Messenger-Inquirer from Owensboro, Kentucky • 17

OWENSBORO, KENTUCKY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1956 SECTION SPORTS AND COMICS TV Cantata Sm.8fr. c.b, 1. iJ. w. wtwioio W0ui.t.

liu lOrfatMI's Goal In Las! Seconds ire Oivensboro 64-62 Win 16 Major League Teams Start Spring Training With Many Problems with RUSS MELVIN '4 tion names involving players on major league rosters before March 10, however, remains in effect. As a result, such established big leaguers as Granny Hammer, fnul Rogovin and Curt Simmons of lh Phillies, Rip Repulskl, Ken Boyer, Sports Editor of the Messenger and Inquirer It is time to begin the third annual Sweet Sixteen contest I haven't received my tickets for the state tournament yet but I don't think Ted Sanford will turn down the MESSENGER and INQUIRER. The rules are very simple. Just list the 16 high school basketball teams you think will win the regional titles. Print, write or type them on a post card and mail them to me at the MESSENGER and INQUIRER.

Deadline for the tournament is midnight, Feb. 29, so you will have just 10 days in which to get your entry in. Just one entry If Demons Stun Flaget With Fifth Loss; George Keel Gets 26 By RUSS MELVIN Sports Editor of Owensboro MESSENGER and INQUIRER Marv Kirkendoll's two-handed shot from the foul line with five seconds to go gave Owensboro High a stunning 64 to 62 triumph over highly-regarded Louisville Flaget last night at the Sportscenter. Friday night Owensboro turned in one of its poorest showings of the campaign. Twenty-four hours later the Demons played brilliant ball all the way to hand the powerful Flaget club its fifth loss- Kirkendoll and Butch Thomson, the two guards, made up for their play Friday night and directed the Owensboro attack that had the Flaget defenders switching players so much that finally one of the Demons would be wide open.

Quite often It was George Neel who bombarded the nets with 13 field goals for 26 points and scoring honors. He was hot and cold all night. After missing his first four shots of the game, George scored on his next four attempts. Then he hit a dry spell and failed on eight straight. Neel then finished in a blaze of glory with five-for-five in the fourth quarter.

Flaget had trouble with the zone defense and the fine defensive play I League this summer. Left to right are Taylor Bristow, secretary; R. W. Hyde, president, and Industrial League Race Now Tightens Following GE Loss West Louisville is listed as the team to beat. They are in the same bracket.

Eastern is the favorite in the upper bracket. Graham, Greenville, Central City Draw Into Same Bracket POWDERLY. three top teams in District 16 drew into the same bracket for the tournament opening here Wednesday, Feb. 29. Central City, Graham and Greenville all drew into the lower bracket along with Hughes-Kirk.

The opening game as Drakes-boro meeting Muhlenberg Central at 7 p.m. Feb. 29 with Dunmor getting a bye in the upper bracket. Thursday, March 1. Central City and Hughes-Kirk will clash at 7 o'clock while Graham and Greenville vie at 8:30.

Friday night, Dunmor catches the winner of the Drakesboro-Muhlenberg Central game with Thursday's victors clashing at 8:30. The finals are set for 7:30 Saturday March 3. Eastern Kentucky Defeats Murray State By 97-89 RICHMOND, Ky. Eastern Kentucky never trailed Saturday night as it tallied a 97-89 basketball victory that eliminated Mur ray from the Ohio Valley Conference race. Eastern, twice loser to Murray this season, went to a quick 10- point lead after a 2-2 tie and built its margin to 52-40 at the half, Murray twice cut the edge to four points in the final period but couldn't reach the winners as Eastern closed it out with eight free throws in the last two minutes.

Jack Adams topped the Eastern scoring with 35 points, followed by Howard Crittenden tallied 29 for Murray and Dick Kinder added 21. Crittenden and Adams each collected 17 in a first half scoring duel. By JOE RFICHI.ER ST. PETERSBURG Fla. ip-No team, including the world champion Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Yankees, was free of prob lems today as the 18 major league clubs prepared to go full speed ahead into the longest ind most ambitious spring training grind in nine years.

