1960's allowed unlimited dribbling. To give some perspective, however, players in the 1940's half-court, 6-on-6 format were only allowed to dribble once then pass or shoot. In the 1950's, players were allowed to dribble twice.
On the offensive end of the court, the team's playmaker in-bounded the ball to a foward after a score or set the ball up after a rebound or turnover if a quick score did not develop. The playmaker had to be able to handle the ball, pass with strength and percision, and shoot with accuracy when called upon. The playmaker could drive to the basket, but depending on the play being run, usually stayed on the perimeter to move the ball around the floor. The set offense was generally run using many, many screens and one of jobs of the playmaker was to feed the forward coming off the screen for the open shot.
For Hathaway, it was Junior forward, Emily LeJeune, who was tasked with making sure the two other starting forwards, Barbara Walker and Marsha Avant (Freshman), got the ball when they were open. If neither were open, she had to create a play that would get them the ball or get a shot up herself. As evidenced by the scoring success of Barbara, Marsha, and herself, Emily was an outstanding playmaker who could hit from outside. For the year, all three of Hathaway's forwards were in the top-10 in the parish: Barbara was tops, scoring 1002 points on 382 buckets and 238 free throws, averaging 32.3 points per game. Marsha scored 507 points on 228 buckets and 45 free throws, averaging 16.4 points per game. Emily, the playmaker, scored 332 points on 140 buckets and 52 free throws, averaging 10.7 points per game.
On the defensive end of the court, both zone and man-to-man defenses were played. There were two frontcourt guards and one backcourt guard. Generally, the frontcourt guards defended the perimeter, trying to create turnovers, and the backcourt guard defended the basket and attacked the board for rebounds. Once the ball was rebounded, the guards had to get the ball to the playmaker on the other half of the court without crossing the half-court line.
Good teams had a guard who could rebound the ball and throw it the length of the court. Charlene Curet was Hathaway's strong arm. Charlene was the starting backcourt guard for Hathaway. For the 1961-62 season, her junior year, she received All-State honors for her defensive prowess. The starting frontcourt guards for Hathaway were Grace Babineaux (Senior), who received All-State honors, and Jeannette Bucklin (Sophomore), who rotated with Anna Ardoin (Sophomore) in the starting line-up.
For their championship match-up, the Hathaway girls (36-1) would be playing Centerville (36-3), the team that ended their 33-game winning streak. Centerville had beaten the Hathaway girls, 51-47, the week before (February 24) in their Regional match-up in Lake Charles.
The next morning, in Bolton Gym, nearly 1200 miles away in Alexandria, Louisiana, another offensive wiz named Barbara Walker went to work on Marion, helping the Hathaway Hornets girls to a 62-60 win and a berth in the Class C championship game that evening. The afternoon before, shortly before Wilt poured on his record score, Hathaway was pouring it on French Settlement 85-71.
While Wilt was a one-man show, Junior forward, Barbara Walker relied on a total-team effort. And the Hathaway girls’ team, they beat you at both ends of the floor. To play at the level they did, they had to. Unlike the current full-court, 5-on-5 format that boys and girls play today, girls basketball in the early-1960's played in a half-court, 6-on-6 format, which was effectively half-court, 3-on-3—each team had three offensive players (forwards) on one end and three defensive players (guards) on the other end.
During play, the three forwards tried to score against the opposing team's guards, and vice versa. When play went to the other side of the court, guards and forwards on one side could not follow the ball across to the other half of the court. Girls basketball in the early-1960's allowed unlimited dribbling. To give some perspective, however, players in the 1940's half-court, 6-on-6 format were only allowed to dribble once then pass or shoot. In the 1950's, players were allowed to dribble twice.
On the offensive end of the court, the team's playmaker in-bounded the ball to a foward after a score or set the ball up after a rebound or turnover if a quick score did not develop. The playmaker had to be able to handle the ball, pass with strength and percision, and shoot with accuracy when called upon. The playmaker could drive to the basket, but depending on the play being run, usually stayed on the perimeter to move the ball around the floor. The set offense was generally run using many, many screens and one of jobs of the playmaker was to feed the forward coming off the screen for the open shot.
For Hathaway, it was Junior forward, Emily LeJeune, who was tasked with making sure the two other starting forwards, Barbara Walker and Marsha Avant (Freshman), got the ball when they were open. If neither were open, she had to create a play that would get them the ball or get a shot up herself. As evidenced by the scoring success of Barbara, Marsha, and herself, Emily was an outstanding playmaker who could hit from outside. For the year, all three of Hathaway's forwards were in the top-10 in the parish: Barbara was tops, scoring 1002 points on 382 buckets and 238 free throws, averaging 32.3 points per game. Marsha scored 507 points on 228 buckets and 45 free throws, averaging 16.4 points per game. Emily, the playmaker, scored 332 points on 140 buckets and 52 free throws, averaging 10.7 points per game.
On the defensive end of the court, both zone and man-to-man defenses were played. There were two frontcourt guards and one backcourt guard. Generally, the frontcourt guards defended the perimeter, trying to create turnovers, and the backcourt guard defended the basket and attacked the board for rebounds. Once the ball was rebounded, the guards had to get the ball to the playmaker on the other half of the court without crossing the half-court line.
Good teams had a guard who could rebound the ball and throw it the length of the court. Charlene Curet was Hathaway's strong arm. Charlene was the starting backcourt guard for Hathaway. For the 1961-62 season, her junior year, she received All-State honors for her defensive prowess. The starting frontcourt guards for Hathaway were Grace Babineaux (Senior), who received All-State honors, and Jeannette Bucklin (Sophomore), who rotated with Anna Ardoin (Sophomore) in the starting line-up.
