Selah High School - Fruitspur Yearbook (Selah, WA)

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04flZZ'sfze. Selah opened the basketball season suspiciously by winning a thrilling 48-45 game from the strongest Alumni squad ever assembled for this traditional Thanksgiving opener. The veteran lineup, which won this game, went on to make history by beating Yakima four times as well as winning all their fourteen regular season games except a 36-30 loss at Ellensburg on New Year's Eve. The Vikings, however, got sweet revenge for this loss by winning from the Bulldogs on the Selah floor 37-36. This game was the classic of the season for Selah players and fans alike. Eleven-hundred people, the largest crowd ever to witness a game on the Vik- ings' home court, were thrilled by a last quarter drive which saw the Bulldog's 28-22 lead, at the end of the third quarter, overcome. Thus ended a two-season twentyhfive game winning streak the visitors were so gallantly defending. Jerry Hoagland, whose evident ability, steady playing, and inspirational leadership was high, was also high point man with 191 points. His splendid perfc mance in the Valley tournament at Ellensburg earned for him a place as center on the all-star team. Lester Sperline was chosen as a member of the all-star second team. His performance there and throughout the season very well earned for him that honor. In points, Ray Swanson was second with 157 points. Les Sperline , Fred Johnson, Chuck May, and Buzz Dean had 124, 92, 75, and 30 points respectively. The Vikings had a floor captain appointed each game, but most of the honors went to Ray Swanson and Fred Johnson whose outstanding sportsmanshop, interest, and ability made them the natural leaders. This was well borne out at the close of the year when Fred was elected by his teammates as honorary captain. The team suffered bitter disappointment near the close of the season due to the loss of Chuck ay and Buzz Dean.' Chuck graduated at mid-year to join the Navy and Buzz had to withdraw from school to help on his father's farm. Chuck's uncanny ability to get shots and make them, along with Dean's superior guarding were sorely missed. The valuable play of these two boys had helped lead the team through its last two very successful seasons. th The loss of these two stars was felt greatly during the tournaments at the close of e season. Three games were played in the district toupngment in Yakima with Selah coming in in Second Place- In the first game of the district tourney the Vikings overwhelmed Moxee by a 43 to ll score. Just a week later Yakima triumphed over Selah by the scare of 40 tc 51, the only loss of the year to Yakima. The next night our varsity was unvelenting in trounc- ing Naches 58 to 16. Although one defeat was suffered in the district tournament this did not dampen the boys spirit when they went to Ellenshurg March the fourth. That night they turned in one of their best performances of the year only to see victory denied them by disheartening had breaks, the final score being Ellensburg 31 Selah 28. - The next night the Vikings again traveled to Ellensburg to achieve a 35 to 26 conquest over the Prosser Mustangs. Still with a chance to win second place and earn a trip to Seattle, the team returned to Ellensburg three nights later to play the Cle Elum Warrlo s whom they defeated twice in thrilling, well-played games. A successful first half gave them a 16-10 advantage but'this was not enough to stave off a determined Cle Elum drive in the last half. It was a valiant but tired Viking squad that finally bowed out of the valley tournament 34-28. Other team members of the Viking lineup included Ronnie Sperline and Jack Graham who so capably took over when Buzz and Chuck left school, Lloyd Watson, Bob Tibbling, Leonard Skjelstad, and Wallace Johnsc . In Scoring 751 points to their opponents 588 fc the season, the Vikings were the va11ey's only team, except Kennewick, to lose fewer than five games. Their season's re- cord is: Alumni Selah 48 Yakima Selah 40 Wapato Selah 38 Toppenish Selah 50 Ellensburg Selah 30 Yakima Selah 45 Marquette Selah 51 Whpato Selah 37 Cle Elum Selah 38 Toppenish Selah 25 Ellensburg Selah 37 Yakima Selah 54 Marquette Selah 39 Cle Elum Selah 51

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Baagsfgaff qiuf .gvquacf Mr. Overstreet, coachg Jerry Hoaglandg Ray Swansong Jack Grahamg Clyde Deang Leonard Skjelstadg Lloyd Watsong Maurece Pisar Ronney Sperlineg Fred Johnsong Les Sperlineg Bob Tibbling 4 'Z?mEe?i'? 'L ut 7 's -1-uf 1 V' Lgmqlif 'l . ol ,432 f ' 25? SCOIZCJ Afjqud Mr. Koth, coachg Bob Barrettg Harold Swanbergg Ronnie Swan- aong Wallace Johnsong Paul Gauseg Jim Matsong Dean Hart- mang Dean Johnsong Joe mst mek Wooding John Hagemang Jim Dowdyg Carl Amos: Glenn Smith

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SECOND TEAM BASKETBALL The second team basketball squad completed a very successful season, with 11 victor- ies to their credit, and 1 defeat. The one loss was by two points in a thrilling overtime game with Yakima. They co peted against Marquette, Toppenish, Wapato, Yakima, Alumni and Thorp. Thorp, B league titlist of Kittitas valley, was beaten, 29-30, in probably the most sensational game of the schedule. Those earning second team letters were Dean Hartman, Jim Matson, Jim Dowdy, Wally Johnson, Ronnie Swanson, and Glen Smith. Some of the other boys who helped to make it such an outstanding year, although they didn't qualify for awards, were Herb Nelson, John Hageman, Dean Johnson, Dick Woodin, Carl Amos, Bob Barrett, Harold Swanberg, Bob Dubuque, and Paul Gauge, The team was coached by Mr. Koth, and Joe Rust served as manager. f -'rf fi N-1 lv' f sJ T Y 4 -cl. INT R AMUR AL B011 Pingreyg Ray Swan- song Bob Fitzughg A1 Robinson, Walter Payne, Bob Dubuque, Paul cause, Joe Rust, Walt Johnston INTRAMURAL BASKETBALL Throughout the winter months, the Boys' Club sponsored the intramural basketball tournament. This provided a great deal of entertainment for both the players and specta- tors, with everyone cheering for his favorite team. When the game promised to become too rugged, things were whistled to a stop by nref'. Approximately sixty boys participated. The teams were chosen by eight first team players from boys who were not members of either the first or second teams. The teams were chosen by Herbert Jackson, Dick Tyrell, Fred Johnson, Ray Swanson, Bob Tibbling, Jack Graham, Jerry Hoagland, and Ronnie Sperline. The latter's team was composed of FFA boys. Two round robin schedules were played, with Graham and Sperline winners in the first, and Swanson and Tibbllng as the victors in the second. By the score of 21-15, Swanson defeated Graham. In a thrilling overtime contest, Tibbling won from Sperline, 21-17, but went on to lose to Swanson, 20-23 in the champion- ship game. In the consolation tussle, Graham downed Sperline's squad, 28-26, but then lost to Tibbling's hoopsters, 21-14. Members of Ray Swanson's champions were: A1 Robinson, Walter Payne, Joe Rust, Bob Fitshugh, Marshall Morris, Bob Dubuque, and Paul Gauss. Bob Tibb1ing's second place winners included Ted Smidt, Dick loodin, Don Troxell, George Lambert, Glen Glore, lervin Johnson, and Glen Smith. 24