Despite their runaway victory last year, the Dodgers lack a left fielder to play every day and must come up with a replacement for southpaw Johnny Podres, who may be called up by the Army any clay. Righthander Carl Erskine'a sore arm also is a constant worry The Yankees hope Maury Mc-Dermott will be the answer to their search for another starting pitcher. Another top flight reliever and a shortstop with punch is another must for the American Ltapue champions. Cleveland needs a first baseman, and must worry about the advancing age of their big three pitchers. Milwaukee needs hard-hitting tnfthnnrlrd nut ftnlrlftr cnuliiviur pitcher, a second baseman and a relief The Braves also must find out whether Joe Adroch will be as good as he was before his hand fracture of last August.

The Red Sox also are unsure of their first base situation. The Cardinals need a consistent righthand- ed hitting outfielder, a couple of starting hurlers plus a relief pitch er and a hard-hitting first base man. Washington needs pitching depth, established outfielders, and an experienced first baseman and power in the infield. The Cubs need power in the out field, another catcher and a starting pitcher. The White Sox must get a third baseman to spell the veteran George Kell, another slatting pitcher and stronger bench strength.

Tht Pirates need out fielders, catchers and a second baseman. The Tigers lack a solid second baseman, relief pitching and a second catcher. The Giants must come up with a second baseman, a catcher who can hit, an other pitcher and a left fielder. The Orioles need another out fielder, a second and third base man and more pitching depth. The Phillies are short of lefthanded hitting power, a first baseman and can use another starting pitcher especially if Curt Simmons' sore arm fails to respond.

The Athletics are shy on pitching, a middle relief hurler, a capable center-fielder and infield reserve strengih. The Reds need pitching badly both starting and relieving and improved catching. By early next week all hut four of the clubs will be knuckling down to the serious business of trying to fill these voids. In most cases, the first squad to report consists chiefly of battcrymen. By March 1 however, all clubs expect to have their full complement on hand bar ring injury.

Several clubs, taking advantage of the lifting of the ban on drills before March 1, already have be- gun their training periods. Under the revised regulations, clubs are permitted to invite their players to report before March 1, but can- not order them to be in camp be fore that date. The ban on exhibi he's learned bent, leg sliding technique during training school session at Lakeland, Saturday- A Pacific coast scout for Tigers, deViveiros says this type Bill Cooper, vice president. Eight teams have expressed interest in the loop this summer. tops the scorers with 28.4 points while Boh Rickaid of Western Kentucky Gas is next with 26.1 Here are the standings, scoring leaders and this week's schedule: Team Yet.

General Electric 10 1 .909 Wyndall's 8 2 .800 Green River Steel CIO 6 3 .607 Brabandt's 5 5 .5110 Texas Gas 4 6 .400 Western Ky. Gas 4 .400 Field's 3 8 .273 Ideal Pure Milk 0 9 .000 Leading scorers: Bill Williams (Brobnndls) 284 28.4 Bob Rickard (W.Ky.Cas) 235 26.1 Slim Edwards (Field's) 174 21.7 G. Richardson (Wyndall's) 214 21 4 Roscoe Biven (Wyndall's) 171 21.3 Bobby Watson (Tex. Gas) 123 20.5 Don Miller (Brabandt's) 176 19,5 Don Johnson (Texas Gas 195 19.5 Jim House (U-h) 2m 1S.F Lavegna West (G-E) 200 18.1 Schedule I or Week Monday 6:30 Texas Gas vs. Gen eral Electric.

Wednesday 7:30 Green River Steel CIO vs. General Electric; 8:45, Brabandt's vs. Texas Gas. Thursday 7:30 Wyndall vs. Meld Packing; 8:45 Ideal vs.

Wcs tern Ky. Gas. Ideal vs. Field Packing; 7:30 Brabandt's vs West ern Ky. Gas; 8:45 Wyndall's vs.

