Evening star., 1953-02-14
Wilson Cagers Hope
10 AvengeL Loss 10
Roosevelt in PIayoff
InterhIsh tDiv. y STANDING.
By Brian Bell. Jr.

Roosevelt High. which prefers
to take its games one by one, Is
thinking only about Tuesdays
battle with Gonzaga, but Wilson
is looking toward another meet
ing with the Riders in the finals
Of the interhigh playoffs.
Last night, Roosevelt became
the only undefeated interhigh
team by beating Wilson, 71-55,
before a capacity crowd Of 1880
at Tech. In the first game of
the league double-header, Tech
romped over Anacostia. 65-3l.
The Roosevelt Wilson game.
although Of great interest to high
school basketball fans, was only
for prestige. The interhigh title
is decided In the four team post
season playoh.
At this time it looks as If the
championship battle might well
be between Wilson and Roosevelt.
That would suit Tony Kupka,
wilson coach, and his players
fine.
Not Best Game.
"Sure, we'd like another crack
at them," Kupka said last night.
They have q fine team, but I
don't think we played our best
game tonight. I think we'll give
them a battle II we get a chance
at them in the playoffs."
Gabe Ferazzi, Roosevelt coach,
had praise for his entire team
but especially for Bill Wright.
who scored 20 points, and Hal
Pollin, whose great rebounding in
the second half helped the Riders
cause.
Wasn't Wright terri1c?" Fe-
razzi asked. "He couldn't miss
tonight and played his usual fine
game on defense. I've always
said Pollin is the most under
rated player in the city. He isn't
spectacular, but he does a great
job on the boards and tonight
he made II points, too."
Battle in First Half.
Wilson put I'D a battle in the
11rst half in an attempt to keep
the Riders from winning their
18th straight game. The lead
changed hands six times in the
first two periods before Roose-
velt edged to q 1880 lead at
the half.
In the opening periods AL
Hobelmann, Don Cleary and Jim
Robertson were holding their
own In a rebound duel with
Pollin and Wright. Wilson's Lon
Herzbrun. holder of the inter-
high scoring record who wound
up with Is points, threw in 16.
and Wright made 13 in the first
half.
However. in the third period
Pollin gained control of the
boards and with Phil Perlo set
ting up plays Roosevelt jumped
into a 52-40 lead going into the
final quarter.
Roosevelt continued to put on
the pressure and led, 61-42. with
dve minutes remaining when
Herzbrun, all alone under the
basket, missed q casual layup
and followed it with a wild shot.
Wilson called time and Kupka
scorched the Tigers and Herz-
brun in particular with some
hastily chosen words.
After Tony'S tongue lashing
Wilson rallied furiously to cut the
score to 61-51 with three minutes
to go. At this point Ferazzi or
dered a freeze and the Riders
worked the ball smoothly for the
victory.
Two Games Left.
Only Gonzaga and Tech next
Friday bar RooSevelt'S path to
an undefeated regular season.
Tech may cause the Riders
some trouble if the Trainers play
as well as they did against Ana
costa last night. Tech clinched
at least a tie for a playof spot
by drubbing the Indians in i'm
preSsive fashion. Tony DiChi-
cacchio topped the Trainers with
10 points as his team led by the
lopsided margins Of 1918 at the
half and 52-19 to start the final
period.
Tonight Eastern plays Bell at
1880 and Coolidge faces Cham
horlaiN IN fha cannvad erax,on -