Evening star., 1943-01-03
Public High Openers
High Light Big Week
For School Fives
Bethesda Chevy Chase
VeneefuI in BottIins
wills Champions
BY GEORGE HUBER.


Washington's high school basket
ball players shake out the holiday
kinks this week and Jump right into
a hefty schedule that promises
numerous bits of choice competi-
tion. Among the features on this
weeks program are Friday and Sat-
urday nights double-headers at
Tech gym opening the District pub
lie high championship race.
Also commanding a big share of
interest is Friday nights game at
Ballston between Bethesda Chevy
Chase and Washington-Lee. These
are the two teams that met In the
final Of last years Evening Star
Metropolitan championship playoff,
with Washington-Lee winning, and
some hot action is due as the Barons
seek revenge for that setback. So
far Coach Ralph Guinther hasn't
had the Generals in action, but he
is reputed to have a snappy team,
with almost the entire lineup from
last years champs back. Bethesda,
too, has good quint and is due for
more winning than would be in
dicated by the 500 record registered
so far in six games.
Exciting Race Promised.
The high school series this year
should be an exciting race and a
real bid has been made to develop
spectator interest by scheduling it
on Friday and Saturday nights. 1t
opens with a bang, too, with Tech
and Roosevelt. the two teams given
the best chances of coping this
years title, meeting in Fridays
opening game. The other half of
Fridays twin bill sends Central
against Anacostia, while Saturdays
program lists Eastern against Will
son and Western against Coolidge
Wilson is the defending champion
and with most Of last years players
gone had been counted out of the
race. However, in the three games
played so far, Coach Tony Kupka S
charges have shown enough talent
to rate at least contending posi-
ton.
They beat Bethesda in their
opener, and after losing to Balti-
more City College came back last
week to trim an alumni team that
had on 1t numerous stars of last
year and the year before
Tech, coached by Dutch Usilaner,
has perhaps the most experienced
team in the series, with such lads
as Give Thompson. Hank Pizza,
Jack Ray and Jim Kranking again
in uniform. Keith Harder. new
conner. also is adding strength to
the Maroon quint.
Usilaner Successful Coach.
Before coming to Washington
Usilaner turned out some good foot
ball teams at Kane (Pa.) High. His
track team last spring won the
first interhigh championship for
Tech since 1896. Tech hasn't won
a basket ball championship since
1880, although it was close in 1899
when Bruce Kesslers Mighty Mid
gets" took second place.
Roosevelt, under Coach Reds
Auerbach, still looks good despite
being defeated in both its starts by
Bethesda Chevy Chase and George
Washington U. freshmen. There are
enough experienced players of
proven caliber around-Charles
Howard, Bunny Citrenbaum, Preston
Wannan and Ollie Kennedy-for
Roosevelt to bounce right back as
winner.
Several games this week outside
the series also promise to be lively.
Two of them come up on Tuesday
with Anacostia playing at st. Johns
and George Washington High at
Eastern. ST. Johns and G. w.
both rate at the top so far, having
been undefeated in three games.
The Johnnies, coached by Andy
Farkas, have another serious op-
ponent on their hands on Wednes-
day when they play Woodrow Will
son at the American U. gym.