Rutgers Preparatory School - Ye Dial Yearbook (New Brunswick, NJ)

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Left-Right lst row: Klein, Lee, L., Menhart, S., Conhagen, A., Schneier. A., Sheehy, W., Levinston, C.: 2nd row: Mr. Blake, Kouris, T., Newton, J., Sherman, A.. Swallick. J., Starr, J. unior Varsit Basketball .qg.-sf UDGED solely on the record-seven won, eight lost-the Jay Vee 'mdfie basketball team turned in only a mediocre performance. But any- Qfyif' one who saw this team in action knows that the record is mis- leading. Facing some of the best High School jay Vee teams in A,gg,kg-'gg the County, the boys were always very much in every game. Never discouraged by a defeat, they came back to defeat three of their earlier conquerors. lu early December twenty-five boys answered the call for candidates. Thir- teen of these were retained on the squad. Of this number three had played on the Jay Vee team the previous year: Fred Klein, guard, Linwood Lee, center, and Art Schneier, forward. New to the squad were Al Conhagen, Steve Menhart, Bill Sheehy, Charley Levinston, and Jack Krauszer. This group of boys, thc eventual letter winners, was supplemented by Gordon Spencer, Jack Newton, john Swallick, Tom Kouris, and Arnold Sherman. Menhart and Schneier were elected co-captains. SOUTH RIVER XVith only five days of practice and following a two weekis vacation, the team faced South River High on our floor. VVhile defeated, 32-25 by an older, moi'e experienced five, the team showed promise. Art Schneier tallied 12 points to lead both teams in individual scoring. Page fnrlv-11110

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back and forth throughout. Once again we came from behind, after trailing by as much as twelve points at one time. The Mad Russiani' Potosky definitely amassed a total of 17 points. At the end of the regular playing time the score was tied 38-38, which necessitated an overtime period. During this period Newark scored a basket and won the game. WOODBRIDGE To be sure all of us will remember the Woodbridge game, also played on the home floor. Prep really broke the ice in this game. After the visitors had gained a 4-0 lead the Prepsters began to click. At the end of the quarter the score stood 10-4 in our favor. But during the second quarter the Prepsters ran rough-shod over the visiting Barrons, amassing a 22 point total for that quarter. The half ended 32-11 in our favor. During the third quarter the Prep reserves took over. Then Woodbridge began to score, and our regulars went in to stave off the rally. But they had lost their touch, and it was not until late in the final quarter that they settled down, with Woodbridge only four points behind. The final score was Prep 39, Woodbridge 31. Scoring laurels went to Ruegger, Potosky, and Ewing, with 13, 12, and 9 points respectively. HIGHLAND PARK HIGH SCHOOL But the game of the year was that with Highland Park, played on the cross-river court. The gallant never-say-die Prepsters just could not close the gap to victory in the most hotly contested game of the season. Although the Prepsters fought uphill all the way, they just could not be stopped from the second period on, holding the Parkites on even terms and matching their score point for point. In the final period the Owls began to pull away, but the members of Prep Quintet were right behind them. Sleepy,' Bornheimer tossed in a basket from far out, to show that we still meant business, Lefty followed with a layup shot and the Mad Russiani' tossed in a free throw, to make the score read only 39-32 against us. Scoring laurels for the year went Hrst, to Phil Ruegger with 176 points, for an average of 8.8 points per game, second, to Lefty,' Ewing with 143 points, third, to Mad Russian Potosky with 105 points. These were followed, in order, by Bornheimer, MacKay, Harms, Betz, YfVitte, Thompson, Gross, Minde, and Livergood. As a team they scored 597 points, for an average of almost 30 points per game. To the team and to Mr. Heinlein goes a vote of congratulations for carrying on even though the season was not very successful from the standpoint of wins. But one thing that we did win this year as a team was the reputation that we can take it on the chin and ask for more. Letters were awarded to Co-captains Phil Ruegger and Walt Bornheimer, to Walt Potosky, jack Betz, Doug MacKay, Ken Harms, Jim Witte, Lefty Ewing, Ted Minde, Oscar Gross, jack Livergood, and Manager Iohn Starr. Page forty-om'

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ST. PETERS A week later, on January 12, St. Peters High visited us. Prep's tight zone defense was too much for the Petreans to fathom and they finished on the short end of an 18-15 score. SOUTH RIVER On January 14 the team played its first away from home game with South River High. The contest was almost a duplicate of the first one, with South River again victorious 33-25. This game saw Al Conhagen, leading scorer for the season, start his high scoring spree with six field goals. The game was lost in the first quarter when Prep was behind 10-2. ST. PETERS A return game with St. Peters at Columbia Hall followed. St. Peters, away to a fine start, led 13-6 at the half and held its lead through the third quarter. Fred Klein entered the fray at this point, stole the ball repeatedly, pepped up the team, and turned what had seemed certain defeat into a 22-19 victory. JAMESBURC Playing on the stage of an auditorium at Jamesburg High the following Friday, was a new experience for the boys. The game was fast, but largely de- fensive. Prep matched Jamesburg in field goals, but could not match their foul shooting, since only one foul shot was awarded. Jamesburg won 17-13. SAYREVILLE Back home again the next Tuesday, with Sayreville High as the opposition, the team turned in an easy victory 21-15. The entire squad saw action and coasted along after an 8-1 first quarter. WOODBRIDGE Woodbridge High arrived on Friday, February 4. They looked much too big and old for our youngsters, but appearances were deceiving. After an even first half, Prep gradually drew away to win 25-21, with Conhagen, Schneier, and Klein doing most of the scoring. METUCHEN The Metuchen High game was a heart-breaker. Up to this time the Jay Vees had been a great second-half team, playing with poise, and putting on a strong rally to finish each contest. This was an exact reversal of form. Leading 17-9 at the end of the third period, they blew up completely to lose 22-19. NEW BRUNSWICK The second game of the week took us to New Brunswick High to play the Colts. The boys enjoyed playing on the fine big floor with its fan-shaped back- boards, but could not quite hold their opponents in check. Although Klein and Lee scored 15 points between them, their two opponents did a little better with 18. In spite of a fine second-half rally, the Colts held on to win 27-24. JAMESBURC Weary and discouraged after two last minute reverses in one week, the Prep team had still a third game to play on Friday. The opponent, Jamesburg High, boasted eleven straight victories, one of them at the expense of our team three weeks before. The outlook was dark, but Steve Menhart did not seem to know it. Putting on the best one-man show of the entire season, Steve threw one- handers from every angle, dropping seven. Even so, Jamesburg led 22-21 at the end of the third quarter. Field goals by Krauszer, Conhagen, Klein and Menhart in quick succession, turned the tide and resulted in a 31-22 win. Continued on page 47 Page forty-rhrre