1947-48 Men's Basketball - Year In Review
Don Loucks, Head Coach
Click here to see individual photos
1947-48 Men's Basketball - Year In Review |
| Coaching Staff Don Loucks, Head Coach Click here to see individual photos |
Turning immediately to the court game the Seminole cagers, under the guidence of Coach Donald Loucks, former West Point plebe coach, open their 1947-48 campaign Wenesday night when they face the Spring Hill college quintet in the West Campus gym.
Friday night the garnet and gold courtmen will tackle the Troy State Teachers in another home game that will wind up their pre-holiday court slate. Thy resume play after the holidays Jan. 10 when they play Wofford college here.
The Seminoles, who have beed working out since early in November in a steady series of practice sessions that has seen some 85 candidates report, are now down to a workable 19 men.
Included among the cagers that have survived the early cuts are John Pierce, Jim Pavy, Billy Parker and Slick Edwards, lettermen from last year's Tallahassee Branch, University of Florida team.
Jack Wilson, Milton forward, who won a letter last year at Florida Southern college, is the only other college letterman on the squad.
A capacity crowd of 1,200 fans is expected to be on hand for the tilt which will be one of the two the local college cagers play here before the Christmas holidays. Friday night they are slated to meet the Troy State Red Wave.
Coach Donald Loucks, former West Point plebe mentor who has been drilling the FSU courtmen since early last month, indicated today that he would open tonight's tilt with Sheldon Hilaman, Pennsville, Oh; Larry Dickson, Tampa; Ben McCrary, Chipley; Orlando Wyman, Mayfield, Ky; and Jim Pavy, Versailles, In.
Hilaman, a husky 5 foot 11 inch cager and Dickson, a rangy freshman who starred with Jefferson high will open at the forwards.
McCrary, whose 6 feet 3 inches makes him the tallest man among the starters, will open at center. And Pavy and Wyman, a pair of chunky ball handlers, will man the guard posts.
Pavy, who played last year with the Tallahassee Branch, University of Florida team, is the lone college lettermen in the starting five.
Other TBUF lettermen who are expected to see action tonight are John Pierce, Slick Edwards and Billy Parker. Jack Wilson, who won a letter on last year's Florida Southern college Moc squad completes the list of experienced performers available.
Loucks, who stated he was anxious to try various combinations under fire against the Alabama five, indicated that Bill Kratzert, Ronald Nettles and Bobby Roesch, former Leon high stars, Don Williams who played with last year's Havana class C champions, and Ralph Chaudron and Bill Maxwell, former Pensacola Tiger stars would also see plenty of action.
Ernest Williams, who starred with last year's powerful Leon high five, injured his left ankle early in the week and will be held out of action until play is resumed after the holidays.
L
T PY
R No Name Pos Hgt Wgt Cl Ltr Hometown (Prior School)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
N Wendell Barnes F 5-10 170 Fr Lake City (Columbia)
* Howard Calhoun F 6-2 187 So Saint Petersburg (Saint Petersburg)
* 8 Ralph Chaudron G 5-7 165 Fr Pensacola (Pensacola)
Bishop Clark F 6-2 175 Perry
* 16 Larry Dickson F-C 6-2 167 Fr Tampa (Jefferson)
* Slick Edwards F-G 6-0 168 Port Saint Joe
* Charlie Fellows C Fr Marianna
N Don Grant G 5-10 167 So Perry (Taylor County)
Ward Harrick F-C 6-3 175 Key West
* 11 Sheldon Hilaman F-G 5-11 170 Pennsville, Ohio
* 9 Bill Kratzert F-G 6-2 180 Fr Tallahassee (Leon)
* Hosea Maxwell C 6-4 193 Pensacola (Pensacola)
* 13 Ben McCrary F-C 6-3 170 Chipley
* Ronald Nettles F-G 5-11 160 Fr Tallahassee (Leon)
* Billy O'Steen G 5-10 172 So Melbourne
N Billy Parker F 5-10 173 So Clearwater
* 6 Jim Pavy G 5-8 150 Versailles, Ind.
* John Pierce G 5-8 150 Daytona Beach
* Bobby Roesch G 5-10 150 Jr Tallahassee (Leon)
* 7 Ray Schoneck F 6-1 165 Key West
Maurice Stanfill G 5-9 165 Miccosukee
Don Williams F 6-0 165 Havana
* Ernie Williams F 6-1 170 Fr Tallahassee (Leon)
N Jack Wilson F 5-11 173 Milton (Florida Southern)
* 3 Orlando Wyman G-F 5-10 162 Fr Mayfield, Ky.
