1964 Championship p2
From 7-8-14
We are continuing the story of the Rams' 1964 season & their attempt to win the 1st major state championship in the school's history. Sleep was hard to come after our big Region semi-final win over Winder, & it seemed the whole Hartwell motel was filled with "Ram" fans. When the team left the motel for the region finals, many fans were cheering for them as they left to face the defending state champs, Hart Co., on Hart's home floor. Our fans were cheering, "We've gotta have 'Hart'!" The game, played before a packed house, was exciting as the Rams won 50-44, for their 3rd region title in 4 years. As a coach, when you think your team is good enough to "win it all", you are on a close watch for negatives ( which we have covered in previous stories).
The day before heading to Atlanta, after our last practice, our senior guards, Grady Campbell & Terry Smith, came to me and said they were "itching". I said, "We're ALL itching to play again!" Campbell, a future chief medical doctor @ U. Of Cincinnatti Hospital, understood the body & thought the spots they had might be serious. Immediately my mind raced back to undefeated pitchers, injuries, etc., that had cost us State Championships. I asked if either of them had ever had penicillin shots. Grady said, "I had one 4 or 5 years ago", & "Dr. Bradley" said, "It's a penicillin reaction-- go home, put some calamine lotion on the spots & get a good night's sleep!" Grady knew better, but was not about to challenge his coach. We were staying at the new Americana Hotel in downtown Atlanta, & we put Terry & Grady in a room away from the team (we didn't want any of the other players to "catch" the penicillin reaction from the boys). We beat Crisp Co. (24-3 record), 64-49, and we had to struggle to win over Rockmart (26-6), 51-41.
Now, here standing in our way to the highly coveted State Championship, was my old college roommate, Bill Ensley, & his Hart Co. Bulldog team, with a 23-6 record. The Newton Co. boys were not to be denied, as they won 71-49, setting off a wild celebration! As the championship trophy was presented, Stanley Harris, Wayne Hall & Tim Christian were announced as members of the All State team. The 78 points that Tim scored in the state tournament helped him to be named MVP in the 2nd straight tournament. (I had to get up several times during the night to check the trophy to make sure it had "State Champions" on it!). After breakfast the next morning, our team was escorted by a police detail with lights blinking & sirens blaring, for a joyous celebration on the Covington Square! Later, when Ginny Dobbs told me she wasn't about to miss the State Tournament, and had to use large amounts of make-up to cover her "measles" spots, and many other fans also did so, I realized that maybe it wasn't a penicillin reaction after all. Seniors Campbell & Smith completed their high school careers with 3 Region titles, 1 State title, 10 different tournament titles, never lost at home (as the home court winning streak reached 71 straight), and with a 4-year record of 120 wins & only 9 defeats! With 3 all-state players returning, there was talk (& high hopes) of a repeat for the next year!
State Championship Radio Broadcast
Celebration on the Square audio file
