When the call for
basketball came in December, it was so eagerly responded to, that in a sense it seemed to be the only sport in which the fellows
could participate. About 30 candidates reported, and among them was almost a full team of veterans from the preceding year,
and also many other experienced men, who were looked upon as valuable assets to the team, and who later proved to be so. The
turnout was very gratifying to Coach Jacoby, and everything looked very promising for a championship team.
The next move was to find a hall in which the men could practice. This, as is well
known, is a yearly occurrence and a proposition that usually gives those in charge much difficulty. "Our Sam's"
father greatly obliged us, however, by offering his hall for practice until the Armory was available. This we used for the
first several practices, during which the fundamentals of the game were gone over, signals practiced,scrimmages held, etc.
We appreciate very much the great help rendered in this incident, and assure Mr. Dimmerling that his service to the team was
of great value.
After several hard practices, the team
rounded into fine form, and the season was about to be opened. So on December 14, we started our schedule by visiting the
Summit Hill High School. The team that represented Old High worked very hard to gain a victory, but with the absence of their
captain, Dimmerling, who had to remain out of the first few games because of the injury sustained to his ankle in football,
and the great work of Bonner of the opposing team, they were obliged to return home with a eight point defeat.
This however, did not dishearten the men as was shown in the next game, when we won a great
victory over the Lehighton crew. In the first couple of minutes of this game, our Varsity ran up a score of about 36 to the
opponents 5, after which, the first string men were removed for the extra men to get into the game. These players also worked
mightily hard, and they finished the game with a six point lead. "Cowboy" Falls had nine field goals in the game.
In the next game, which was played at Nesquehoning, Pottsville was represented by a badly
crippled club; four members of the regular team being absent from the line-up. The crew that played, however, made a good
showing and although greatly outclassed, were almost able to bring back a victory, the final score being 29-19. During the
game "Greeny" came through with two of his famous long shots, and helped to boost the score somewhat,"Charley"
Alter, who started the game at guard, had his finger broken and although he finished the game, he had to absent himself from
practices for a short period afterward.
In the following
week, we journey out to Tower City, where a quickly arranged game was played, in which we were the victors by a 35 to 31 score.
This game was marked by the return to the ranks of the team's captain, Dimmerling, who had been out of the game for reasons
already stated. Although this was the first game in which he played this season, he worked very well with his teammates, and
his return promptly settled the question of "Who's gin to play Center?" which had been heard so frequently up to
this time.
Thus the season went on in a more or less
successful manner; we were winning many and, "of course," losing "several". Many hardships confronted
us during the season, but most of these were successfully overcome, and the season carried through. So as we look back over
thr records, we find tabulated in sports history of our Alma Mater, for the basketball season of 1923-24 the following record
of 13 wins and 10 losses.
In all, 23 games were
played, 13 of which were victories, and the other 10 defeats. But in thus passing over, we are touching only lightly on some
very important games, which will stand as "records" for some time to come. Among those of the most importance are
the following;
The Mahanoy City victory in Pottsville,
score 33-27, was the first victory Pottsville won over this team in almost four years. The Shenandoah team came here in the
following week and received their only defeat of the season from a regional team, score 34-23. The only other team beating
them this season, being Norristown, in a tournament at that place.
On February 30, we ran up a score of 77 to 17, on Mauch Chunk, and thus boosted our average in the league standings. At Lehighton,
on January 18, we played a "nip and tuck" game with the team of that place. The score at full time was 34-34, but
most of our regulars had been removed by the personal foul route, and our reserves who had replaced the regulars were
unable to hold their opponents during the extra period, so we were forced to return again with defeat. Several spectators
remarked that it was the best game ever played at that place. Score at the close of the extra period was 40-34.
March 12, marked the only defeat of our season on our home floor, it being registered on
us by the Summit Hill league leaders by a score of 45 to 31. We were quite successful in the Schuylkill-Carbon League this
season, finishing the season in third place. Had it not been for the several unfortunate defeats in the early part of the
season, we might have finished in first-place, but we were, however, well pleased with the showing made by our boys in the
last several league games, and are well satisfied with their work.
