Races Close in Hockey, Basketball

A week and a half after the start of the spring term the house teams have reopened competition for the Straus Trophy. The following is a brief roundup of standings and relative strength in four winter sports. A summary of the freshman intramural basketball situation appears on page 4.

With house basketball entering the second tournament round and hockey nearing the end of the first, the two championship races have narrowed considerably.

As of Wednesday afternoon four houses, Dunster, Kirkland, Leverett, and Winthorp were in 6-2 tie for first place in A basketball league. In B league Kirkland was pacing the field with a 7-1 record. Dunster and Leverett were a close second with a 6-2 tally each.

Wednesday night Dudley barely won a 1-0 victory on the ice to upset a previously unbeaten Eliot sextet. The defeat leaves Eliot, Kirkland, and Dudley as league leaders.

On the court, Kirkland's John Green has proved instrumental in his team's first place basketball showing. He leads the league in scoring with over 126 points. Behind him is Burton Berson of Dunster with 120 points scored, as of Wednesday's count. The only player in the top five league scorers who is not on one of the four leading teams is John Hurst of Lowell.

Green tied with Hurst for the high score of 24 points in one game. George Felfer of Eliot and William Riggs of Winthrop followed with 23 points apiece.

Kirkland Strong

In the B league, Otis Dewan of Dunster and Michael Pizitz of Adams are the leading houses' scorers. Kirkland's representative in the sharp-shooting bracket are Harold Sadowsky and George McGarrity, who trail Dewan and Pizitz by only a few points. Pizitz and McGarrity also top the league in single game highs.

Winthrop has improved most noticeably ever last year's top four teams. A year ago the Puritans placed near the celler in both A and B leagues. Leverett won A while Dunster finished first in B.

"Kirkland is traditionally strong in basketball," William Peck, Deacon Athletic Secretary commented. "We have ranked as one of the top three teams over the last four years. Two years ago we won both A and B leagues," he said.

"This year's competition is nip and tuck. Right now there are four or five top teams in the running," he went on.

Last year Dunster won B ball and finished second in the A league. "Dunster hopes to do as well this year," House secretary, Otis Dewan said.

Dudley's Hockey

In hockey, however, Dunster has not fared as well. This year the team ranks in a class behind the league leaders.

Of the three leading sextets Dudley has the best chance to win the championship and retain the crown it won a age. But this season's team is somewhat weaker than the crown-winning one of last season, according to Donald Tavel, Commuter secretary.

Dudley boasts the league's number one defenseman, goalie Arthur Tallas, according to Tavel. In addition to Tallas the Commuters have Peter Hoagland, who is one of the leading scorers in the league.