In 1992, the shorts were short and East Texas hoop teams were on top of the world, or at least the Lone Star State.
And a Texan would say that means the world.
That season, some 25 years ago, three teams from the Pineywoods won boys state basketball championships - the Troup Tigers, the Laneville Yellowjackets and the Longview Lobos.
Those three squads are among the honor teams this week at the UIL Boys State Tournament, which is scheduled for the Alamodome in San Antonio.
The teams will be honored Saturday.
Troup, which won the Class 2A title, will be recognized at halftime of the Class 1A championship game, which is scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m.
Both Laneville, the Class 1A champion, and Dallas South Oak Cliff, the Class 4A champion, will be honored at halftime of the Class 2A game, which is scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m.
Longview, the Class 5A champion, and Stafford, the Class 3A champion, will be honored at halftime of the Class 4A game, which is scheduled to start at 7 p.m.
Those three ET teams were led by three iconic coaches in Leland Hand (Troup), Bennie Gupton (Laneville) and Leroy Romines (Longview).
Hand had a dynasty at Troup where a trip to Austin and the state tournament was part of the schedule.
Members of that 1992 squad were Jonathon Allen, Justin Miskel, Ryan Marshall, Coy Johnson, Curtis White, Jerome Jiles, Ray Franklin, Tony Kincade, Anthony Jones, Sammy Myers, Nicky Lacy, Chuck Lafferty, Terry Lowry, David Mills, Joey Martin, Tony White, Edward Jasper, Billy Matlock, Adron Matlock and Greg Austin.
Troup defeated Poth 69-25 in the semifinals and Krum 60-40 in the championship game.
Gupton’s team was fun to watch with team members including Kelvin Vanzandt, David Willis, Derreck Waggoner, John Russaw, Brad Harris, Richard Hammett, Anthony Neal, Anthony Peters, Dexter Lovett, Joe Rodriguez, Jerome Polk, Reggie Loftis, Cedric Bowens, Keith Renfro, Fred Bowens and Corey Barnes.
Laneville won over Dime Box 84-72 in the semifinals and Petersburg 51-49 in the state title game.
Romines’ squad included future Notre Dame and Philadelphia Eagles football player Bobby Taylor.
Joining Taylor on the team were Jacob Maldin, Marlon Coleman, Howard Hawkins, Josh Welch, Dayrion Taylor, Vince Taylor, Rontrek Floyd, Desmond Wesley, Brandon Lawson, James Palmer, Toby Bush, Lonnie Taylor, Gaylon Hyder, Byron Young, Eric Jones, Clint Musslewhite, Marvin Graham, Lissa Byrdsong and Jimmy Kendrick.
In the semifinals, the Lobos downed Houston Worthing 95-64 in the semifinals and Victoria 71-67 in overtime in the finals.
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2017 UIL Boys Basketball
State Tournament
March 9-11
Alamodome, San Antonio
Thursday, March 9
Class 1A Semifinals
Gail Borden County (22-3) vs. Happy (24-5), 8:30 a.m.
Lipan (34-3) vs. Dime Box (27-8), 10 a.m.
Class 3A Semifinals
Santa Rosa (34-3) vs. Dallas Madison (26-8), 1:30 p.m.
Jarrell (31-3-1) vs. Brock (29-8), 3 p.m.
Class 5A Semifinals
Corpus Christi Veterans Memorial (31-6) vs. Mansfield Timberview (30-7), 7 p.m.
Justin Northwest (32-5) vs. Fort Bend Marshall (31-7), 8:30 p.m.
Friday, March 10
Class 2A Semifinals
Grapeland (33-5) vs. Muenster (31-6), 8:30 a.m.
Clarendon (31-2) vs. Thorndale (27-9), 10 a.m.
Class 4A Semifinals
Freeport Brazosport (32-3) vs. Midlothian Heritage (32-5), 1:30 p.m.
Argyle (33-3) vs. Silsbee (31-6), 3 p.m.
Class 6A Semifinals
Dallas Skyline (34-1) vs. Cypress Falls (33-3), 7 p.m.
San Antonio Wagner (35-2) Keller (33-2), 8:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 11
Class 1A Final, 8:30 a.m.
Class 3A Final, 10 a.m.
Class 2A Final, 1:30 p.m.
Class 5A Final, 3 p.m.
Class 4A Final, 7 p.m.
Class 6A Final, 8:30 p.m.