L
T PY
R No Name Pos Hgt Wgt Cl Ltr Hometown (Prior School)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
N Wendell Barnes F 5-10 170 Fr Lake City (Columbia)
* Howard Calhoun F 6-2 187 So Saint Petersburg (Saint Petersburg)
Bishop Clark F 6-2 175 Perry
* Slick Edwards F-G 6-0 168 Port Saint Joe
* Charlie Fellows C Fr Marianna
N Don Grant G 5-10 167 So Perry (Taylor County)
Ward Harrick F-C 6-3 175 Key West
* Hosea Maxwell C 6-4 193 Pensacola (Pensacola)
* Ronald Nettles F-G 5-11 160 Fr Tallahassee (Leon)
* Billy O'Steen G 5-10 172 So Melbourne
N Billy Parker F 5-10 173 So Clearwater
* John Pierce G 5-8 150 Daytona Beach
* Bobby Roesch G 5-10 150 Jr Tallahassee (Leon)
Maurice Stanfill G 5-9 165 Miccosukee
Don Williams F 6-0 165 Havana
* Ernie Williams F 6-1 170 Fr Tallahassee (Leon)
N Jack Wilson F 5-11 173 Milton (Florida Southern)
* 3 Orlando Wyman G-F 5-10 162 Fr Mayfield, Ky.
* 6 Jim Pavy G 5-8 150 Versailles, Ind.
* 7 Ray Schoneck F 6-1 165 Key West
* 8 Ralph Chaudron G 5-7 165 Fr Pensacola (Pensacola)
* 9 Bill Kratzert F-G 6-2 180 Fr Tallahassee (Leon)
* 11 Sheldon Hilaman F-G 5-11 170 Pennsville, Ohio
* 13 Ben McCrary F-C 6-3 170 Chipley
* 16 Larry Dickson F-C 6-2 167 Fr Tampa (Jefferson)
Lettermen from the Daily Democrat, April 20, 1948, page 6.
Members of the basketball squad receiving letters are Ralph Chaudron, Larry Dickson, Sheldon Hilaman, Bill Kratzert, Ben McCrary, Hosea Maxwell, Ronald Nettles, William Osteen, Jim Pavy, Ernest Williams and Orlando Wyman. Herbert Kelley and Howard Stephens were also awarded letters as squad managers.
Volleyball players receiving letters are A.M. Bassett, J. Orri Blackburn, Leland Bowman, Leon Darsey, Robert Greene, Luther Kramer, William Leonard, R.L. Massey, Newton Sayers, Walter Wells and Manager Harvey Barber.
From the Florida Flambeau, March 14, 1948
Basketball Numeral winners:
Wendell Barnes, Lamar Brown, Howard Calhoun, Bill Fannin, Charlie Fellows, Don Grant, Harry Hughey, Godfrey Knight, Billy Parker, Ray Schoneck and Jack Wilson
| DATE | GAME |
SCORE |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring Hill College First game played at West Campus gym |
|||||||
| Troy State | |||||||
| Wofford College | |||||||
| Stetson | |||||||
| Georgia Teachers | |||||||
| Georgia-Savannah | |||||||
| Mercer | |||||||
| Spring Hill College | |||||||
| Troy State | |||||||
| Mercer | |||||||
| Erskine College | |||||||
| Wofford College | |||||||
| Georgia-Savannah | |||||||
| Southern College | |||||||
| Georgia Teachers | |||||||
| Southern College | |||||||
| Stetson | |||||||
| Erskine College |
EOY StatsRef Overall Home Away Neutral ------------------------------------------------ FSU record is 5-13 5- 4 0- 9 0- 0
1947-48 - 30 Point Club
Name Date Opponent FGM FGA 3FGM 3FGA FTM FTA PTS --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- None1947-48 - 15 Rebound Club
Name Date Opponent O-REB D-REB TOTAL ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ None1947-48 - 10 Assist Club
Name Date Opponent Assists ------------------------------------------------------------------ None
March 5, 1948 Flambeau stats:
G FG FT TP
-- -- -- --
Kratzert 17 58 48 164
Williams 14* 36 38 110
Pavy 16 37 18 92
Dickson 16* 31* 28* 90*
Chaudron 17 28 20 76
Maxwell 12 30* 11* 71*
McCrary 14 23 18 64
Hilaman 16 23 16 62
Wyman 17 20 13 53
Osteen 11 19 6 44
Nettles 12 2 6 10
Wilson 5* 2 1 5
Parker 2* 1 2 4
Calhoun 1 1 0 2
Pierce 1 1 0 2
-------------------
Total 312 225 849
No stats for Barnes, Edwards, Schoneck, D. Williams, Grant, Fellows, Roesch
