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THE MAROON TIGER
March 2G, 1954
SPORTS SLANTS
by PAT McCLAIN
Everything is relatively quiet on the Morehouse sports’
scene except for tfie crack of a bat on the baseball diamond
or the crackle of cinders under the feet of the Maroon and
White thinclads. The Maroon and White basketeers closed
out their season by dropping a 72-69 decision to the Fisk
University Bulldogs in Chicago, Illinois. The game was spon
sored by the Morehouse-Fisk Alumnus Clubs of that city.
The week before the Forbesmen dropped a 81-57 decision to
the Gold Rush from Xavier in the opening rounds of the
annual SIAC Tournament in Tuskegee. The Tournament
Championship was won by the Clark College Panthers, who
swept to victories over Fisk, Xavier and Florida in the finals.
Our hats are off to the Panthers across the street.
The Morehouse Cagers hung up their claws and fangs
until another season with an overall record of 14 victories
and 9 defeats. The youthful squad had a good season and
Coach Frank Forbes did a wonderful job with a squad that
lost its first six regulars the season before. Indications point
to a far better season for the Maroon Tigers next campaign.
The baseball and track teams are in the midst of training
for their up-coming campaigns. The baseball team is under
the helm of Coach Echols this year. There are familiar faces
back on the diamond this year, such as Robert Williams,
General Green, and James “Diz” Conyers, to mention a few;
and several new faces such as Nyle Churchwell and Terry
Hill. The spirit is high and the fellows are rapidly rounding
into shape. The Maroon Tigers should be top contenders along
with Florida, last year’s champs, and Alabama State. Any
way there will be plenty of action on the diamond this year.
108'S TAKE MURAL
BASKETBALL TITLE
The 108’s edged past the Wild
cats in the intra-mural basket
ball finals 66-62 for the league
championship and captured their
second consecutive intra-mural
championship. The Crusaders
won the consolation by a for
feit over the Mavericks.
The Wildcats-lOS’s game rang
down the curtain on the intra
mural basketball regular season.
The spirited Wildcats led by
Coach “Pinky” Haines, throttled
the favored 108‘s 86-66, knocking
them out of a tie for the ’visita
tion championship^
The timely victory by the Wild
cats gave the speedy Crusaders
the conference visitation cham
pionship. The Crusaders marched
through the season with a 10-1
record with the lone defeat com
ing at the hands of the 108’s,
78-58.
The Intra-Mural League pro
duced one of the hottest cam
paigns in intra-mural history.
The Wildcats, 108’s and 604’s each
climaxed their season with a 9-2
won-lost record and a tie for the
second-place berth in the league.
The Omegas, Mavericks and
Bruisers each sported a 6-5 won-
lost record. The conference stand
ings are as follows:
WON LOST
The 108’s, sparked by Bob
by Adams and Benny Avery,
trampled the Mavericks 90-71,
The 108’s took a 25-8 first quarter
lead a'nd then settled back to
20 at the half and by a 15-point
margin at the end of the third
quarter, the 108’s fought to main
tain their lead as the on-rushing
Wildcats closed the gap to 64-62
Our track team will probably be built around the fresh
men aqd new members on the squad. The squad is rounding
into shape fairly well and will probably be ready for the
Florida Relays during the last of March. Several young fresh
men are expected to be heard from this year.
Elsewhere on the sports scene the students of Morehouse
are awaiting next season to see Bobby Adams and Benny
Avery, f two Ohioans, who are transfer students from Akron
University, move into action on the hardwood and other sports.
The fellows have been something terrific in intra-mural
basketball. Moreover, the intra-mural basketball has produced
several outstanding athletes who may play varsity ball next
season. Intra-mural sports this year have produced material
of varsity caliber. It will be interesting to see these athletes
move up to varsity activity.
O
TIGERS BOAST BIG GUNS ON DIAMOND
ELEVEN VETERANS
RETURN FOR ACTION
Despite setbacks suffered due
to cold weather conditions, the
Maroon Tigers are expected to
be one of the top contenders in
the S. I. A. C. conference this
baseball season. Eleven veteran
players along with a host of
promising rookies are combining
forces to make things look very
bright for the Tigers.
