The Washington times., 1937-02-27
Western Ties
Eastern For
Lead
By GARRETT WATERS

The results. First game. West
ern. %; Central, 18. Second game,
Tech. 26; Eastern. %.
The reactions today. One OF
the greatest interhigh basketball
doubleheaders ever played.
We're discussing, of course, last
nights thrill-a-minute show" at
the Tech High gymnasium.
The evenir G started to be in
teresting as early as 6;45 r. m,
when fans began pouring in for
choice seats. 1t developed step
by step after that, until the final
whistle had everyone thankful, in
a sense. that there were to be no
more thrills until next weeks
play-off between Eastern an d
Western for the championship.
Teams Now Tied
For that is exactly what last
nights results mean to the series
today. Western and Eastern are
tied for first place and now must
meet to decide the title-a game
that promises to reach new
heights for interhigh play inso-
far as interest and attendance are
concerned. 1t probably will be
played next Friday night.
The games. Thrill-packed is the
word. Western defeated Central
after a terrific struggle to over
haul an early Central lead.
Tech downed Eastern by match
ing the Parkers point for point
during the early going and by
clinging doggedly to a lead after
1t was gained in the third quarter.
Hugo Schulz, Gerald Burns and
George Dewitt made Westerns
triumph possible Their efforts
righted the situation when it look
ed as if Central might sneak in
with a most important victory.
Billy Vermillion, as usual, was
the whole Central team.
Combination of Things
The Tech victory was the com.
bination of several things. First,
and possibly most important,
Tommy DobynS, called Country"
by his teammates, put up SEN
sational game in guarding Russ
Lombardy, Eastern scoring ace.
Lombardy was held scoreless dur
ing the first half, but was able to
break away for three baskets in
the closing quarters.
Second, Jimmy Vermillion and
Walton Merchant, of Tech, were
shot" Vermillion actually led in
scoring with II points, but Mer-
chants floor play was as good, if
not better, than his teammate.
And finally, Johnny William
son. The stocky youngster rose
to his greatest heights in guard
ing, passing and scoring. On one
occasion, he made a football dive
after the ball under his own bas-
ket and made good with a flip
from the floor.
In complete review, however,
one cannot overlook the fighting
game Eastern waged. The boys
were under terrific pressure, but
not once did they give way.
SidelightS, Too
And this can be more clearly
understood when it is explained
that both Carroll Cotton and
Claude Colley we're in action fol-
lowing recent knee injuries and
Lee Lusby had just gotten over a
bad cold.
The first quarter of this contest
ended. TT. Tech drew away for
a slim lead, II to IL lead at the
half, while at third-quarter time,
it was 10 to IS in Techs favor.
Then the final Stanza. Lom-
hardy got in two of his three Sec
ond half baskets and Quantrille a
basket for an Eastern squirt. But
Tech, continuing its dogged fight,
bettered this when Williamson,
Vermillion and Dobyns scored pre-
ciouS points.
Now comes the play-off between
Eastern and Western for the cham
pionship. Another thrill-packed
night is in store and then can be
drawn the curtain on the greatest
interhigh basketball series in years.