The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1922-03-17
ATHENA MASTER OF
HEPPNER, AND Lost
TO PENDLETON 26-f7
Local Quintet Was Perfect In Its
Floor Work. PendIeton Develop
ed Glass In Defensive Tactics.

EIlmlnatlng deppner algn ScnoOl
Friday night in the district basket
ball tournament, at which the cham
pionship of Eastern Oregon schools
was settled. Athena won its 18th
straight conference game, emitting
it to compete with the Pendleton high
school team the following night in
the final and deciding game.
Athena was master OF the Heppner
players from every department
from start to the end Of the last half,
when the score stood AZ to is in fav-
or of the Athena team. In. this con-
test, Heppner, the uglisputed champ
ions Of Morrow county. was clearly
outclassed. Harden and Kretzer, "a
team within themselves" to quote
from a sPendleton paper, exerted
themselves to give The Morrow coun-
ty players a drubbing, and in SO do
ing were high point winners of the
evening; Harden chalking up total
of % and Kretzer IA points.
Harden got the tipoffs repeatedly
over Claybaugh, Heppner center, and
Kretzer's field goals were the SEN
sation of the game. Athena's clever
team work and endurance began to
tell in the second half, and in a short
time Heppner was at the mercy Of
Basler's smooth-going machine. The
first half was more even, ending 16
to 10 in; Athena's favor.
in the final game, with Pendleton,
in which Athena lost her first confer
ence game Of the season, it is con-
ceded that; the team played in better
class and FORM barring goal shooting,
than in any game this year. Her
team work was superior to that Of
Pendlet6n, and most Of the time DUR
ing both halves she had possession
of the ball. /.
Pendleton's mass defense and al
most perfect interference. was some
thing against which the local team
had not been up against before in the
games played this year, and the only
reason that Coach Basler was not
prepared for it, is because no such
formations were encountered in the
class Of teams met by Athena.
The first half ending ID to II in
Pendleton's favor, still left Athena a
splendid chance to come from behind
and win. All season, the team has
been playing stronger in the second
half than in the first, but the fact
that nine Of Athena's points came
from free throws, shows that renar-
kable results may be obtained
through perfect defence against per-
feet teamwork.
Pendleton won 26 to II, nine points
to the good. and will represent East
ern Oregon at the State tournament
In Salem next week. It is felt here
that Athena has a team every bit as
good as Pendleton, and there's huge
block of fans that would be pleased
to death to see the two teams oppos-
ing each other on a nuteral floor
not in the light that the locals did
MT get a square deal In the tourna-
ment, but it is conceded that Pendle-
ton had the advantage Of going in
fresh against Athena, after the pre-
vious nights strenuous grilling with
Heppnef, and the further claim that
Pendleton has advantage over any
team playing in her gym, because Of
the peculiar position and location Of
one of the hoops.
everyone III tOWH reefs CnaI IN
Coach Basler. Athena High School
has the premier coach Of the district,
and that his team comprises high
type Of amateur athletes. The team
will be stronger next year. Only one
player, Herman Geissel at forward
will be eliminated from the quintet
through graduation this year, and
Shick, a clever yeungster is rounded
cut to take his place. Beryl Hodgen
has shown wonderful talent for
first year player. and Johnny Pink
erton has more than made good. So
with Harden and Kretzer, always to
be depended upon, under Mr.. Basler,
the hest small school coach in East
ern Oregon, a top-notch team should
be turned out next year.