Calculated statistics
Name GP GS FGM FGA PCT FTM FTA PCT PTS AVG REB AVG PF DQ ==================================================================================== Bill Kratzert 17 10 58 48 164 9.6 0.0 4 Ernie Williams 13 6 36 38 110 8.5 0.0 2 Larry Dickson 17 4 33 30 96 5.6 0.0 2 Jim Pavy 16 6 37 18 92 5.8 0.0 1 Ralph Chaudron 17 8 28 20 76 4.5 0.0 Hosea Maxwell 12 2 28 10 66 5.5 0.0 Ben McCrary 14 5 23 18 64 4.6 0.0 4 Sheldon Hilaman 16 7 23 16 62 3.9 0.0 Orlando Wyman 17 5 20 13 53 3.1 0.0 2 Billy O'Steen 11 5 19 6 44 4.0 0.0 Ronald Nettles 13 2 2 6 10 0.8 0.0 1 Jack Wilson 9 2 1 5 0.6 0.0 Billy Parker 3 1 2 4 1.3 0.0 Howard Calhoun 1 1 0 .000 2 2.0 0.0 John Pierce 1 1 0 .000 2 2.0 0.0 Wendell Barnes 1 0 .000 0 .000 0 0.0 0.0 Slick Edwards 1 0 .000 0 .000 0 0.0 0.0 Ray Schoneck 1 0 .000 0 .000 0 0.0 0.0 Don Williams 1 0 .000 0 .000 0 0.0 0.0 Don Grant 1 0 .000 0 .000 0 0.0 0.0 Charlie Fellows 1 0 .000 0 .000 0 0.0 0.0 Bobby Roesch 2 0 .000 0 .000 0 0.0 0.0 ==================================================================================== FSU 18 312 0 226 0 850 47.2 0 0.0 0 16 Opp 18 368 241 977 54.3 0.0 13
1947-48 Game Stats
Florida State 39, Spring Hill College 36
12/10/1947, First game played at West Campus gym, TallahasseeFrom The Daily Democrat - December 11, 1947, by Fred Pettijohn
TALLAHASSEE, FL - Florida State University last night gained the first athletic victory in its brief history when a gold-clad band of Seminole cagers snatched a last-minute 39-36 decision away from an eager Spring Hill college quintet.
A slim crowd of 514 fans in the West campus gym witnessed the historic triumph which sent the FSU cage team off to a winning start after the garnet and gold gridders had suffered an all-losing season.
Coach Donald Loucks' green basketeers, after leading most of the way in a see-saw battle, finally had to fight their way back from behind to come home ahead.
Trail 36-35 Trailing 36-35 in the final minute, the State U five got the lift they needed from Larry Dickson, a rangy forward out of Jefferson high school in Tampa, who shook loose twice in the clutch and dropped in a pair of one-handers that meant the ball game.
Shortly before that Dickson, who had been held to a lone free throw in the opening half, had deadlocked the count at 34-all when he slammed an angle shot into the cords.
Sparked by little Jim Pavy, and rangy Ben McCrary, who contributed 11 and 9 points respectively to the winning cause, the Seminoles several times threatened to hit a hot hand and smother the Alabama five, but each rally choked down.
In the opening half the Seminoles held leads of 7-3 and 19-12, but by halftime their margin had melted to 24-23, and until Dickson ranged in in the ebbing minutes it looked as though the victory famine would carry over through the change of seasons.
Poor Second Half Loucks' cagers, suffering from a lack of condition and game experience, showed the effects of the grind in the second half when their shots dropped off badly and they registered only six field goals in 30 attempts.
In the opening half the Seminoles had clicked with nine out of 28, and appeared in much better command of the ball game.
In addition to the three top scorers, Pavy, McCrary and Dickson, Bill Kratzert, former Leon high ace, and Bill Maxwell of Pensacola turned in top-flight defensive efforts.
Kratzert in particular controlled the ball off the backboards during his tour of duty.
For the Spring Hill five Henry Juan, a former Jesuit High of Tampa star and rangy Hal McCormick paced the attack.
