James Jenkins, 1959
Editor’s Note: With March Madness quickly descending on us, here’s a story about what was happening with the Aces’ basketball team in March, 1959
Cold shooting, a one-man dribbling exhibition, a technical foul, and East’s student body displaying outstanding school spirit highlighted a heart breaking 52-47 loss to Parsons in the State Basketball Tournament held in the Wichita University Field House, March 13.
Somebody forgot to take the lid off the East basket for the first three quarters in which Blue Aces hit for only five field goals. Drive and determination were not enough to compete with the dazzling defense put up by the Vikings. Aces made 15 of 53 attempts for 28.3 percent from the field and 17 of 23 free throws for 73.9 percent.
Parsons, lacking height, had to make their first shot count because if they missed, East would rebound for possession. This they did. They passed the ball until one man was open, and would shoot, knowing it had to go in, and it usually did.
Parsons’ Vikings were 20 of 46 from the field and 12 of 21 from the charity stripe. Player Leonard Kelly racked up 28 points.
James Jenkins, ’60, East junior and smallest boy on the floor, twice threw a wrench in the works with a dribbling exhibition. Just seconds after he came in, three Vikings bottled the Aces up behind the time line. Jenkins, knowing he had to move the ball across the 10 second line maneuvered the ball through three of Parsons’ players, one of whom collected a personal foul for his efforts.
When the belated Parsons player fouled Jenkins, he lost his temper and was charged with a technical foul. That incident gave the East crowd something to yell about, and a spirited student body really poured it on.
The backing received by the Blue Ace basketball team was something to see. Eighteen hundred fans from East backed up each and every play with as much spirit for good play and sportsmanship as seen anywhere at any time.
Making only five goals in the first three quarters, East’s machine went into operation in the last quarter, but time ran out, leaving East on the short end of a 52-47 score.
Editor’s Note: After graduation in 1960, James Jenkins attended Dodge City Community College, playing basketball for the Conquistadors along with his East High teammate Elmer Walker. See “Gerald Burton and the 1962 National Basketball Championship.”
