Paxton High School - Reflector Yearbook (Paxton, IL)

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Qa hethcdl . . . 1939-40 Paxton’s 1939-40 basketball five again upheld a tradition—that of having a successful season. Although they won 18 games in 28 starts, this team will undoubtedly he remembered for its grand climax, which featured a Regional Championship and a trip to the Sectional Finals. With only three returning lettermen to form the nucleus of the squad, Coach McCarty’s boys had their ups and downs, never winning or losing more than two games in a row prior to the State Tournament play. After losing the County Championship to Melvin, the local cagers retaliated by scoring several major upsets. Some of the high spots of the year were victories over the following champs: Watseka, of tin Wauseca League; Urbana, Big Twelve stars; Piper City, of the East Central League; Hoopeston, Vermilion Valley winners; and Danville, the Vermilion County title holder.

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SEPT. 29 Mr. “Jinx” and a natural “letdown” accompanied the Paxton warriors to Oilman on the following Friday evening where they encountered their first and only defeat at the hands of the Oilman Owls by the margin of one touchdown. OCT. 6 TheP. C. H. S. gridders had little trouble in disposing of the Ran-toul Eagles by a score of 18 to 0. OCT. 13 A real test was given the home eleven as they invaded the Iroquois County seat to throttle Watseka’s chance for a Wauseca League Championship. Paxton’s alert defense stopped the Watseka speed merchants as the ball game ended in a scoreless tie. OCT. 20 Onarga failed to give the McCarty men much opposition in the next home game, although Paxton was content with a 20 to 14 victory. Coach McCarty gave bis reserves a chance to perform in the final half, thus accounting for Onarga’s two touchdowns. OCT. 28 Although outweighed about 30 pounds to the man, Paxton neatly scored upon the lloopeston aggregation in the second quarter. However, the latter’s power began to tell in the final period as they hammered across the goal line: Paxton 7, lloopeston 7. NOV. 3 Paxton again defeated Coach Lynn Oibbs’ boys from Rantoul on their own field to the tune of a 12 to 0 count. NOV. 11 By far the hardest fought and most exciting game on the 1939 bill was the annual Armistice Day game with our rivals from the west, Gibson City. Bob Froyd was the hero of the day as he converted a field goal from the 20-yard line in the second quarter to give Paxton a 3 to 0 decision. This was indeed a perfect climax for a season which saw a spirited team stand up against almost overwhelming odds.

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Danielson at center, Wade and Froyd at forward, McCarty, Tliil-mony, Vevig and Rodeen at guard, composed the I . C. II. S. basket-eers. Rudd, Hales, Young and Snyder also shared positions on the first five to make up a well-balanced team. All except Danielson, Froyd and Thilmony have played tlieir last basketball for the blue and the gold. The Urbana-Paxton game, which was to decide the Regional Championship, was unquestionably the most exciting and one of the finest performances ever witnessed in the local gym. Paxton played a defense which completely baffled the Big Twelve Champs as Wade and Froyd handled most of the scoring to win a 35-34 victory. The Reserves used a team composed mostly of freshmen and sophomores which made a creditable record for itself by winning seven out of nineteen games. The Paxton Service Club presented the members of the squad with miniature gold basketballs, acknowledging their appreciation of the fine showing which the team made for itself. PAXTON (WON 18, LOST 10) FORD CO. TOURNAMENT Watseka 35, Paxton 25 Paxton 48, Onarga 24. Oilman 37, Paxton 25. Paxton 35, Fisher 16. Melvin 25, Paxton 22. Paxton 45, Kempton 28. Paxton 36, Piper City 30. Melvin 20, Paxton l(i. Paxton 40, Gibson City 30. Champaign 26, Paxton 25. PAXTON REGIONAL Paxton 32, Rantoul 22. Paxton 39, Onarga 23. Milford 39, Paxton 26. Paxton 38, Watseka 30. Paxton 40, Onarga 10. Paxton 27, Oilman 23. Paxton 35, Urbana 34. Paxton 36, Gibson City 35. Paxton 30, Melvin 15. Paxton 36, Oilman 31. Rantoul 30, Paxton 26. Milford 35, Paxton 27. Paxton 31, Fisher 20. Paxton 35, Danville 26. S ECT1 ON A L T )U RN AM EN T Paxton 54. Wapella 25. Paxton 29, Iloopeston 26. Champaign 27, Paxton 17. Iloopeston 40, Paxton 32.