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.