Blue Cross Salutes Gayle Hatch as one of Louisiana’s All Time Greatest Athletes

Hatch graduated from Baton Rouge’s Catholic High in 1957, where he was a record-setting, MVP award winning, All-State, All-American athlete excelling in basketball, football and track.  In 2010 Hatch received the Legends Award at the Finals of the State Basketball Tournament.  Hatch averaged 35.5 points adn22.5 rebounds throughout the 1957 State Basketball play-offs, setting a record double/double that still stands today.  Hatch’s 37 points and 24 rebounds in the state playoff semifinals is still the best double/double in the history of Louisiana high school basketball.

At Northwestern State College in Natchitoches, Louisiana Hatch set numerous school records in basketball, some of which still stand today.  One of those records came in a 44 point, 18 rebound game against a powerhouse team, Kentucky Wesleyan.  Hatch hit an amazing 18 out of 21 field goal attempts (85.7%).  This set a field-goal record for 20 attempts or more that still stands as a Louisiana State College record and also ranks as one of college basketball all-time best.

 

In 2012 Hatch was named to Northwestern State University’s All-Century Team. (1912-2012). He was also honored by Dale Brown who established a basketball scholarship in the name of Gayle Hatch. He is a member of the Louisiana High School Sports Hall of Fame and the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame.

 

 

 

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