Viking_Yearbook_51

VIKING'S RECORD This season's hoop squad at Vanport wa s un­ doubtedly one of the most ba lanced teams to ever ~ay for the Green and White . Indivi du ali sm was markedly at a min imum and in its place we saw team play at its best. This is what every basketball coach strives for , of course, and Coach Arba Ager succeeded very well in atta ining it. Passing the ball, setting up plays, and defensi ve work highl ighted the "just completed " basketball campaign. However, this is not to say that there were not any ind ividua l standouts this season, because there are bound to be some on any team. Undoubtedly, Lloyd Bergman was the most val u­ able player on this year's casaba squad. "Bergie, " as he is known to hi s fel low teammates and most of the students at school. set the initial individual scoring record for the Oregon Collegiate Confer­ ence. Hi s 259 points in season conference play is a very respectable mark and is li kely to stand for some time. This total gives him an average of 22 points per league game, wh ich is among the highest individual records for all leagues in the nation . Lloyd graduated from Roosevelt high in Portland, where he ach ieved quite a reputation for ball­ handling and scoring abil ity . His two, very success­ ful seasons of play at Vanport mark him as one of the most outstanding athletes this school ha s ever ~nown, Close behind "Bergie ," is Ben Pitzer, a hard­ driving guard with 135 league points. Ben wa s the sf)<'rk-plug of the Green offen se , setting up plays end feeding the ball with remarka ble accuracy. He an overall season record of 276 points which him an average of 12 points per game; a itable record. Tall Bob Adrian, Viking center, proved his worth time and again with his backboard work and timely tip-ins as well as his defensive ability in stopping the opposition 's pivot men . With his tipping and hook shots, Bob built up a season's record of 266 points which al lows him an average of 1 I points per 9ame. Vanport students, as well as his supporters from his home town of West Linn, can point to Bob's efforts for the "Green Ma chine" with pr ide. Only five points apart in scoring, but neck and neck in basketball ability are Doug Talbot and Bill Carrington . Doug, a tow headed guard, proved to be a stable, cool-headed play maker, with a lot of backboard abili ty for his comparatively , sma ll size. Bill, never ceased to amaze fans with his iumping ability. He equalized height advantage with a blaz­ ing show of leg-work, which enabled him to retrieve a good share of the rebounds from hi s fo rward position. Talbot hit for 174 points wh ile Bill con­ nected for 169 points this season. Another famil iar sight to Vanport fans was the blond, crew-cut Ron Koski, diminutive guard, who pumped 130 markers through the hoop for Mr. Ager 's squad. Ron came to Vanport without the usual high school polishing , but he took to Ager's system of play like a duck takes to water and came through in the clutches with beautiful left-handed push shots that gave the squad the necessary re­ iuvenation as did Jerry Wells, si x-foot four-inch center, who alternated with Bob Adrian thi s sea­ son . Jerry came through repeatedly with timely baskets that aided in furthering the "Vike" effort. A knee iniury handi capped Jerry for the maior por­ tion of the season, but th is adverse cond ition did not dampen his spirits or his will to play winning ball. Don Hoy, a late-comer to Vanport, stepped into the line-up and immediately showed his team­ mates and coach that he meant to playa brand of ball equal to or better than the preced ing season. He proved to be a speedy, cagey, guard that could team up with any combination that Vanport put on the maple court. A fine team player; he showed fine sse in all departments. Mr. Ager kept a bench loaded with talent in the form of Da le Stewart, Buster Fenner, Norm John­ son, and Ja ck Strickler. They scored 45, 29, 26, and 20 points, respectively. This was their first season at Vanport and they show prom ise for a successful season in 51-52. Mr. Ager deserves the praise of all basketball fans for his hard work, court strategy, and leadership in piloting the Vanport cage squad through a suc­ cessful pre-season schedule, to the Oregon Colle­ giate Conference crown , and to the Northwest Junior Coll ege Tournament in Bremerton, Wa sh­ ington. Thanks for a successful season .