For their championship match-up, the Hathaway girls (36-1) would be playing Centerville (36-3), the team that ended their 33-game winning streak. Centerville had beaten the Hathaway girls, 51-47, the week before (February 24) in their Regional match-up in Lake Charles.
(L-R Top)Anna Ardoin, Charlene Curet, Barbara Walker, Marsha Avant, Jeannette Bucklin, Coach Louie Moore
(L-R Kneeling) Emily LeJeune, and Grace Robinson
(L-R Kneeling) Emily LeJeune, and Grace Robinson
On March 3, 1962, the Hathaway girls beat Centerville 54-48 to win the first state championship in school history. The game was back-and-forth. Hathaway went up 3-0, then Centerville came back to lead 4-3 with four minutes remaining in the first period. Centerville tried to draw the Hathaway guards out with stall-ball, but Hathaway stayed put.
Tight, yet disciplined defense was Coach Louie Moore's style. Guard, Charlene Curet remembers how he coached his defenders to defend opposing forwards tight even if they didn't have the ball. He wanted to get the idea across that when they did get the ball, it wasn't going to be easy for them. His objective was to beat opponents from both the floor and the foul line. Coach Moore's strategy worked. The Hathaway girls nearly doubled-up opponents for the season; outscoring them a total of 2,272 to 1,327. The Hathaway girls averaged 61.4 points per game against opponents 35.9 per game. They surpassed 80 points on four occasions with a high of 85 against French Settlement and a low of 36 points against a strong defense in Sugartown at Regionals.
Tight, yet disciplined defense was Coach Louie Moore's style. Guard, Charlene Curet remembers how he coached his defenders to defend opposing forwards tight even if they didn't have the ball. He wanted to get the idea across that when they did get the ball, it wasn't going to be easy for them. His objective was to beat opponents from both the floor and the foul line. Coach Moore's strategy worked. The Hathaway girls nearly doubled-up opponents for the season; outscoring them a total of 2,272 to 1,327. The Hathaway girls averaged 61.4 points per game against opponents 35.9 per game. They surpassed 80 points on four occasions with a high of 85 against French Settlement and a low of 36 points against a strong defense in Sugartown at Regionals.
At the end of the first quarter, Centerville’s stall-ball had only produced an 8-6 favor over Hathaway. Centerville opened the second quarter with a basket, but then Barbara Walker went to work. With 2:09 left in the half, Hathaway was up 20-16. After trading baskets for 2:08 seconds, Centerville struck last at the buzzer, staying within one point at the half. Barbara Walker would strike back, hitting a shot just three seconds before the buzzer in the third period to give Hathaway a 40-37 lead going into the final stanza.
There would be two ties in the fourth quarter. One at 42-42, with 4:09 left in the game, and another just 10 seconds later at 44-44. Then freshman shooter, Marsha Avant buried two shots from the corner with 3:11 to go, giving Hathaway a 48-44 lead. Centerville came back on its next possession and scored, making it 48-46 with 2:58 remaining. Tension built over the next minute-and-a-half—neither team being able to sink a bucket. Then with 1:16 left, Barbara Walker came alive to put Centerville away, ripping three nets in 49 seconds and putting Hathaway up 54-46 with 27 seconds remaining. In the final score of 54-48, both Hathaway and Centerville scored 22 baskets from the floor, but Hathaway was 10 of 17 from the line and Centerville was only 4 of 8. Barbara Walker finished with 35 points.
The team’s starters were Barbara Walker (junior forward), Marsha Avant (freshman forward), Emily LeJeune (junior forward), Charlene Curet (junior guard), Grace Babineaux (senior guard), Jeannette Bucklin (sophomore guard), and Anna Ardoin (sophomore guard). Other juniors (all guards) included Charlotte Meche, Darla Litteral, and Grace Robinson. Other sophomores were Jeannie Gary and Carolyn Meche. Other freshman were Sharon Moore, Pat Bryan, and Judy LeJeune.
That Championship Season went like this—
1961-62 Season
October
Acadia Baptist, 68-51
November
Pine Prairie, 56-39
Oberlin, 45-23
Basile, 75-43
ABA, 56-29
Lacassine, 47-23(x)
Bell City, 62-32(x)
Basile, 63-34
December
Eunice, 69-43
Pine Prairie, 56-25
Elton, 52-38
Roanoke, 58-33
January
Pine Prairie, 56-25
Lacassine, 69-37(x)
Jennings, 67-47
Grand Lake, 62-27(x)
Johnsons Bayou, 82-11(x)
Elton, 52-34
Reeves, 38-21
St. Joseph, 50-27(x)
Grand Lake, 81-12(x)
Basile, 72-44
Elton, 75-58
Bell City, 76-15(x)
February
Roanoke, 62-28(x)
Welsh, 73-32
Elton, 54-41
St. Charles, 63-16
St. Joseph, 60-44(x)
Roanoke, 70-30(x)
Lacassine, 82-58(x)
Johnsons Bayou, 2-0 forfeit
Fatima (Reg’l), 55-42
Sugartown (Reg’l), 36-31
Centerville (Reg’l), 47-51 (only loss)
March (State Tourney)
French Settlement, 85-71
Marion, 62-60
Centerville, 54-48
(x) denotes District games
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