Lyons Township High School - Tabulae Yearbook (La Grange, IL)

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The team finished the season in a blaze of glory by trouncing Glenbard's great team in an over- time, 33-3l. The season's record was ten victories and two defeats, le a vi n g the boys firmly en- trenched in second place behind once-beaten Glenbard. The second Glenbard game was the greatest of the season for the Blue and Gold. Gnly Malm, Glenbard's towering center, was not stopped. Charlesworth, his scoring mate, was held to nary a basket by Pete Molthop. The game was a humdinger from start to finish. lt ended with a push shot by Louis Saban just after the start of the overtime period. This victory was in- deed a tribute to the ability of Coach Sedgwick and the boys, for their diligent practice and pointing toward the game certainly gave results. lt was sweet revenge for the La Grange lads and atoned for Glenbard's early victory. The only other conference setback was at the hands of Riverside. The Lions were considerably weakened by the loss of Molthop and Burditt. The final score was 32-31. This game was a terrific blow to Lion championship hopes. l-lad they won it, and they easily could have with all their first stringers, they would have ended the season in a tie for first place. The winning point was made in the final sec- onds of the game on a free throw. Aside from the two defeats the season was a great success. ln many games the Lions completely routed their opponents. George Burditt was usually high scorer and amassed l4l points for the season. Burly Louis Saban was always good for from two to five baskets a game and was a constant threat from far out. ln the regional tournament the boys barely wiggled past a sloppy Argo team. The game was one of the worst of the year for the La Grange quintet. For the second game La Grange drew the Suburban league champs-Morton. This Morton game was one of the tightest of the year and brought forth two of the Chicago district's best teams. Morton's high scoring machine was favored to win. Only after four quarters of the fastest basketball did Morton finally eke play of both teams co-operated to L possibly have emerged victorious. A Saban, Molthop Burditt, Vander Wevden ' One of the closest games of - . A m ' the year was the first York engage- ment. The York team was unbe- lievably stronger than they were touted to be and led for a great portion of the game. lt was a nip and tuck affair and a great crowd-pleaser. Sen- sational long shots, fact, accurate passing and the general excellent out a three-point victory. Had not Page IW

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Standing: F. Brown, C. Wallner, E, Grady, D. Eeaih G. Vander Tfeyjex, G. Lcesch, F. H1cT::ceL:, l.i:2::::Qj f. I.I::E cz Seated: VV. Sloan, D. Lange, P. Mclthcp, Y. Ault, L. Satan, G. Eurdi' I-. 'Irisley D. Hs...res:e'.' Coach Seigr-.'i:k. , LICJN CAGERS IN CLOSE RACE : ouram, mrisley, .-lui.. For the past three years the names Burditt, Saban, Molthop, Vifrisley, and Ault have been synonymous with the mere mention of La Grange basketball. All five boys, as members of the '39-'40 Lion team, were awarded all-conference honors for their Work in basketball. Burditi and Sabcm were chosen for the first five, Ault for the second team, and 'Wrisley and lvlolthop received honorable mention. The leading scorer of the year was George Burditt, lean, long center man Who got all of his points on short shots under the basket. Louis Saban, captam of the team, was next in scoring. Nearly all of his baskets were nice long shois. Saban and Burditt proved their Worth on defense, too. Also on the first five and very much in the limelight were lesse Ault and Dave Wrisley, forwards, and Peter Molthop, scrappy little guard. 'Wrisley and Molthop, two of the smallest first strmgers in the conference, more than made up for their lack of height in aggressiveness. Page 105

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four Lion players been ejected on personal fouls, La Grange could produce one of the season's real thrillers. One of the surprises of the game was the dead-eye shoot- ing of Baker, a second string York guard. This stocky little lad had the greatest night of his career in swishing four long shots to keep his team in the running. The game was tied up by reli- able Captain Lou Saban on a long shot and immediately went into overtime. The very first time the Lions gained possession of the ball it was passed to Burditt who, though surrounded by three York guards, somehow wiggled free and pushed the winning points through the hoop. The first encounter with Hinsdale proved to be easier than expected. Gver the holidays l-linsdale's Red Devils had trounced GlenbIard's aggregation. Sedgwick and the boys worried themselves into ' Vtlrisley, Ault frazzles over the game, mostly because I 4-, Q, f - Awtft 1 George Burditt was abed with a cold and it was feared he wouldn't be fit for Q 3 competition. Lanky George recuper- it ated and, though he didn't set any scoring records, his presence was greatly felt. Sophomore Donnie Lange led the scoring with nine points. Gnly loe Feldott, Red Devil guard, was able to score consistently and thus the Lions emerged with a fairly easy vic- tory over a team expected to cause a lunge, Harnesses' lot of trouble. Probably the greatest scoring feat of the season was seen at Maine when the boys, behind at half time, romped to thirty points in a devastating second half attack to win. The two Downers games were rather easy affairs and little trouble. The starting five will all grad- Gnd,-, Loesch E ate, leaving only a few sopho- f 1 . mores and juniors on whom Sedg- wick com depend for the '40-'lil season. Dean l-lennessey, Don L a n g e , George Loesch, and George Vander Weyden are the only returning lettermen who saw an appreciable amount of action. i Page 107