Evening star., 1955-02-07
Beaten by Carroll,
ST. Johns S Looks 10
Game With Gonzaga
By Bob Honson
,ror 1c1r.nnr STANDINGS

st. Johns basketball game
with Gonzaga February %
shapes up as an all-important
contest for both clubs after Car
rolls 51-49 victory over the
Johnnies yesterday before an
overflow crowd at the Carroll
gym.
St. Johns is the only one of
Gonzaga's three remaining OPP
ponentS in the regular Catholic
league season that is conceded
a chance of toppling the league
leading Eagles. A St. Johns
victory in the holiday battle most
likely would result in three.way
tie for the lead. necessitating a
draw for positions in the play
offs.
Gonzaga, on the other hand,
could virtually clinch a berth
in the Washington Catholic In
vitation tournament to be held
at Ritchie Coliseum March 25-
81 by beating the Johnnies. Un-
der a new league rule, any team
going through the regular league
season undefeated automatically
qualities as one of the two Wash
ington representatives in the In
vitation tourney.
Carroll Coach Satisfied.
Thus should Gonzaga top st.
Johns and its remaining two
opponents, 1t would enter the
Invitation affair even though
it should lose in the Catholic
League playoffs.
If Gonzaga does go through
unbeaten and then wins the play
offs, the runnerup team will join
the Eagles in the Invitation. If
Gonzaga goes through unbeaten
and then loses in the playoffs.
the playoffs winner joins Con-
zaga in the Invitation. And if
Gonzaga is beaten by st. Johns
or its other regular season op-
ponents, the winner and run
nerup in the playoffs qualify
for the Invitation.
Carroll, tied with st. Johns
for second place. probably will
be pulling for the Cadets, since
a Gonzaga loss would give the
Lions double chance to make
the Invitation tournament.
Coach Bob Dwyer of Carroll,
weak from a bout with the flu.
felt even shaker after yester-
days game.
THE margin was a bit too
thin Dwyer said as he sat on
the sidelines for quite a while
after the game ended.
But we won it and against
a strong team and we're salts
fed" he added.
Carroll Fights OF Rally.
The game see-sawed back and
forth in the first quarter, the
lead changing hands four times
as the period ended in ISIS
tie. With one minute remaining
in the second quarter, Carroll
held a seven-point margin. It
went out at intermission one
point less at 1927.
The Lions, at one point in the
third quarter, held a 10-point
lead. but st. Johns began to
whittle it down and trailed 39-37
at the end of the period.
The teams matched points in
the fourth period. with the Lions
holding a 43-42 advantage with
ABB remaining. With 80 sec
onds left, Carroll was ahead,
49-47.
Bill Hessler of Carroll missed
two foul shots, but on the Sec
ond miss Dan OLeary. 6-foot-5
center for the Lions. tapped in
the rebound for a Stat margin
with 13 seconds remaining. Jim
Collins hit for St. Johns Just
as the huzZer sounded, ending
the game.
The shooting was as close as
the score indicates. Carroll
made 1S field goals and sank Is
Of % foul shots st. Johns hit
for 10 field goals and had so per
cent OF its foul shots drop, II
for %
O'Leary had Is points, Hessler
Is and Frank Wightman 10 to
pace the Lions scoring. John
Frazier scored Is and John
Moore IL to lead st. Johns at
tack.