Evening star., 1942-03-08
St. John S, Bethesda ,
WI. and Prep All
Hit Swift Pace
Resume Metro Struggle
Tomorrow Night With
Contests at Tech
BY GEORGE HUBER.

by GEORGE HUBER.
A championship favorite is hard
to name among the four teams re-
naming for tomorrow nights semi
final round in The Evening Stars
10th annual metropolitan invitation
interscholastic basket ball tourna-
ment, but it is certain from the class
of play in two nights of torrid bat
ting that whoever wins richly will
deserve rating as the outstanding
schoolboy quint in this section out
side the District public high series.
Semi-final play opens at 7:30
tomorrow night at Tech gym with
Washington-Lee, Northern Virginia
champ, tackling Georgetown Prep,
Catholic League titlist, with
Bethesda-Ch Chase. holder of
the Montgomery County crown, and
St. Johns, first-round winner over
Gonzaga, last years metropolitan
champion, facing in the nightcap.
The four teams on form displayed
so far have about equal chances of
capturing the Metro crown. The
final is slated tentatively for
Wednesday night.
Phillips Leads Generals.
WaShington-Lee's rangy, well-bal-
anced quint is led by Bobby Phillips
who hit the cords for IA points when
the Generals disposed of George
Washington in the first round, but
there is balance all down the line
with nearly every player able to hit
hot pace. Georgetown Prep. its op-
ponent tomorrow is much the same
type of team. The leading player
here is tall Johnny Shovel. but even
if the Generals manage to bottle
him up-and that presents a real
problem for Coach ElWood Gle
ments-others likely will be able to
find the basket consistently. Ray
Schneider especially can be counted
on for some snappy scoring effort,
and Prep is not being handicapped
as was expected by the large size
OF Techs playing floor.
The Garrett Park quint played
many of its games this season in its
own small gym where zone defense
works to advantage and trouble was
expected when it transferred this
style to Tech Coach Orrel Mitchell
borrowed a large gym for practice
last week, however, and the Little
Hoyas were able to work the zone
with real effect in their first round
game against Bladensburg.
Baron Johnnie Game Tough.
Some of the tourney fans are
looking for the Bethesda Johns
clash to produce favorite for the
final, and such might be the case.
The Johnnies under Coach Gene
Augusterfer always have been tough
tournament competitors seemingly
able to play their best under pres
sure. In previous Journeys they
won the title once and advanced
to the final on another occasion.
Much depends upon the trio of
George Hughes, Sleepy Thompson
and Paddy Mccarthy.
This easily may be BetheSda's
year. The Barons are in the midst
of hot streak and we'll could snare
the title if they continue to score
as they did in their first game Fri
day night when they tailed "a
field goals to eliminate Montgomery
Blair. CARL Julien, Loring Appleby
and Bob Brewer were the big guns
of that victory and all will be back
tomorrow. Also expected in the
lineup is Dick Poerstel, another
Baron scoring star who was Ill last
week. If he is back the Mary
landers will be tough to stop, in
deed.
Jim Pixlee Heads Judges.
A feature of the tournament is
selection of the outstanding player
by a committee of basket ball au-
thorities of which Jim PiXlee, for
mer George Washington sports boss
and now physical director of the
Army Air Services. is chairman. All
the players already mentioned are
being considered but such is the
close going none yet can be singled
out as the Journeys best so far.
The player finally selected Will re-
ceive a trophy. Star trophies also
90 to the winning and runner-up
teams. and to individual members
of the championship quint.
The trophies this year will be
presented Wednesday night by one
of Washington's most popular and
beloved high school sports figures,
Mai. Mike Kelley, U. S. M. c., who
until called to active duty in the
marines two months ago was coach
at Eastern High School. For more
than IS years Maj. Kelley turned out
winning teams at Eastern, Central