Evening star., 1937-02-05
Scholastic Fiues Bid for Patrons
NIGHT TWIN BILL
FIRST IN HISTORY
CentraI-Eastern Clash Has
Title Bearing-Western
Opposes Wilson.
BY BURTON HAWKINS.


-ECH HIGH SCHOOLS GYM
nasium will serve as cruclble
for a worthy experiment to-
i night when local scholastic
basket ball, suffering for several years
from a deplorable lack of patronage,
seeks to recapture the support of po-
tential large following with a night
double header, the first in interhigh
history.
In the first game. at 7:30 o'clock,
Wilson, unless it shows a complete re-
versal of form, is expected to further
the title ambitions of Western, while
the second tilt gives Central an oppor-
tunity to throw the series into more
puzzling muddle by whipping the lead
ing Eastern club.
Somewhat neglected by fans in the
local sports pattern for the last three
years, schoolboy basket ball stands an
excellent chance of emerging from
comparative obScurity and again en-
Joying the prestige and capacity
crowds it knew when twin bills were
in vogue.
The night double-header idea was
conceived by Birch E. Bayh, popular
supervisor of public school athletics
here, in an effort to revive interest in
q sport which formerly paid the freight
for other branches of activity. but
which Of late has struggled for exist
ence due to dwindling support.
EnDloveS Are ImpreSSed.
NOCTURNAL twin bills were in
dorsed by the Board of Princi-
pals following a successful single night
game, when Tech and E-stern recent
ly drew upward of 1000 fans. The
rather conservative board. impressed
over the conduct Of the crowd and
players and enthused over the caliber
of basket ball produced. unanimously
approved Bayh's suggestion.
Patronage of the scholastic series
games has declined steadily since the
popular afternoon double-headers, for
merly staged at the Arcadia and Tech.
were revoked, due to the protests of
parents that students arrived home
late for dinner. The series then was
split into single games at Tech and
Roosevelt gyms and fans failed to turn
out for the tilts.
Bayh has solved the problem by
holding single games on Tuesdays and
recommending double-headers on Fri
days. Two more night twin bills will
be held this season, and if the idea
meShes with the wishes of fans, it Is
likely all Friday games will be con-
Quoted on that basis next year.
Eastern Stepping Fast.
EASTERN can grab an authoritative
lead by trimming Central or drop
into flrst-place tie with Western,
providing. of course, Western disposes
of the green Wilson team. Now lead
ing with four victories in five starts,
Eastern barely Is in front Of Western,
with three triumphs in five games.
Trounced soundly by Central, 1923,
IN their first encounter, the Lincoln
Parkers since have spurted to win four
consecutive series engagements, while
Central has slipped to fifth position,
with only two wins in five trays. Cen
trail now is trailing Roosevelt, West
ern and Tech, which are knotted in
the runner-up berth, while Wilson
brings up the rear with five defeats
in as many starts.
Eastern followers have been buoyed
considerably by the improved playing
of Clint Quantrille, towering center,
who started slowly, but since has re-
gained his scoring punch. Central
vii. look to small. but highly eff
fective performer, Billy Vermillion.
leading series scorer. to place 1t back
in the running for the crown.
Westerns Gerald Burns and George
Dewitt appear to be too much for
Wilson. The Red Raiders swamped
the Presidents, 24-12, in their first
meeting.