The Washington times., 1937-02-13
Eastern Team
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In Path
BY GARRETT WATERS

A close. tense race is some
thing that every sports lover Graves
even when its interhigh school
basketball.
The current schoolbo.' series is
exactly that today with the final
title outcome in as much doubt
as a landslide for President Roose-
yelt's Supreme Court program.
Eastern now leads the pack by
half a game by virtue Of its 42-2l
victory over Woodrow Wilson at
the Tech gym last night. Roose-
velt's "a to % extra period triumph
over Central in the nightcap OF
the evenings twin bill gained the
Riders a tie with Western for Sec
ond place, Western idllng while
another great game entered the
records.
Today, Roosevelts victory ere.
ates many possibilities for the re-
mainder of the race. The Riders
served warning that they're still
to be figured in the title swim, de-
spite the fact the task ahead is cut
out for them.
Certain Fight
Also it pictured the theme Lift
mans boys have a certain fight
that's to be watched from now on.
OF course the big talk today is the
manner in which the team won in
the overtime period-how Joe
Conner, brilliant young captain and
center, was forced out of action by
the personal foul route; how Paul
Rusher, unknown because of being
a sub, sank the basket which de-
cided the issue, and how Sam Fox,
burly Central center, missed two
foul tosses only a few seconds be-
fore.
But that fight. The Riders
played the entire first quarter
without scoring a point. Several
well aimed efforts were directed to-
wards Central's basket, but none
dropped in. Central, on the other
hand, rushed to an 8-to-0 lead,
thanks to three baskets by Felix
Silverstein, forward, and one by
Charlie Clark, guard.
The second quarter was differ
ent. The Riders finally got the
range when Bill Fogel and Frank
Bailey sank two-pointers in quick
succession. Then Centrals lead
was slowly reduced until half time
found Littman's squad ahead, IL
to 1O-not a comfortable lead, but
gratifying in contrast to the teams
start.
Central Rallies
Breath-taking is the word for
the remainder of the game. Roose
welt, led by Joe Conner and Ray
Friedrich, kept three points ahead
until the closing minutes of the
fourth period. At this point, Gen.
tral rallied and took a 21-to-20 lead
with four seconds to go.
The cool head of Captain Conner
came to the Roosevelt rescue. He
gained a free toss and made it as
the din of Rider supporters almost
lifted the rcof off the spacious
gymnasium.
Then the three-minute overtime
period. Conner fouled Sam Fox, of
Central, and the young center,
Straining every muscle, missed the
two shots given him. Paul Rusher
went in for Conner, and on the re-
sumption of play, found himself
with the ball about Is feet from
CentraTs basket. He shot quickly.
RuSher Real Hero
The Roosevelt crowd carried
him to the dressing rooms few
minutes later. And for sometime
to come, Rusher will be a hero
around Rider premises.
Roosevelt's actual won and lost
total now is five and two. Eastern's
record is six and two. The two
teams, as the schedule happens,
meet Tuesday at the Tech gym
nasium at $3.50 p. m.
Once again fireworks are in
store. But it'll have another an
swer for fans. And that is whether
this Roosevelt team is destined for
a championship it has longed for,
10, for many, many years.