Pottsville High
School opened its 1923 basketball season under somewhat of a handicap. Since all of the members of last year's team had left
school it was necessary to organize an entirely new team. But candidates were not lacking and they made up in willingness
to practice what they lacked in experience. Practice was held either at the Armory or Dimmerling's. Coach Jacoby kept them
hard at it and when the time for the first game arrived, they were prepared for it. Although the team did not prove phenomenal,
which it would hardly do since there were no "veterans" on the team, it did show what practice can do to help win
the game.
Manager Hopkins worked hard to get
the schedule filled and did his best to keep things going. Although he was checked somewhat by his illness, he managed the
season in fine style and he gave Pottsville a successful season in basketball.
In all, 29 games were played and of these, Pottsville won 12. Fourteen Schuylkill-Carbon League games were played, Pottsville
winning five and losing nine. A very creditable showing was made by the team when one takes into consideration that it was
an entirely new team, only one of the players, Grigalonis, having played on a high school team before. Credit must be given
to Coach Jacoby for the way in which he trained the team.
The season was started with a game at Tamaqua. Pottsville lost by the score of 30-26, but it was taken as a moral victory
because the new team gave such a good showing. The next night, December 16, Girardville was played at the armory. Pottsville
handed their opponents a decisive defeat by the score of 34-10. Eleven players were uses by Pottsville, thus giving everyone
a fair chance to show what they could do.
The game
scheduled for January 9 with Mahanoy City at Pottsville, was played at Schuylkill Haven as the Armory could not be secured.
Although on a neutral floor and playing against last year's state champions, Pottsville put up a good fight. Pottsville led
at the end of the first half by 20-14 and Mahanoy City only won by making a spurt in the last three minutes of the game. Grigalonis
was the high scorer with five field goals.
On January
19, Port Carbon was defeated at the Armory by the score of 27-16. The Armory was crowded as about 100 Port Carbon rooters
came with the team. Hasler had five field goals. The next night Pottsville lost at Lehighton by 47-46. An extra five minute
period had to be played to decide the victor. But poor foul shooting Pottsville would have won. Hasler had nine field goals.
On January 27, Coaldale was played at the Armory in a rough game. Several of the
players were injured. Coaldale had a fast team having six straight victories before playing Pottsville, which made the seventh.
Pottsville defeated Nesquehoning in an extra period game by 33-29 on January
31. Grigalonis was high scorer with five field goals. Mauch Chunk was defeated at the Armory on February 14. The score was
49-10. Hasler had nine field goals. Dimmerling had three field goals and 14 fouls.
Near the end of the season Pottsville won its first and only game away. It was at Port Carbon
by the score of 27-15. Pottsville scored a total of 852 points on the season and their opponents scored 838 points.
The Team consists of Grigalonis, the captain, played guard. He played an all-round
good game. "Grig" was the only member of the team who played on a high school team before. He scored high in all
games in which he played.
Hasler, forward, was
another high scorer for the Crimson Tide. He is a sophomore and will be here for next year's team. Dimmerling, center, excelled
in shooting fouls. He will be here for next year's team. Falls, forward, played a good game though-out the season. Flail,
guard and forward, though small, usually managed to do his share in scoring. Krause, guard, another small member of the team
played well. He will be back for next years team.
Wilson,
guard, did well, blocking many plays. He will be bacj next Year. Sanders, Forward, made good whenever he played. Donahue,
forward, was another one who made good. He will be back next year.
