Evening star., 1941-12-02
Auerbach Has Squad
Greatly Depleted
By Graduations
Two AII-Hieh Aces Lost;
Central Hos to Replace
All Of Its Regulars
By GEORGE HUBER.

A new coach. new system ana
eome new players is the setup
Roosevelt Highs basket ball team
has in preparation to defend It's
tvo-year schoolboy championship.
Practice for the l940-l942 season
opened officially yesterday with
Coach Arnold Reds Auerbach,
former Washington ace, in charge,
while Herman Littman is on active
duty in the Army.
The Rough Riders were hit as
hard as other schools. maybe even
harder than most. by graduatlons.
Missing will be Hymie Perlo and
Frank Ciango. both selected on last
years all-high quint, as well as
Tom Robertson. With any one OF
that trio on this years team. Auer-
bach believes the Riders could take
another title. Without them 1t will
be tough going, but they have
good chance.
Reds doesn't have to start from
scratch. though He has Charles
Howard. sophomore sensation of the
series last year, back to fill the
center position. Charlie has added
about 20 pounds TO his frame while
losing none of his speed or accu-
racy. Other lettermen are Frank
Reolneer, Preston Wannan, Bob
Kershenbaum and George Robert
son, Toms brother. That's good
start in experienced players.
Set Fast Pace Last Season.
Roosevelt played more games than
sny other team in the series last year
because of its high ranklng-par-
tlcipating in the series playo1 tour
nev which it won; The Star Met
ropolitan tourney. in which II mn
lshed second, and in the Duke
Durham tourney, from Vhlcn II
emerged victorious.
It takes more than five good play
ers to win championship. now
ever, and Reds is casting about
among the newcomers to find five or
six more to fill his roster. Among
those who's early work indicates
they NAV make the team are Dick
Rooster and Bill Garner, who re-
Gently concluded season with
Roosevelts football team. Koester
is trying his hand at basket bail
for the first time. but he's natural
athlete who is good at anything IN
the sports line This was proved
only this season when he trans
ferled from end to the backteld
in football and even in strange
position PLAYED 50 we'll he earned
unanimous all-high recognition.
Another promising prospect Is
Bunny Cltrenbaum, thlrd-semeSter
lad from Mcfarland Junior High.
Hes a brother of Lenny Citrenbaum,
who played for Central last year.
Although inexperienced and short he
is good bali handler and fast and
seems to have enough natural basket
ball knack to possibly break into
the starting lineup. Another prom
ising youngster is Buddy Wyatt, a
big boy who right now has a bad
ankle but who figures in Auerbachs
plans.
Central Sees Trouble Ahead.
Right down the line from RooSe-
welt is Central where another coach
ing shift will he in effect. Jack Ray
,s hack with the basket ball team
after giving 1t up for year 10
Jan Jankou~ki If'Auerbach thinks
he is having trouble with PLAYERS
missing he should listen 10 Ray.
Central's first five players all are
cone-Sam Di Blasi All-High center
last year: Charles Kligman, one OF
American US bright cage prospects
this season: Lenny Cltrenbaum,
Zello Lagos and Tom Thomaides.
So. starting practically from
scratch. Coach Ray believes he Will
construct a team Of tall boys this
season. Only letterman returning Is
John Gibbons. He is 5 feet 10 inches
and likely will be the shortest OF the
vikings big five The others VIII
he Shooters or better. with probable
starters being Jim Mess, Bob Hill.
Henry Lavler-all from CentralS
championship football team-and
Leonard De Cast. Those are the
only five boys Ray is certain OF
keeping so far. with about 10 more
to be selected from the crew of
30 or so now working out.
Raw has son. Jackie. who prom
ises 10 be some shucks as a basket
ball player this year. Only if he
docs prove good 1t will hurt Central.
not help it. because he is a student
pt Tech and working out there un-
der Coach Dutch Usilaner. As Coach
Raw puts It. IF Tech should beat
us this year it won't be safe for
me to walk into my own home"