History of LaGrange College Basketball –A Tradition Spanning Six Decades

The familiar sounds of balls bouncing on the hardwood at Mariotti Gymnasium have been echoing across the LaGrange Campus for well over 50 years. Now spanning six decades, LaGrange's basketball tradition is one rich in team and individual accomplishments.

LaGrange's basketball history began in the fall of 1954, by a gentleman by the name of AustinCook, Jr. Cook was the business manager/controller for LaGrange College for 32 years. Hewas instrumental in the providing of funds for the school's first basketball team.The sport began College in 1954-55 strictly on an exhibition-game basis. Billy Pike was responsible for putting a team together. The Panthers played four industrial league teams and lost all four games. Since that time, LaGrangehas amassed over 600 victories in over 50 years.

It was Hiram Reeves who first established the winning tradition at LaGrange as he piloted Panther teams for three seasons (56-59) and introduced the club into the newly-formed Georgia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GIAC), which Reeves had a hand in starting in 1958. LaGrange College would stay in that conference for almost 30 years.

In 1957-58, the Panthers won its first 14 of 16 games en route to a 15-8 record. Reeves best season was the following year, as he led the panthers to a 16-5 record and their first-ever conference tournament game, going 12-2 in their first year in the conference. After coaching a year with the Panthers in 1956, Joe Copeland came back to coach from 1960- 62. From there, the history of LaGrange basketball would embark on a new era.

Some of the early basketball stars at LaGrange who set many of the first school records included Jerry Carden, Wallace Brown, Ralph Johnson, Harold Jones, Wayne Copeland, Olin Harp, Larry Howell, and Jackie Mayo.

In 1962, Al Mariotti became head coach of the men's basketball program and experienced some of the best years in the history of the program. Coach Mariotti came to LaGrange College after a highly-successful career at LaGrange High School. Mariotti coached for a dozen seasons and put the Panthers on the small college basketball map with a series of championship teams.

In 1965-66, Mariotti's team won a then schoolrecord 17 games behind the talents of Hugh Corless who set all the Panther career scoring records before he graduated. Corless (63-66) became the school's first big name in the sport. He was the school's first 1,000 point scorer, pouring in over 1,600 points. Another player to be mentioned is Joe Phillips (64-67), who left as the school's all-time leading rebounder (942).

The next four years (1966-70), the program experienced a slight decline with only one winning season during that span.  The school threatened to close the sport down if it did not produce the next season.  It was three influentual players that stepped up not only for themselves and the team, but the school and the sport as well.  They would silence all of their critics and would secure basketball as the main sport to watch at LC.

The Mack and Williams Era and the Dominance in the 1970's .

LaGrange's had arguably the best period of hardwood glory from 1970-75. The 1970's was the most accomplished decade in the program's history, making six NAIA Tournaments, claiming three conference championships, four 20-win seasons, five seasons with 10-win seasons in the GIAC and finished the decade with an impressive 172-127 record. LaGrange showed their dominance in the GIAC with a record was 91-48.

From 1970-75, Floyd Mack and Calvin Williams took the college program by storm. In the span five years, they compiled a record of 101-52. The two LC greats led the Panthers to three consecutive 20+ win seasons, back to back GLIAC Championships, a GIAC Tournament Championship, four NAIA Tournament berths and a five year conference record of 51-14. The 1971-72 team was conference tri-champion with West Georgia and Valdosta State before losing in a playoff for the title. A year later, the LC squad swept to the first conference crown in LC history, propelled by a pair of shocking wins over West Georgia. LC whipped the Braves 75-73 at home then 88-81 at Carrollton during the regular season. At that time, the LaGrange-West Georgia series represented the hottest small-college basketball rivalry in the state and perhaps the southeast as well as the games featured turn-away crows on every occasion.

But they experienced a rough start at 3-5, which included a three-game losing streak. Their last defeat, a 23-point setback to Jacksonville State was the worst of the season. From there, the Panthers never looked back. LC went on a 17-game winning streak, defeating three of the five schools that they succumbed to earlier that season. The Panthers would cruise through the GIAC, finishing with a school-best 13-1 record and the conference championship. It would send them to the NAIA District 25 Play-offs. They would beat Armstrong State in the first round, but lost to Valdosta State in the second round. It was the furthest a LC team had advanced in the NAIA tournament at that time.

