Ben Avon High School - Novaneb Yearbook (Pittsburgh, PA)

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very rarely that Leetsdale penetrated our zone defense, but when they did, they were too hurried on their shots to do any damage. The last half was begun with a 5-5 tie, but the fast-moving Ben Avonites soon made it 10-5. One solitary foul was all Leetsdale could muster during the entire last two periods. Our lead was never threatened after the third quarter. BBN AVON 29-NEVILLE 38 Ben Avon journeyed to Neville Island High School for their second en- gagement with the lslanders . Neville's attempt at a zone defense was not very successful, but they were able to hold a 12-10 advantage at the intermission. The second half was a series of sneaker passes, sucker shots, and erratic cross-court tosses by both teams. Neville out-did us in this freakish passing and shooting, but the boys had some consolation in that they tallied more points than in any other single game. BEN AVON 10-EDGEXVOOD 25 Ben Avon was given a discouraging setback by the highly-touted Edgewood I-ligh cagers. Edgewood's star forward, Michaels, was practically a one-man team, collecting twelve of the twenty-live points. Using a one-'handed hook shot that puzzled our boys, he played a superior game of basketball in every way. Not being able to penetrate lZdgewood's zone defense, Ben Avon was held in check by 9 to l at the half. Hope was revived in the third period when we quickly scored seven points to make the score-board read 9-8. However, the indomitable llflichaels threw two long loopers through the rim, which signed the death warrant for us. The remainder of the game was a series of long, L'll1Cl'l'll'Ig shots by the lidgewood squad against which our players could do little. BEN AVON 22-BELLEVUE 40 The section leaders entertained Coach Aultman and his basketball players by inflicting a stinging defeat on them. Ben Avon played excellent ball during the lirst period, and on several occasions we surprised Bellevue with our good shooting. Attempting to overcome an 18-6 delicit piled up against them during the first and second quarters, Ben Avon fought gamely, only to fall hopelessly behind. The veteran Dulce Black, playing the excellent type of ball of which he is so capable, was high-scorer for Ben Avon with nine points to his credit. BEN AVON 22fSEvV.lCKLlEY 17 1 lien Avon said goodbye to basketball until another season by inflicting a decisive defeat on the boys from down the valley. vVith a never-say-die spirit that has been characteristic of their play all season in spite of the many losses, the Maroon and Gray came from behind in the last quarter to clinch a victory. As we started the second half, we were under a 15-8 disadvantage, but the in- spired game that the boys displayed soon evened up the score. In the last few minutes the contest turned out to be a real thriller, as most of the Ben Avon rooters were screaming so loudly that the whistle couldn't be heard. Duke Blaclc's shot from the middle of the lloor was in the air as the tinal whistle blew. 43

