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 “March Madness,” basketball’s frenetic college tournament, is upon us. In old East Falls, basketball was reported with similar zeal and hype, but stated with a quainter tongue.
1913: St. Tim’s was mighty sorry they had invited such sterling guests as Hillside (all East Falls players) to take part in a basketball contest….the Saints began in whirlwind fashion but when half time arrived only a few points separated them. In the second half, the home quintet had every idea of defeating their rivals, but, alas! Not so. Those Falls boys, who according to a well-known critic, “don’t know how to play basketball,” soon had a stupendous lead, with “Axie” basketing six two-pointers and Homewood five.
Hillside has copped seven straight games with two more important ones on their schedule. The first will be played in the cage of Germantown Boys’ Club against St. Stephen’s of the Germantown Church League. On Saturday evening, at eight bells, Hillside meets Suburban to decide the League leaders…Hillside intends to play the kind of ball that would make a grand jury take notice, and the quintet from our berg is endeavoring to make it eight games in a row. 1928 – East Falls Church League: St. James won a loosely played game against St. Bridget’s five on their home floor, at 33rd and Clearfield. The score was 32 - 20 in favor of the Jimmylads.
Falls Presbyterian took its weekly beating, but not without its usual courageous fight. Garside was the leading figure, almost tying the record of 25 points by Harker, of the Baptist team. McClenahan was the shining light for the losing team. Falls Baptist, under manager Fred Shivers, trounced the Methodist Meboys. Harker and McClure starred for the Shiverers. These lads are two of the finest working forwards in the league. Harker was all over the floor and was fouled 17 times - another record. Good Shepherd’s team failed to appear Friday. The game was forfeited to Grace Reformed. Pretty soft for the Sparrows. 1929: The Church League will start its third season in the YMA (i.e. Carfax) on Indian Queen Lane. This will undoubtedly be a banner year as the teams are more evenly matched than previously. In addition to last season’s 6 teams ( St. James, Lutheran, St. Bridget’s, Presbyterian, Methodist and Baptist), Good Shepherd’s “Galloping Herd” and St. Timothy’s have also entered teams. What does each team predict? St.Timothy’s: Manager Stout has a quintette which he thinks will cause many sad nights in the Falls. Methodist: “Milt” Calhoun says it’s just impossible for his team not to finish in first place. Good Shepherd: With “Big Win” Edwards at the reins, the team has lots of brains in the persons of ”Brother Jim” Edwards and Charlie Schadel. Tom Connolly says he captained the Lutherans’ baseball team to runner-up position, so he should be able to manage St. Bridget’s basketball team to the championship. The Baptists are set and ready to go according to Manager Verbeck. Lutheran: Andy Leach has the tallest five in the league. He thinks the closer his men are to the net the easier it will be for them to score. Bill Muschamp has confidence in St. James and thinks at season’s end he will still say that St. James has never lost a league contest. Sam McClenahan, who acts as the broadcasting station for the Presbyterians, has orders to keep silent; so he just wants everyone to know the Blue Stockings are “in” this year. Interested in the EFHS? Contact Ellen Sheehan (
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) or Wendy Moody (
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