St Josephs University - Greatonian Yearbook (Philadelphia, PA)

Page 128 text:

1934 THE GREATONIAN Basketball ASKETBALI. at St. Joseph's, which began to slip during the previous year, hit a new low in the 1933-34 season, when only six of the sixteen games played were won. lt was the worst' season the College has experienced since l925. From the time that Penn handed the Hawks a 38-26 defeat at the Palestra until the wind-up tilt with Baltimore, there were few highlights in the dull campaign. Games were lost by ex- ceedingly close scores to mediocre rivals because the Hawks just couldn't click at the proper moment. The best effort of Coach Fe-rguson's men came during the game with St. Francis, of Brooklyn, playing here. The New Yorkers, early season victors over St. John's, the conquerors of Villanova, were rated to beat St. Josephs by ten or more points. But the l-lawks, in that game at least, shook off their t lethargy and came out on top. The score of that tilt, 23-19, was the redeeming feature of the season. good, Bill Ferguson Discounting actual games, the highlight of the 1933-34 season was the opening of the Kenney Gymnasium at Seventeenth and Stiles Streets. Through the beneficence of a friend, the College at last was able to have a playing floor of its own. The new court is modern in every detail and has a seating capacity in excess of a thousand. Alumni of the College, witnessing the inaugural game, were startled to see such a vast change at Stiles Street, Gone is the old band-box gymnasium with its low ceiling and alcoved windows. l One hundred twenty-one

Page 127 text:

if 7 A I I CHARLES D, MORRIS Co-CAPTAIN X R 'Pb' W-N.

Page 129 text:

THE GREATONIAN 1934 l.......W .7 - .,, , , ln its place there is a playing floor which is but six feet shorter than the Palestra, with a lighting system that is considered the best in Philadelphia. The gym has a novel score-board and an air cooling system which should prove a boon to the players during the early and late season periods, The College had already played half of its schedule when the new court was thrown open. Penn was winner in the first game of the season, the future Eastern Intercollegiate League Champions being too tall and experienced for St. Joseph's. St. Joseph's then surprised its supporters by holding a fine Catholic LJ team to a 24-2l count but toppled into very poor form against Pharmacy, although beating the Druggists, 35-26 Then followed three losses in a row, Among those defeats was another astounding reversal of form by the Hawks. Temple was not having one of its best seasons but was considered strong enough to wallop St. Joseph's But the Hawks emphatically played the Owls off their feet, and been more kind to had Lady Luck the field, they however, 3l-27. date. The other member of the State Teachers College. them on a few tosses from might have conquered the Owls. Temple won, The Owls nearly upset Notre Dame at a later two defeats came at the hands of Ursinus, a Eastern Pennsylvania League, and West Chester Cookie McCusker From the Temple game on, St. Joseph's played at a .500 pace, winning five and losing five games. Delaware was met and taken, 26-l7, in that last home game before the removal to Kenney Gymnasium. Delaware, however, was The inaugural game saw the Al Jim Dougherty not having a successful season. umni team fall before the Hawks. ln the graduates' array were such men as Jimmy Osborne, Ed and Frank Trainer, Vince Desmond and Ed Sunkes. back, was much heavier, excellent style. A good Pennsylvania Joseph's, 25-22. This was although it seemed the l-lawks, who had led early, would win, ln the following game, Textile was swamped beneath a barrage of field goals. The Broad and Pine Streets five offered little opposi- tion. The l-lawks, however couldn't stand prosperity and lost to La Salle in the first game between the Colleges since pre-war days. This game marked the renewal of athletic relations which will in- clude football next fall. West Chester was vanquished in the following game and it was indeed sweet revenge. The score was 26-23. La Salle made it l.OOO over the St. Joseph's five in a return tilt, winning by twenty points. Desmond, sensation of a few years but played in his characteristically Military College five next beat St. not so disappointing as some games, Jim McGonegal One hundred twenty-two