Mariotti's final team, the 1974 squad, captured its second consecutive conference title behind the talents of record setters Calvin Williams and Floyd Mack, who along with Corless are the only Panthers to own retired jerseys. They finished 20-10 including yet another NAIA District 25 berth. Mariotti's teams made the District 25 tournament three of his last four years and barely missed a trip to the national tournament after getting to the District final in 1973 before losing to Valdosta State. He would finish his career with 186 wins, the most as a head coach at LaGrange. His final season was indeed a success, finishing with yet another 20-win season and a second straight GIAC Championship.
Mariotti's top performers over the years included Corless, Joe Phillips, Tom Duckett, Earl Holmes, Luther Tyson, Bob Eble, Calvin Williams, Rodney Robinson, Bubba Hill, Scott Major, and Floyd Mack. All are quite visible in the record books at LC. Williams graduated in 1974 as the school's first basketball All-American, earning NAIA Honorable Mention honors for the 1971-72 season. He was a four-time All-GIAC and All-NAIA All-District 25 selection from 1970-74. Williams was the NAIA District 25 Most Valuable Player during the 1971-72 season. When he graduated, Williams held most of the school's all-time records. He finished with 2,348 points, averaging 21.9 points per game during his career.

Phil "Coach" Williamson came into the scene in the fall of 1974, but has been a part of the campus for about five years. He became head coach and didn't miss a beat, thanks to Floyd Mack. He led the team in scoring and rebounding as LC went 17-17 and continued their winning tradition by guiding the Panthers to their fourth District tournament appearance in five years as well as winning the conference tournament championship.

Mack was a three-time All- GIAC and All-NAIA District 25 selection in basketball from 1973-75. He was the GIAC Tournament Most Valuable Player in 1975. He holds most of the school's rebounding records, including: most in a game (31), season (432) and career (1,584). He also holds the school record for field goals in a season (309). The 1978-79 team was another talented group, winning 21 games, the most since 1973. They were 21-8, and then lost their final four games to finish 21-12. Williamson led the Panthers to its second straight NAIA berth.

The 1980's was a transitional era, with Coach Williamson stepping down after seven years in 1981, bringing in former Panther great Hugh Corless. Williamson's 7-year career brought more successes to LaGrange such as a 20-12 record in 1977-78 and 21-12 the next year. Williamson completed his tenure with a 102-115 record, posting the second most wins behind Mariotti's 186 wins and 141 losses.

In 1980-81, LC started playing in the District 25, which was one of the toughest in the country. They were in a rebuilding process and fell to 3-25. The program needed a boost quickly. In come the Cotton era.

LaGrange's second sustained period of excellence was in the early 1980's. Jeff (pictured) and Sam Cotton became a mainstay in the starting lineup for two seasons as the program enjoyed a seven win turnaround in 1981-82. It was a year of potential and promise for the following year, as the Panthers reemerged from a disappointing 4-11 record to start the season. They would make the NAIA Tournament after winning five of six games down the stretch. Consecutive two point setbacks at the end of the year would determine their final record of 10-15. They also had a nine-win improvement in the conference (10-6).

The 1982-83 season was full of excitement as the LC basketball program enjoyed their return to dominance in the GIAC. It was a tale of two seasons. They started slow at 8-7 in the first half of the year, but then surged on a 12- game winning streak. They finished first in the conference with a 16-3 record (tied with North Georgia) and its 20-8 overall finish included a 2-1 record in the NAIA District 25 playoffs. They received their second-straight NAIA berth and advanced to the third round, missing the national tourney by a 70-65 loss to North Georgia in an overtime thriller. The two teams squared off three times, with LC going 1-2 with both losses coming ironically, in overtime. The third round of the NAIA's was the farthest the program advanced in school history.

Coach Corless' successes last season earned him GIAC and District 25 Coach-of-the-Year honors. Jeff Cotton received All-GIAC, All-NAIA Distrcit 25 and NAIA All-America honors. After two sub-par seasons, Corless was gone and Samford University great, Steve Barker was named head coach in 1985.

In the last year as a member of the GIAC (85-86), Barker's team finished 15-12 and 13-5 in the conference and received an NAIA berth. The Panthers would experience two more NAIA berths in '87 and '88, but the final two years would be a steep decline, a 12-57 record during that period.

In 1991, Randy Unger became the eighth head coach and would have a rough first year, finishing 3-30, but would enjoy the following two years. The 1991-92 season featured LC great, Deantre Traylor, who would go on to lead the Panthers to a 19-14 record, the biggest turnaround (16-games) in school history. It was their first winning season since 1986. The following year would be even better as LaGrange enjoyed its first 20-win season in 10 years and the most wins since 1979.

Traylor set a school record that season, averaging 27.9 points per game. He finished third nationally in scoring that season in NAIA. They had a fantastic start, winning 12 of their first 13 games, en route to a 21-11 record and a NAIA berth for the first time in five years. It would be their last.

Traylor (1991-94) is the school's all-time leading scorer in basketball, scoring 2,410 points playing in just three years. Traylor is one of three Panther basketball players to earn All-American mention. He was an NAIA Honorable Mention All- American after the 1992-93 season. Traylor was also a NAIA District 25 all-district selection. He finished his career with a 25.3 points per game average.