As the records show, Pottsville had a very strong offensive club this year, and in comparing them with their opponents, they
scored 802 to their opponents 726 points. Falls, who has been elected captain for next season's team, led the scoring with
314 of the team's total points. Practically every man on the team will return next year, therefore with the extensive
experience which the men now have, combined with the teachings they will receive up to the time of playing next year, we shall
expect far better results than those of this year, and possibly we can look for the championship of the region.
Much credit is due Coach Jacoby for his untiring efforts with the boys and although the
players reget that they did not win all the games, they want him to know that they did their best for him and their Alma Mater,
and they further state that they will again do their utmost to boost the standards of Old Pottsville High School.
"Cowboy Falls"
"Cowboy Falls", our snappy forward, not only led his team in points scored during
the season, but came within a small margin of also leading the league scoring. Bonner of Summit Hill lead the group, and our
"Ken" was a close second. "Do your stuff, Cowboy" and don't let that fellow reproduce his victory next
year. Falls was elected captain for the coming season, and we're sure that he's going to lead his men to a standing much above
that in which we now rank.
"War-Horse"
Hasler
Hasler played his usual hard
game at forward. "Cowboy" and he work those forward position like brothers, and it was through thier hard wotk that
many of our victories were turned in. Although "Charley" was absent from several games, his playing while at his
old post was so great that he worked himself up into third place in the standing. "Charley" will be back at his
old post next year again, and we're sure that those two fellows who were ahead of him this year are going to work, if they
are to hold their respective positions next year. "Do you best, Charley."
"Sam" Dimmerling"
"Sam"
Dimmerling was our staunch center and captain. Although he was absent from a number of games due to his injury, his playing
was of such a caliber that his score ranked second in the number of points scored by the individuals of the team. George will
be with us next year again, battering for the high perch which he might have attained had it not been for his ill-luck. Try
again Sam. No goal was ever reached without being repeatedly tried for.
"Monk" Robbins
Robbins, like Hasler and Dimmerling, was absent from a few games during the season. This enabled his teammates to "step
out" ahead of him, and although while playing guard, a great average is not expected, "James" pulled Thur with
a fair percentage. We're sure that the experience he received this year will help him greatly in the coming season, since
this was his first year on the Varsity line-up.
"Grump"
Zeigler
"Grump" was one of the
two extremes that landed over here in search of a position on our team this year. Having played on the Port Carbon team for
two years, he was well experienced, and naturally landed a job at guard. This he held down remarkably, getting in practically
every game of the season, except several when his knee was injured, and he was forced to remain out on this account. "Grump"
may be with us next year, and if he is, this will mean another link in the chain of strength which we are predicting for the
team of next year.
"Frisky" Krimmel
Krimmel and "Grump" Ziegler were the two members of
our team that not only represented the famous town of "Port", but were also distinguished as represented the two
extremes on our team, for just as Ziegler was "high and broad", Krimmel was "short and narrow." "Puddles"
had also played in Port Carbon with Ziegler, so he had plenty of experience. Although retarded by size, "Frisky"
played a great game at guard, and as he is only a Junior, we can expect to see him perform again under the colors of the "Crimson
and White."
"OT" Miller
Miller, "The Sheik of Saint Clair" played a guard
position on our team this year, getting in almost all the games. Otto took much pride in his hair and was always very particular
in seeing that it was always in place before going on the floor. He's the only one that will not return next year's team.
'Greeny," Martz, and Kline made
good whenever they played. They'll all return for next year's team. Th following is the record as made by individuals for
the 1923-24 season:
Player
Field Goals Foul Total Points
Falls-Forward 117
80 314
Dimmerling-Center 69
21 159
Hasler-Forward 42
15 99
Zeigler-Guard
25 12
62
Krimmel-Forward
17 28
62
Robbins-Guard 25
7 57
Miller-Guard
14 10
38
Substitutes
4 3 11
_____________________________________________________________________
Totals 313 176 802
Opponents
272 172 716
