Evening star., 1941-03-06
Starry Teams Clash
In SemifinaIs Of
Star Tourney
Bottle Tonight Between
RombIers and Eagles
Should Be Corker
BY GEORGE HUBER.


Roosevelts Rough Riders, already
named the best basket ball crew in
the District public high schools
they won the title for the second
successive year in the recent series
are being made favorites to repeat
as champions in The Stars Metro
politan cage tournament.
Tonight in the windup Of the
semifnal double-header at Tech
gym the Riders tangle with Beth
esda-Chevy Chase'S Barons, an out
fit which defeated them early this
year, 24-21. If successful in that
clash they go to Saturdays finals
against the winner of the first game
between Eastern and Gonzaga-a
contest in which there is no favorite
and in which anything can happen.
Saturdays championship game
between tonight'S victors will be
preceded by the girls title game be-
tween Hyattsville and Mount
Rainier, winners last night in semi
finals at Ritchie Coliseum.
Early Victory Discounted.
Bethesda's earlier victory is being
disregarded in making the Riders a
choice over the BaronS. Both are
good teams and will represent this
section in the Duke-Durham tour
nament next week but comparative
action in recent contests gives
Roosevelt a pre-game edge. The
Herman Littman-coached crew ap-
peared in peak form Tuesday as it
swept past Landon School in the
tournament first round with Hymie
Perlo, Frank Ciango and Charles
Howard all as good as they have
been this year. That trio is only
the top of a team that's strong all
down the line.
These players also are among
those being considered by the COM
mittee of college coaches for the
most valuable player trophy, but
that award won't be made until the
Journeys conclusion and tonight's
and Saturdays action may bring
other cagers to the front.
The Barons appeared bit stale
or perhaps they just were thrown off
stride by Coolidge's fighting quint-
when they got past the Colts in
their frst-round action. Top form
can be regained in one game, how
ever, and Bethesda has been one of
the most consistent winners in high
school ranks this winter. With such
capable players as Duke Hashagen,
Dick Poerstel and Al Gaist on the
team it has a good chance against
any schoolboy opponent and prom
ises to give the Riders a rousing
struggle.
Gonzaga Eastern a Rubber Game.
The GonZaga Eastern game OPEN
ing tonlght's program at 7:30 is be-
ing called even but if a faVorite
must be found it would be Eastern
by slim margin. This is rubber
game, by the way. Gonzaga won
the first, 1923, and Eastern tri-
umphed in the last one by 1924. 1t
would be difficult to find two teams
that appear more evenly matched.
Eastern has the slightly better
season record of II victories and
only defeats, compared to Con-
zaga's II and 5, but here again the
difference is so small as hardly to be
considered. In tourney action so far,
Eastern had little trouble removing
Georgetown Prep, 1920, while Con-
zaga had a bit tougher job on it's
hands before overcoming Washing
ton-Lee, 1924.
AS in the case of all teams re-
naming in the tournament, both
Eastern and Gonzaga are packed
with star players Eastern can offer
Richie Posten, Neil Craig and Moe
Schulman as starter on its list of
candidates for the most valuable
player award, while Gonzaga can do
the same with Bob Mulvihill, Fran
els CounseIman and Hart Downs.
Both schools have several others
who probably will be heard from
before the tourney closes.