Irwin High School - Carillon Yearbook (Irwin, PA)

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AS WE SAW THEM IN ACTION A You lust missed at Joy, The Block Knight ondVors1fy Checdeczders T0otie under the basket. Don rnee to wntercept Don had 0 surprise. A crowd of rooters. Tom the Suren ond Bill Thor one un the our is Muon Swanson, Five jock-knives. Joan is suspended. 67

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The '53 trophies admired by Coach MCMUNN, Mc- JAY, FISH, TOOTIE, DON, MIKE, and SIMMIE cool o' FARLAND, GOOD and Assistant Coach MARKOSKY. THE KNIGHTS WERE TERRIFIC The Irwin Knights have done it again! After we lost five starters from last year, those who claim to know said, Watch this team in '54. But the Knights couldn't wait. After dropping the fourth game to Greensburg, they proceeded to roll up a string of 30 straight victories and win 33 out of 34 games. The State Champion- ship had come back home. Starting Section XV play with an impressive 54-44 victory over highly rated Export, the tall and talented Knights swept through the sec- tion. However, they needed a great comeback to beat Blairsville by two points in overtime and went all out to top Derry Boro by two on the latter s court. The County Tournament provided little op- position for the Knights as they repeated as champions after smashing West Newton, Lig- onier, Penn Township and Trafford. WPIAL play started with an easy win over Apollo-70 to 40-at Wilkinsburg as Good tallied 24 points. Etna was next for the Knights at Pitt's big, beautiful Field House. Decided underdogs, Etna put up a stiff battle before bowing to a fourth period surge 56-47. A strong Perryopolis team found the Knights too much to handle in the semi-finals, losing 68- 47. McFarIand led the Knights with I7 points as the team vaulted to the finals. A high-scor- ing Wampum team, called the best in the State, was the opposition. But after a terrific battle the tremendous height of the Knights told again. 7I-7O was the final score as the Knights fought from behind to win in the last minute. Norberg hit for 23 points and Hursh had ZI in the Irwin victory. This gave the team the right to represent District 7 in the State playoffs. Forbes, an unknown to Irwin, was the first opponent. Small and scrappy, they gave us trouble before bowing 60-SI. Norberg paced the Knights with 28 points. McKeesport was the site of this game. Cresson was the next victim 68-47, on the same floor. Hursh scored 24. At New Wilmington, Simpson's I9 points led Irwin to a 68-48 victory over Mercer, and gave them the right to represent the West in the State Finals. Highly-touted Ashley was the last opponent as the Knights came back home to Pitt for the final. The first half was a rugged, seesaw battle with Irwin ahead 33-30. But the second stanza was all Irwin. Hitting with deadly ac- curacy, they flashed the form the fans had waited for all year. The final score was 73-5I as Simpson celebrated his birthday with I7 points and Norberg had l9. McFarland bowed out in grand style. Much of the credit for this great season must go to Coach Joe McMunn who took ten inexperienced boys and made them into a smooth working, well balanced team. Many observers stated that Irwin was the best coached team in the State, A or I3. No out- standing stars or five outstanding stars and a strong bench also contributed to our success.

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THE LITTLE KNIGHTS ANDJUNIORS.. Starting as a young, inexperienced five, roll- ing up a long winning streak and winding up with a ZO-Z record was the JV's story. Coach Markosky found a tough situation when he came to Irwin, Last season's powerful squad had moved to the Varsity. With only one re- turnee, Mr. Markosky forged a team that won its first I7 games. However, heartbreaking losses to Derry and Penn Township shattered their dream of an undefeated season. Those who watched them will never forget pivot man Gardner's shooting, Shoup's re- bounding, Plues' ball-hawking or Shrump and Waugaman's deadly outside shots, Nor can we overlook the play of the reserves in late season when Plues and Waugaman went to the Varsity. Let's watch this team of the future closely as they move into Varsity competition. As in the past, the Irwin Junior High team coached by Sam Marsico rounded out the sea- son with a near-perfect record. Out of a ZO game season the junior leoguers came through taking i8 of the contests, but Greensburg proved too much for Irwin as they lost both games to them. This year's team had many potential stars. Curt Gardner was noted for his sharp shooting, George Creighton for his play-making and continuous ball-hawking and Johnny Kooser for all-around play. I-larvey l-lockensmith will be remembered for his winning bucket at Jeannette and Bill Painter for his exceptional ability in getting more than his share of re- bounds. Their next step, the JV team, will give them even more chances to prove their abilities be- fore they reach the Varsity. JAY VEES Back, I. to r.-Mr. Markosky, Charles Best, Alan Shoup, Ken- neth Lomicka, Warren Gardner, Jim Shrump. Front-Larry Milburn, Jock Runt, Paul Cole, James Delas- sandra, Ed Siegel. JUNIOR HI Back, l. to r,-Mr. Marsico, George Creighton, Curt Gord- ner, Bill Painter, Bob Kline, John Kooser, Richard Benjamin. FrontiJack Naylor, Norman Bertani, Bill Ray, Bernie Plues. vnu -:lisa-