T,-.H.esda>^January H, 1956
MAROON AND GOLD
PAGE THREE
SCENES AS ELON WAS CROWNED CHAMPION OF HOLIDAY BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
Atkinson (iets Oulstandinjj Playt‘r Prize
(oa*li Malliis Is Awarl‘l IVani Tropliy
Finals Action Against Pfeiffer
Christians Win Parris.Island Cage Title
Walking The
Chalk-Liiies
By BILL WALKER
When anyone speaks of basket-
I ball, at least of bafketball of the
better variety, one cannot afford
to overlook the outstanding teams
I Irom the Old North State, whose
j Four” has won ranking with
I the very best the nation can show. I
But it is also true that one cannot
afford io overlook our own Fight
ing Christians from Elon, who have
posted one of the finest marks in
Elon sports history in their early-
I season contests this season.
I know that some of you readers
will ask at this point. “What about
that East Carolina game last Sat
urday night?” However, let’s just
call that an unpleasant interlude
and mark it down as something to
be properly avenged when the Pir
ates invade our own Alumni Mepi-
orial Gymnasium late in the sea
son. Perhaps the very brilliance
of Eton's early-season play was the
reason for the sad debacle down
at Greenville last weekend. In
other words, it is quite possible
•hat over-confidence had some
part in that game, and no team
can afford to be over-sure against
'he Pirates on their home floor.
After all, they have won 42 straight
fames at home.
However, Elon's record in* her
first ten games this year was of
the type that tends to breed over
confidence. The Christian cagers
in those first ten games simply
te-wrote the Elon record books
as they posted a scoring mark that
averaged 98.4 points per game, in
cluding one stretch of six consecu-
tive games in which they topped
the lOO-point mark. Also, during
that stretch of ten games they cop-
Wd the championship of the Par
ris Island Christmas Tournament,
boys and pull hard for a trip to
Kansas City.
• * »
LET'S BEAT A.C.C.!
* » *
Congratulations to Dee Atkin
son and Jimmy Crump for the dis
tinction they won in the Parris Is
land tourney Dee was voted the
mo£t valuable player, and Jimmy
poured in 33 points against High
Point for single game scoring hon
ors.
♦ ♦ ♦
LET'S TRAMPLE CATAWBA
®nd in an early win over duPont
tlify tied High Point’s North State
Conference mark of 124 points in
® single game.
The Christians have seemed lit-
wally to have everything a coach
could ask for in the way of man
power in their ten opening games.
There’s height, speed, good shoot-
'“8, good rebounding, and above
*11 else a strong bench, a bench
"’•'ich makes it possible to replace
2 starter with a man almost, if not
entirely, as good.
Certainly^ we’ve got a team that
shows promise of going places this
both in the Conference and
w NAIA play. Let’s get behind the
Like I said before, you can’t
talk basketball without mentioning
the “Big Four.” Considering a
necessary evil then, this writer
believes that any team that beats
either of the “Bag Fojur” has
worked a miracle and that all four
should be in the “Top Ten.”
♦ ♦ ♦
LET’S SWAMP APPALACHIAN!
* * •
During the football season, it
seems that the teams were served
a hot meal after each game. I think
personally that the basketball
team should be treated as well
after its games.
» * *
LET’S WRECK LENOIR RHYNE!
» * *
Those games listed above with
Atlantic Christian, Catawba, Appa
lachian and Lenoir Rhyne will
furnish opposition for our Christ
ians in our next four home games,
all of which will be played within
the next two weeks. Let’s get be
hind the boys with whole-hearted
student support, and by the lime
East Carolina gets here we’ll be
ready to avenge that loss last
weekend.
» ♦ »
With basketball stealing so
much of the sportlight, it’s mter-
esting to note that two of Elon’s
intramurals teams have joined the
“Y” commercial league and have
been chosen to represent Burlmg-
ton in the statewide Y.M.C.A.
tournament at Mayodan February
23-24. The teams are the Day
Students, who play as Monarch
Mills in the City League, and East
Dorm, which plays as Price Buick
in the Commercial League.
