Evening star., 1943-03-01
Assembly Is Called
To Receive Star
Tourney Cups
1t. White, USk, Officiotes
At presentation of
Navy Air Trophy
BY GEORGE HUBER.

Tech High Schools basket ball
team is being acclaimed not only
Its best in more than decade
but also the strongest ever as
sembled in or around Washington
during the same time as the school
staged celebration today to honor
the ouint that not only captured
the District public high champion
ship but the Metropolitan Wash
ington title.
The MaroOnS wrapped up all
available honors on Saturday night
when they defeated Eastern. 1928,
to win the Metro crown in the
final of The Evening Stars 11th
annual invitation tournament. The
previous week they had nosed out
the same team, 1924. for the Dis
trict title. Additional honors were
heaped on the team last Saturday
night when Keith Harder, Techs
smooth center, was named the out
standing player in the tournament.
Celebration of Techs triumphs be-
gan this morning at a special as
sembly called by Principal Frank c.
Daniel and attended by the whole
student body and faculty. Feature
of this assembly was the presenta-
ton of the numerous trophies won
In Saturdays game to the players
and the school. These included The
Evening Star Cup for the team
championship and individual cups to
members, of the team, trophy to
Hiram Dutch) Usilaner, coach Of
the champions. and. of course, the
Naval Aviation Cadet Trophy for
the outstanding player to Harder.
1t. White Officiates.
This latter presentation was made
by It. Larry White. U. S. N, of the
Naval Aviation Cadet Selection
Board for this district, donor of the
big cup.
After the ceremonies the cups and
trophies were placed on display in
the schools main Office and all day
long a parade of students trooped
in and out of the Office to view at
close hand these awards that SYM
bolized the ending of long drought
for Techs basket ball teams.
The District high school cham
pionship was the first for Tech since
1880, and the Metropolitan crown
was the first it ever has captured.
Tech was runnerup for the District
title in 1899, but was eliminated In
the semifinal round.
Techs basket ball team is being
recognized as one of the best ever
gathered here in recent years be-
cause in winning the Metro title it
triumphed over the strongest field in
the II years of the tournament.
Nearly every team entered was
champion. Mount Rainier, Techs |
first-round victim, was champion OF
Prince Georges County, and st. Al
bans. which fell before the Maroons
in the semifnals, was best Of the
Districts private schools. Eastern
was runner-up to Tech for the public
high title, George Washington High
is champion of the Northern Vir-
ginia Glass A Conference, Bethesda
Chevy Chase is champion OF Mont
eomery County and st. Johns and
Gonzaga are co-leaders in the local
CdGnOllc SCnOOl 16dSue.
A Balanced Team.
It was a good team all down the |
line and the result of three years OF |
preparation. Keith Harder, OF
course, was outstanding, but the |
other boys, Bob Brewer. Hank Pizza,
Give Thompson and Jack Walsh, too,
were capable players. All are seniors
and expect to be in the armed forces
shortly after being graduated this
spring. Two of the players, Thomp-
son and Dan OConnen, already have
taken physical examinations for the
Army.
Harder's selection as the outstand-
ing player was extremely popular.
Not only is he an excellent individual
player, but also is great team man.
He hasn't been put out of game on
personal fouls this season and he
likewise is a top student, rating in
the upper fifth of has class.
The victory also was another
triumph for Coach Usilaner, now
completing his third year at Tech.
Not only did his basket ball team
emo lL-yedI idSUll 1oi ACeii 'i'A''
the top, but his track team last
spring won the high school cham
pionship for the first time since
1886. Dutch himself was an out
standing athlete in school days, and
at Ohio University. where he played
guard on the football team that
was undefeated for two years, he
was given honorable mention on
several all-America teams.
Those who attended the final still
are talking about the spectacular
show put on by the naval aviation
cadets from Anacostia. incidentally,
those youngsters, from II years down
who are seniors or have graduated
from high school and who are in
terested in naval aviation, will find
a warm welcome at the Naval Avla-
ton Cadet Selection Board head
quarters at 1920 G street NV.