The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, February 13, 1959, Page Page Six, Image 6
By CHA LE RALY
SprsEditor
At a glance it would appear that the Gamecock's basket
ball record of four wins and 16 defeats indicates a lack of
talent needed to contend !with opponents in what is con
si4ered the fastest confertnce in the nation. But in reality
nearly three-fourths of those losses were by such close mar
gins that except for key breaks their scores could have been
reversed.
Tough Opposition
For example the University has played, in it's last four
games, N. C. State twice, UNC, and Duke, all of wi?ich found
South Carolina finishing out of the win column.
However the average margin of defeat in each instance
was but eight points.
Weak Point
So it is when you have one spot which proves vulnerable
to the enemies attack. Carolina's weakness seems to be ac
curacy.
In a contest against N. C. State in Raleigh last Saturday,
which the Gamecocks dropped by seven points, both teams
had an equal number of field goals with State gaining the
decision on superior foul shooting.
The Big Question
The most pressing question to date, concerning South
Carolina's basketball picture is, why during the course of
nearly every game must be Gamecocks experience anywhere
from four to eight minutes of nearly scoreless play.
Deciding Factor
That, as you remember was the deciding factor in the
Duke game played in Carolina Fieldhouse last week. During
the six minutes in which Coach Hambrick's squad managed
only three points the Blue Devils were building up what
proved to be an insurmountable lead in spite of a tremendous
last ditch effort by Carolina.
Inistant
Thus you can sum up the University's basketball team
thus far as being one, unable to put together 40 minutes of
consistant basketball.
Baseball practice has been severely handicapped by poor
weather. Concentrating mostly on conditioning drills, the
Gamecocks are ekperiencing difficulty in finding pitching
depth.
New Faces
Several promising sophomores, 4tefitis students, and
returning serviceme 14wil p6Ibly shoulder the major res
ponsibili department. Major competition can be
or starting births in the infield, with team battling
leader Ken Rosefield leading the pack at first base.
Strong Contenders
Bob Ellenburg, a catcher, and Carroll Norrell, an out
fielder, have also served notice that they will be strong
candidates at their respective positions.
Spring Practice
Spring football practice may well serve as an insight as
to how Coach Warren Giese will cope with the problem of
replacing graduating standout performers such as 'King
Dixon and Alex Hawkins, halfbacks; as well as Don Rogers,
John Kompara, Dwight Keith, and Lawton Rogers, linemen.
Leading Candidates
Joe Gomes and Steve Kopian have a slight edge in the
competition for starting backfield assignments, while Jerry
Fry, -Jim Duncan and Jack Pitt are the most experienced
returnees at end.
Strong Bid
Ed Pitts and Bill Jerry at tackle, and Jake Bodkin and
transfer, Don Miles are expected to make strong bids to be
in the starting eleven against Duke on September 19.
Big Problem
Suitable replacements for the center position still loom
as the greatest single problem for the Giese men. At the
present, John Gordon, Bob Long, and Jim Nemeth, a transfer
from Toledo, are receiving due consideration for the pivot
post.
Strong Spot
The strongest single spot on the Gamecock squad will
be that of fullback, where all-conference John Saunders, and
lettermen Phil Lavoie, and Bob Farmer all return.
Much Depth
.Naturally, boys not mentioned here could blossom into
leading contenders. But after all, that is the purpose of
Spring practice, to allow each boy sufficient chance to show
his ability.
Arrow cotton .
Wash-and-Wears
.earn their way
through college
Why spend date' money sending
shirts home? Just wash and drip.
.dry these Arrow cotton wash-and.
wears and you're ready to go.
Only Arrow offers so wide a
range: your favorite styles of col
Iars and cuffs in oxford and broad
cloth, in white, solids and patterns.
.And every shirt features ex
clusive Arrow Mitoga@-tailoring.
$4.00up.
Chuett~ Peabdi * ,a Inc.
fl rt in fashlon
PICTURED ABOVE ARE three me
freshman basketball team. They
Bob Reban, and John Pfalsgraf. T
burg, West Virginia, and have bee]
playing load for the Biddies of CA
season. Here are three .good reason
briek ean breathe a little easier wh
Basketball N
Its Finest Ci
College basketball will be losing a
one of Its finest citizens when a
University of South Carolina guard
Ray (Coolde) Pericola closes out
a productive career within the next
month.
His performances on the court
have been among the best in the
"Ceookie" Pericola
Atlantic Coast Conference during
the past three year, but his var
sity coaches at South Carolina,
formerly Frank Johnson and now
Walt Hambrick, will tell you that
"Cookie" has been more than just
a good athlete.
"He's a wonderful representa
tive for the school and the basket
ball team, whether it be on the
court, on the campus or out in
public," Hambrick says of the
Union City, N. ., senior.
Johnson, who coached Pericola
during his sophomore and Junior
seasons, commented, "I don't think
I've ever seen 'Cookie' protest over
an official's call or comit any act
of poor sportsmanship in a game
or in practice."
Pericola's splendid attitude was
recognized early by the Carolina
~*. IX
X.
X.
T 4 :,
nbers of the current University
are left to right, Bud Cronin,
hese boys all hail from Parkers
i shouldering quite a bit of the
,ch Ken Rosemond, so far this
s why Varsity Coach Walt Ham
en thinking of seasons to come.
Vil Lose
izen
tudents, who voted to give him the
portsmanship award for the squad
vhen he was a sophomore.
"Cookie" received the Air Force
t.O.T.C. athletic award when he
vas a Junior and has the distine
ion of serving as captain of the
ramecock basketball team for two
traight years.
Academically, Pericola has done
well, too, and was named to "Who's
Vho In American Colleges .jnd
hfiversties" ~along Mvith' being
lected vice-president of his senior
lass.
