SMHS BOYS BASKETBALL
During the 1964-1965 boys basketball season, the San Marcos Rattlers were back playing for a state championship and looking to bring home their second title in program history.
Prior to the 1964-1965 season, the Rattlers made four trips to the state tournament, with San Marcos winning the state championship during the 19391940 season. The Rattlers would make a return trip to the state tournament the next season but fell in the first round.
San Marcos made two trips to the state tournament in the 1952-1953 season and the 1954-1955 season during which the Rattlers took home third place in 1953 and runners-up in 1955.
In the 1964-1965 season, the Rattlers finished with an overall record of 20-5 and captured the district championship with a 15-1 record.
San Marcos defeated Floresville 76-50 in the Bi-District round to punch their ticket to the regional tournament. The Rattlers defeated Belton in the regional semifinals to set up a highly anticipated showdown against the San Antonio Marshall Rams. San Marcos held off a furious Marshall rally in the fourth quarter to beat the Rams 69-67, advancing to the state tournament.
The Rattlers defeated West Orange Stark 75-47 in the semifinals to advance to the state championship game against Waxahachie.
San Marcos took the lead in the first quarter before Waxahachie rallied to go up 12-11 over the Rattlers.
The Rattlers ended the first quarter on a 12-1 run to retake the lead 23-13 going into the second.
Waxahachie attempted to cut the deficit in the second quarter but the Rattlers’ hot shooting kept the Indians at bay during the quarter. At halftime, San Marcos led 42-29.
In the third quarter, the Rattler defense locked down Waxahachie, hold- ing the Indians to just 12 points in the quarter. Meanwhile, the Rattler offense continued to dominate, scoring 22 points in the period.
Going into the fourth quarter, San Marcos extended their lead 64-41.
Waxahachie attempted one final comeback, scoring 22 points in the fourth but could not stop the Rattler offense once again, who scored 23 points to seal the win and the state title by a score of 87-63.
The Rattlers set five state records in the title game, including most points scored in a state championship game at the 3A [now 5A] level, which stood for over 15 years until it was broken in 1980 by Beaumont Hebert.
Rox Goodwine scored a game-high 25 points for the Rattlers including going 11-13 from the free throw line. Gordon Klunkert was second in scoring with 19 points, followed by Don Overall with 13 points. John Odoms and Steve Meeks both finished with 12 points each. Odoms finished the game with a double-double, having grabbed 12 rebounds.
Goodwine, Klunkert and Overall were all named to the 3A State All-Tournament Team.
The Rattlers’ hot shooting was the key to the state title win, shooting 49.2% from the field while going 76.6% from the free throw line. The San Marcos defense held Waxahachie to just 40.3% from the field.
The 1964-1965 season marks the last time the Rattlers claimed the state title as well as the last time they appeared in the state tournament.
