East Out

SEATTLE – East high school of Bremerton became the second team to be eliminated from the state class AA basketball tournament here this morning when it dropped a 63-37 decision to Roosevelt of Seattle in the loser’s bracket. Dave Normile led the Roosevelt scoring with 22 and Mike Holen topped East with 16.

Earlier, Central Valley of Spokane sent Ellensburg to the sidelines with a 57-41 victory.

Roosevelt broke away to a 15-0 lead early in the game and kept on the pressure to defeat East.

The win moved Roosevelt into the Friday morning opener against Central Valley.

Holen picked up six field goals in the second half. He was the only Knight to hit from the field in East Bremerton’s frustrating second half.

Roosevelt (63) - Steve Looney 15, Dave Normile 22, Neil Warner 0, Dick Van Law 14, Al Murch 2, Bob Alexander 4, John Andrina 0, Ward Bushnell 2, Chuch Schulter 3, Mel Trinor 2.

East Bremerton (37) - Greg Morrison 3, John Tracy 5, Darryl Fry 3, Mike Holen 16, Jim Tienhaara 8, Larry Beach 0, Bill Carter 0, Dave Garrison 0.

Following the East Bremerton-Roosevelt tilt, Blanchet put on a desperation drive to overtake Renton in the last quarter, 36 to 35.

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AA Change Endorsed 

In House

OLYMPIA – (AP) – The House has endorsed a decision to change the format of the state high school class AA basketball tournament after hearing the decision defended by a lawmaker who is a high school coach.

Rep. Arile DeJarnatt, Longview Democrat, said the Washington State High School Activities association was right in ending the 16-team tournament.

“This week-long tournament disrupts school . . . and has an adverse effect on academics,” DeJarnett said.

Beginning next year, the statewide meet will be replaced by four district tournaments to pick finalist who will compete in a two-day finale.

A half dozen high school basketball stars of the 1930s and 1940s who are now members of the House introduced a resolution favoring continuance of the four-day tourney. The House shouted it down Wednesday after hearing from DeJarnatt and others.

Rep. Dick J. Kink, Bellingham Democrat and a co-sponsor of the resolution, said the High School Activities association is controlled by school administrators. He said the administrators are against athletic tournaments.

Kink, who played in the 1939 and ’40 tournaments for Bellingham high school, said when you are a high school athlete you are “always looking forward to the day when you come to the state tournament.”

“Many of us hate to see it – the tournament – pass on,” said Rep. Duane Berentson, Burlington Republican, and one-time prep basketball star.

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Pavilion's 'Vacant Seats'

Leave Prep Fans Unhappy

SEATTLE – (AP) – Hundreds of unhappy, ticketless fans stood outside the University of Washington pavilion Wednesday while their home team basketball teams played inside.

At the opening of the state class AA high school basketball tournament there were as estimated 6,000 empty seats inside Edmundson pavilion. The Seattle Times estimated the crowd outside at 2,000.

IVAN TRAVIS, ticket manager, said his hands were tied.  He had sold 13,500 tickets for the morning session, including 7,000 season tickets (many of which went unused. He had only 11,500 seats.

“If we opened the doors and let those fans in and they stayed around for a couple of games,” Travis said, “what would happen to those fans with season tickets or for tickets to the late games?”

Officials later relented a little and let in about 500 of the outside crowd after the second game. There were still empty seats in the pavilion, however.

Some Central Valley fans from Spokane got in on tickets loaned by Seattle’s Garfield high.

AN ESTIMATED 50 Ellensburg students got in by ruse. Cheer leaders with identifying sweaters were admitted. Then students took extra sweaters outside and others used them to get through the gates.

Travis listened to scores of complaints, and commented:

“Frankly, I’m afraid we’re going to have more fire marshals out here than fans before we’re through.”

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He explained “we can sell a little over capacity because some fans will be leaving after their teams play.”

UNIVERSITY officials received word that 1,000 Spokane youngsters were due Wednesday morning, without tickets. So were about 580 form Richland and n300 from Ellensburg.

The Seattle Times said tickets were so precious there was even no scalping.

Despite Travis’ announcements fans queued up in front of the pavilion although ticket windows were not opened Wednesday morning.

Pavilion doors were opened at 8 a.m., an hour before the first game, and ticket holders streamed in.

Eight extra police officers were on hand to keep order.

AS THE tournament opened there were an estimated 4,000-5,000 empty seats, however.

But university officials said this space could not be sold to late comers because 7,000 persons had bought season tickets that entitled them to attend any tournament game.

Schedule

Thursday