Those on hand were partially in agreement that the preliminary game to Friday night’s East-West cross-city cage fray was, in reality, the best encounter of the night.

East won it, coming from under a 12-point first-half deficit, by a 56-49 margin.

But it wasn’t the outcome which afforded the “best-game” opinions. The two reserve squad, composed of both junior and sophomore personnel waged their wire-to-wire warfare with an excellence of ability.

TRUE, THEY WERE both a bit edgy at the start (the stands were virtually full already and these youngsters were more adjusted to playing to empty seats) but once they overcame those factors it turned into a dilly of a contest.

Greg Gran of West was the individual stick-out of the first 16 minutes, at one stage of a torrid spree hitting eight of nine field goals to finish with 18 at the break. Unfortunately for West, he found the basket evasive in the last two panels, adding only six more points for an even two dozen.

East got its win through a more balanced effort with strong-handed Dan Johnston, lanky Dick Winderl and shorter, but much aggressive, Gene Kennedy providing a distinct rebound advantage. The same three, along with guards Dwayne Slate and Wayne Gibson, contributed to the winning point total.

THE WHOLE THINK heralded good for both varsity coaches, Bob Smith at West and Les Eathorne at East, for next year. If their first outing of this campaign is indicative, rivalry in the ensuing year or two is going to be finely pitched.

And so, too, will be the second meeting of this season between the two reserve squads at East, on Feb. 15.

*          *          *

With the junior college conference basketball season only a third complete, it’s already been determined that no team will got through undefeated, preserving for one more year, at least, the unparalleled 16-0 campaign enjoyed by the late Phil Pesco’s 1948-49 Olympic Rangers . . . Ex-Olympic Ranger golfer Rory Rice wound up third among qualifiers for the University of Washington varsity links team, but must face 54 more holes of qualifying in the spring before solidifying a team position . . . A man who might replace Rice as No. 1 man on this year’s OC fairway team is Joe Dubsky, Roosevelt of Seattle grad and son of former UW gridder by the same name of 1936. Dubsky is a transfer from Everett JC . . . Guyle Fielder, the golden man of Western Hockey league play and holder of numerous loop marks, is with in striking distance of still another – the only man to record 1,000 career points. The Seattle Totem center star needs only five more.

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Wortman Has 20

in SPC Romp

CHENEY - (UPI) - The Seattle Pacific Falcons behind the strong first half shooting of Howard Heppnerf beat the Eastern Washington Savages here Tuesday 63-52 in a non-conference basketball game.

Heppner, who was topped by Bremerton teammate Gary Wortman's 20 point for scoring honors, had 18 point for the game, 15 in the first half.

Seattle Pacific led at the half, 36-28.

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Schumacher, Leslie

Hurt in T-Bird Fray

TACOMA – West Wildcats won a Capital league high school basketball game here last night, 56-55 over Mount Tahoma, but lost the services of both starting guards.

Leon Leslie, smooth-shooting ball hawk, suffered a broken finger in warm up drills, had the injured digit taped and played the last half. Whether he will be available for Friday night’s Olympic league class AA fray with Port Angeles at West is up to the doctor.

STEVE SCHUMACHER, whose versatility often finds him moving to forward from his opening backcourt post, suffered a dislocated knee three minutes into the first quarter of play last night. On crutches today he will miss an estimated three weeks of the season.

Come-through performance was turned in by J.D. Tamerius who took over for Leslie at the tipoff although Tamerius has been only a forward reserve all season. The senior sub scored 16 points high for West, and he got them al crucial moments.

Center Dan Shedwin, a junior, and forward Fred Kegel, a senior, contributed 15 and 12 point respectively, to West’s first win in the Capital league in four outings.

Bruce Malfalt, sophomore Thunderbird forward, tallied 23 for game individual honors and usual high scorer Art Smith added 13.

WEST, WHICH LED only at 4-2 and 5-4 early in the first quarter, trailed the rest of the game until Tamerius tied the count with 3:17 remaining to play and Leslie, making his only points of the contest, goaled with 2:23 on the clock to make it 49-47 for the Wildcats.

Smith tied it on free throws at 2:07 but Shedwin’s lay-in at 1:53 and Tameriaus’s two free throws at 1:15 made it 53-49 and the ‘Cats were in front to stay.

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Final West points came on a Kegel field goat at 0:33 and Shedwin’s free throw at 0:08.

Mount Tahoma got the last two points, a rebound tip-in by Malfalt after a teammate had blown a free lay-in.

West mentor Bob Smith had directed his Wildcats to stay clear and let the Thunderbirds have the two-point if they could make it – “just don’t foul.”

A PERSONAL FOUL called against West after a successful field goal would have given the Thunderbirds a chance to tie the game and send it into overtime.

The ‘Cats were cautious when it meant conquest and they jubilantly returned home feeling avenged for a season-opening 50-53 loss to the Thunderbirds at West when the Wildcats had led by 11 with three minutes to go and couldn’t preserve the advantage.

Although the game was close all the way last night, the Thunderbirds had the early advantage and West took it back later. At the end of the first quarter, the Tahomans were on top 10-8 and at the half 29-24. West narrowed it by three in the third panel and won it with the big late rally.

Wildcats sank 21 of 48 floor attempts for 43.8 per cent. Thunderbirds made good 22 of 54 goal tries for 40 per cent. At the free throw line, ‘Cats copped 14 of 24 chances and MT 11 of 18.

B Team Game

West (66) - Gordon 5, Gran 14, Shute 15, Chamberlain 14, Tobacco 3, Richardson 3, Balcom 1, Pudas 4, Munns 3, Costello 4, Matlock, Egan, Watson:

Mount Tahoma (50) - Taylor 1, Sparts 3, Uhl 4, Endicott 13, Mcwhirter 8, Rytkooen 9, Burmester 3, Gillia 4, Holcomb 4, Bulger 1, Croghan.