Evening star., 1951-01-04
Caps Hoping Victory
Over Bullets Starts
Needed Win Streak
By Bill Fuchs

Dy pUt TuSHS
The Caps are in a sweat. Oc.
cupying the bottom spot in tn,
Eastern Division of the Nationa
Basketball Association, they know
they have to move. But the opti.
mism of early season has disap.
peared and in its place is a grin
determination centered aroune
the number three"
Three victories in a row-that's
the prescription Coach Bones Nc.
Kinney and crew have written a!
the magic formula to cure what
ails the Caps.
The Caps have one victory, thai
by 92-82 over Baltimore before a
turnout of less than 600 last night
at Uline Arena. They play Fort
Wayne at Uline Saturday night
and Boston in Boston Sunday.
Give us three wins in a row, >
says Mckinney, "and we'll do all
right. I still think We'll go places
When you're down it's hard to
pull up. But give us three VIC
tories in row and that's all well
need. We can do it with sheer
hustle and some of those 'front.'
runners are going to find us
awfully tough"
Halbert Seen Key to Success.
II don't see anything wrong
with this club that three straight
wins couldn't cure" says Chick
Halbert. the 6-foot-9 center who
played one Of his best games last
night.
That's all we need" Ed Bartels
emphasizes. That would give us
some confidence"
"All we have to do is hustle, y
Frank Kudelka says. II think
we'll make the playoffs."
Balbert may be the key to what.
evcr success the Caps enjoy
Washington needs a pivot man
who also can score, and last night
HaIbert demonstrated he could be
the man.
The former West Texas State
start demonstrated his newly
found art when he hooked in two
straight baskets in the first pc
riod to help the Caps to a f1ve-
point lead over the Bullets. AL
together Halbert scored IL points
all on field goals.
Last nights was a rough game
Officials Riley Pitkof and Stan
Stutz called rs fouls, Al against
the Bullets. Thumbed out on six
personals were Washington's Ku-
delka and Chuck Gilmur, back in
action after a layoff due to an
injury. and Baltimore's Kenny
Sailors. Red Rocha, Ken Murray
and Paul Hoffman.
Caps Go to Front Early.
The Caps took the lead for keeps
in the early stages of the second
quarters. The Bullets led, 1918
at the beginning of that period
but couldn't score field goal until
I6la minutes had elapsed. Mean.
while Gilmur, Fred Scolari, Bill
Sharman and Ed Mikan hit fol
the Caps, who led at intermission
47-40. The Bullets never caught
up, although they got within three
points midway in the final period
with well-organized fast-break
doing most of the work.
| Sharman, who scored 16 points
in the second and third periods
was high scorer with 81 points
followed by Scolari, with II; Hal
bert, II, and Dick Schnittker, IL
Walt Budio led Baltimore with
Is points, while Paul Hoffman
scored II and Sailors, Murray and
Belus Smawley, each 10.
FREE THROWS John Nor
lander, one Of the original" Caps
now is playing with York, Pa, OF
the Eastern League. Norlandel
commutes to York from Washing
ton. He also works as salesman
for an automobile concern
Schnittker last night announced
his engagement to Barbara Joar
Smith of Bay Village, Ohio. The
date has not been set. . Hoff.
man, who was suspended by thu
Bullets after failing to show ul
for practice earlier in the season
apologized to the entire squad anc
asked for reinstatement.
| Wash. G. F. Pts. Baltimore G. F. PTS