The Panthers would go on to win 14 games in '94, but a 6-25 record ended Unger's reign as head coach. Joel Wooten would come in to take over in 1995 and would be known as the "Dark Years" of the program. His three-year stint at LaGrange was a struggle. His record was a dismal 16-73, including 0-33 in 1997-98.
Joe Cambron took the title in 1998 and remained until 2002. During his four year stay, LaGrange would be in a transformation process. The college left the NAIA in 1999 and joined the NCAA at the Division III level, which offers no scholarships. It also joined the Great South Athletic Conference in 2000. Once joining the GSAC and NCAA DIII, the program started its uphill climb, but with a new coach, Warren Haynes.

In 2004, he led the Panthers to it's first winning season in 11 years and it's first since joining both ranks (NCAA and GSAC).

Since 1970, LaGrange basketball has achieved high levels of excellence with 3 conference championships including a tournament crown in 1975. They school has enjoyed six 20-win seasons and 10-win seasons in the GIAC while in the NAIA. In addition, Warren Haynes has been involved with the Panthers' program since 1996, as a player and his in his fifth year as head coach. LC is responsible for three all-america players and numerous All-NAIA District 25 and all-conference accolades.

Other Panther Greats

Jeff Anderson was the Panthers "Iron Man" from 1974 to 1978. He started all 125 games in his career. Anderson scored 1,306 points and pulled down 902 rebounds during his career. He averaged 10.4 points per game and 7.2 rebounds per game during his career. Anderson was the GIAC Freshman of the Year and a member of the Panthers' GIAC Tournament Championship team for the 1974-75 season. He is a senior parole officer for the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles in LaGrange. Anderson was a participant at the 2004 G-8 summit at Sea Island. He is the trustee chairman for Warren Temple Methodist Church, along with being a member of the Methodist Men and a youth Sunday school teacher.

Luke Hill was a four-year letterman in basketball for the Panthers from 1970 to 1974. He was a member of the Panthers' GIAC championship team of 1973. Hill is the fourth member off that team to be inducted into the LaGrange College Athletic Hall of Fame, joining Bob Eble, Floyd Mack and Calvin Williams. As a junior, he was named to the GIAC second-team all-conference team after averaging a career-best 11.2 points per game. Hill finished his career with 1,044 points. He is president of Certified Plumbing & Sprinkler, Inc. of LaGrange and member of First Methodist Church.

Major Thomas Duckett was a fouryear letterman in basketball for the Panthers from 1964-68. He averaged 10 points per game and a team-leading nine rebounds per game his senior year.

Robert Eble finished his four-year career as one of LaGrange College's all-time basketball scoring and rebounding leaders. He was the leading scorer on the record-setting 1972-73 team. The team set a school record with 23 wins, won the GIAC championship and was the NAIA District 25 runner-up. Eble finished his career with 1,817 points and 1,021 rebounds.

Joe Copeland came to LaGrange College after transferring from Young Harris Junior College. Copeland served as student coach for a season and became the school's first full-time basketball coach from 1959 to 1962. He had a record of 31-39, which included the season he served as student-coach. Copeland left LaGrange College to work with the FBI. He retired as a special agent after 22 years. Copeland worked on the John F. Kennedy assassination for three years.

Hiram Reeves was LaGrange College's first basketball coach from 1956 to 1959. He had a three-year record of 38-21, including a 16-5 mark during the 1958-59 season. The Hiram Reeves Dedication Award is given annually to a men's basketball player.

Dr. Todd Whitsitt was a fouryear letterman in basketball. He played in 95 games, averaging 8.0 points per game and finishing with 173 career assists. Dr. Whitsitt led the team in assists for two years. He was the NAIA National Scholar/Athlete in 1979, also receiving the Glen Simpson Leadership Award and the President's Award.

Ralph T. Johnson played basketball for LaGrange College for two seasons after transferring from Young Harris College. He scored more than 50 points in a game, a record that stood for over 30 years.

Al Mariotti was the school's basketball coach from 1962 until 1974. During this 12 year span, Mariotti posted a 186-141 record. He retired as the school's all-time career leader in wins. Mariotti's 1972-73 team set a school record for wins with 23, including a record 17- game winning streak. The 72-73 team also won the GIAC championship and was runner-up in NAIA District 25. During his last three years as coach, the Panthers posted three-straight 20- win seasons and lost only four conference games during that time. The Al Mariotti Gymnasium is named in his honor.

Phil Williamson is the current athletics director at LaGrange College and has been at the school since 1969. He has been the head coach for baseball, basketball and tennis. He was head basketball coach from 1974-81, winning a GIAC title and being named GIAC Coach of the Year. He began the baseball program in 1983 and was the head coach until 1996. Under his leadership as athletics director, the number of teams fielded by the college has grown from three to 15, with football starting in 2006.

LaGrange's history of success, and the honors and accolades that have been awarded to the players and coaches over the years, are evidences of a special spirit that imbues LaGrange College basketball. The current coaches and players continue to build on this tradition of excellence in pursuit of an even more glorious future.