University of California Davis - El Rodeo Yearbook (Davis, CA)

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Hal Nelson HOT lays up a close one while Bill Wetmore li5t and Jim Becket 00 look on. Ron Knight sinks two points for the Aggies as Hal Nelson moves in for the possible rebound. The defense of the Aggies was the brightest spot of the season. The Mustangs ended the season eighth in total defense in the nation for small colleges. Hal Sconyers was the main cog in the defense and was usually given the top man to guard. Not only was Hal the top defensive man, but also one of the leaders in offense with a 7.5 points per game average. The leader in offense was Grant Braun with a 9.7 average. Braun's delayed action iump shot from the pivot spot accounted for most of his points from the floor. Not far behind Braun was Glenn Goldsmith and Hal Nelson, two more pivot men who scored : plenty of points. Braun was honored on the all conference selection. Hal Nelson and Hal Sconyers were placed on the second string all conference. The Mustangs were hit hard at close to the end of the season by the loss of Frank King and Ernie Wetmore, both first stringers. However, Carl Reich and Bill Wetmore moved into the starting positions and did an excellent iob. Outlooks for next season are bright with most of the team coming back. The biggest loss will be at the pivot positions as the top three men in the position, Braun, Nelson, and Goldsmith, probably won't be back. However, Ronnie Knight, big sophomore improved rapidly this season and will be around for plenty of action. Returning for work at the backcourt are Sconyers, both Wetmores, Reich, and Becket, all lettermen, to form a good nucleus for another good varsity ball club.

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-yW mr-nv aww hm, -7 -..W.- -- - '1. Braun caught in an awkward pose following a iump ball as Reich UH Goldsmith iumps high to sink a basket against S. F. State. Ron Knight and Sconyers i24i head down court. gets set for the possible rebound. However, the Mustang defense in the second half was nothing less than sensational as they held the Hornet hot shots to I3 points in the entire second stanza. Meanwhile, the Aggie offense started to roll again. The Mustangs pulled out in front midway in the half and won 44 to 38, snapping the Hornet winning streak at six games. This game gave the Aggies the odd game of the three game series. In other non-conference games, the Mustangs played some top notch teams from around the state. After opening the season with an easy 61 to 49 win over the Gem Garage of Sacramento, the Aggies played LaVerne College from Southern California. Even though LaVerne was rated rather high, the Aggies went out in front and stayed there, winning 57 to 45, for their second victory in as many starts. - After being defeated by the California Blues, 44 to 36, beating Sacramento State, and losing to the Stocton Amblers, all former C.O.P. stars, 53 to 45, the Aggies tangled with another barnstorming Sacramento State. This game was the highest scoring of the year, and the only ones except the final two against Chico that the Aggies failed to hold their opponents to less than 55 points. The Mustangs led all the way, but were never out in front far enough to feel safe until the final gun. The game was a fast breaking contest- which ended 67 to 61 in the Aggies' favor. One other top flight team ran head on into the Aggie defense as the Olympic Club of San Francisco was defeated 54 to 48.

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J. V. Basketball The Junior'Varsity basketeers had a mediocre season from the winning standpoint, winning 5 while losing 6. In only the Grant Tech game however was the team completely outclassed, being administered a 59 to 28 trouncing. All of the other losses were in contests that were decided only in the closing minutes of the game. The team was noted for its ability to get up off the floor after being completely outclassed in the first half, and with a tremendous rally either pull up to within a few points, or take the lead. Typical of this second half comeback was the game played in San Francisco with the S.F. State J.V.'s. Behind by a score of 31 to 12 at the half the Aggies staged a great comeback to tie the score with less than four minutes to go, finally being edged out by the score of 53 to 50. The series with Chico found the A95 beating the northerners at Davis by a score of 40 to 26, but losing the return engagement at Chico by a count of 50 to 56. The Sacramento J.C. series was another one which the Aggies split, completely outclassing the Sacramentans by a score of 59 to 35 and losing by the narrow margin of 32 to 35. Splitting every series, the Aggie juniors continued the line by rolling over Sacramento State J.V. 49 to 38, and being edged by the opposition 40 to 43 in the return match. The S.F. State J.V. proved no different from the others, losing to the A95 by a 53 to 43 count, and nosing out the Aggies in the return by a score of 49 to 52. Playing a strong Yuba J.C. team, the A95 let them pile Up too large of a lead and lost 37 to 41 after making a great comeback effort. Davis High, winner in their league, and the only high school on the schedule, just didn't have the experience to cope with the taller Aggies, and were steamrolled under by the convincing score of 56 to 31. The team was paced by the high scoring of Bill Fitch, abiy backed by Tom Martin, Bennie Goehring, n mom in , Dick Hammond and Stu Rowe. Standing out on floor work and defense were Dick Fawcett, Art Laemmlen, Willy and Goody Simmons ,1 and Ralph Gay. ense in f t . t d No . Season Record toun'ed CAL AGGIES - - 50 CHICO STATE FROSH - - - 56 scored CAL AGGIES - - 37 YUBA J. c. - - - - - 41 CAL AGGIES - - 59 SACRAMENTO J. c. J. v. - - 35 H CAL AGGIES - - 56 DAVIS HIGH - - - - - 31 '9 0 CAL AGGIES - - 49 s. F. STATE J. v. - - - - 52 4 CAL AGGIES - - 53 s. F. STATE J. v. ; - - - 43 . first 4 CAL AGGIES - - 49 SACRAMENTO STATEJ. v. - - 38 , CAL AGGIES - - 4o CHICO STATE FROSH - - - 26 ; CAL AGGIES - - 32 SACRAMENTO J. c. J. v. - - 35 ns as CAL AGGIES - - 4o SACRAMENTO STATE J. v. - - 43 ,more CAL AGGIES - - 28 GRANT TECH - - - - - 59 ICIEUS