Pericola is nearing the end of a
parkling college career, having
tarted every game for the Game
ocks - 71 in a row - since join
ng the varsity as a sophomore in
.956. Although noted more for his
lay-making talents, Pericola has
cored over 1,000 points for the
samecocks, averaging about 15 per
,ame during the three seasons.
Despite his competitive spirit
nd ability to sometimes make the
opposition "look bad," Pericola has
stablished himself as a popular
igure, not only with USC fans,
ut with oppoAents as well.
WI
Sciiii
st WEs SCO
Spe ts Cohymn*~
Art WbJmnt, a - N, lean
freshmn n from 1kard, go-th Car
olina, cotinues to 06 ture the
attention of age fana, a b
tains toP, aorng hobo 5the
Biddies O _." Un$veril 12
games of, play, Whmat 186
points; his highest maZ46 tor any
one game being the tilt with
Auwuta Jr. College for the March
of Dimes in which he scored 21
points.
Whisnant Is a 6-4 forward, 18
years of age, and a vital prospect
for the varity squad next season.
Good Prospect
Fast moving and high-spirited
Bobby Robinson of Camden, has
shot for 128 points. Robinson, a
6-0 guard, had his best scoring
spree In the second battle with
the freshmen from Furman, in
which he took top honore with 22
points.
The closely played scramble with
North Greenville JT. Oolege marks
Robinson's finest game. He scored
for 15 points against the Moun
taineers, a powerhouse in the
junior college league.
If the 19-year-old South -Caro
linian continues to exhibit the type
ball he has been playing, he will
%ertainly enhance the Gameroostere
cage talent for 1959-60.
Sparks Biddies
Bud Oronin, the Pericola pro
tege of the freshman hardwoods,
has hit for 119 points during the
lirst 12 games on the Biddies' slate.
His highest mark -was against
Furman, at Greenville, for 14
points.
Cronin has a driving initiative
which quickly Identifies him on the
floor, and he is given to some extra
playmaking which keeps sports
writers happy an.d .the fabg com
in back for more.
Plays in Spite of Injuries
Joe Laird, University High's
contribution to the freshman team,
has netted 105 points, giving him
fourth spot in scoring tallies.
This fine young ballhandler Is
limited somewhat by a back in
jury received during his senior
high school year. His spunk, how
ever, has not been limited, and
Laird usually proves an effective
Iriving force.
Great Potential
Jimmy Howell, 6-0 guard from
Colmbia, has acquired 74 points,
almost all of them during the first
tour games. Howell began the year
with a punch, bucketing .14 points
PURE WHITE MOE
on4s the beginning of
It'sia
.upf
that
M TASTES E
Iaab':d B
against. tfit* , but he has been
used sparingly during the ensuoing
eight performances. owell pos
sesses great potential, but needs
to dd much polish to his game
through ad4ed experience.
Good Defdase
teve Brown, 6-0: guad from
Greer,. holdsi 69 peints to his credit.
., bit for '16 poInt4 in two previ
6us gmmes. Brown is quite g9od on
defense-often the Biddies' weak
est spot-end he looked quite
promising in the last home game
with the North Greenville boys.
Most Improved
Adolph Grabenstetter, the "won,
der-boy" who rose from 17 points
in the first six games to 49 points
in the last six, has made the most
improvement at any man on the
frosh squad. He needs more op
portunities to play, and we trust
Coach Ken Rosemond will supply
them.
Team Man
Ever-improving Bob Rebhan, a
6-4 forward from West Virginia,
totals 46 points for eighth spot.
His best night was at Aiken for the
benefit tilt, when he put 10 points
into the basket. He, too, needs
more floor expirience, which will
doubtless polish him into a fine
ballhandler.
Natural Athlete
Another West Virginia boy
John Pfalzgraf-has hit for 41
points. The 6-0 guard from Par
kersburg has been sparsely seen
on the floor, although against Pres
byterian -Jr. College, he took top
For
FINEST IP
DELIVERED
PHONE Al
5 P.M.-I
DA1l
9 A.M.-10 P.A
OLIVER'S DE
1013 Sumi
bERN FILTER
a WINSFON
vh.t's
ront
Couni
Winston
up front...fi
tobaccos, spec
for filter
dlies
rhding
ionors with 15 points. Ptalso%gt
has the potentiality of a ced ath.
leta, but like so many t his teoa.
mates, needs more' opportMuntes to
demonstrate and impoye
ProvWd Heghth
Tall man on the "h a
3-6 center, ,Bob PAAteff. W S"
otal of 6 .points to his credi
Dharleston frednnan hAd his
woring night against W
!r. College, when he counted
mine points.
Winning Record
The Biddies have won
games to date, lost three. - e
team has scored 976 points; t'to
577 points for their opposition.
Remaining Schedule
Tonight the Biddies face a re.
bout with the North Greenville Jr.
College Mountaineers, who will
doubtless be looking for a victory
0 revenge for their 02-60 drop to
the Carolina fresh last week. On
February 14, the team joureys to
Wilmington Jr. College, whore the
Biddies will be looking for a win,
having lost a close one with the
}unior college quintet earlier, 57
56.
On February 16, the Biddies are
it Due West for their second tilt
with the Erskine taruity; on Feb
ruary 18, they travel to Agnta,
3eorgia, for a match with the Geor
gia freshmen, and then they con
flude the season with an all
importint tos-up with the fresh
men of Clemson College. This last
rame will be played immediately
rollowing the varsity game.
The
V FOODS
TO YOU
3-2321
0 P.M.
LY
. SATURDAY
LICATESSEN
ar Street
ally process~
smoIdng ~4A
4 #$102