University of Rhode Island - Renaissance / Grist Yearbook (Kingston, RI)

Page 31 text:

The GRISTETTE The Rams will be aiming for the glass backboards of Madison Square Garden, when they meet St John ' s on December 15. We will be renewing another vigorous tradition, as a good part of the college troops to the big city to watch our team in action. In 1945 we lost a heartbreak- ing game to St. John ' s, but we were in- vited down again to two post-season tournaments. We may bow to a better team, but the plucky spirit behind our unique style will renew our pride in the team and in their coach. Our hats are off to Coach Frank Keaney and the men he builds! off old Rodman Hall. All through the game the scores were nearly tied, and several times we dropped behind. Five minutes be fore, the final gun, Calverley got his second wind and with the whole team op- erating as one, tied the score at 63-63, The ball was tossed out, and when the smoke had cleared, there was a minute and a half left, and we were behind 66-67! Suddenly a long swisher of Calveiiey ' s rolled around and dropped through, and the game was ours! The Flyers showed us some excel- lent shooting. The lead changed six times, and the score at the half was 34-34. 34 -

Page 30 text:

BASKETBALL On November 29th, Rhode Island State ' s rampaging Rams opened another of their amazing basketball seasons. A1J during the war. Coach Keaney turned out championship teams. In 1943 T when our male enrollment was at its lowest point, Pathe News put our fast game on film, and it was viewed all over the world. In their first game of the 1945 season, we handed a sound defeat to CASH of Qu onset, 104-44- The first and highest to- tal of points were made by Ken Good- win, a 6-foot 4-inch freshman. The next two games were routine for the high scoring Rams, as they defeated the Massachusetts Maritime Academy, 119 to 38, and a CASU team from the carrier USS Princeton, 84 to 45. Coach Keaney pulled a “never before done,” as he cheerfully coached both teams in the fomer game, until the tardy appearance of the M, M, A, coach. The fourth game, with the Otis Field CASU unit, looked tight for a while, un- til Captain Ernie Oalverley with accu- rate push shots or swift passes put us well in the lead at the final tally, 84-64, At our next game, with the Qu onset Flyers, the rooters nearly tore the roof

Page 32 text:

The GRISTETTE CROSS COUNTRY Only once in the last six years did Lit- tle Rhody relinquish its New England cross-country title — that was the year we did not compete! State’s outstanding dis- tance star, Bob Nichols, holds the individ- ual record, the best in 33 years of com- petition. State also holds the best score in the 1945-1946 season. Danny Cash- man, a veteran just out of a prisoner of war camp, proved that it can be done. . . . he was one of our top men. Another win- ning veteran on the team is Mike Tara- sevitch. Taking the first six places, State’s run- ners defeated the King’s Point Merchant Mariners by a perfect score. Conn. U. re- ceived a jolt when Rhody captured the first five places to win by a perfect score at Storrs. Northeastern had high hopes of winning the N. E. Cross Country crown, but Rhody ’s lowest team score in history showed them that we are as good in cross country as we are in basketball. In the IC4A meet in New York, Army took first with 34 points. Navy, however, had good luck and just beat us by three points. Our score was 66 a nd Navy’s was 63. Coach Tootell’s first man to finish was Frank Knight, who always comes through in the pinches. The freshman wonder, Rob Coutu, was close upon his heels. Norm Monks, one of the most con- sistent performers, suffered a twisted an- kle during the race but still managed to score for our team. RHODY ' S YACHT CLUB This fine club, another wartime revival, has added another contribution to Rhody’s sporting- fame. Starting from a small nucleus, it has developed into a very pop- ular club. Organized late in the Fall of 1945, and operating on a shoestring, it al- most won the New England Championship, being the first boat home from the M. L 1 course This victory was nullified, how- ever, when we were disqualified by a tech- nical foul, committed after we had crossed the finish line and won the race. Althou gh they did not win the championship, offi- cially, vve can be proud of the fact they are the best sailors and sportsmen in New England. From the start made by this group in 1945, we can look forward to ex- pect great things from it in later years.