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BASKETBALL BEN AVON 16-BELLEVUE 31 The Blue and Gold of Bellevue copped a 13-16 decision from Ben Avon on the latter's floor. By dint of some high-class shooting Bellevue pulled out in the lead during the second quarter and maintained a decisive 20-6 margin during the pause between halves. Coming back with an abundance of pep and light, the Aultman-coached cagers displayed a greatly improved brand of ball through- out the second half. Bellevue scored only one more point than our team in the two remaining periods, but their Hrst halt lead. was too large for us to overtake. BEN AVON 23-SEXVICKLEY 35 Putting on one of its best performances of the season at Sewickley, the Maroon and Gray basketeers were defeated by a score of 35-23. The spectators were given some real exciting moments in the lirst half when the lead was snatched interchangeably by both teams. Both teams fought stubbornly, refus- ing to be outdone when one or the other went ahead by a one or two point margin. Between halves the score board read 13-lO in favor of Sewickley, but Ben Avon did not hesitate to tie it at 14-14 immediately after the start of the third quarter. The remainder of the struggle turned out to be a give-and-take affair with much rough play being displayed by both sides. Sewickley did not get a decisive lead until the last minute of play, when they went on a scoring spree, which was enough to put the game down as a win for them. BEN AVON 16-FACULTY 19 Striving to avenge the previous defeat handed them by their teachers, the varsity dropped another one by a 16-19 count. The faculty aggregation turned out to be a one-man te-am with Coach Aultman rolling up seventeen of the nine- teen points. The baskets were few and far between, while most of those that were shot were hook shots from awkward positions. Mr. Johns, the commer- cial teacher, created a sensation by his rough play. 3 BEN AVON Z6-AVALON 28 This never-to-be forgottenbattle with our oldest rivals proved to everyone that the Ben Avon High tossers really can play good basketball. Paced by the dimunitive Sammy Luttrell, the local boys completely outplayed their opponents during the first two periods. VVith our zone defense clicking perfectly, we had gained a menacing 18-ll advantage at the half. It proved too good to be true, however, for Avalon quickly tied up the score in the third quarter. Then it was any marfs ball game up to the last second with the score close all of the time. BEN AVON 14-LEETSDALE 6 Smarting from the ZS-26 edging given them by Avalon, Ben Avon came back to give Leetsdale a sound 14-6 lacing. The defenses of both teams were very effective, resulting in one of the lowest-scoring games in years. It was 42

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I l Senior Athletes li if , flick' f In X - i , . . I V 1- 5 Q I I JS A , gl 1 Ab: p . i i , 'rv i lf? I-larry Duke Hlack . . , star center on baskelrball team for last two years . . . a regu- lar since his freshman year and a dead-eye on long shots . . . a real leader because of his experience, and a product ol the Emsworth YH gym . . . weighs a meager 105 and towers six feet three inches . . . has largest size foot on the squad . . . worries Coach Aultman by coming late to games . . . loves basketball . . . intends to go to Kiski, where we know he will make good. Levi Bird', Duff . . . most conscientious player on squad . . . has improved vastly in last two years . . . a good shot from the middle of the floor . . . a hard worker and cahn under tire . . . plays in the back court with George Lawry . . . called gra1mia by players and the coach because ol slowness in getting into or out of his uniform . . . is often the cause ot much hilarity during practice sessions . . . ate 12 pancakes before one game, a record of which Mr. Aultman .l'ortunately didn't learn . . . has largest appetite on squad . . . ask anyone who was at Aultman's on the night of February Z6 .... Bird intends to go to Har- vard. Williaiii Purcell . . . moved to Ben Avon from Vxlestlield, New jersey . . . plays at all three positions . . . always depended on to lill in when needed ,... loves to shoot in games . . . which he does from every angle and at any time , . . when he's on , Bill is an ex- cellent shot . . . has quite a liery temper at times . . . believes in imminent assertion of rights except, maybe, when he's at Muuroe's . . . wants to go to Rutgers University. Sammy Luttrell . . . placed as forward on tirst team as a result ot tour years of hard work on the scrubs . . , small of stature, but potent with. a basketball in his hands . . . Sammy rarely misses long shots . . . a consistent, steady player on the court . . . plays hard and is in the thick of every scramble for the ball . . . loves basketball with heart and soul . . . when not playing at the high school he plays at Bellevue Y . . . is quiet and unob- trusive at all times . . . well-liked by players and coaches. Dwight Merker . . . a second-stringer who has improved visibly . . . subs at guard . . . very conservative passer and not a bad shot . . . very quiet and unassertive . . . handicapped because he lives so far out ot town . . . has no clehnite plans :for next year. Paul Putsy Smith . . . hails from Emsworth . . . learned his game in the Emsworth Y . . . is short and heavy set . . . calm and unexcitable on the court . . . has played on second and third teams quite a while. but has worked hard and never complained . . . a good passer and quick in snatching: rebounds . . . a moral asset to the squad because of his cheer- fulness and uncomplaining attitude . . . Putsy,' is well-liked by everybody. 44: l I