Kansas Health and Physical Education Association

November, 1929

Volume IX

Bulletin No. 2

ONE SHORT LESSON IN FREE THROWING

 

by

Jack Gerdner
Head Basketball Coach, Kansas State College, Manhattan

So-called "charity tosses" made or
missed in a championship game frequently
bear a lasting impression upon the mind of
a player or coach. Such happened to be
the case with the-author in a crucial game
against California while playing for the
University of Southern California.

The regular season ended in a tie be-
tween the two universities for the Southern
Division title of the Pacific Coast Confer-
ence. A play-off was necessary, and the
winvier was to meet Washington, Northern
Division Champions, to decide the Coast
title. By a flip.of the coin it was de-
cided that the game was to be played on
California'ts home court, the circus maxi-
mus or the "Boo" Auditorium in Oakland, so
named by the San Francisco sports writers
because of the "jcers" and Boos" that
alwavs greeted a visiting team.

The huge auditorium was packed hours
before game time. Bears versus Trojans:
A natural scrap that could always incuce
the populace away from Amos and Andy. The
doors were closed all too soon to hundreds
who were begging for standing room, The
air was filled with feverish excitement
and expectancy as game time grew near. As
the Trojan team took the floor, I thought
the roof was coming down from the vibra-
ting "boos". This same mental lash fired
and spurred us on to greater heights in
previous cncounters. :

Coaches Nibs Price and Sam Barry had
agreed upon Herb Dana and Verne Landreth
as the officials. Referee Dana blasted
his whistle and shouted "Play Ball." The
battle was on.

The first half was a nip and tuck af-
foir with the lead see=sewing back and
forth the entire time. The tight defenses
held the offenses of both teams almost to
a standstill, which so ofton happens when
teams are tense and keycd to such a pitch,
Tho half ended with each tcam ten counters
_to its credit.

The second half both teams took the
floor with a determination to jump into the
lead. It was the age old case of an ir-
resistible force meeting an immovable obg:

ject, because even more closely played
than the first was the second stanza.

The frantic Bears and Trojans dogged cach
other with resultant fouls called for un~
due roughness, Each time the Bears were
penalized, the antagonistic disapproval
of the fans became more audible than ever.
The game was on the verge of getting out
of hand.

I had been fouled on numerous occas-
ions the first half, and because cach
point scemed the size of a mountain,

Coach Barry between halves suggested that
the next time I stepped up to the foul
line with the crowd booing, to withold
the frec shot in an effort to obtain an
additional shot for unsportsmanship con-
duct on the part of the audience.

There were but two minutes remaining
to play in the ball game. Again the score
wes tied, this time twenty all. The
crowd was frantic. As the ball was thrown
up at center, Bill Pierce, our center,
jumped like a tiger into the air, tipped
the ball to Cliff Capps, who relayed it
on to me near the foul circles. With a
path ahead, as clear as a school room on
Sunday afternoon, I startod a dashing
dribble to the basket, only to be fouled
from the rear by Carl Vendt, California
captain and guard. Referee Landreth
awarded me one three throw. Just as I
started to shoot a tremendous "boooo",
accompanied by a beating bass drum vibra-
ted my ear drums. At last! Tho oppor-
tunity for which I had been waiting had
arrived. Stepping back from the line, I.
handed the ball to Landreth, refusing to
shoot until he had quieted the ten thou-
sand howling fans. He called time ovt
and held up his hands to warn the crowd,
They became silent. Again I took my
place on the line, this time to the tune
of whistling and hissing. A true case of
mob psychology. I stepped back again re-
fusing to shoot to such accompaniront, )
Now I was becoming angry and tense as I !
waited. The crowd was fouled, giving me
the extra shot, awarding me for my pa~
tience and Coach Barry for his strategy,

inl lala Nek ates