Green River Steel CIO- Hawesville Hosts 13th District Meet Opening February 27 HAWESVILLE, Ky. The District 13 tournament will open here Monday, Feb. 27 with Lcwisport meeting Cloverport. Tuesday will send Hawesville and Breckenridge County against each other while favorite Flaherty and Meade County will clash on Wednesday. On Thursday, Irvington will go; against the winner of the Lewis- port-Cloverport game and Friday night the Tuesday and Wednesday victors will clash.

The finals are slated for Saturday, March 3. GETTING A RISE OUT OF TEACHER Detroit Tigers' sliding coach, Bemie deViveiros, leaps clear of sliding Tom Sarna as the rookie shows how well I Tom Poholsky, Walker Co r. Frank Smith, Larry Jackson of th Cardinals and others have been working out for more than a week. The first Rroup of big leaguer to begin official workouts consisted of 13 Red Sox hopefuls who started at Sarasota, Feb. 1.

Selected youngsters from the rosters of the Phillies and Rankees also launched drills a week later and approximately half of the Cardinals' squad swung into action at the club's advance instructional school Feb. 12 at St. Petersburg. Four days later, the Tigers opened their advance school at Lakeland. While many a rookie will be labelled a "future Ty Cobb," "left-handed Dizzy Dean" or something similar, there are a number of Sood-IkinS prospects in almost every camp, the advance dopo and scouting reports say that these will be the best: Red Sox Pitchers Jerry Casale and Frank Baumann, infielders Frank Malzone and Don Buddin and outfielder Marty Keough, Braves Pitchers Red Murff and Humberto i fnfielder Frank Torre and outfielder Wei Covington.

Athletics Pitchers Jack Crimian and Glenn Cox, infielders Ranee riess and Mike Baxes. Cardinals Infielder Don Blasin- game, catcher Hal Smith, outfielder, Russ Rac, and pitcher Harry Hoitsma. Yankees Infielders Bobby Rich ardson and Jerry Lumpe and pitch er Jim Coates. Pirates Outfielder Dan Dravitx and pitchers Joe Trimble and Bob Garbcr. White Sox Infielder Luis Pari-cio, pitcher Jerry Dahlke and outfielder Ed White.

Phillies Infielder Ed Bouchee and pitcher Jim Owens. Senators Pitcher Connie Grnb, catcher Lou Berberet and outfield er Neil Chrisley. Redlegs Pitchers Charlie Rabs and Pat Scantlebury. Tigers Pitchers Pete Wojey nd Gene Host. Orioles Pitchers Don Ferarres and Bob Harrison.

Cubs Outfielder Walt Moryn and pitcher John Briggs. Indians Outfielder Rocky Cola- vito and pitcher Hank Aguirre. Giants Pitchers Pete Burnside and Joe Margoneri. Dodgers Pitcher Ken Lehman, outfielder Gino Cimoli, and infielders Charley Ncal and Chico Fernandes. FORDSVILLE TO MEET Members of the 1055 Fordsville baseball club will meet at Whit-tinghill's store, Fordsville, at 6 p.

m. Tuesday to discuss last season'i activities and the outlook for tht 1956 campaign. Wirephoto by AP Photofax of slide lessens chance of broken bones. Rookies removed spikes while sliding on grass. Other rookies watch in background.

to a person but all members of a family may enter. send your list in on a postcard to facilitate handling. Entries received in letters will not be counted. In case of a tie, the postcard with the earliest time and date on it will be judged the winner. No employe of the MESSENGER and INQUIRER or station WOMI is eligible.

I had a good entry list the first year and a tremendous one last March. I expect an even bigger one this season. The prize will be two reserve seats for all sessions of the 1356 Kentucky State High School Basketball Tournament. Start sending in your postcards right away. Kentucky Wesleyan has added another service game to its schedule as Coach Robert "Bullet" Wilson plans to keep the boys in shape for a possible tournament bid.

Friday night the Panthers will meet the Ft. Knox Tankers in Madtson-ville with all proceeds of the game to go to the Hopkins County Chapter of the Heart Fund. This will be the third meeting of the clubs with the Tankers winning the first two engagements. A capacity crowd is expected as Frank Ramsey will be returning to his home town. There is a possibility that the Dobbins Air Force Base game will be played if suitable dates can be worked out.

