Eugene Quint Defends State Crown
Axemen Cop District Toga
For Third Successive Year
For the third straight year Eugene high, de
fending state hoop champs, romped undefeated to
the District 6 toga to qualify again for the annual
extrava.ganza. The Henry Kuchera-coached squad
was the first team in the state to clinch a berth
in the tourney this year. They open tourney play
against the strong LaGrande Tigers at 7:30 Wed
nesday night.
In addition to taking the .state banner last win
ter the Axemen finished fourth in 1945 action.
_^The Eugene team placed one man on the all-state
first selections last season, Ty Lovelace at forward,
who has now graduated, and one on the second
team, Gene Miner at guard. Miner is back this
year, and he paced the district in scoring, and
proved to be the big gun in the city team’s offense.
A blow to hopes of repeating last season’s per
formance was suffered recently when Gene Rider,
first string center and top-notch backboard artist,
DISTRICT 6 . . . The defending state champions, the Eugene Axemen, 1-ron: row,
Winer, YVi!de, Rider, Ruth, Garrett; back row, Bales (student manager), Lasson, Hub
hard, YY'oif, Coach Hank Kuehera, YVelch, Smith, Linder, Banks.
was found ailing, and allowed to
play only a limited amount by
doctor’s orders.
The Axemen do not sport any
lanky men in the lineup this sea
son, but make up for this lack in
speed. With Miner and Ernie
Wilde at the guard spots the Axe
men pack a potent fast-break,
and are capable of producing
plenty of points. The fore court
chores are handled by Rider, when
he is able to play, and Don Ruth
and Dick Garrett at forwards.
Six of the squad earned' letters
playing on last year’s winning
team, and two of the six, Miner
and Wilde, are two year veterans.
The other four holdovers are Dean
finder, Rider, Ruth, and Garrett.
Ail but Linder, a junior, are se
mors this years.
Plenty of trouble is anticipated i
for the defenders this year, in
contrast to their relatively easy
win of last season. Starting off
against the LaGrande outfit is a
severe test, and the locals are ex
pected to have to put out their
utmost if they hope to get past
their upstate rivals.
Last season in the tournament
the Axemen easily brushed off
Hillsboro, 48-23, in the opener,
uotran Marshfield, 55-46, and
then passed Medford, 33-22, to
advance into the finals. Against
Washington of Portland the Eu
gene boys racked' up their most
effortless win of the event, walk
ing over the Colonials 53-27, to
carry off the honors.
Dist. 5, Marshfield
In the district 5 race, Coos Bay
(Marshfield) High cinched the
tournament berth by downing Myr
tle Point, 57-35 in a final five-min
ute replay of an earlier season
game that was halted by power
failure. The champs also took a
regular contest by a score of 55-44.
Boach Bill Borcher, former Uiver
sity of Oregon athlete, has five let
ter-winners back from last year’s
district champs.
Dist. 7, Lebanon
District 7 wiii be comperently
represented by the Lebanon War
riors who are repeaters from last
year when they went to fourth
place in the state tdtirnament.
Coach Bill Borcher, former Univer
copped the tourney berth by end
ing on top of the heap in the district
league scramble.
Dist. 9, Hillsboro
Hillsboro High's Spartans,
coached by Don Kirsch, ex-Oregon
athlete, won the ticket to Eugene
from district 9. The champs boast
a well balanced squad who will give
plenty of trouble to the “ceded”
quintets in the tournament. The
Spartans downed Tigard, 47-35, in
the district tourney to qualify.
Dist. 10.. Astoria
Astoria was the second team in
the state to clinch a tourney berth.
Coach Wally Palmberg used a
heavy 40-game season schedule to
i condition and train an inexperi
enced squad. Though their season
had a shaky start the Fishermen
finished strong to walk away with
district 10 honors.
Dist. 11, Salem
Salem emerged all-victorious in
the district 11 post-season double
elimination tourney to walk away;
with that district's state tourna
ment spot. The Vikings also tucked
away the championship of the tough
Big Six league during season play;
to become one of the favorites in
the coming casaba classic at Mc
Arthur court.
I
Dist. 1, La Grande
Representing district 1 in the
1947 prep tourney will be the La
Grand high basketeers. The smooth
rolling Tigers are mentored by Don
Mabee, former all-stater himself,
who started his coaching duties at
La Grande in brilliant fashion by
moulding a Tiger squad that swept
aside all opposition to land a tour
ney berth.
The husky East Oregoners are
paced by a trio of six-foot-one veter
ans, Coleman, Jarroud, and Court
ney. They square off with the 1946
champion Eugene team in first
round action.
Dist. 3, Redmond
Little Redmond high was dimin
utive in size only this season, as it
battled its way to the district 3
crown. The Panthers proved their
hoop ability by toppling the for
midable Bend squad to land a tour
ney berth.
They must overcome a pre-sea
son jinx to remain in the running,
however, for the maroon and gold
(Please turn to page four)
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