Erskiiie Is
First Victim
In Tourney
Playing in their first Christmas
invitational tournament, the Elon
Christian cagers got away to a fly
ing start in the Parris Island meet
by trouncing Erskine 108 to 86 in
a game played on Wednesday aT-
ternoon, December 21st.
I Three other North Carolina col
lege outfits moved into the semi
finals by chalking wins that day.
The Tar Heel winners were High
Point over Parris Island by 100 to
93, Pfeiffer over Piedmont by 86
to 66, and East Carolina over
Georgetown by 86 to 72.
The Christian cagers found it
close going in the first quarter
of the Erskine tilt, but the Elon
itossel’s grabbed the lead early
and held it all the way. The game
was never close after that opening
period as the Maroon and Gold
swept to a 60-37 margin at half-
time.
Dee Atkinson and Frank DeRita
were the big guns in the Elon at
tack, each netting H points for
the game. Three other Christian
stars were in double figures, with
Jimmy Crump hitting 14, Ben Ken
dall 12 and Earl Stone 10 points.
Pos. Elon (108 Erskine (86)
F—DeRita (17) Moore (20)
F-^uratic (8) Deichman (18)
C—Atkinson (17) Storm (12)
G—Whitley (6) (23)
G—Kendall (12) Johnston (8)
Half-time—Elon 60, Erskine 37
Elon subs—Stone (10), King (4),
Stout (6), Citty (9). Crump (14),
McDonald (5). Erskine subs—Gil
liam (3), Karr (2), Grammer.
I’ourney Scenes
Pictured across the top of the
page are scenes witnessed as the
Elon Christians swept triumph
antly through the first annual
Parris Island Christmas Tourna
ment. which saw Elin clinch the
championship by defeating Ersk
ine. High Point and Pfeiffer in
three consecutive battles.
At the left is an action shot
snapped as the Christians rolled
to a 100-77 victory over Pfeiffer
in the final round of tournament
action. The photographer caught
the action under the Eloi\ basket
as FrankaDeRita went up for a
rebound shot.
Pictured center above is the
presentation of the “Oustanding
Player” award to Dee Atkinson,
Elon’s lanky center; and at the
right is shown Coach Doc Mathis
as he received the beautiful team
trophy won by his Christian
hardwood artists.
Scoring Mark
Is Threatened
Twice this season, both times
against the High Point Panthers,
Christian cage stars have been
within striking distance of Elon’s
single game scoring mark of 36
points. The mark was set back in
1947 when Roney Cates hit 14
field buckets and 8 free throws
against the Atlantic Christian
Bulldogs.
Dee Atkinson came close when
be bagged 12 field baskets and 9
free throws for 33 points against
the High Pointers at High Point
early in December, and then Jhn
my Crump was equally close when
he bucketed 14 floor shots and 5
free throws for 33 points against
the High Point team during the
Parris Island Christmas Tourna-
Hifrh Point
Defeated In
Semi-Finals
A powerful attack in the closing
half gave Elon a decisive 102 to
81 victory over the High Point
Panthers in the semi-finals of the
Parris Island Christmas Tourna
ment on Thursday night, Decem
ber 22nd. The victory sent the
Christians into the finals against
Pfeiffer, which advanced with a
76-74 overtime win over East Caro
lina.
The first-day losers met in con
solation battles on this second day,
with Parris Island defeating Ersk
ine 98 to 65 and with Georgetown
defeating Piedmont 71 to 63.
The Elon battle witji High Point
was close through most of the first
half, but Elon was ahead by a
58-51 margin at intermission, and
the Christians rolled for a 44-30
advantage in the final half as
Jimmy Crump paced the attack.
Crump bagged 14 field buckets
and 5 free throws for 33 points,
within three points of Elon's all-
time single-game record.
Other Christians in double dig
its were Ed Juratic with 18, Dee
Atkinson with 14 and Frank DeRita
with 13 points.
