The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1928-03-07

ScHOOt DAYS anu dtOO III 5AtASPCtlS
However, Coggins had theoreti
cal idea and he has applied tai
idea successfully as proven in thu
ill0strious records OF the teams tina
have camraigned the last foul
years under him.
Toward the latter part Of tn,
1924 season, Coggins was given tn
coaching berth at Central, Eastern
High had gained too big a lead ant
the Lincoln Parkers managed tt
capture The interhigh championship
Coggins. however. entered his team
In the perennial University O.
PENNSYLVANIA basketball tournament
and thus began q blazing career
that has hoisted the Mt. Pleasanter:
20 & lofty berth among the East
ern and southern high schools. Tht
Blue and White stunned its owl
supporters by reaching the finals
LOSING to West philadelphia High II
the game that decided the title
Central was forced to land sever
straight battles in order to reach
the finals.
CentraI,s record since then is
studded with sparkling achieve
nentg and it can be traced to
COgxirsss genius. 40 local QuInt
has ever attained such q wide
recognition as Central during
the last four years: Ihe Team
won undisputed District HIgn
championship in 1923 and tins
wear. was awarded the title
iast wear when the ri0tOus
Western-C Central game halted
the series and was declared eO-
holder Of the crown with East-
ern i'm 1926 after the Eastern
Central contest terminated m
general dis0rdef.
Returning to f1ls annual Penn
tournament in 1925, Central again
ADVANCED to the finals, only again
to lower its co1ors in the decisive
encounter. The Blue and Wnite
PASSED up the Penn affair In 1870
because several of the regulars nad
been barred for part ipanon IN OUT,
side games. A team, composer
fhe St Johns College tourney at
Annapolis, Md, that year but
bowed to Hagerstown Md. High
in the finals.
Last wear. Central, after two pre-
viols futile attempts, succeeded in
,anneting the Penn tourney high
schools silks, defeating Catholic
High of Philadelphia, in the final
game. This year the quiflt reached
the semi-finals. yielding to Manga
tuck Comm High, which eventually
won out over Catholic High.
Delving into the four years thai
Cogzins has handled Central teams,
it is found his teams have won 116
games and lost Al for a winning
average Of .752. This is most re-
raarkable feat when it. is taken into
consideration that three-quarters OF
the game were contested on foreign
floors, with more than one-fourth
representing games played out OF
town. Interhigh series games are
waged on a neutral court.
Conditions were not altogether
favorable for the -Centralites. =
Often they would appear in two
games the same day, playing in
one town in the afternoon and
making q hurried jump to an.
other for q game at night.
Travelling, conditions were not
ideal while unfamiliarity with
the opponents floors had to be
cOInbatted.
Coggins has not only developed
winning teams at Central, but at
least two or more players have an
nually been placed on the District
All-High combinations. Last year
four Central players were placed
on the AlEHigh first club.
Coggins' teams have been noted
for their heady play as well as de.
ceptive passing. His clubs have
annexed District high school cham
pionships after others had been
ranking favorites. Notable examples
were Western High in 1925 and
Tech High this year.
He has not particularly sought
Big players to fit into his scheme
of things, nor has he cast a dis.
tainful eye on lanky exponents
His teams, nevertheless, have been
composed almost entirely of small
chaps and have attracted notoriety
especially in Northern circles where
rangy and husky schoolboy teams
are seen. Keep the ball" is his
greatest principle-and it has
brought him reward, for his clubs
make this a chief point in every
game.
The 1924-25 team comprised
ThurstOn Dean, guard and cap
tain; Walker Hale, forward;
Bill Banta, center: Earle MOser,
guard; Mickey Macdonald, for.
ward: Arthur DezendOrf, guard,
and Raymond BlakesIee, utility.
Dean and Hale, now at Mary
Uncalled for and ready
to.wear Suits or a. en-
Topcoats, SZ-
HORN The Tailor