Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-04-10
Blackboard PLAY
Helps asCe|tics
Take 81 Lead

I0NC III LC0u
BOSTON, April 10 (R.-The
comeback Boston Celtics-lead-
ing the National Basketball AS
ISOLATION finals at last-agree
with st. Louis Coach Alex Han
mum that rebounds will decide
the championship.
The teams are headed West
for what could be the concluding
game tomorrow night after Bos-
ton downed the Hawks. 124-l09,
last night to take a 80 edge
IN the best-of-seven series.
After twice coming from be-
hind to deadlock the competition,
the favored Celtics finally moved
ahead.
Several days earlier Hannum
had said, "Rebounding will be
the deciding factor in the series. 4"
AS If to prove the point, Bos-
ton pulled the ball off the boards
70 times to so for St. Louis last
night as a major contribution to
the outcome.
Russell Is Leader
st. Louis ace Bob Petit got
only one rebound in the second
half after hauling in IA before
tntermission.
Meanwhile. Boston rookie CEN
Ter sensation Bill Russell grabbed
IA of his 20 in the second half
TO help the Celtics build up a
S4S-287 advantage over the
hustling Hawks in the first five
games.
Even if the game in st. Louis
wraps up the title. Russell has
a good chance to smash the
playoff record of 207 rebounds
established by George Mikan of
Minneapolis in 1852. He needs
Is to tie it and 10 to break it..
Mikan got his in IL games for
a 17.3 average. Russell has 1879
rebounds in eight playoff con-
tests for q 1877 mark.
To underscore the fact that
point making is only part of the
work in basketball, Bob Cousy
came up with 10 assists in the
contest to go with his 81 points.
Although the records were not
clear, it was believed his efforts
either tied or broke the assist
mark for a single playof game.
Bill Sharman scored 80 points,
rookie Tom Heinsohn % and
Russell IA as team strength
buried the Hawks whose Petit
hit on Is of 81 field goal tries
and wound UP with 80 points.
Petit Gets Tired
Hannum was optimistic after
he kept the team behind locked
doors for 20 minutes following
the game Ito point out mis-
takes"
Il feel very confident the team
played fine ball tonight but
Boston just had the hot stretches
that killed us" Hannum said.
I'm proud of this team because
they strapped. fought and never
gave up. am sure they will go
home and win. We've had our
back to the wall all season"
Pettit's second half rebounding
troubles might be traced to his
apparent firing in the late stages.
The talented 6-foot-9 former
Louisiana State ace was rested
frequently in the second half
and seems to be wearying under
the alternating defensive pres
sure Of Boston's Russell, Arnie
Risen and Jim Loscutoff.
Typical of the strange nature
OF the series was Boston's sour
face attitude after the big" tri-
umph. For the second time after
winning at home, the Celtics
could only beef about the officia-
ting.
The playoff set to date also
has included Boston Coach Red
Auerbach's punching of st. Louis
owner Ben Kerner for alleged
remarks which netted Auerbach
q $500 fine from the league. iden-
tical home court splits in Boston
and st. Louis before last night,
Hannum's effective cheering
section type coaching and the
emergence Of the Hawks Cliff
Hagan.
Hagan. almost forgotten before
March /, has averaged almost Is
points a game in the series and
had done fine work on the back
boards.