Basketball History

The basketball five, made up of Capt. Carl Spaeth, Bob Austin, Heinie Lewin, John Cheney and Heinie Swarthout, dropped two League games early in the season to Pennsylvania and Yale. The story of those games, both close affairs, was told in the last issue.

Then they started in a whirlwind campaign in an attempt to catch the flying heels of Pennsylvania, which was undefeated. The winning streak lasted for six games in a row, and defeated opponents numbered Columbia, Princeton and Harvard. As soon as the ballyhoo started, the climax came, and Dartmouth League hopes were dashed in the course of a single evening; the score of that game read: Cornell 36, Dartmouth 29.

After the Princeton victory, Yale loomed as the next opponent. That game was undoubtedly the most thrilling, breath taking and heart stopping affair held in Hanover this winter. Dartmouth started out like a million, and with only minutes to go, was leading by 32-21. As usual, Dartmouth pulled its defense in and played that aggravating sort of basketball which drives spectators wild when the other team does it, but which calls forth cheers when their own team resorts to it; namely, tossing the ball aimlessly back and forth in the center court, just out of reach of the opponents. But Yale was not to be fooled, and led by that capable player, Joe Cook, they succeeded in wresting the ball from Dartmouth enough times to start a dangerous rally. The score was brought up to 35-33 before the spectators realised it, the last Yale basket being scored by Cook, who was fouled at the same time, giving him two free shots.

The timer had his hand on the bell which would end the game, as Cook got set for his two tries. He sunk one, and the other rimmed the basket, and finally dropped outside, giving Dartmouth the game 35-34. It was the one contest of the year where students so forgot decorum that pandemonium reigned during the last ten minutes, and a surge of supporters carried the team off the floor at the close of the game.

Boston University was an easy victim by a 33-24 score, and Columbia, the dark horse of the League, came to Hanover. It caused quite a little surprise when the Lions, led by the great colored center, George Gregory, were beaten by a 41-34 count, Dartmouth leading all the way. Spaeth and Austin were beginning to blossom forth as two of the most dependable guards seen here in several seasons, their only failing being that they were liable to be removed on personal fouls at any time during the second half.

The Harvard game was such a walkaway for Dartmouth that your correspondent was quite unjustly moved to write in the BostonGlobe, "Dartmouth's basketball players took a light workout here tonight, when they easily trounced Harvard by a 45-18 score. . . . The game furnished Dartmouth good preparation for the coming League contests. . . ." That was putting it a little too strongly, but nevertheless, it was a very easy contest for the Green.

It was at this point that a succession of events started which caused the ultimate elimination of Dartmouth as a contender.

Heinie Swarthout, the brilliant little forward who has burned up the League for two seasons, and who was rated as the most dangerous man on the Dartmouth team, went on scholastic probation for the remainder of the college year. This blow, like a bolt from the blue, was crushing to the morale of the team just before the Cornell game.

The Ithacans had played and lost to Pennsylvania a few days before, although Penn was behind until the closing minutes of the game, when a quick basket gave them a 25-23 victory. In Capt. Layton and Hall, Cornell brought to Dartmouth the two best offensive players seen here this year.

Cornell hopped into an early lead, and at half time were out in front by the wide margin of 20-11. Then Dartmouth, inspired, began to spurt. Play was fast and furious, with plenty of fouls being called on both sides, but the Green tied the score at 23-all. But they just couldn't go any farther, and Cornell was the winner in this crucial game by 36-29. All credit to the Cornell prowess, for Dartmouth does not alibi.

Only a miracle will give Dartmouth a chance at the title, for Pennsylvania is out in front at this writing with five victories and no defeats. In Swarthout's place, against Cornell, appeared a player who is destined to have a number of complimentary words written about him.

Back in 1926, a player named Lauri Myllykangas held the forward position at Fitchburg (Mass.) High School. His team won the national interscholastic championship, and he was adjudged "All-American" for his position. He graduated, matriculated at Dartmouth, and dropped out of the basketball spotlight because of studies. After two years' layoff, Myllykangas made his first appearance on a Dartmouth team against Cornell on February 16, 1928. Almost his first shot in that role was a tremendous lift from center court, which sailed through the air and swished through the basket for two points. He was the high scorer for the evening. He bears watching.

ELI AND GREEN CAPTAINS Just before the closely contested meet in the Spaulding Pool, one of the features of Carnival. At the left is Captain Pope of the Yale team and at the right, Captain Bryant, Dartmouth '29, who is one of the high scoring aces in the Intercollegiate Swimming League.