Eastwood High School Gymnasium
Fifty years after Eastwood’s historic 74–62 victory over John Tyler, the Troopers returned to the spotlight.
The Troopers of ’76: The Forgotten Kings of Texas High School Basketball
In 1976, the Eastwood Troopers delivered one of the most commanding championship runs in Texas high school basketball history. Their 74–62 win over John Tyler capped a 31–3 season built on discipline, unity, and a belief that a team from El Paso could stand toe‑to‑toe with the state’s traditional powerhouses. When the final buzzer sounded, they became the last boys’ basketball team from El Paso to win a Texas state title—a distinction that still stands nearly fifty years later.
El Paso has always lived on the edge of Texas sports culture, geographically distant and often overlooked. But inside the Eastwood gym, a different story was unfolding. The Troopers practiced with an intensity that players still remember vividly—sessions so demanding that games felt easier by comparison. Their identity was forged in those long evenings of conditioning, repetition, and accountability. They weren’t flashy. They were precise, tough, and relentlessly prepared.
The season itself became a showcase of everything they had built. Their defense smothered opponents, their offense moved with purpose, and their chemistry made them difficult to disrupt. By the time they reached the state tournament, they were no longer an underdog—they were a force. The championship game confirmed it. Eastwood controlled the pace, dictated the matchups, and closed out the win with the confidence of a team that knew exactly who it was.
Yet as the years passed, the memory of the ’76 Troopers faded more quickly than anyone expected. El Paso grew, new generations cycled through the school, and the story of the city’s last state basketball champion slipped quietly into the background. The players felt it too. Many described the strange mix of pride and invisibility that came with being “the best team nobody remembers.”
But the bond among the teammates never faded. They stayed connected through the years, united not just by a trophy but by the shared experience of a season that shaped them. When major anniversaries arrived, the school began restoring the team’s place in its history. Banners were raised, ceremonies held, and the players returned to the gym where their journey began. For many, it was the first time they felt the full weight of what they had accomplished.
The legacy of the 1976 Troopers is more than a championship. It is a story of discipline, resilience, and belief. It reflects the spirit of El Paso—tough, underestimated, and capable of greatness when given the chance. Their season remains a benchmark for what a team can achieve when it commits fully to a shared purpose.
Nearly half a century later, the Troopers’ legacy is finally being reclaimed. Their story endures not just in the record books but in the pride of a community that now recognizes what they achieved. They were champions then. They are icons now. And their place in Texas basketball history is no longer fading—it’s firmly restored.
The Eastwood Troopers’ 1976 state run included a pivotal semifinal matchup against Victoria High School before they advanced to face John Tyler in the championship.
While the championship game gets most of the attention, the semifinal against Victoria was crucial. It proved that Eastwood could handle pressure against a top-tier opponent from outside El Paso. It also reinforced the narrative that their success wasn’t a fluke — they beat strong programs on the way to the crown.
“March of the Troopers” is the phrase that’s often used to capture the spirit of Eastwood’s 1976 run — not just the championship game against John Tyler, but the entire journey that season. It evokes the image of a disciplined unit moving forward together, step by step, until they reached Austin and claimed the crown.
When Eastwood defeated John Tyler, 74–62, the “march” reached its destination. Reporters at the time described the Troopers as relentless, methodical, and unshaken by the spotlight. The victory wasn’t a surprise — it was the culmination of months of preparation and sacrifice.
At the recent reunion, “March of the Troopers” took on new meaning. It wasn’t just about the 1976 season anymore — it was about the enduring journey of memory, recognition, and pride. Fans, families, and former players marched back together to honor a team that still defines what El Paso basketball can be.
76 TROOPERS TO BE HONORED FOR 40TH ANNIVERSARY AND MORE ABOUT COACH BOBBY LESLEY
Rutter, LaFever, and Pippen — One Story, One Voice, One Legacy
When Doug Rutter, Dean LaFever, and Assistant Coach Gary Pippen sit together to talk about the 1976 Eastwood Troopers, the conversation becomes more than a reunion — it becomes a living record of a championship season that shaped all three of them.
They speak with the ease of men who lived the same story from different angles, each carrying a piece of the truth.
Doug remembers the grind — the early mornings, the conditioning, the way every practice felt like a test of character. Dean remembers the chemistry — the trust, the unspoken communication, the way the team moved as one. Coach Pippen remembers the discipline — the execution, the mental toughness, the belief that this group could beat anyone in Texas.
Together, their voices form a single narrative:
They weren’t the biggest team. They weren’t the flashiest. But they were the most prepared. They were the most connected. They were the most relentless.
Doug talks about walking into gyms across the state with a quiet confidence, knowing the Troopers were conditioned to outlast anyone. Dean adds that the team’s bond was their secret weapon — a brotherhood forged through repetition, accountability, and shared sacrifice. Coach Pippen reinforces that what separated the ’76 team wasn’t talent alone, but the ability to execute under pressure, to trust the system, and to trust each other.
As they reflect, the conversation shifts to the meaning of recognition — the banner that finally rose into the rafters fifty years later.
Doug sees it as a correction of the record. Dean sees it as a tribute to their families and the Eastwood community. Coach Pippen sees it as history finally catching up to the truth.
Together, they agree on one thing:
The 1976 Troopers earned their place, and now it will never be forgotten.
Their combined voices tell a single story — a story of discipline, belief, and brotherhood. A story that didn’t fade with time. A story that still inspires. A story that finally, after half a century, hangs where it always belonged.
Watch all the episodes for more insight.
Doug Rutter continues the discussion of the 1976 Eastwood Troopers State of Texas UIL Championship with teammate Dean LaFever and Assistant Coach Gary Pippen.
Doug Rutter continues the discussion of the 1976 Eastwood Troopers State of Texas UIL Championship with teammate Dean LaFever and Assistant Coach Gary Pippen.
Doug Rutter continues the discussion of the 1976 Eastwood Troopers State of Texas UIL Championship with teammate Dean LaFever and Assistant Coach Gary Pippen.
Doug Rutter wraps up the discussion of the 1976 Eastwood Troopers State of Texas UIL Championship with teammate Dean LaFever and Assistant Coach Gary Pippen.
The trailer from the movie March of the Troopers.
In 1976, the Eastwood High School Boys Basketball team from El Paso, Texas, made history by winning the state championship, a feat that has not been accomplished by an El Paso team since.
76 team recognized as Team of the Week
More on Team of the Week Celebration.
Lou Ramano catches up with the team.
The unveiling of the banner honoring the 76 champs.
MESITA MUSTANGS AT THE RED CARPET PRESENTATION OF MARCH OF THE TROOPERS
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