Elon Cage Canies
Pos. Elon (102)
F—DeRita (13)
F—Juratic (18)
C—Atkinson (14)
G—Whitley (4)
G—Kendall (4)
High Point (81)
Powell (17)
Stanton (4)
Crockett (10)
Huegele (9)
Crump (6)
Elon 78, Pfeiffer 62.
Elon 90, Kelmont Abbey 83.
Elon 91, McCrary 100.
Elon 124, DuPont 70.
Elon 106, Hieh Point 101.
Elon 104, Guilford 57.
Elon 108, Erskine 86.
Klon 102, High Point 81.
Elon 100, Pheiffer 77.
Elon 81, Pfeiffer 76.
Elon 69, East Carolina 105.
Elon 99, DuPont 59.
(Remaining Games)
Jan. 11—A. C. C., home.
Jan. 14—Catawba, home.
Jan. 16—Belmont Abbey, home.
Jan. 18—Appalachian, home.
Jan. 21—West Carolina, away.
Jan. 25—Lenoir Rhyne, home.
Jan. 28—Catawba, away.
Jan. 30—McCrary, home.
Feb. 1—High Point, home.
Feb. 4—West Carolina, home.
Feb. 8—Appalachian, away.
Feb. 11—East Carolina, home.
Feb. 13—A. C. C., away.
Feb. 16—Lenoir Rhyne, away.
Feb. 18—Guilford, home.
Ejnf
Half-time—Elon 58, H. Point 51.
Elon subs — Stone (8), King,
Stout (2), Citty (4), Crump (33).
High Point subs—Williams (10),
Bledsoe (9), Thornton (3), Afendis
(6), Payne (7).
Christians Down Quakers, 104 To 57
The Elon Christians closed out
their regular pre-holiday schedule
by dumping the Guilford Quak
ers 104 to 57 in North State Con
ference encounter on the Quaker
court on Tuesday night, December
13th. , .
The victory was Elon s second
straight in Conference play and
gave the Christians a pre-Chnst-
mas mark of five wins in six
starts. Only loss for the Elon cag-
crs in early season was to the
semi-pro McCrary Eagles m a bat
tle at Ashetwro.
Coach Doc Mathis used his en
tire roster of fourteen boys in the
Quaker victory, using his starting
line-up less than half the time as
the Christian reserves rolled m
impressive style against the hap
less Quakers.
Ben Kendall and Dee Atkinson
shot the Christians away in front
in the opening minutes, and Ed
Juratic and Ray Whitley joined
the assault as Elon racked 16
points in two minutes. The start
ers ran the count to 30-12, and
Frank DeRita paced the top re
serves in the next few minutes as
Elon moved out to a 45-14 advant
age.
Coach Mathis swept the Elon
bench clean at that point, and Guil
ford rallied sUghtly and slashed
the Christian margin to 52-28 at
half-time. Roger
The Quakers matched baskets
with Elon in the opening minutes
of the second half, with Bobby At
las and Rodney Edwards hitting
near and far to give Elon a 30-
point spread at 68-38.
Dee Atkinson racked 17 points
to pace the Elon scoring, but he
was ably aided in the atack by Ed
Juratic with 14, Ray Whitley with
13 and Jimmy Crump with 11
counters. Roger
The line-ups:
Pos. Elon (104)
F—Juraeic (14)
F—Kendall (10)
C—Atkinson (17)
G—Whitley (13)
G—Citty (2)
GulUord (57)
Edwards (9)
Roan (18)
Burgess (9)
Atlas (8)
Dillon (4)
Half-time—Elon 52, Guilford 28
Elon subs — Crump (1), DeRita
(9). Stone (8), Rickover (7), Gates
(6), Sharpe (4), King (3), Doss
Watts. Guilford subs — Loftin (2)
loo 9||Q .
well but Atkinson. Juratic and' Breitenberger (2), Getsinger (5)
Whitley began pumping shots from; Brewer, Tudor, Harris.
