Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1961-03-02
Both Unbeaten;
County School
Has Size Edge

County basketball Interest
shifts to the University Of
Maryland tonight, when Ian.
don's unbeaten basketball
team makes it's first appear
ance in the cavernous Cole
Field House against unbeat-
en- DeMatha in the biggest
basketball game of the year.
Tonight's contest between the
Bears and the DeMatha Stays,
is far cry from the tiny Ian
don gymnasium and the Inter
state Athletic Conference
games.
Instead of a handful of stu
dents. between 5000 and 10000
fans are expected to journey to
the University of Maryland to
see if Landon can attain its first
unbeaten season.
The game between the two
best teams in the area is rated a
toss.up, but Landon Coach Eddie
Barton feels the Bears height
may wear down DeMatha.
81 think we'll be in the game
all the way" the Bear mentor
said, "if we can avoid injuries
and stay out of foul trouble.
IF it is close, I think well
have an edge near the end be
cause of our height. It's difficult
for a small man to keep jump
ing the whole game"
Landon's height" is 6-foot-s
Fred Hetzel, The Sentinel:
aPlayer of the Year." 6-foot-i
George Manger, and 6-foot-s
Louis 'Bobo" Berger. The Stag
aren't small either, boasting s
foot-6 John Jones and 6-foot-s
Bill McDermott in the starting
lineup and 6-foot-7 Tom Canada
on the bench.
If all that height has yol
murimuring that it's "a bis
mans game" let's shift to thu
little men.
DeMatha has the edge here
mainly because Of John Austin
Barton has watched the 5-foot
10 speedster on two occasions
and describes him simply al
tremendous" Austin does hav'
excellent helpers in Barr.
Smith, the only starting senior
and 6-foot,3 John Carroll.
Landon's backcourt men hav
changed throughout the year
bob and John McConnaughe.
started there, but Ernie Burtol
displaced John, and Paul Clarl
is threatening to move Bob Oh
Of the starting lineup.
Burton, a 5-foot-11 sophomor
who is the only non-senior in tn
starting lineup, could be the Ike.
to the ball game. Burton ha
great speed, though not mucl
experience. In his last tw
games he has collected 2
points, and Barton feels tina
/ his shooting is improving.
Clark got a chance to pla.
when Berger sat out two week
studying. Right now Barton ha
no idea whether he or Bob Nc
Connaughey will be the fiftl
man tonight.
Manger also missed a gam
with a slight virus, but Bartol
says he has completely recov
cred.
In past seasons, Landon ha'
used a zone defense, but thii
year the Bears have been play
: ing man.for-man more than ev
er before. DeMatha general,
uses the man-for.man too, 81
this should be a high-scoring al
fair.
Barton has nothing to sa.
about his offense except tina
Berger and Burton viii brini
the ball down. If the Stays star
4 press, Hetzel viii come out t
help.
DeMatha has won 81 game
this year, and Landon IL, bu
they have only two common or
ponents. Landon defeated Cor
zaga easily early in the season
and the Stays took the Eagle
twice, although it was a clos
game when Austin wasn't play
ing. DeMatha defeated st. John
by two points without Austil
and by II with him; the Bear
beat the Cadets by 8.
This will close Landons sea
son, but DeMatha still has t
play in the City CHAMPIONSHIP
and the Knights of Columbu
Tournament.
Scouts Ax.-ard