BOBBY LESLEY: THE ARCHITECT OF EASTWOOD BASKETBALL

Bobby Lesley is one of El Paso’s most influential basketball coaches. During 27 years at Eastwood High School, he built a program defined by discipline, defense, and accountability, drawing on the principles he learned under Don Haskins at Texas Western.

His greatest achievement came in 1976, when he led the Troopers to the UIL State Championship—the last boys’ basketball state title won by an El Paso school. 

His teams were known for toughness, preparation, and flawless execution.

Beyond championships, Lesley shaped generations of students, teaching character, leadership, and perseverance.

Today, the Bobby Lesley Gym stands as a lasting tribute to the culture he built and the legacy that continues to define Eastwood basketball.

Fifty years after Eastwood’s 74–62 victory over John Tyler, the 1976 Troopers returned to the spotlight.

Former players, coaches, families, and supporters reunited to celebrate the team’s historic 31–3 season and the championship that placed El Paso firmly on the Texas basketball map.

More than a reunion, the celebration honored a brotherhood built on discipline, preparation, and belief—and a legacy that continues to inspire generations.

In recognition of the 50th anniversary of Eastwood High School’s 1976 state basketball championship, the City of El Paso honored the team with an official proclamation celebrating its historic achievement and enduring legacy.

The recognition brought teammates, coaches and the community together to commemorate one of the defining moments in El Paso sports history.

KVIA revisits Eastwood’s historic championship season and the 50th-anniversary celebration that brought the Troopers, their families, and the El Paso community together once again.

Telemundo covered the January 2026 reunion of the 1976 Eastwood Troopers—the last El Paso boys’ basketball team to win a UIL state championship.

Former players, coaches, and families gathered at Eastwood, where the team was honored during halftime and reunited with the original championship trophy. The celebration recognized their remarkable 31–3 season and enduring place in El Paso sports history.

The 1976 Troopers returned to Eastwood for a 50th-anniversary celebration honoring their 31–3 season and 74–62 victory over John Tyler. Introduced at halftime with the original trophy in their hands, the champions received a long-overdue tribute from the school and community they continue to represent.

Eastwood vs. Hobbs — Second Half

Eastwood’s poise and preparation became decisive in the second half. The Troopers quieted the Hobbs crowd and completed a victory that changed how they viewed themselves.

Players later remembered the game as the moment they realized they could compete with anyone—and win a state championship.

Before Eastwood could play for the UIL 4A championship, the Troopers had to defeat Victoria in the state semifinal at Austin’s Gregory Gym.

Eastwood relied on the formula that had carried it all season: disciplined defense, relentless preparation, and complete trust in one another. The victory sent the Troopers to the championship game and placed them one win from history.

Eastwood entered the 1976 UIL 4A championship representing a region too often overlooked by the rest of Texas.

After a closely contested first half, the Troopers’ pressure defense forced turnovers and created the decisive separation. Gilbert Shepherd scored 19 points, but the 74–62 victory was built on the discipline, trust, and preparation of an entire team.

Eastwood finished 31–3 and became the first—and still the most recent—El Paso boys’ basketball team to win a UIL state championship.

The 1976 Eastwood Troopers remain one of the most accomplished—and too often overlooked—teams in Texas high school basketball history.

Playing with discipline, confidence, and unselfishness, they defeated elite programs and proved that an El Paso team belonged among the state’s best.

Fifty years later, their achievement is no longer confined to memories. The Troopers were not a footnote or a surprise. They were champions—and their legacy still runs through Eastwood and El Paso.

The feature‑length film that revived the 1976 Eastwood Troopers story was March of the Troopers (2013), directed by Charlie Minn. It was the first modern project to retell the Troopers’ improbable run, pulling the season out of scattered memories and back into the public conversation.

The 80‑minute documentary blends interviews with players, coaches, and El Paso basketball voices like Tim Floyd and Mary Haskins, using archival material to reconstruct how unlikely it was for an El Paso team to reach the state title game in that era.

When it premiered on March 1, 2013, local media highlighted how it restored long‑overdue recognition to a team that had largely faded from view. The film became the spark that reignited interest, setting the stage for today’s broader legacy‑preservation work.

When Eastwood was voted the Top Gym in the United States, it simply confirmed what Troopers had believed for decades.

The gym has always been more than a building — it’s the heartbeat of the community, the stage for championship runs, rivalry nights, and generations of pride. This national recognition honored the players, coaches, and families who built the standard and cemented the gym’s place as one of the most iconic high school arenas in America.

Featuring Jim Bowden, Tim Crenshaw, Gilbert Shepherd, and Coach Bobby Lesley

The 40th anniversary of Eastwood’s 1976 state championship celebrated more than a reunion—it honored a team that put El Paso on the Texas basketball map. When the Troopers returned to the gym, the chemistry, pride, and championship bond remained unmistakable.

Jim Bowden brought consistency and composure. Tim Crenshaw provided toughness and energy. Gilbert Shepherd guided the team with leadership and basketball intelligence.

The celebration also recognized Coach Bobby Lesley, whose discipline, preparation, and belief built the foundation for Eastwood’s historic title and a culture that continues to define the Troopers today.

This 1977 matchup against Andress preserves a glimpse of Eastwood basketball during the season following its historic state championship.

With heightened expectations and the championship standard firmly established, the Troopers continued competing with the discipline, preparation, and pride that had come to define the program.