Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-11
BY W. BOYCE MORGAN.
.STALLMENT L.

y HEN the winner Of the Harrison
Basket Ban Trophy was an
mn nomced almost everybody in
~ Torrance was surprised And
with the exception of the coach
and the members Of the team, very few people
knew of the drama that lay behind the award
ing of that trophy, or how close it came to
costing Torrance High School the championship
Of the Three Counties League.
Fortunately, however, was one of those few
people who had the opportunity to see behind
the scenes during the basket bali season. The
reason was my friendship with Tommy Norris,
one of the members of the team
Spending money wasn't any too easy to get
i'm Tommys family, so he had taken q part
time job in the clothing store where worked.
Tommy was always down early in the morning
to mop the tile floor before the store opened,
but during basket ball season he didn't get to
the store IN the afternoons until practice was
over, and that was sometimes almost closing
time But Mr.. Green, who owned the store,
was . basket BAN fan, along with everybody
else in Torrance, and SO he didn't mind.
Tommy and became good friends and often
talked about basket bali and other things when
there was nothing to be done at the moment
IN the store. remember the first time that
he expressed his dissatisfaction with the way
things were going On the basket bali team.
Roy" he said to me, II think the worst
thing that ever happened to the team was when
Mr. Harrison decided TO donate that cup This
idea Of making the fellows on team rivals
for something isn't 80 good IN bet you new
hat that it costs Us some games before the sea
son Is over"
T LOOKED ct Tommy IN surprise His power
full, stOcky body was planted firmly on Wide
spread legs and his homdy, pleasant face was
paagnaciOusly serious. could zee that he was
in dead earnest. ! Immediately showed my
interest, and Tommy explained his statement
As everybody I'm Torrance knows, the Har-
rison Basket BAN Trophy is awarded each year
TO the player who Is considered most valuable
to the high school team during the season.
The trophy Is handsome silver loving cup,
and its donor ID p. J. Harrison, wealthy resi-
dent Of Torrance and one Of the most rabld
basket han fans that ever cheered himself
hOaxse &C a game.
Mr.. Harrison had just announced his trophy,
and SO little was known about it then, but
somehow the rumor got around that the win
nef would get more than just the cup. There
was talk that the rich man would pay the lucky
boys way to college, and other things like
that As q result all the boys on the squad
were secretly hopeful of winning the honor.
The choice Of the lucky boy would be made
at the close Of the season, and the judges would
be Mr.. Harrison Prof. Beach, principal Of the
high school; Coach LOrimer OF the team, and
the two sports writer's Of the Torrance papers
who would cover all the basket ball games.
MR. I9ARRIsON'S idea in donating the cup.
Az Of course, was to increase interest In
basket han among the players. Everybody had
commended his action, and so when Tommy
expressed disapproval of it, naturally wanted
to hear more.
well, here's the situation" Tommy explained
in his serious way When the season started
everybody figured that the winner Of the cup
would Just naturally be Joe Davis. He's cap
tain, he was high scorer in the league last
year, and hen probably go even better this
year So nobody thought much about it until
the st. Francis game"
THE St, Francis gamer echoed. " "ph,
yes. That was the night jacobson ran Wild
y, ne certainly did. agreed Tommy Nine
field goals more than half our points him-