College of Idaho - Trail Yearbook (Caldwell, ID)

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Bengal ager The Idaho State College basketball squad con- tinued to make this the year of champions. Following in the footsteps of ISC's champion- ship football team, Coach Steve Belko's cagemen remained undefeated throughout Rocky Mountain play and ran away with the conference crown two weeks before the season actually ended. With the majority of the team mostly Freshmen and Sophomores, the Bengals gave Idaho State College fans a preview of things to come. No Seniors and only three Juniors were on the squad. This seemed to many like an inexperienced team, but the boys from ISC made up in hustle what they lacked in experience and the results speak for themselves. The Bengal's record of 18 wins and 6 losses may not seem impressive to many, but the Bengals when they lost, lost only to some of the best teams in the West. Such powers as Brigham Young and Utah State were able to gain early season victories over the then, yet green Bengals. As the year progressed, however, Idaho State won 12 straight games without a setback.

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'-.X CCR .BQCY 1952 CIIA BGPS am iam mn N .H ,se ml? ms ms umm ms E msn 'fcoach of the Year Babe Caccizl watched every move of his charges ,Ugg during the Final Conference game. fi5Q':P?:f2f E . , f QtTF+Y3f 7' 1- ' v' ff'-23':u . ., BS: .gl-ff 4 ei? f 'i iw 5' .. ' fn Ll -em. we 3 - .ni 4 . -, jzufgrw LX ' A 5 The victors' crown. Furnished by the Gridiron Club, built by Frosh, the Cl ' parade. 'lamps float led the

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Mlaintain Championship Pace As a result of their taking the conference championship, the Bengals were the first team in the nation, and only team in Idaho history to qualify for a berth in the annual NCAA basket- ball tournament where only the best in the nation perform to achieve national supremacy. Gaining the championship was by no means a lucky break for the Bengals. They were the best. They had what it took to make a championship team-a well rounded squad with plenty of scoring punch and the will to corne from behind as they did many times. If one were to point out individual stars on the Bengal's squad, he would almost have to name all of the members. They were all stars. Surely Les Roh as a Freshman was sensational. Roh led the RMC in scoring with 369 points. But it takes more than just one man to make a team. Fans will always remember the two-handed set shots of Roy Dakich, the hard driving jump shots of Sam Beckham and Jerry Belkow, and the rebounding of big Rick Bauer. Aw come on, Sam, give me the ball, begged a MSC guard. Rick Bauer controlled the opening tip-off of the 1952-S3 season. Jumping Sam Beckham got off a one-hander against Colorado Mines while Bauer raced for a position under the board. Eight feet off the floor. Bauer and Beckham join hands with two BYU players as if doing a maypole dance. 91