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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 3, 1947)
DUCK TRACKS . By BERNIE HAMMERBECK Sports Editor 'I'he basketball race is on, and the 6700 fans on hand tonight at McArthur court will .be observing some of the top hoop entertainment of the country. Not because Coach Hobby Hob son s Webfoots boast a string of eleven consecutive wins or ^ UUl W L the Garden, but because the Northern Division yearly pro vides one of the toughest all around five-team circuits in the business. No softies, no breath ers, the 16-game road to th'e championship is a rugged path. Each year sees the tailender with its moments-, otf-glory, and < the titfe-'t«i*iHeF.-.with‘itav-shar.e of woe. ^ As' basketball has been taken into the national college : picture the past decade, so publicity has mounted. And GENE ROWLAND national publicity means domination by the East and the Mid west. That’s one reason for the supposed power in the East. The Webfoots make no claim to national honors just be cause they trounced what was supposedly the best in the East. Coach Hobson told the New York sports writers quite frankly that he didn’t think the New York Violets would win half their games if playing in the Northern Division. Western teams as a whole have done well this year. When they travel East they are playing in a strange land using an entirely different interpretation of the rules and playing a rough and strenuous road schedule with few nights off for rest Webfoots Lost Five Baskets In the Webfoot-Violet tussle the Lemon and Green was called on a traveling violation five different times to nullify scores. Movies of the game prove that actually there was no violation, but merely an eastern interpretation. True, Idaho and Washington State have not looked too sharp thus far. But Idaho at one time had six injuries among its traveling squad including a badly sprained ankle on the part of Fred Quinn, all-coaster from last year. The Cougars from Pullman now have 17 games under their belts, and most of them tough ones. That’s .the sort of pre-season schedule that gives the coach a chance to work on his men while under fire. Latest Cougar victory was a decisive 60-38 win over the Santa Clara broncos New Years eve at Pullman. The Broncos had been the sensations of the year on the Pacific Coast up until the WSC tilt downing Southern Cal, UCLA, and Cali fornia in early season tilts. Experts bay l hree-vv ay Kace Most experts have agreed upon a three-way race among Oregon State; Oregon, and Washington for the ND hardware with the Cougars labeled the darkhorse and the defending champs—the Idaho Vandals—still a question mark. Should this classification run true to form and the three way struggle, materialize,, the Oregon Ducks can boast one very minor advantage—they take on the Huskies in Eugene follow ing the two-night Washington stand against Oregon State in Corvallis. Last , year the Seattleites did the reverse on the southern swing tackling Oregon first, and in their Corvallis appearance-the Huskies were visibly tired. The Husky., invasion is a month away, however, and to night the Cougars will take the floor with definite ideas of winning too—it’s a rough and rocky road ahead! Condolences to the Battered Bruin It was a sad day in Pasadena Wednesday. Perhaps one of the saddest days.for West Coast football. The mighty Uclans, heralded as the football saver of the West, were left lying on the grass watching the thundering herd from Illinois romp by. The gay Bruin rompers—Skip Rowland, Cal Rossi, Ted Ship key, and company—spent the afternoon butting heads at the line of scrimmage. Only Ernie Case’s slinging arm and a fancy bit of turf churning for some 103 yards by third-string halfback A1 Hoisch provided UCLA supporters with even a ray of hope. Nov/ the Uclans -know how the rest of us felt when we took gridiron -beatings during the fall. As 1946 football is tucked away every major eleven on the coast suffered, at least one good beating. Ernie Case’s nickname of ‘‘the general" was blown to bits against Illinois. Had he been a true general about the middle of the third'quarter he ,would have come out of that T-forma tion with an olive branch instead of a pigskin. A good general knows when he’s licked and tries to salvage the remains. Guess it would have looked odd, though, if three UCLA peace en voys had trotted over to the Illinois bench to ask Coach Ray Eliot for surrender terms. JVs Bag Ninth Straight Down Firs 51-44 With Late Rally Oregon’s junior varsity basket ball quintet outlasted an under manned Oregon Lumber Sales team for their ninth straight win last night at McArthur court 51-44. The city league game saw the Bobby Anet coached Firs match the Jay vees in the first quarter, take the lead in the second, but falter in the final period. Lack of manpower did much to defeat the Firs. They had only six men available for service, and with five minutes to go Anet fouled out of the game. The Jayvees had a 40 36 edge when the former Duck great left the game and then potted six field goals and one foul shot be fore the contest ended. The Firs made the first score of tho game on a foul shot by Jack Burris, but the Jayvees came back with a free throw and a field goal. Marshik Connects In short order the Jayvees rang up a 9-6 lead, but sparked by Archie Marshik who was high point man for the game with 15, the Firs snared an 11-10 lead at the end of the quarter. Marshik connected again in the second quarter while the Jayvee second five was in, and before Schopf returned his starting five the Firs had gained a 20-14 lead. Ed Devaney potted two field goals for the Ducklings but the Firs maintained their lead retiring at the half with a 29-23 bulge. Jayvees Start Drive Second half action started slow and then the Jayvees started to drive. Lynn Hamilton hit, then De vaney, Dick Howell, and Ken See borg as the winners moved ahead, 38-35. TheFirs were never able to catch the Jayvees after this as they tired while the collegians continued to drive. A final spurt by the losers fell three points short with two minutes to play as the Jayvees went on to win. High for the University quintet was Ed Devaney with 13. Starting Lineups Oregon Washington State Ed Dick, 6-2.F.Bob Sheridan, 6-3 Ken Hays, 6-7.F.Bob Svendsen, 6-3 Roger Wiley, 6-8.C.Gene Sivertson, 6-4 Stan Williamson, 5-7....G.Wes Dahl, 5-11 Al Popick, 5-8.G....George Hamilton, 5-11 KEN HAYS ... 6-7 forward will board duty when he goes into action tonight. j READY TO GO . . . is A1 Popick, aggressive YVebfoot guard who is slated to start for Coach Hobby Hob son’s five tonight. Popick is a letterman from the 1943 team and has accounted for 78 points in 11 game* this season. He formerly played at Lincoln high in Portland.