There is a possibility that the Sportscenter might be the scene of a basketball playoff or two. The Owensboro structure has been mentioned both by the Southeastern Conference and the Ohio Valley Conference as the site in case ties necessitate a playoff. If Vanderbilt and Kentucky tie, it is very logical as it is close to both of the schools. Vanderbilt definitely is against Louisville as the site as they figure- that isn't a neutral playing floor. If Ala bama and Kentucky get involved, Vanderbilt possibly could be the site as this was the scene of the Louisiana State and Kentucky play off.

In the OVC, a playoff seems almost certain and the Sportscenter is the most logical one. If Murray and Western tangle, it would draw a capacity crowd. If Western is one of the teams involved, it would at tract a huge turnout. So maybe college basketball isn't over this year at the Sportscenter yet. James Elkins, a Paducah sports writer, had an interesting inter view with Merrell Thomas, coach at Pinkneyville, High School Pickneyville, a comparatively small school in Southern Illinois, has been to the semi-finals of the state tournament seven times in the past nine years, hence Thomas' theories can't be taken too lightly.

Elkins writes that the veteran prep school coach does not allow his players to tip, shoot hook shots, throw a bounce pass or fast break. "Why tip the ball?" asks Thorn-as. "If a player can get high enough to tip the ball with any accuracy, he is high enough to get the rebound and pass out so we can get a good On the bounce pass, Thomas asks what is the use to bounce the ball when mathematics prove the shortest distance between two points is a straight "The hook shot or those pivot shots are no good," Thomas added. "The shooter is going away from the basket and can't rebound." Thomas warms up on the fast break by saying, "Sure we might get a few cheap baskets if we ran; but we'd throw the ball more often in the long run. What's the use to run and throw the ball at the basket when you take your time and get a good You probably disagree with some of these points hut his won-lost record certainly packs up his system.

Don't forget the Daviess County Junior High Tournament opening Tuesday night at the Sportscenter. Tuesday night Foust will go against Thruston and Eastern will meet Whitesville. Wednesday night it will be Catholic and West Louisville in the opener and Utica against Southern in the nightcap. All first round games pit city schools against county schools which should make for a better tournament. Utica is undefeated but defending champion SOFTBALL OFFICERS -These three stern looking individuals will head the Owensboro Softball 8 Teams Interested In Softball League At First Meeting Eight teams have expressed in terest in the Owensboro Softball League this summer, R.

W. Hyde, president of the circuit, announced last night. Texas Gas, Aetna Finance, Hill- man's, Taylpr's Tavern, Naval Reserve, Green River Steel-CIO, AFL 83 and Modern Welding were re presented at the first meeting held recently. President Hyde stated that all trophies given in 1955 will be presented this summer and that last year's donors will have first op portunity to award the prizes again. The league to have its of ficers contact the city officials to see what could be done about get ting better lighting at Moreland Park.

Another meeting has been set for Wednesday, March 14, the Texas Gas conference room at 7:30 p.m All prospective sponsors are urged to have representative at the meeting- Illinois Whips Michigan State By Score 96-76 EAST LANSING, (Illi nois picked up speed and points in a late second half surge and continued its western conference title drive with a 96-76 victory over Michigan State in a televised basketball feature Saturday. After a slow start and only a 47-42 lead at the half, Illinois fought off two determined MSU comeback drives that came with in four points and won going away. The balanced Illinois attack more than offset the individual brilliance of Michigan State's forward Julius McCoy, the game's high scorer with 26 points. It was the ninth straight con ference victory for Illinois, third rated team nationally and beaten only once in 16 starts. State has a 4-5 Big Ten record.

Guards Paul Judson with 18 points and Bill Ridley with 16 carried the brunt of the Illini attack. McCoy made 20 of his points in the first half to keep Michigan State in the game. In the second half Illinois jumped to a 10 point lead, but MSU twice put on spurts to cut it down, trailing 60-56 with eight minutes gone and 68-64 at the 10 minute mark. Illinois poured on steam during the last 10 minutes and led 83-66 center who contributed 15 points for Illinois, fouled out. The Illini coasted in from there.

