NECATUR FANS MUGH AROUSED OVER RULING Dissension Follows Decision Made in Springfield Game The following story appeared as. ithe lead item in George Kreker’s icolumn in the Decatur Herald-Re- view this morning. It is re-printed here in full: | | | DECATUR, I, Jan: /20:—Good |Morning! We can’t remember an incident since Bob Campbell, D. H. S. guard, was disqualified from the 1937 state tournament champion- ‘ship game against Joliet which has’ ‘aroused the Decatur basketball fans ‘more than the unfortunate situa- ‘tion which occurred in the closing | ‘seconds of last Friday’s Decatur- Springfield game. Controversy continued yesterday as Decatur folk still maintain that Johnny Wasilewski, Taylorville official, illegally took away a Decatur chance to tie the Score seconds -before the final gun. This happened, as most of you know, when Ey Inman, acting Decatur cap- tain who had been awarded two free throws, stated he would shoot the first one and take the second out-of-bounds. It is alleged that Wasilewski in- formed Inman that he didn’t have to make his decision until after the first throw, but after Ev hit the first, then elected to shoot the other one, Johnny insisted on Inman Carrying out his original choice. This brought a futile Decatur protest. Opinion is divided on the correct. ruling. Along with Eddie Cole, Herald sports writer, we talked to numerous officials’ and coaches and we found disagreement which suggests that it is a matter of interpretation. One promi- nent official in this vicinity, inclined to approve Wasilewski’s decision, on the facts at hand, has written to the HSAA office for clarification and this erdict will govern all future cases of his kind. 2 Two well-known Decatur officials said that the rule, 13, of the basketball ules book, clearly shows that a player can make his option after the first of swo free throws and that anything said defore the first one should be dis- ‘egarded. Another said. that he would ‘ule the same as Wasilewski, basing ais decision on an interpretation which ippeared in a supplementary sheet* Ssued by the state association last eptember which says: “If a captain aas exercised an option it can’t be vhanged unless some subsequent rules nfraction changes conditions.” And so it goes. Some interpret the sase one way and others disagree, but 20 One Knows for certain because this S the first time such a case has come 4p in Illinois. Regardless of any offi- tial ruling from the state office the 9-18 Springfield victory will stand. zoach Gay Kintner yesterday branded ® “riduculous” reports that Decatur ould protest the outcome. “It’s a losed incident,” said Kintner. This writer, for one, was surprised it the conduct of many Decatur fans vho remained after the game ended ‘0 lustily boo Wasilewski as he left he floor for his dressing room. We ‘ealize how such incidents can stir up motions, but after all the official was ionestly carrying out his job and it’s uite possible that he ruled correctly.