By Diana Smith
Coach Tom Collins’ cagers recently opened their basketball season by winning two victories in a two-day tournament at Paris. TC overcame East Texas’ B team 65-59, and ropped Weatherford Junior College 64-54.
Against ETSC, the backboards were controlled by 6’2″ Fletcher Warner, forward Bob Burns, and 6’7″ Charlie Hale. Hitting from the floor has been the ‘Dogs only drawback so far. They have been slow in the first and then strong in the final minutes of the game.
Burns, Warner, and Hale totaled 34 points against Weatherford, with Burns bringing in 17 of these points. The ‘Dogs met defeat November 27-28 in San Antonio. They played San Antonio Junior College Friday night and were put down 82-69. St. Phillips, an all-Negro team, won the Saturday game 94-71. However, Coach Collins said he wasn’t displeased with the Bulldogs’ effort in the two losses.
In their first home game, the Bulldogs proved their power by taking LeTourneau’s freshman team 80-69. The game was tied eight times in the first half with the ‘Dogs gathering strength in the final ten minutes of the game. LeTourneau’s crew kept tallying points to keep the ‘Dogs against the wall.
In the second half, Richard Houston hit twice and Bennie Hunter added a lay-up and two free throws. The score was tied 55-55 with 9:05 left. LeTourneau put the Bulldogs against the wall again with five minutes left. Burns and Houston sewed things up with a flurry of fast shots.
Bennie Hunter racked up 20 points; Burns, 16; Houston, 15; Hale, 11; and Fitts, 10.