Park High School - Arrow Yearbook (Livingston, MT)

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S'FATE 'FOLYRN ANIENT Park earned the right to go to the State Tournament in Bozeman this year by successfully going through the Southern District. The team was slated to meet Havre, a team that was ex- pected to take honors at the tourney. Park out- played the Ponies and took the game. 33 to 25. Starting slowly, the team was an avalanche, gathering momentum as it went. Havre took the lead. but the boys dropped in baskets to tie the score at 10 all at the half. From the start of the second half the outcome was never in doubt. Havre rallied in the fourth quarter, however, to tie the score, 22 to 22. With only a few minutes to play. Oley, Smokey and John dropped in neat field goals, to give Park a lead that was never threat- ened. Havre was content with a goal and a free throw during the remainder of the game. By defeating Havre, Park earned the right to play Mt. St. Charles in the second game of the meet. Both teams seemed tired from the games the day before. Smokey was unable to go because of a cold. t'Mac was forced from the game early in the third period because of personals. This, along with hard luck in shooting. accounted for the defeat. Smokey opened the scoring with a free throw. and Oley added a field goal, but the Saints looped three in rapid succession. The remainder of the half both teams battled on even terms. the score being 10 to 6. The Saints started the ball rolling in the third period with two long heaves. John netted a free throw and Oley added two more points with a field goal. St. Charles con- nected with two more marathon heaves. and a short basket, to end the quarter. For a short time in the fourth quarter Park was apparently regain- ing some of its form, but could not connect with the basket. The Saints added one more basket to their score, and shortly before the gun sounded, Walter sank a free throw and Ray a basket to complete the scoring. After losing to Mt. St, Charles, Park was scheduled to meet Whitefish, conference winners. and necessarily a strong team. Playing one of the smoothest, headiest and snappiest games of the tournament, Park deserved to win from Whitefish because of better playing. As before, the team started slowly. but im- proved as the game progressed. Whitefish started the scoring with two field goals. but Walter and John put Park in the running with a field goal and a free throw. The quarter ended 4 to 3 in favor of Whitefish. Dunckel opened with a field goal, but Whitefish did likewise, holding the three- point lead. Mac scored from the gift line, and John again tossed a field goal. Whitefish coun- tered a free throw and a basket to gain a two- point lead, but John tied the score as the half ended. The boys settled down and displayed a pretty passing game as the third quarter progressed. Oley sank a free throw and a field goal, White- fish took a free throw but Smokey wiped out the counter with a field. goal. On the next play he fouled a Whitefish player while he was shooting and he made good both attempts at the basket. The quarter ended 15 to 13 in Park's favor. The team kept Whitefish from scoring a single field goal during the period. Page Seventy-Seven Ray opened the scoring but Whitefish did like- wise, Walter sank a long shot, and Whitefish looped a free toss, but John countered a field goal to give Park a 22 to 16 lead. The team started to stall but Whitefish broke through for a set-up. and a heave from the middle of the floor ended the game, 22 to 20. By defeating Whitefish, Park cinched a place in the tournament, but t'Nothing is too good for Park, so the boys decided to take Butte Central into camp. The team had a good job on its hands, and everybody expected them to be beaten -except the team itself. Butte Central has won second place for the last three years and many expected them to win the tournament this year. The teams fought on even terms. but Park held the edge throughout. Dunckel opened with a free throw, but Freeborn did likewise. A moment later Central took the lead when Freeborn netted a field goal. Piskol, Central guard, sank a long shot, Oley did the same, and a moment later John dribbled in to score. He was fouled while shooting and made good both free throws. Daily and Piskol dropped long shots and the quarter ended 8 to 7 in favor of Central. Smokey opened the second quarter with a long. one-handed shot, He was fouled while shoot- ing and sank one of the gift shots. A moment later he dropped in two in succession. Freeborn and Piskol both d1'0pped in shots from the center of the floor. Oley sank a long one and Barry came in for Dunckel. Frankino tallied for Central, and as the gun sounded Park held a 16 to 14 lead. Daily carried the score on the first play of the third period with a long shot from the side- lines and Freeborn placed his team in the lead with a field goal. McEntire made good on the free throw attempt. Dixon substituted for McCar- thy and on the first play he sank a neat field goal. A moment later he fouled Dunckel. who sank the free toss. The quarter ended with Central holding a 20 to 18 lead. Park played its best ball of the tournament in the closing quarter of the contest. With the entire team feeding Walter he connected on al- most every attempt, to give Park its most impres- sive victory in years. Tournament officials stated that the Park-Central game was one of the most outstanding of the tournament. The local cagers surprised even the most optimistic of the fans by their startling play and deserve the praise of every Livingston fan. Competition in the state t0u1'ney this year was the strongest in several years, making Park's accomplishment the more impressive. A proof of Park's basket-shooting ability came when the names of the high point men of the tournament were published. Park had two out of a list of ten. They were Walter Lyons and John Dunckel. Walter placed second and John sev- enth. The boys are to be congratulated on their shooting ability. Coach Straw takes the honor of training these hawkeyes. Enough praise cannot be given the Coach for the team he developed this year, both gi basketball and football. More power to you, oac 1.