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Walters State coach Bill Carlyle was just about set to send his team out for warmups on Saturday afternoon against Vol State.

Little did Carlyle know, a surprise was waiting for him.

In 1966, Carlyle was tasked with coaching not only the boys team, but also the girls basketball team at Maury high school in Dandridge.

Carlyle had never coached girls’ basketball before, but he took the challenge on at full speed.

Coaching a team Carlyle described as “intelligent, determined and dedicated,” Carlyle led the team to a State Championship.

On Saturday, those players returned to celebrate that State Championship and their coach.

Unbeknownst to Carlyle, the team made their way to center court in between the men’s and women’s games to be honored with their coach.

“That’s unbelievable,” Carlyle said. “That’s some nostalgic memories. That was amazing.”

While each game was a challenge, the first game of the season in 1966 was a special one.

Trailing by 19 points at halftime, Maury fought all the way back to take home the win over Marshall County.

“I believe we could have beaten the Boston Celtics tonight,” Carlyle said after the game.

Maury set the 1966 state records for best foul shooting, best foul shooting in a single game, best field-goal percentage (Margie Rutherford, 68 percent) and best free throw percentage by a player (Jane Hill, 84 percent).

Four members of the team made the All-State Tournament team while Jane Hill earned Most Valuable Player. Maury’s record that year was 39 wins and 3 losses.

During his two years with the girls, Carlyle was 70-7.

1965-66 Maury’s Girls Basketball Team

Jeanne Batson Thornton

Ella Hodgson Davis

Teresa Denton Rutherford.

Brenda McCoig Holland

Eileen Fralix

Peggy Hurst Haun

Elaine Fralix

Pat Newman Shipley

Betty Franklin Williamson

Carol Russell

Verolyn Gann Bryant

Marge Rutherford Hensley

Jane Hill Fleming

Ellen Smith Manney

Jill Hodge Overholt

Jean Blackburn Brown, Mgr.

1966 Cheerleaders

Brenda Bull Cobb

Judy Potts Dunn

Nancy Hopper Line

Pat Webb Thornton

Mary Jarnigan Wray

Pam Farrar