1LLLMOIS OhI, 1 2-2 4 4 Schmidt, 6 3-5 3 15 Brothers, 3 8-10 4 14 Stout, f-c 2 4-5 0 8 Chengary, 1 0-0 0 2 BonSalle, 5 5-7 5 15 Paul Judson, ..9 0-2 3 18 Ridley, 5 2 16 Altenberger, 2-2 0 2 Phil Judson, ..0 2-2 1 2 Paul, 0 0-0 0 0 Totals 32-41 22 MICH. STATE McCoy, 8 19-13 3 26! Ferguson, 3 2-4 0 8 Hedden, 5 4-6 3 14 Peterson, 0 0-0 3 0 Benzie, 2 0-1 4 4 Godfrey, 2 2-4 4 6 Wilson, 3 4-6 3 10 Qaiggle, 4 0-0 3 8 Totals 27 22-34 23 76 Illinois 47-4996 Mich. Statt 42-3476 Interest in the YMCA Industrial League has perked up considerably since Western Kentucky Gas downed previously undefeated General Electric Thursday night. G-E still leads the league with a 10-1 record but wyndaii witn an 8-2 mark and Green River Steel-CIO with 6-3 are still in con tention. General Electric has two games this week, with Texas Gas and Green River Steel-CIO.

The Steel- ers face Wyndall's next Saturday and the loser of this game could just about be eliminated- The Steelers will have to win both ol its games this week to stay in the race. Bill Williams of Brabandt's still Second Place Battle Features Sunday School League Play With first place in the YMCA Sunday School League wrapped up by undefeated Wesleyan Heights Methodist, interest in the re mainine three weeks centers around the battle for second Settle Memorial and Peoples Baptist currently are tied, for sec ond with 7-2 records with Wing Ave. Baptist in fourth place with 6-3. Tuesday night, Settle Memorial meets Salvation Army at 9 p. and is a big favorite while Peo pies Baptist plays Crabtree Baptist at Owensboro High at 7.

p. also a decided choice. Wing Ave nue, with another loss knocking them out of contention, faces the defending champion, Seven Hills Baptist at 6 p. m. Here are the standings and the complete schedule: Church Wesleyan Heights Settle Memorial Peoples Baptist Wing Ave.

Baptist First Baptist Pc. 1.009 .778 .778 .667 .600 .556 .444 .333 .333 .200 10 7 7 6 6 5 5 4 3 3 2 1 0 2 2 3 4 4 4 5 6 6 8 8 8 Third Baptist Seven Hills Baptist First Christian Crabtree Baptist Salvation Army Third St. Methodist Woodlawn Methodist .111 Breckenridge Methodist 1 .111 The schedule: YMCA 6:00 Wing Ave. vs. Seven Hills.

7:00 Breckenridge vs. Third St. 8:00 Woodlawn vs. Third Baptist 9:00 Salvation Army vs. Settle Me morial OWENSBORO HIGH 7:00 Peoples Baptist vs.

Crabtree Baptist 8:00 First Christian vs. First Bap tist. Butler County Opens District 14 Tourney Against Brownsville CANE YVILLE, Ky. Favorite Butler County opens the District 14 tournament Monday, Feb. 27, when the Bears face Brownsville.

On Tuesday, Feb. 28, Caneyville and Clarkson will clash while on Wednesday, Leitchfield and Ky-rock will provide the entertain ment. Sunfish will go against the win ner of the Butler County-Brownsville game on Thursday while on Friday, the winners of the Tuesday and Wednesday night's games will clash. Finals are set for Saturday. March 3.

of the Demons. Three times early in the game Kirkendoll stole the ball from Mickey Kcily to set up Owensboro scores. For the night the Braves hit an amazing 52.5 percent but they got just 40 shots, making 21 of them. Owensboro took 69 attempts and hit on 26 for 37.7 percent. Owensboro now has won five and lost 18 for the season while Flaget is the reverse, 18-5.

