In 1959 a hick basketball team led by an Apache and the coach’s linebacker son recruit two Black players and consequently confront racial tensions and other obstacles to play in the ‘rigged’ state championship game against a big city team.
Inspired by a True Story.

SYNOPSIS:

In 1959 DATIL HIGH SCHOOL (DHS) is a tiny school where every boy is automatically enrolled in basketball. The total number of students is below the minimum number (20) for the State of New Mexico. SIMON BIGMAN is an Apache who is the basketball team captain and president of the student body. DHS plays only basketball, and the coach’s son, JARED SWEETS, is a misplaced linebacker. He has only one basketball skill: a set shot from thirty feet. He wants his father to coach a championship team to compensate for his lack of skills. A sawmill near town is owned by an old, racist with a bad heart. It employs Black workers whose families live inside the fenced compound.

The sawmill workers clear-cut a forest containing sacred Apache burial ground. Simon Bigman and Jared Sweets lead the team to recover the stolen logs from the compound. The next morning the angry racist owner discovers the missing logs and dies of a heart attack. Later, the Mississippi BROS play a basketball game on their outdoor court with the DHS team watching it from the top of the hill. A blocked ball sails over the sawmill’s fence. Jared picks it up and when challenged hits a 30-foot set shot. He and FRED-D, a short, talented Bro become instant friends. Jared's father, COACH JACK, convinces the sawmill owner's son to recruit any Bros who want to stay in Datil to play basketball. All the taller Bros decline. They hop on the bus to return to Carver High in Mississippi. Only Fred-D and BLUE-BIRD, the shortest Bro, accept. Then their girlfriends accompany them to DHS.

The first day at DHS begins with a welcome assembly for the three teachers and their 21 students. In getting their class schedules, Jared states he loves physics, while his girlfriend, GINNY loves English literature and hates cheerleading. Basketball practice begins on the first day of school. At the end of practice, a fight ensues between Blue-Bird and JOHNNY REB, who wears a Rebel Flag tattoo. The next day Jared takes Blue-Bird to Johnny's Auto Repair Shop. Johnny rejects letting him work there. He crawls under a vehicle, which collapses on him. Blue-Bird returns and rescues him, which saves his life. They become best friends. Meanwhile, the State of New Mexico sends their Superintendent of schools and their Athletic Director (RILEY CROWN) to shut down DHS for inadequate enrollment. In physics class, Jared impresses them with his physics experiment. Later in the gym, Johnny calls Riley Crown a six-foot-eight clown. This upsets the big man and his Texas-sized ego. Riley then sees Coach Jack (5'8") shooting archaic two-handed set shots. They go one-on-one, and the coach wins both games. An enraged RILEY storms out of the gym. The Superintendent tells the teachers that DHS exceeds the minimum count and is saved from closure.

Coach Jack runs the team through many drills to develop their techniques. CORNY (6’5”) can throw one-handed passes the entire length of the court. Before practice Jared sees two girls playing great one-on-one basketball. They are CISSY (Corny’s competitive sister) and Rosebud (Fred-D’s girlfriend). He convinces his father to let them practice with the team. At their Christmas Break, the Mississippi Bros return to challenge Fred-D, Blue-Bird, and their team to a basketball game at the DHS gym. Datil, thanks to the two shorter Bros, dominates the first half of the game; however, Coach Jack benches them for Jared and CHARLIE GARCIA, a short, wiry dude. The BROS dominate the second half and storm back to win it on a blocked shot at the buzzer. Datil learns that it doesn’t have a bench and its starters must avoid fouling out.

The DATIL MOUNTAIN LIONS proceed to win all their regular season games except for the first one, which was against their archrivals—the PIE TOWN PYTHONS. During the district tournament, Datil plays MAGDALENA MAVERICKS, a larger school, in the championship game. Datil trails in a close game. Then they snap out of it to tie the game at the buzzer, then proceed to win it in overtime. Datil celebrates their first appearance in the state tournament in Albuquerque.

Heavy rains in the Datil Mountains delay the team’s departure to Albuquerque. When their bus rounds a corner, it screeches to a halt just before a washed-out bridge. This is the only road to Albuquerque for the tournament. Jared opens a map. Simon shows him an Indian road (Anasazi), not on the map, that leads to an alternate route to Albuquerque. They take it and arrive late at night but must play in the first round the next morning. They squeak out wins on two very close games to advance to the state championship game.

Datil faces the ALBUQUERQUE MILITARY ACADEMY CONQUISTADORS, a formidable opponent, in the championship game. Its star players are ROBBIE CROWN, Riley’s football-loving son, and GILBERT SANCHEZ, a talented guard. Datil roars out to an early lead thanks to Fred-D and Blue-Bird’s quick, disciplined play. Johnny ties up the ball with Robbie, who twists it while smashing Johnny’s nose. Coach Jack sends in his younger son, CODY SWEETS, to replace Johnny. Cody is glued on Robbie as he receives a pass under the bucket. Robbie swings a punch at Cody and blackens his eye. The REFEREE calls a technical foul and ejects Robbie. Riley Crown storms down from the scorer’s table to protest. He tells the Ref there was no intent to injure. He states that he is the Tournament Director and hence their boss. The Refs tell him they are the only authority on the court. Riley slithers away. Johnny recovers, and Datil continues with Fred-D and Blue-Bird leading the way. At half-time Datil has a commanding lead. Fred-D has only one foul, while Blue-Bird has two.

Riley Crown distracts the official Scorer and bubbles in two extra fouls for Fred-D and Blue-Bird. The Scorer then tallies the statistics. Within minutes of the second half, Blue-Bird draws a foul and the Scorer holds up five fingers. Jared replaces him. Minutes later Fred-D draws a foul then a charging foul. He fouls out. Coach Jack sends in Charlie. Albuquerque, led by Gilbert, roars back to take a two-point lead with seconds left. Coach Jack calls “time out”. He tells Jared to take the final shot. Charlie catches the inbound pass and fires it across to Jared. Jared hits a 30-foot set shot, which swishes through the net at the buzzer. The Ref sees Gilbert slap Jared’s arm during the shot. He calls the foul. Jared makes the shot to win the game. Datil celebrates. Fred-D hugs Jared, and Johnny hugs Blue-Bird. Simon celebrates with his four Apaches- one for each sacred direction.

Riley Crown announces that Datil forfeits the game by using an overaged player—Corny is over 20. The Refs find out about the forged scorebook. The Rule Book states this overaged player rule, but only for the regular season. The Refs get on the PA and announce Datil the winner and state champion. Riley swings at a Ref and is arrested. Robbie shakes his head and walks over to Datil’s celebration. He congratulates Jared. Jared compliments Robbie on his football playing. Robbie tells Jared he could also play college ball at the University of New Mexico. Scouts from Indiana and UNM offer basketball scholarships to Fred-D. Ginny decides to turn down Harvard for UNM. Jared kisses her. Fred-D, Jared, and Ginny take a victory lap around the gym.