Pottsville High
School started out their basketball season with practically the same team as last year. Luke Noecker, being assistant manager
in 1921, became manager of this year's team. George Hill, star center of the 1921 team, was unable to play the entire season
on the account of entering Lawrenceville Preparatory School. His place was filled by Loyd Martz, former guard, Clayton taking
the latter's place.
The first game of the season
was played at home with the Alumni as the opponent, Pottsville High School coming out ahead 38-7. Bushar was the star of the
game with seven goals. On Tuesday, December 20, Pottsville came out victorious with a 30-26 win over Shillington.
On December, 24, Pottsville received their first defeat of the season on their
own floor by the close score of 28-23. Hill and Bushar were both out of the game which greatly weakened the team. Pottsville
high School came back strong after this defeat by winning a notable victory at Birdsboro, January 6. The game was close
until the end when Pottsville crawled away into a safe lead. Bushar and Brigham were high scorers foe Pottsville with three
goals each.
Pottsville nosed out Wernersville High
in one of the closest games seen at the Armory this year. Bushar again was high scorer with four field goals and nine foul
shots. Pottsville continued their winning streak by defeating Shenandoah 28-23. Bushar was held to one field goal, Manwiller
and Martz each getting three. Kull with four field goals starred for Shenandoah.
On February 18, Pottsville journeyed to Schuylkill Haven where they were defeated 34-32. The
score at the end of the game was 30-30. An extra period was played in which Pottsville was nosed out. However, a few days
after, Pottsville turned the tables on Schuylkill Haven High, defeating them on the home floor. 27-25. Because of the close
scores an attempt was made to arrange a third game, but this was unsuccessful.
Pottsville lost at Norristown by the large score of 54-22. Manwiller, Pottsville's guard, was injured in the first half. Gotwald
was high scorer of the game with eight field goals. Bushar led for Pottsville with two field goals and 14 out 19 fouls.
Pottsville won another out of town victory at Nesquehoning, nosing them out by
a 30-29 score. Bushar was again high scorer with 6 field goals and 7 out of 9 fouls. Hazleton defeated Pottsville at Hazleton,
Friday March 17, by the score of 43-23. Captain Manwiller was again back in the game and played a good all around game. Bushar
got his usual 3 baskets. He also made 10 fouls shots.
Tamaqua was beaten at the Armory, March 21. The game was won in the last few minutes on a foul shot by Bushar. Martz led in
scoring with 3 field goals. Welket excelled for Tamaqua with 2 baskets. The score was 16-15.
The Team
Karl Manwiller
(Captain) was one of the hardest players on the team. He excelled in guarding but was also good in shooting. A good all around
fellow.
Harold Bushar, best shot on the team. Excelled
in shooting in many games. Also a wonderful foul shooter.
Lloyd
Martz, star forward, became center after George Hill had left the team. He filled both positions well, not only by guarding,
but by shooting as well.
Lawrence Brigham came through
with several nifty shots, also several long ones. "Moe" was in every play, always holding his man to a few baskets
or else blanking him.
George Hill, regular center,
fitted in the team work nicely. His loss was a great blow to the team.
Bruce Clayton, last year substitute won his glory by holing a guard position in the varsity.
Bill Bertsch, also a substitute, played with commercial team. Bertsch was
given a chance in several games in which he made good.
Roland
Corson was also given a chance at guard, doing well. Corson should be a great figure in the 1923 basketball team.
The team was coached by Mr. Grube, a member of the faculty.
Class BasketBall
A new scheme was devised at the beginning of the term by Coach Grube of the varsity. This was
the idea of class basketball. The object of this was to keep the different classes in training so as to get material for the
varsity. Five classes were represented, namely: Seniors, Juniors, Sophomores, Freshman and Commerical.
The Seniors came out victorious winning three and tying one. The first game
was between the Seniors and Juniors. After a hard played game the score was a tie. The game however was never played out,
a tie counting as one point.
Members of the Class
Teams
Seniors: L. Noecker, A. Switsavage, G. Horne,
C. Leffler, F. Johnson
Juniors: Corson, Sanders, Nash,
Flail, Troutman
Sophmores: Alter, Lime, Boltz, Krause,
Robbins
Freshmen: Kienzle, Taylor, Wilson, Hasler,
Dolan
Commercial: Erdman, Ellison, Bertch, Fails, VonderHeiden
Games won count as two points, ties as one point. Standing of
teams at the end of the season: Seniors- 3 Wins and one tie- 7 points. Sophomores: 2 wins and 1 loss - 4 points, Commercial:
2 wins and 1 loss- 4 points, Juniors: 1 tie and two losses- 1 point and Freshmen: 3 losses - 0 points.
On December 6, the commercial team defeated the freshmen giving
them the lead in points. This Commercial team two points, while the Seniors and Juniors only had one. Two weeks after the
Seniors crawled back into the lead by defeating the Sophomores. This did not last long, for in the fourth game Commercial
again displaced them by defeating the Juniors 17-15.
The Sophomores furnished a strong team coming out in second place, tie with Commercial. They defeated the Freshmen in the
fifth game. The score was 29-8. The Seniors and Commercial game on February 7th was a deciding figure for the Championship.
In this game the Seniors once more regained the lead defeating their opponents 19-10.
The Juniors were put out of the race by the Sophomores. The game was close ending
14-14. An extra period was played in which the Sophomores won. The Seniors clinched the Championship when they defeated the
Freshmen 19-5. At the end of the first half, the Freshmen were leading 5-4, but the Seniors shut them out in the last half.
This gave the Seniors the Championship of the school.
