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North Caddo won its only boys basketball state title in 1966 as the Billy Wiggins led Rebels completed a 33-4 season. Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save North Caddo won its only boys basketball state title in 1966 as the Billy Wiggins led Rebels completed a 33-4 season at the then named Hirsch Youth Center in the last Top Twenty State Tournament held in Shreveport. The Rebels broke numerous Class AA two-game tourney records in defeating Zachary 73-59.
A trio-of scorers led the way as Class AA All-Staters Mike Durham (26 points) and Pete Schuler (18) topped all scorers. Sharpshooter Jerry Carlisle joined Durham and Schuler in double figures with 14 points on 5-of-7 shooting from the field and 4-of-4 at the free throw line. Durham and Schuler grabbed a pair of two-game class records with their exceptional closing performances.
Durham set the record for field goals made with 21 and most points (55). Schuler became the free throw king with most attempts (22) and most made (19). He was 6-of-8 from the line in the title game.
North Caddo used a dominant first quarter to lead 24-10 and led 40-25 at halftime. The Broncos made one last second run to get within 10 but got no closer down the stretch. Zachary, the 8-AA champion, was coached by Phil Haley who led Belmont to a state championship in 1957 as a player and played at Northwestern State.
He went from Zachary to take the head coaching position at Parkway in 1971. Rebel coach Wiggins was one of the all-time best guards in Louisiana Tech history and left North Caddo to take the same position at newly opened Captain Shreve in 1967. He led the Gators to a state runner-up finish in 1969-70 and a 35-2 mark.
He left Shreve in 1976 to take the post at Trinity Heights and won a Louisiana Independent Schools Association title in 1979-80. Haley’s teammate at Belmont and Northwestern State, Larry Skinner, coached Many to its second state title in 1967, defeating District 1-A foe Haughton, 63-51. It kept the Billy Montgomery coached Bucs from three straight titles.
Montgomery led Haughton to Class A titles in 1968 and 1969, the school’s only state basketball championships. His ’69 team had a school-best 38-2 mark. The Bucs had made it to four consecutive quarterfinal finishes before its three title game appearances.
Kenny Covington was a two-time Outstanding Player on the All-State team in 1968, 1969. Benny DePrang joined him on the first team in 1969. Kenny Cowan was a third team selection in 1968 and second team in 1969.
Montgomery was the Coach of the Year in 1967 and 1968. North Caddo’s title was played in the last Top Twenty State Tourney played at Hirsch Coliseum. The following year it shifted to the Rapides Coliseum in Alexandria.
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