The victory gave evidence that the Demons might be getting ready for the tournaments. Flaget jumped off 4-0 as Owens boro missed its first: seven shots at the nets. Then Nsel pumped in a pair to tie the score and the battle was on. The score was tied at 6-6 and 8-8 before the Demons pulled out 14-8. At the end of the first quarter it was 17-11.

Neel swished in another pair to start the second quarter but then Flaget started to cut into the big margin. With Kelly and Denny Esterle doing the damage, the Braves pulled up to 25-23. Butch Thomson made two free throws but Esterle matched this and it was 27-25 at the intermission- The third period opened with Thomson making a foul shot. Then for the next six minutes, it was Owensboro opening up a three point margin and Flaget cutting it to one. Finally Tom Malone hit two free throws and the Braves slipped ahead 43-42.

Thomson and Neel connected on buckets in the final 50 seconds and Esterle hit a lone shot with 15 seconds to go and Malone a free throw to make it 46-45 heading into the final quarter. John Haley dropped in a pair of free throws to open the fourth period. Jack Finnegan tallied on a field goal and foul shot to cut it to 50-49. With 6:58 to go Don Reid- ling tallied to put Flaget ahead by one. Thomson's two foul shots put Owensboro ahead again but Esterle tallied again for Flaget jto make it 53-52.

Neel scored and again the lead switched. Esterle gave the lead to the Braves again with a bucket but Tony Hall connected and it was 56-55 for Owensboro. Neel again dropped one through to up the margin to three points with 5:04 to play but Kelly hit on two charity tosses to whittle it to one. Finnegan then put Flaget on top with a goal underneath at 3:22 but Neel matched this. Finnegan again gave the Braves the lead with a goal at 2:40 but Neel did it again.

Finnegan. tied (Continued On Page 3, Section B) High School Basketball Louisville Male 46, Owensboro Catholic 44 (double overtime) Owensboro 64, Louisville Flaget 62 Central City 93, Daviess County 79 Hawesville 64, Fordsville 43 Henderson Holy Name 87, Mor-ganfield 52 Providence 72, Sebree 67 Attucks 68, Henderson Douglass 62 Crittenden County 76, Sturgis 66 Lexington Lafayette 85, Hazard 47 Powell County 107, Hazel Green Academy 77 Pikeville 88, Hindman 74 Buckhorn 56, Irvine 45 Berea Foundation 57, Paint Lick 40. Eastern Kentucky Adams, 9 17-25 4 35 Stivers, 3 7-8 4 13 Davis, 0 0-0 0 0 Brock, 2 0-114 Florence, 2 6-9 3 10 Culbertson, 7 3-5 2 17 Kiser, 0 0-0 0 0' Mitchell, 0 2-2-02 Pellegrinon, 7 2-3 5 16 Totals 30 37-54 19 97 Murray Mikez, 4 6-7 4 14 Powless, 10-0 5 2 Darnell, 0 3-4 3 3 Sullins, 15-8 2 7 Crittenden, 10 9-14 5 29 Kinder, 9 3-4 5 21 Mortinet, 0 0-0 0 0 Totals 29 31-44 28 89 i Eastern Kentucky Murray 52 43-97 40 49-89 Gene Bearden Is Training With Milwaukee Braves MILWAUKEE ffl -The Milwau kee casting about for a competent lefthander to plug a hole in their pitching corps, said Satur day southpaw Gene Bearden would train with them on a 'look-see basis. The 35-year old Bearden, who helped propel the Cleveland Indians to the world's championship in 1948 with a 20-7 record and a series victory over the Braves, could stick with the Braves if he impresses manager Charlie Grimm. The Braves said they are pre pared to buy his contract from the San Francisco Seals of the Pacific Coast League.

Bearden spent four seasons with the Indians and also hurled for the Senators, Tigers, Browns and White Sox. Last year with the Seals, he won 18 and lost 12 and finished with a 3.52 earned run average. i i tJt fe.