Paxton High School - Reflector Yearbook (Paxton, IL)

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BASKETBALL ♦ ♦ TWENTY victories out of twenty-seven games. That’s the record made by the P. C. H. S. quintet for the 1933-34 basketball season. This record, incidentally, happens to be the best that we fans have had to boast for a long time. To be really accurate, this is the best season Paxton basketeers have ever had. Winning eleven and losing three also happens to be the best a reserve five has ever done. Now that we’re all through with the records and what not, we’ll begin with the opening of the season and see just how these aforesaid victories were made. About forty boys responded to Coach Hankenson’s first call for basketball, and out of that number only four were lettermen- However, that had little to do with the formation of the team as a senior from a three-year school, several sophomores, and a junior beat out all but one of the lettermen. When the season began, the team lined up like this: Stine and Higginson, forwards; Harrington, center; Lunde and Hedrick, guards. It was this group of boys who had the most to do with how our season’s wins and losses totalled. When the Rantoul game in the semi- finals of the district tournament ended basketball for the year, it was this same bunch of fellows who were in there scrapping for a shot at the district title. Here’s a little resume of the letter-men. Everett Stine, forward, was elected captain of the team. Nearly always good for five points, probably the best shot on the squad from the sides and corners, and letterman for three years, Stine should be more than proud to look back over the record he helped to make this past season. Bill Higginson, a forward, and for part of the season a guard, was by far the most aggressive man on the team. A regular ball hawk and a good side shot, Bill quickly captured the fancy of the local crowds besides playing a bang-up game in every way. It’s been a long time since Paxton has had a center who could score as much and as consistently as Harrington. A product of a three year school, an excellent pivot shot with a height of six feet three to top it off, Harrington had more than a profitable season with the locals this year. He was cocaptain with Stine.

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game clinched their fourth straight Wauseca League championship. The score? We-ell, ah-just-ah-skip it. The last game of the rather disappointing football season was probably the biggest upset in years, for the Drummer eleven whipped us 19-7 after we had opened our schedule with an overwhelming four-touchdown defeat of them on the local field. Long passes and equally long runs were the causes of the Gibson victory. With the concluding of the football year, let’s look back and see just who the boys were who made up the ’33 eleven. First there’s Gene Carlson, pudgy little fullback who captained the team. Besides being a senior, Gene’s other distinguishing features were that he hit the line hard, tackled as if he meant it, and was a mighty good leader. Vernie Orr held down a quarterback post on Coach Hankenson’s team for two years. On off-tackle plays On-averaged three yards, something not to be sneezed at in any man’s game. It’ll be a long time before we forget Vernie hitching up his football pants (a trifle large), kneeling his exact two yards behind the line of scrimmage, and shouting his heps and signals. Another senior. Sam Earnest, the boy who’s always mentioned in connection with his weight, is only a junior, but this happy thought is overshadowed by the fact that Sam becomes twenty before next fall. Sam’s one hundred ninety pounds were a bulwark at center and fullback for the past three years. Hugh Stone, one hundred seventy-five pound guard, one of the squad’s best tacklers, nicknamed Bump, has a brother who made football history at Paxton. A junior. Figures don’t lie, so Bump ought to have a banner season next fall. Dick Nelson: When you can argue like Dick and love to tackle like Dick, you can begin to understand why this boy has pulled down two letters at end. Another worthy senior who will be missed by the local fans. Try guessin’ this one. Six feet, black hair, exceedingly shy and quiet, plays end, is a junior, weighs about one hundred seventy-five. Your guess is as good as mine. He’ll be a welcome figure to the coach next fall. Elmer Flan-nigan? Called that one, didn’t we? Another bashful lad. This one’s from Clarence. Bob Swanson could be found at either tackle or guard during his one year of football at P. C. H. S. Another home town lad that made good in the big city. Clarence Nuss: Nuss passed, punted and was blessed with a world of speed. Coach Hankenson expects great things of this sophomore halfback before he graduates. Leon Healy (better known as Bus) : Although a little light for a guard, Bus teamed with Bump Stone to make a hard-charging pair. Since most of our plays are off-tackle and the guards pull out to run interference, these boys were always in the thick of the fight. In the fall he leaves his saxophone and plays tackle on the Paxton eleven. Sounds like birds migrating, but in reality it’s only Bob Olson winning his football letter after four falls of hard practicing and waiting for his chance. David McKinney is a junior. An excellent dropkicker and passer, Jeb was always called in when Paxton was behind and needed a couple of points. Incidentally, he usually came through. Warren Stone is another boy who waited for four years for his chance to become a Paxton letterman. Another senior and end. Leon Henry figures to be a very prominent tackle in next year’s lineup. Henry is only a sophomore and weighs one hundred seventy-five, two facts which make him a welcome sight to any high school coach. Although he was not expected to play much football last fall, he broke into the lineup midway in the season and held a regular tackle position the rest of the time. Another sophomore who won a letter this past year was Kenny Jones, lightweight halfback. Where Kenny shone was on his ability to snag passes. With a few more pounds Jones ought to go places the next two years.

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Del Lunde, six foot guard, was the surprise of the season. Not expected to play a very important part in varsity basketball this year, Del turned up as the most improved player on the squad and garnered a guard position for the entire basketball season. There are two more years for this boy who is expected to send Paxton to a couple of sectionals in the next two years. Gale Hedrick teamed with Lunde at guard position this year to make the defensive part of the team an all-sophomore affair. When Gale transferred from Fisher High last year, that school lost a big, hard-rebounding guard, and Paxton gained a valuable boy. Jeb McKinney is a junior this year and so will be back to scrap for a forward post on the ’35 quintet. A letter-man in basketball for three years now, McKinney’s strong points are his drive on under-basket shots and his ability to make long attempts. Bud Larson, better known as the “minute man,” is another senior who has played his last hardwood game for Paxton. He has been a letterman for three years and has held the interest of the fans every time he has played. WON 20—LOST 7 Paxton, 35; Gilman, 21 (T) “ 24; Rossville, 17 (H) 18; Rankin, 19 (three overtimes) (T) “ 32; Roberts, 12 (H) “ 40; Onarga, 22 (H) “ 31; Gibson City, 27 (H) “ 32; Rankin, 15 (H) “ 18; Rantoul, 19 (T) “ 20; Melvin, 23 (T) “ 34; Piper City, 12 (H) “ 29; Gibson Citv, 15 (T) “ 20; Kempton, 17 (H) “ 22; Rossville, 20 (T) “ 17; Rantoul, 23 (H) “ 26 ; Onarga, 19 (T) “ 24; Robei-ts, 22 (3 overtimes) (T) “ 46; Melvin, 16 (H) “ 45; East Lynn, 22 (Invitational) “ 33; Gibson City, 21 (Invitational) 12; Rantoul, 19 (Invitational) 16; Gibson City, 21 (County) “ 48; Cabery, 10 (County) “ 27; Melvin, 14 (County) “ 45; Kempton, 23 (County) “ 26; Saybrook, 16 (District) “ 23; Bellflower, 16 (District) 10; Rantoul, 12 (District) Total Points—Paxton, 753; Opponents, 493. Average Points per game—Paxton, 28; Opponents, 18.