Union High School - Bobcat Yearbook (Union, OR)

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Basket Ball Summary The basketball boys were fortunate the past season in that they had the advantage of splendid coaching. Mr. Pitts, assisted by Mr. Wortman. worked hard with the limited material at their command, and while they did not produce a team that was a consistent winner, they taught the boys a lot of basketball. Most of the boys that turned out for basketball were comparatively green, Geertsen being the only letter man. However, before the season had advanced far, the boys hit a stride that they maintained throughout the season. There were times in all their games that the team showed flashes of championship caliber and outplayed their opponents at least one-half of every game. As a whole, the team was well-balanced, there being no individual that stood out above the rest. Lack of good substitutes for all the positions handicapped the team and coaches considerably, and put the first string up against the proposition of playing entire games. Even though it was very strongly emphasized by the coach that training was the secret of a successful basketball season, it appears that the boys, with the exception of a few, did ’not follow his instructions. To be in condition was something the boys wished for, but they did not put forth the efforl necessary to get the results. The same boys another season will profit by their mistakes in training this season, and will in all probability adhere more closely to the coach’s instructions. The team is to be commended on its true Isportsmanship at all times. Although a few times it was quite apparent that the breaks of the game were against them, such things as “crabbing” and fault-finding vere something of which they could not be rightfully accused. The people of Union gave their wholehearted support to the team throughout the entire season. The brand of basketball played in Eastern Oregon the past season was superior to that played in seasons immediately preceding it, and while Union High had a good team, well coached, it is to be regretted that we were not able to participate in the Eastern Oregon tournament held here. Next year, with all the men back except two, and with the good fortune of having the same coach, the Maroon and White should crowd them all for the highest honors in basket ball. Pitts Spray J. Cox F. Baxter Geertsen Wilde Dobbin Caspar Page Thirteen

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Top Row (Left to right)—J. Cox, Young, Kofford, Richardson, Pitts. Parent, May, Gilmore. N. Cox Second Row Spray, Hutchinson, Lamb, Fugit, Watts, Dobbin Bottom Row Geertsen, Taylor. Castor, Brown, Caspar. Crouter Q D jFoothall 'ttmntetrtr Last fall, when school started on the eleventh of September, Coach Pitts issued the first call for football men. The call was immediately answered by the appearance of about forty-five husky gridiron warriors. Although they were a husky looking lot. we missed some of the old faces that starred on the ’23 team. Since almost the entire team of ’23 graduated. Coach Pitts had to build up a team from raw material around the three letter men that remained. Fugit and Kofford, veteran guards, were the main stays on the line, while Richardson commanded the back field. Coach Pitts, assisted by John Wortman, spent the first two weeks teaching the new men the fundamentals of the game. It was not long however, before they were passing and kicking like old veterans. Since the first game of the season was to be played with North Powder, after only three weeks of practice, the coaches devoted the third week to scrimmage. Because of the lack of practice and a green team. Coach Pitts took the entire squad of twenty-five men to North Powder. Although they were trounced to a terrible score, the coaching staff determined where the different men belonged and some of the weak points were discovered. From that time on, they continually improved and when the season closed they were playing a very good brand of football. If the season had 'lasted a few more weeks the Maroon and White undoubtedly would have emerged with flying colors. As it was, they succeeded in winning one game out of seven, but considering the circumstances we can consider ourselves well rewarded, for all of the opposing teams were composed of old and experienced men. Although we did not make a Very great showing in the percentage of games won, we did make something to build our team out of next year. Of the fourteen men that received letters this year, only two will graduate, so football prospects for next year look very good at the present. The men that received letters for the ’24 football team are: N. Cox, Parent, Kofford, Castor, Taylor, Geertson, Dobbin, Casper. Spray, Richardson. Brown, Lamb. J. Cox and Fugit. Page Twelve

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C ‘F Reading from left to right -Pitts, May, Fugit, C. Baxter, J. Cox, F. Baxter, Hutchinson Brown, Richins. Geertsen, N. Cox, Crouter, Caspar, Williams M. Cheney, Halsey, Tayfor, VanHouten QmO (Track The hoys in U. FL S. Interested in track began their long and unceasing practice on March 16. As there was some very good material Coach Pitts looked for a very good season. Tho weather was not very good for track, but the boys showed their interest by going on with their workouts disregarding the unfavorable conditions. The Class Meet was staged April 3, when some very good time was made. The Seniors were victorious by a large margin, winning eight first places, besides their share of seconds and thirds. U. H. S. and L. H. S. met on the turf in La Grande on April 11th. The weather conditions were bad, but nevertheless the boys from Union made a very good showing with four first places: Merle Fugit, shot and discus; Louis May, 440 yard dash; Floyd Baxter, 880 yard dash. The next meet was at Baker on April 25th. As conditions were favorable very fast time was made. Union's first places were as follows: Noy Cox, broad Jump; Merle Fugit, shot and discus; Louis May. 440 yard dash; -Floyd Baxter, 880 yard run. The County meet was held in Union May 2nd. Fugit and May won their usual first places for Union—discus, shot and 440 yard dash. Union took second place in the County. The Eastern Oregon Track Meet was held in La Grande May 9th. Union’s first places were: Merle Fugit, shot; Floyd Baxter, 880 yard run. Union netted 21 points, giving us third place in Eastern Oregon. The prospects are very good for the track team the next two or three years as the Freshmen have several men who have placed in dual meets and show very rapid improvement, and the team loses only two men this year. Page Fourteen