Scrapbook Page 3506

              Shickshinny Teachers  Pass Basketball Exams qsiti Alex J. McKechnie Jr.. of Chest- , nut street, a teacher in the Shickshinny High School, and David R. Thomas, a teacher and coach of J athletics in the Shickshinny High [ School, have successfully passed f PIAA basketball examinations in District No. 2, according to announcement by the state PIAA of-1 ficiuls. MILLERSVILLE'S defending - V v - ~ _ '' champions, who for many years 9 proved a thorn in the side of the title aspirations of our own Huskies, aren???t likely to repeat this year and one of the big reasons for the failure to retain the title will be their lack of success against George Buchheit???s Maroon and Gold. The road trip of the Huskies over the past weekend was a disappointment to the club, but certainly the boys must have gained some solace by their standout performance in the big Millersville gym. It is still possible for the Lan' caster county boys to come through but that double defeat at the hands of Bloomsburg has made them a long shot and with two games against the rampaging boys of Steve "Roberts up at East Stroudsburg still coming up, there is no one who will declare their chances of repeating are bright. Hit His Stride One of the big spots in the Husky play over the weekend was return to top form of Leonard "Slim" Herr. The lanky sharp shooter from East Stroudsburg was the high scorer both nights and he earned his points, garnering many of them on baskets caged in follow-up shots. In that department he was outstanding and by far the best performer on his team. The Huskies showed their best form of the season when Millersville \??:ited here.] Then came the lay-off occasioned by a mid-semester vacation. The boys weren't at their best at Shippensburg and their play was spotty at West Chester. At Millersville, however, they again regained their stride and with enough games to keep them busy the remainder of the campaign it is believed that they can stay at top form. Still In Picture Bloomsburg's loss drops them into third place in the mythical teachers college conference. Indiana with a 49-37 victory over California takes over first place with 4 and 0 and East Stroudsburg is second with 3 and 0. .. , The upset, however, means that 'the Huskies must play winning ball from here on in, especially against East Stroudsburg, which they meet .twice, and Indiana, which comes here on February 14. Need Of Conference The close race for mythical honors serves to emphasize again the need of a conference organization in the teachers colleges of the state. There is no good reason why such a conference could not be set up. Many have spoke of the need but none have acted beyond sending up trial balloons. The western Pennsylvania con- I tender, Indiana, plays 14 games in the mythical conference. That will probably be more than any of the others. Bloomsburg has 12. East Stroudsburg, while playing a schedule of 21 games, isn't as active as some against state teachers colleges. Neither is West Chester, which has 20 contests listed. The situation means that on a percentage basis, a team might eek through with the honors but at the same time not play some of the leading teams. Such honors are hallow. With a conference a title would not be mythical and it would have a real meaning. Must Be On Alert The Huskies will have to be on the alert when they visit Mansfield on this coming Wednesday. There is little need to point this out to the Huskies after the West Chester up-set. The local boys were favored to win that one but the boys from down Philadelphia way after a poor start just got them in the groove and soon anything they were sticking up was finding the basket. Eut to get back to Mansfield. The club from the' northern tier gave Lock Haven'i Bald Esgles a battle at Mansfield ovsr the weekend, losing out in the last 40 seconds of play, 42-40. Lock Haven was defeated here but the Huskies were given some i*eal work and the fact that the Bald Eagles on virtually even term' gives an indication of what the Huskies can expect Wednesday. Athletes Take Up Flying A number of men students at the Teacher.: College are going to devote seme of their time during the semester now in progress in learning to fly under the CAA program. In the unit of ten definitely set up for the semester are Walter Reedl, a track man; Dan Bonham, Forty Fort boy who is a star field man on the track team; Howard Tomlinson, middle di:tance runner; Bill Kerchusky, all-around athlete from Ringtown; Joe Wesley, of Kingston, another three-sport boy; Joe Sworin, who has been out for track, and Ralph Crocamo, of Hazleton, on the basketball squad. Among those bidding for pis,: on the second ten are Hugh Niles, f of Wcllsboro, basketball and track; Elwood Wagner, soccer; John Mas-; imiuk, football; Nevin Sluaier, ofl baseball and soccer, rind Bill Horvath, football. x| HERE'S a tip. If you want to see :/M' . the Huskies clash with East [Stroudsburg here this coming Sat* urday, arrange to have the evening meal early and get to the gym at least by seven. There hasn???t been any official word on the subject but it doesn???t look as though the new gym is going to be opened for the fray. In fact chances of getting it open at any time during the present season are getting fewer as the days go by. , Shippensburg Community Banquet Shippensburg College and High School football teams were feted at the seventh annual community dinner in the college dining hall, there, this week. The main speaker of the evening was Jim Thorpe, the old Indian star and still considered by many as the greatest athlete who ever lived. Others on the program were to make it the finest in the community and they have been putting on some splendid programs there for some years. Speakers in former years were Jock Sutherland, Harry Stuhldreher, Harvey Hannan, Lou Little, E. E. Miller and Tad Weiman. I The Accepted Thing This section???that is Berwick??? ,_was in the forefront of communities staging outstanding athletic din- J hers. The events there still take front rank with the biggest dinners in the country but each year each community is giving attention to . its athletic teams, signalling them out and letting them know their (efforts are appreciated and that the community has faith in their development into steady, useful performers in the game of life. Bloomsburg Teachers College for many years has honored its athletes collectively at Spring dinners that are stand-out affairs in the college program. The town hasn't long been active on a steady basis in this regard but on the two occasions that community dinners have been staged the paid attendance has been exceptionally large. By the way the program is set for the third annual dinner, to be held this year in the Caldwell Cathedral on Tuesday Hi Huskies To Play at Mansfield on Court M??/*' Bloomsburg College Huskies will leave early this afternoon for Mansfield where they meet the strong northern tier club tonight in a "must" game for the Huskies, still much in the teachers college race. Coach George Buchheit expects to start the usual combination of Herr, Walinchus, Kerchusky, Maslowsky and Chesney. Also on the trip will be Wesley, F. Valente, Kellogg and Edwards.