Manhattan College - Manhattanite Yearbook (Riverdale, NY)

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of strength, and turned in several brilliant performances. The co-captains, John Burke and John Veryzer, were invaluable for their steadying influence and shooting ability. And big JVIike Joyce, whose tremendous scoring capabilities earned him a starting post towards the end of the season, set him up as the man to watch in his two remaining years. Finally, the reserves who will all have their day at some future date, fellows like Don Connolly, Frank Illig, Dick Arndt, who were in their first year on the varsity, and others who have given fully of their abilities, and will again, such as Sig Skronski, John Hughes, Ray Wischusen, and Frank How- Ian, the darling of the crowds. Most imposing of the new records are those set by Bob Kelly, because of their qual- 228

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TT ITH almost e%eiy record in the books ' ' smashed to smithereens, and national prominence regained through the medium of upset victories and tainted tournament bids, the 1947-19-48 basketball season at Manhat- tan College has been hailed by one and all as being close to the best e er. This was the first year that a Jasper five ever amassed twenty wins, and only a mediocre Subway Circuit record prevents tabbing the quintet as great. Every member of the team comes in for a word of praise, whether he played the en- tire forty minutes racing about the court, or sat on a hard wooden bench for the same pe- riod. Bob Kelly receives nothing but superla- tives for his set-shooting, drive, and yeoman defensive chores. Jack Byrnes lived up to ex- pectations with his excellent leadership, ex- ceptional passing ability, fine rebound work and consistent scoring. The word consistent, however, is better suited to Bill Woods, the hard-driving for- ward who could always be counted on to re- trieve far more than his share of balls off both backboards. Hank Poppe was a tower 227

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ity and quantity. Five, all told, fell before his unerring eye. He scored 326 points, approxi- mately thirteen per game, a nd both the total and the average are new highs. This season ' s net, added to those of his two previous years, gives a total of 742 points, far more than any of his predecessors had hit, and Kelly has another year in which to increase his lead. Hank Poppe was responsible for the other important mark, the twenty-five points he scored in the Brooklyn College game. The former record of twenty-three had been held jointly by Poppe, Mike Joyce, and Dick Mur- phy of 1943 fame. The most important and decisive victory of the year was not gained on the court. It was established when the administration withdrew our five from the Kansas City 229