The team shapes up somewhat
like this: The pitching depart
ment appears to be very strong
with four veteran right handers:
James Conyers, Jackson Sheftall,
Alfred Willie, Ulysses Counts, and
two real promising rookies, An
drew Black and Jimmy Young.
The infield is choked with hard
hitting veterans like General
Green, Lyndon Wade, Ted
Sparks, Joseph Leonard, Booker
Howell, Don Clendenon, and
Catcher Frank Brooks. The rook
ies have dominated the outfield
leaving space for only one old
timer, Norbert Williams.
The team will play approxi
mately twenty games over the
season. At least two games have
been scheduled with Alabama A.
& M. who is a newcomer for the
Tigers. The first games will be
played at home against another
top contender, Alabama State
College. Both teams are expect-
mendous kickoff for the baseball
season among the collegiates.
Coach Joseph Echols, who
molded first baseman Tom Alston
of the St. Louis Cardinals, and
Dr. James Birnie, Professor of
Biology and one time coach, will
guide the Morehouse Tiger squad.
Coach Echols is serving as base
ball coach this season in the place
of Coach James Haines who will
be away continuing study toward
the Doctor of Physical Education
degree,
-— -o
MURAL SOFTBALL
GETS UNDERWAY
Just as in intramural football
and basketball, the spirit has sud
denly grown very high toward
the softball league. Yes, this is
the league that requires no spec
ial ability, poise, or purpose. It
carries loads of fun, laughs, and
thrills; however, it’s as dangerous
as the roughest major league
games.
There will be only one league
consisting of the Alphas, Omegas,
Kappas, Minister’s Union, Bruis
ers, 108’s, Hustlers, Mavericks,
and some other teams whose
names are not now available.
10
Crusaders
1
9
G04's
2
9
108's
2
9
Wildcats
2
9
Omegas
5
G
Bruisers
5
G
Mavericks
5
5
Ministers Union
G
3
Hustlers
8
1
Sigmas
10
1
Kappas
10
1
Alphas
10
The
Intra-Mural invitational
basketball tournament consisting
of the top eight teams got under-
way Monday night, March 15,
with a bang. The Mavericks up
set the favorite 604’s by the tune
of 65-46 in the opening round.
The Mavericks took a 9-6 first
quarter lead and were never
headed. The valiant 604’s pulled
within a two-point advantage
36-34 in the third quarter before
the Mavericks blew the game
wide open, out-scoring the 604’s
24-9 in the final quarter.
The Crusaders, Wildcats, and
the pre-favorite 108’s won their
opening rounds by the scores of
60-44, 55-40, and 73-67, over the
Omegas, Ministers’ Union and
Bruisers, respectively.
The semi-finals saw the Wild
cats topple the Crusaders 59-54
and the 108’s blasted the Mav
ericks 90-71. The Wildcats pulled
a thrilling game out of the fire
with less than 40 seconds re
maining in the game. Trailing
all the way the Wildcats forged
ahead 56-54 with only 30 seconds
remaining on the clock. The vic
tory moved the Wildcats into the
finals and the Crusaders into the
consolations.
ent, the official schedule has not
been posted; but it is believed
that the first game will be very
soon.
At the end of the season, the
four top teams will indulge in a
play-off series to determine the
champs. All games will be played
at the Fair Street Stadium, com
monly referred to as the Blood
Bowl during football season but
win going away.
Moving into the final rounds
of the tournament Coach Na-
brit’s 108’s were gunning for
revenge over their earlier de
feat by the Wildcats. The 108’s’
Adams, Avery, Wade, Johnson,
McCoy, Coley, and Sparks shot
their way into an early lead and
were never headed. Leading 29-
with time running out. Superb
ball-handling and Johnson’s field
goal gave the 108’s a 66-62 ad
vantage as the clock ran out. The
victory gave the 108’s their sec
ond consecutive championship
and their third in four years.
Thus, one of the best intra
mural basketball campaigns was
brought to a close.
BOTTLED UNDER AUTHORITY OF THE COCA-COLA COMPANY BY
THE ATLANTA COCA COLA BOTTING CO.
ing to be in very good condition; Games will be played every even-
known to intellects as the More
"Coke” is a registered trade-mark. © 1954, THE COCA-COLA COMPANY
therefore, this should be a tre- ing at 6:00 p. m. Up to the pres-
house Athletic Field.