Pfeiffer Is
Turned Back
In Title Tilt
The Christian basketecrs swept
to the championship in the first
annual Parris Island Christmas
Tournament as they rolled over
the Pfeiffer College Panthers 100
to 77 in the final game on Friday
night, December 23rd.
It was the first tournament title
for Elon since 1952 when the
Elon cagers won the Carolinas
NAIA tournament and went on to
the nationals at Kansas City. Ad
ditional glory came Elon's way
when Dee Atkinson, lanky Christ
ian center, was chosen the “Out
standing Player ” in the tourna
ment.
The East Carolina Pirates claim
ed third place in the tournament
b.v defeating High Point 83 to 53
in a consolation tilt. The Parris
Island Marines edged Georgetown
of Kentucky 78 to 75 for the fifth
ranking, and Erskine downed Pied
mont of Georgia 77 to 69 for the
seventh spot in the eight-team
meet.
The Elon quintet grabbed an
early lead over Pfeiffer, building
it into a 46 to 33 advantage by
half-time intermission, and after
the break the Pnthers were never
able to threaten.
Dee Atkinson and Ray Whitley
each pumped in 22 points for the
Christians in. this final battle with
Pfeiffer and grabbed scoring hon
ors for the winners and for the
game. Ed Juratic had 18 counters
and Kendall 12 to aid the Christ
ian cause.
Statistics compiled by the Mar
ine officials for the tournament
showed the Christians with a red
rolled up a 9 to 0 lead before Elon shooting record
scored on a jump shot by Jimmy ^ jjjg floor for the entire three-
Crump after 4 minutes of the first ....
period, but Elon hit an amazing
tempo with her attack as the
Christians scored 38 points in the
next fifteen minutes of play, mov
ing out to a clearcut 48 to 36 ad-
'antage at the half-time.
Ben Kendall was the spark-plug
of this amazing spurt by the
Christians as he pumped in five
field buckets within four minutes
. nd hit for sixteen points in the
fifteen minute Interval. Ray Whit
ley and Jimmy Crump also had
a big part in this Christian rally
late in the first half.
A1 Hasbrouch and Jimmy Nuck-
les were the big threats as the
Pfeiffer five bounced back after
half-time, cutting the Elon margin
to five points in the closing min
utes. Nuckles was high for the
night with 28 points, while Has-
brouc^ netted 22 counters.
Kendall topped the Elon attack
for the game with 18 points, while
Whitley chipped in 17 markers to-
(Continued on Page Four)
Elon Quintet
Tops Pfeiffer
Back at home and playing the
first game after the Christmas
holidays, the Christian cagers
played all sorts of basketball in
defeating the Pfeiffer Panthers
81 to 76. The Elon tossers_ started
slowly, hit terrific scoring momen
tum and then slacked off as they
eked a win over the team they
had beaten badly in the finals of
the Parris Island tournament just
ten days before.
The invading Pfeiffer quintet
game series, a fact which accounts
for the team topping the century
mark in each tournament battle.
Frank DeRita had 14 for 21 and
led the Christians with an almost
unheard of 67 per cent mark from
the floor, while Ed Juratic pushed
close with 18 buckets on 29 tries
for a 62 per cent mark. The
Christians also posted a 78 per
cent mark from the free-throw
line, paced by Jimmy Crump who
hit 11 for 12 for a 91 per cent
record.
The line-ups:
Po8. Elon (100)
F—Juratic (18)
F—DeRita (7)
C—Atkinson (22)
G—Kendall (12)
G—Whitley (22)
Pfeiffer (77)
Garmon (4)
Nuckles (12)
Biddy (12)
Petrea (19)
Rowe 15)
Half-time—Elon 46, Pfeiffer 33.
Elon subs — Stone (5), Crump
(8). Citty (4), Stout (2), McDonald.
Pfeiffer subs—Thompson (3). Ty-
ison (2), Traywick (6), Kiser (4).