Evening star., 1940-03-06
Bethesda CT W.-L.;
Eastern, 6. W. High
Clash Tomorrow
Little Generals Close
To State Title; Tech
Packed at Openers
BY ROD THOMAS.


number that ever piled into Tech
gym still are atingle today with the
thrills OF a battle In The Star tour
nament last night In which Gonzaga
defeated st. Johns, 1888, for the
Catholic school championship Of the
city and many Of them are looking
forward to another large dose Of ex-
element when the strife is resumed
tomorrow night.
In a double header starting at
7:30. Bethesda Chevy Chase, cham
pion of Montgomery County, will
meet Washington-Lee Of Arlington,
an arch rival, and Eastern, defend
ing the Metropolitan District title,
will take on the redoubtable George
Washington High OF Alexandria,
which last night defeated Newport
News, 1929. in the Virginia State
high schoc, finals and needs only
victory over Glass of Lynchburg to
snare the Old Dominion champion
ship.
Seven Girl Cheer Leaders.
Bethesda Chevy Chase, returning
to the tournament after 4nissing 1t
last year for the first time in its
eight-year history, plans to send
virtually its entire student body,
led by seven peppery. pretty girl
cheer leaders, to root for one of
the best teams ever turned out by
the Lelanders.
And though itself eliminated last
night by Roosevelt. 27-17. Mont
gomery- Blair expect to be well
represented in the Bethesda Chevy
Chase roofing section, having for
the nonce overlooked its sharp RI
valry with BIC. G. In q yelling Of
county loyalty.
Washington-Lee, Eastern and
George Washington won't want for
supporters. either, but 1t is doubtful
II the gathering will equal that Of
last night when Tech gym literally
was packed. When the place seemed
filled, still the patrons came and
time after time Master Of Cere-
monies Jack O'Connell called upon
the crowd to squeeze to make room
for the late-comers.
Crowd Sets Record.
With every spot Of vantage In the
stands taken, many squatted on the
floor. Veteran attendants declared
1t beyond question the largest crowd
that ever entered Tech Gym and
at the finish of the Gonzaga-St.
Johns thriller the Purple adherents
enacted scene unique in the his
tory OF the ediflce. Onto the floor
they poured, engulfing the victori-
Gus players, struggling among them
selves to embrace the gallant
charges Of Orrel Mitchell, who had
ended five-year reign Of st. Johns
among the Catholic schools. So ami
mated was the scene that for q mo-
ment 1t seemed a riot was afoot.
After a f1ve-minute struggle to es-
cape the crowd, Bobby Mulvihill, a
Gonzaga star. whewed: Gosh, that
was tougher than the camel"
Battle All the Way.
From start to finish the contest
was tight. st. Johns was the first
to lead and it. stayed in front by
close margins until the final quarter,
which was packed with excitement,
The Johnnies were ahead by a point
when Mulvihill potted a long shot
to give the Purple the lead for the
first time at 1922, but the Cadets
surged back to pile up a 1926 edge
and apparently stow away the VIC
tory.
Here the Gonzagans showed their
mettle. Lane O'Donnel scored from
under the basket and Charley Row.
zee fired two quick goals to put the
Purple back on top, where they re-
malned only momentarily as Frank
Cady sank one-handed shot for
st. Johns, which made the score
1892. Only seconds remained now.
The crowd was in q frenzy, the play
ers struggling like wild things, many
times sprawled on the floor.
Then came the climax. From the
middle of the court Franny Coun-
selman looped in goal to give Con-
Zaga its ultimate one-point margin.