Upsala College - Upsalite Yearbook (East Orange, NJ)

Page 133 text:

Carlson, Ira Berger, Ken McKinley, Carl Lilja, and Ike Chavies. The team opened with a hot and cold performance against Savage, defeating the invading New Yorkers by a wide margin, but almost permitting a weaker foe to tie the score in the last ten minutes. New York University handed Upsala its customary December coat of varnish, and the Vikings dropped four straight to St. Josephls, Villanova, Muhlenberg, and Lafay- ette on a Pennsylvania trip. Victories over Pace and Bloomfield wound up a rather dis- heartening December schedule. Upsala opened its conference season in January by dropping a ragged contest on Newark University on the latterls floor. The shooting of Opsal was about all that kept the Vikings in the game. Panzer came next on the league card, but despite the fact that Drum outscored Pan- zer,s famed Herman Knupple, 12-10, the East Orange rivals, and two year champions, were on the very long end of a 59-39 score. But with the first game against John Mar- shall, the team which had broken Panzefs record winning streak, the Vikings began to show real form. Drum had suchiently re- covered from a wrist injury in football, Beckefs shooting was back at par, and Berger, McKinley, and Bob Carlson were improving with experience. Playing without Coach Spinelli, ill in the hospital, the Vikings put up an inspired bat- tle on the Marshall court only to lose by a COACH LOU SPINELLI few points. But the torch was fired and the Viking attack took the form of an avalanche against Newark University in the second game of a home and home series. Still minus their coach, the Vikings piled' on the power to set a new league scoring record in their 62-45 victory. Drum was at his best, netting 22 points and setting up many baskets with his almost unbelievable shots and passes. Beckefs set shots couldnit miss and Upsala turned in its greatest per- formance since the Lehigh game of 1938. Panzer was to come next and the Vikings had high hopes of scoring their first victory over the Panthers in several years. But the cool and collected champions were simply too strong. Bob Carlson had broken his ankle in a practice session and Upsala lost a great deal of defensive power, and While his sub, Yano- witz, played a fine game, the champions won, 40-32. Drum again was superb, swishing II points against Masin. One Hundred Twenlymine

Page 132 text:

THE BASKETBALL SQUAD The 1940-1941 basketball season at Upsala may be distinguished not by the record in the won and lost column, but by the great improvement which a predominately fresh- man team showed in late February and March. When Coach Lou Spinelli issued his flrst call for candidates he found Captain Jack Becker, Bernt Opsal, and Seymour Yano- Witz to be his only lettermen. Stade Carl- son and the Kuczynski brothers, Vic and Walt, were holdovers from the squad roster, while Bill Anderson, regular center in 1940 was unable to report. Sid Rothbard, a transfer from Panzer, would be able to play in non-conference One Hundred Twenly-eigbl games, while Spinelli saw a great deal of promise in the freshmen, Bob Drum, Bob KARL OTTOSON, Manager JACK BECKER, Captain

Page 134 text:

THE FORWARDS MARCH -Becker, Opsal, Carlson The most thrilling game of the year, even though Upsala lost, was played against Mar- shall in East Orange. The visitors needed a win to tie for the league title with Panzer, but they had to go all out to do it. Trailing, 28-19, at the half, Drum and his mates sniped away at the lead until they tied the score at 45-all, then, in the last five minutes of a ding-dong battle, Marshall finally forged ahead to win, 58-51. Tied with Newark University for third place in the conference, the Vikings defeated the Bombers to make it two out of three for the season in a play-off game staged at Bay- onne High School, while Panzer was defeat- ing Marshall in the first place play-off. Drum, who scored an average 0f 18 points per game during the second semester, fin- ished in second place on the conference scoring lists with 103 points in seven games. One Hundred Thirty His best performance was against Newark Engineers when he tallied 25 points. Becker and Berger also stood among the first ten. At the Close of the season Drum was se- lected 0n the first all-league team and Becker was honored with selection on the second squad. The team engaged in a post-season charity contest at Demarest High, Hoboken, losing for the third time to Marshall after holding the lead until there were less than five minutes to play. Injuries hampered the squad more than anything else in 1941. Becker was bothered by a back ailment and Drum had another football injury. Bob Carlsonls broken ankle and McKinleyls sprained ankle hurt the team in late season, while Anderson was able to appear in only two games in March.