Evening star., 1948-03-03
Central I-Gonzaga Till
Promises Hot Action
In Star 5 Tourney
BY George Huber


George Washington High plays
Maryland Park and Central tangles
with Gonzaga tonight in the Uni
versity Of Maryland's Ritchie Coli
scum to complete first round action
in The Stars 18th annual Metro
politan interscholastic basket ball
tournament. The two winners will
enter Friday nights semifinals. Al
ready in are st. Johns and Bethes-
da-Chevy Chase by virture of VIC
tories in last nights games played
before one of the largest turnouts
ever to witness opening night action
In the tourney.
The Johnnies romped home ahead
Of the young Washington-Lee High
team, 57-36, while Bethesda squeezed
past Roosevelt, 46-41. The seconc
game was one of the best Of the
season between high school teams
The lead changed hands severa.
times with Bethesda coming from
behind in the final period in which
1t held Roosevelt to one point.
q. W., boasting a 1873 record and
already owner Of the Northern Vir.
ginia title, Is favored over the Mary
land Park team in tonight's 7:3C
o'clock opener, while the second tilt
looms as a standoff. The Presi-
dents, coached by Rasty Doran. are
q veteran outfit and earned the
second-seeded spot in the tourney
behind st. Johns. Maryland Park
playing for the first time in The
Star event, has q record of IL wins
against setbacks. With such ca
pable players as Ralph Butler, Bob
Redding and Eddie Neidenbach, the
Trojans are set to give the Presi-
dents a real argument.
Central In Winning Streak.
Centrals Vikings will carry a nine
game winning streak into tonight's s
game against the Eagles. They won
the District public title last week
Central last captured the Metro
politan crown in 1888. With Roose-
welt eliminated, Central Is the last
hope for the District public high
schools, who have won The Star
tourney for five straight years.
There's q chance the Vikings will
stumble against the Eagles. Con
zaga always has been at its best
In The Staf tournament, and this
years quint is one of the strongest
ever tuned out by Coach Joe Kozik.
The st. Johns victory over Wash
ington-Lee was the 10th in row
for the Johnnies, and retained for
them their rating as the team to
beat. The Generals gave them more
Of a battle than the final score
would indicate, however, with balls
that rolled out Of the hoop instead
of in and untimely mistakes mill
tating against WI.
Baron Rider Battle Exciting.
The Bethesda Roosevelt game was
the real heart-stopper, however. No
more than point or two ever sep
arated the teams. It was 11-11 in
the first period, with Bethesda lead
ing by 27-25 at halftime. Four
second-period goals by Diekie ,Lati-
mer made the difference for the
Barons up to that point, although
little Billy Hibbs of the Rough
Riders was matching him point for
point. . Sass r=: s
Roesevelt's Bob zannsky took over
the game in the third period, earn
ing four field goals that pulled the
Riders In front, 1898. The re-
mainder of the game was a clear
Of close defenses by both
teams. Mike Bollo pulled Bethesda
even with one of his one-handed
specials. but Roosevelt again gained
q slim lead on Warren Siegel's foul
shot. That was the only point made
by Roosevelt in the last period. With
81 minutes remaining, the Barons
pulled ahead on Latimer's layup
shot. A free toss by Kenny Poerstel,
q field goal by Bollo and another
charity mark by Poerstel locked up
the game.