Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-03
IVA. BASKET BALL HAS
SPLENDID PROSPECTS
Notwithstanding Loss of Three
Men Team Is Expected
to Be Strong.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

NfARLOII EN LILLE, ' a.. December
2.-Prospects are bright for one of the
best basket ball teams in years at the
University of Virginia Notwithstanding
the loss of three regulars of last years
quint .he material on hand is all that
could be desired, due. principally, to the
unexpected return of Campbell a guard
of two seasons back. and the matricu-
lation of some very promising new men
The teams of the past two years, While
making almost clean records in their
preliminary contests. failed to overcome
their ancient rival Georgetown To ac-
complish this feat is the goal of the
work for the entire season. defeat
at the hands of the Blue and Gray Will
mean unsuccessful season. while
victory would cure any drawback of the
early season.
On first glance it would appear Virginia
had suffered severely by graduation. Capt.
Kearns and Neff going this way, while
Eppa RiXey. captain-elect, became ineligi-
BILE through playing professional base
ball This left Churchman and w. RlXey
the remnants of the quint. At the be-
ginning of the school year a meeting was
held whereby Charley Churchman was
chosen to succeed the professionalism
RiXey. Virginia of late years has used
a playing manager, Bob Gill; a former
Western Maryland foot ball captain and
n basket ball forward of two years ago.
being the present incumbent However. as
regards the losses from last year. both
forwards-kearnS and T. RiXey-and one
guard, Neff. have departed.
AS nucleus. then, Capt. Churchman,
guard. and w. Rixey. center. remain.
Lille Campbell though. might we'll be
counted. being guard of known ability
in seasons past and an almost certain
occupant of one of the guard positions
when the first whistle blows. The APP
parent problem, then. really is the de-
velopment of two forwards to fill the
shoes of Kearns and f. Rixey. Chandler
Sprague, another Western Maryland
product, is most promising candidate
for one of these positions. While at his
former school he and Bob Gill played
forwards on the team. and. consequently,
became much accustomed to one anoth-
er's play. In practice so far these two
principally. have been tried at the for
ward places and have looked well, es-
pecfally in their clean, accurate and sys-
tematic manner of passing. Together
they work like clockwork, and should
prove a capable pair. Gill played regu-
larry at forward two years ago and is the
best forward in college at the present
date.
One probability, in the form Of Trainer
Pop Lanigan. is liable to upset this
dope by causing Sprague's retirement
from basket ball work. Sprague enjoys an
enviable reputation as a Splinter and
quarter-niler and Lanigan's pessimistIc
hopes concerning this years track pros
poets will likely cause Sprague's with
drawal. This fact came to light this
afternoon and occasioned keen rivalry |
between the enthusiasts of the respective |
sports
Other candidates for the forward posi-
tons are Stickley. Todd and Mallan. |
Stickley has shown up rather well. but |
has the fault of so many forwards, play
ing individually. If he can overcome this |
he will prove an excellent man. When he |
does pass. he does SO swiftly and accu- !
rately, and Is a master shot. Gus Todd |
is a former Cathedral School man anu |
after season as substitute looms up as !
a dangerous contender. His game is pre- |
cisely similar to that of Stickley, failing |
through lack of teamwork. Blaine NAL |
Ian. former captain of Western High /
School. comes with a good reputation. but
through studies will be unable to report |
until after Christmas.
w. Rixey appears to have the center
position to himself Profiting by last |
years experience, he has returned this !
year a finished player. AT first Strick- i
land, from Huntington. w. Va. started |
to push Rixey, but was quickly outdis-
tanced. Naturally, it is rather early to
speak conclusions, but on bare showing |
RiXey has the edge. He is tall, fast |
strong. an accurate passer and a good |
shot. Strickland is no SLOUGH. but suffers |
by reason of his slow footedness. ne
qualify as guard. Rixey and Stric = |
land alone in the center fight.
Notwithstanding the fact that Church |
man and Campbell are reputed to have !
their positions cinched four men, Christian. /.
Harris, Parham and Handy, have shown |
themselves of no ordinary ability. Chris !.
tan has been a prominent substitute for |
the last three years and should show !
vast improvement this year. He is a
hard man to handle, but at times |
"roughs'' it beyond the scope of the rules. |
At the present time he is on the injured |
list with bad leg, but will be in con-
dition in week or so. Harris and Par
ham are Washington High School prod !
ucts, coming from Eastern and Western. I
respectively. Both trifie light for
the team this year but impress all with
their fighting qualities. Harris is also
reputed to be clever second baseman.
Handy was a substitute guard last year
and except for his weight would be a
star.
Pop Lanigan is coaching the squad
and appears delighted with the rosy out
look "Oh, don't worry about basket
BALI Pop laughed when questioned.
This team is going to be twice as good
as that of last year.
One man. Maiden. the giant foot ball
ia exile, is expected to make mighty try
for either a forward center position.
Because of a knee, badly hurt in the
Vanderbilt game Maiden will hardly re-
port before the holidays However, he
comes here with the reputation of being
an al-Virginia forward. gained while a
member of some Virginia Y. NJ. c. 4.