La Salle Academy - Maroon and White Yearbook (Providence, RI)

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pina 2 OON and WHITE 2 Basketball HEN the call for candidates for the bas- ketball team was sounded, the response was immediate and gratifying. But, de- spite this auspicious start, there were many who looked forward to the season with fear and mis- givings. There was very little veteran material from the previous season. Graduation had de- pleted the ranks considerably. This left our new coach with the haunting problem of picking out serviceable material from the new group and get- ting them into shape before the season opened. To the credit of our popular coach, Hee. Allen, we must admitthlat he worked arduously and well. With his green material, he whipped into shape a quintet that compared most favorably with the outstanding teams of the State. Added lo this is his good work with the Junior 'Varsity, a team that will be his sole support for the next season. The schedule when completed consisted of twenty-three games, arranged by Manager Joe Lynch. Of these, twelve were victories, and eleven losses. The total points scored for the sea- son were 5lZ with our opponents garnering 493 points. Two members of the team scored over l00 points each: Mike Higgins scoring II5, and Flash Rielly getting I73 points. Our season opened with West Warwick fur- nishing the opposition. The superior Hoorwork and the accurate shooting of our boys was too much for the opponents to overcome, and they went down to defeat, 38-27. Our next tilt ,with the same team was at our gym, where West Warwick was again defeated, l7-7. Continuing their winning ways, the Maroon and White hoopsters defeated Classical High, 36-25. This game was marked by the outstand- ing play of Rielly of La Salle and Captain Drom- goole of Classical. Our next game was our first in the Interscholastic Conference. Central Falls provided the opposition. After four periods of nip and tuck playing, the score stood 24-24. But in the overtime period the Central Falls boys earned two points, while the best we could get was one. Traveling to East Greenwich, another 67

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1 Wim 2 S it e 5 s 2 g ooixr ,pkMJeg, and WHITE 5 only two will be lost by graduation, Frank Barrie and john McWilliams, both of whom placed among the select five and often helped La Salle to victory. With the l25 members of the Freshman squad to call upon we have a very formidable array of talent to carry on La Salle's prestige in the hill and dale game in the future. Our first meet of the year was scheduled for October l4th with Commercial High, Interscho- lastic League Champions. Owing to some miscal- culation the dedication of La Salle's new athletic field was finally settled upon for October l6th. Just two days before our most important meet. During the halves of the football game, the cross- country run was called. Amid the clicking of cameras, accompanied by the cheering of some 6000 people present, the race was started by Bishop Hickey. It was not long before the har- riers were lost to view over the nearby hills. just as the football teams were returning to resume the game, Ray McManus was seen lead- ing the harriers down the hill leading to the home stretch. After encircling the field McManus reached the finish line fully l00 yards ahead of Marzano, the Interscholastic League Champion. The cheers were deafening. Lareau, Conley and Russell of La Salle followed closely. La Salle carried the day by a 20 to 35 score. This was the first victory of the 1928 season. This meet served as a final tryout for the trip to New York City. Those making the trip were McManus, La- reau, Conley, Russell, Briston, McWilliams, Bar- rie, McAndrews, and Leonard. On the following day, thanks to the student body, Mr. T. Cooney, Mr. R. McManus and Mr. J. Murphy who made the trip possible, we left Providence for the joumey to New York to enter the Manhattan College lnterscholastic Meet. After an enjoyable trip we arrived in the big town. After seeing most of the city, we were quartered in De La Salle Hall as the guests of Manhattan College. On the morrow we prepared for the fray and witnessed the assembling of over 400 athletes to 66 take part in the meet. Never before had we wit- nessed so many athletes taking part in an event. As the mob toed the mark, we went into a huddle, encouraged one another and with a prayer on our lips we were off for the hills of Van Courtlandt Park. Much to the surpirse of all, McManus was seen battling the leaders down the homestretch. He placed second! Only a step behind the win- ner. Out of 40 schools participating we placed fifth. Thus outdistancing by far the other Catho-' lic Schools of the East. Seven other Christian Brothers Schools from various parts of New York State were also entered, but La Salle, Providence, led them all. May we not also claim this cham- pionship? This trip marked the first time any athletic team from Providence ever competed in New York. ' Our next meet was with Burrillville High School, a Class B school, which we won by an l8-32 score. It is our intention in the future to compete with Class A schools, and having these Class B schools compete with our reserve team, consisting of Freshmen and Sophomores. The last meet of the year was held on Thanksgiving Day. It was the local Y. M. C. A. Annual Road Race. La Salle entered a full team and won both the individual and team prize, McManus placing first, and Lareau, McWilliams, Russell and Bar- rie, all of La Salle, placed in the second, third, seventh and eleventh positions, respectively. As victory followed victory, and championship fol- lowed championship, the conservative daily press took notice of our achievements, and the Writeups of our races increased proportionately. Numerous pictures, too, graced both New York and Provi- dence newspapers: Providcnce journal: La Salle's great cross- country team opened its season in a victory over Commercial High, and next came the invasion of New York. In this meet Captain Ray McManus distinguished himself by placing himself only one second behind the winner in a field of more than 400 competitors.

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I 2 2 E 5 f t E 2 00N ggsglmjnlqg a.ndWVIi1ITE 5 victory was added to our list, this time over East Greenwich Academy, 38-I 7. After a trip to Taunton, in which they were defeated by St. Mary's High, 38-l0, our boys returned home to meet De La Salle. After a sterling exhibition of basketball by both teams, the score stood I5-I3 in favor of De La Salle, but due to some misunderstanding the verdict was awarded to us by the Conference authorities, l3-l2. Next we journeyed to Woolisocket to meet the strong Mt. St. Charles five, who man- aged to eek out a slim victory of one point. The score was I7-l6. In the third Conference game, and our second with Central Falls, our represen- tatives were defeated, 25-20. Mt. St. Charles returned our visit, and, in an interesting game, defeated our charges, 24-18. Undaunted by these defeats, the Maroon and White turned the tables on Colt Memorial, I6-13. On the final lap of the campaign the losing jinx seemed to be with us. We lost four consecu- tive gamesg the first came at the hands of Warren, I9-95 the second from St. Mary's High, l4-l0. To Coach Heck Allen much credit can be given for the success of this year's team. It was the best team which has thus far represented the school, as they Won the majority of their games, outscored their opponents, and placed fifth in Interscholastic Conference competition. Under Coach Allen, the members of the team showed a fine fighting spirit, with a superior manner of clean play. Having been left without a captain from the team of l927-28, it was decided not to elect one, but to let the coach choose one before the game. In doing this every member of the regular team acted as captain in at least one game. With the majority of the squad left for service, next year we can expect to see the name of La Salle kept high up in the basketball annals of the State. As the curtain falls on the basketball season. another epoch comes to an end in La Salle history. As the togs are put in moth balls, we find that no matter what the trials of life, time flies on, re- gardless. Others come to take our places. 1 L., , ..' , 68