Juan, one of the three Florida boys on the 'Bama squad, hit four times from the field and once from the foul line, while McCormick garnered half of his points from the free throw line.
NO NAME GS MIN FGM FGA FTM FTA PTS REB PF AST TO BLK STL == ==================== == === === === === === === === == === == === === 3 Orlando Wyman g 0 2 2 2 3 6 Jim Pavy g 5 1 2 11 3 11 Sheldon Hilaman f 1 0 1 2 2 13 Ben McCrary c 4 1 4 9 5 16 Larry Dickson f 3 1 1 7 2 Hosea Maxwell 1 1 2 3 1 Billy Parker 0 2 2 2 2 8 Ralph Chaudron 0 1 1 1 0 9 Bill Kratzert 1 0 1 2 0 ===================================================== FSU 5 0 15 0 9 16 39 0 18 0 0 0 0 Opp 0 13 10 20 36 12
| 1 | 2 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring Hill College | |||
| Florida State |
From The Daily Democrat - December 13, 1947, by Fred Pettijohn
TALLAHASSEE, FL - Florida State University's undefeated Seminole cagers racked up thier second win of the season Friday night when they overwhelmed the Troy State Red Wave quintet 57-37.
Coach Donald Louck's hoopsters, showing remarkable improvement over their initial victory earlier in the week, got away to a big edge in the opening half and then came back strong late in the game to build up their margin of victory.
Larry Dickson, lean, lanky forward whose late field goals spelled victory in the Indians' opener against Spring Hill college, paced the garnet and gold attack with 16 points, 9 of which came during the big second half push.
Ben McCrary, rangy pivotman from Chipley and Bill Kratzert, hard driving ex-Leon Lion guard, followed Dickson in the scoring parade with 11 and 9 points respectively.
Chase Riddle, former Columbus, Ga. prep star, paced the Troy five with 11 markers.
The Red Wave courtmen, who failed to exhibit any of the poise and precision that their grid team displayed when they blasted the Seminoles 36-6 Thanksgiving day, fought from behind all the way as the Indians got off to a flying 10 point jump.
After Kratzert drove in for the opening goal, McCrary and Dickson chipped in with field goals, and Dickson, Pavy and Chaudron scored from the free throw line before the Troy team tallied its first point.
With McCraay and Kratzert hitting frequently, and controlling the ball off the backboards, the Seminoles rolled up leads of 12-1, 17-3 and 25-6 before they momentarily loosened their grip.
Troy, showing signs of strength shortly before and immediately after the halftime intermission, chipped steadily away at the FSU margin. They then led 26-12, before they cracked.
With Dickson and big Bill Maxwell spanking the cords steadily the Indians got up another head of scoring steam and dominated the final portion of the tilt.
Loucks, sending in a steady stream of substitutes utilized every man on his 20 man squad.
Coach Buddy McCollum, whose Troy cagers were making their season debut, used 13 of his 14 man traveling squad in an effort to stem the stream of Seminole scores.
The Alabama five lost one of its starters early in the game when he was removed for using profane language.
The Seminoles, using a pressing man-to-man defense, kept Troy off-balance most of the evening, while their own fast breaking attack clicked spasmodically.
The tilt marked the Seminoles' final appearance on the court until after the Christmas holidays. They resume play Jan. 9 against the Wofford college five in the west campus gym.
NO NAME GS MIN FGM FGA FTM FTA PTS REB PF AST TO BLK STL
== ==================== == === === === === === === === == === == === ===
6 Jim Pavy f 1 1 2 3 3
8 Ralph Chaudron g 0 2 5 2 3
9 Bill Kratzert g 4 1 2 9 3
13 Ben McCrary c 5 1 1 11 2
16 Larry Dickson f 5 6 10 16 2
Hosea Maxwell 3 1 1 7 2
Howard Calhoun 1 0 0 2 0
John Pierce 1 0 0 2 0
Billy Parker 0 0 0 0 1
Wendell Barnes 0 0 0 0 0
Jack Wilson 0 0 0 0 1
Slick Edwards 0 0 0 0 1
Don Williams 0 0 0 0 0
Ronald Nettles 0 0 0 0 1
Billy O'Steen 0 0 0 0 0
Don Grant 0 0 0 0 1
Bobby Roesch 0 0 1 0 0
3 Orlando Wyman 2 1 1 5 0
7 Ray Schoneck 0 0 0 0 1
11 Sheldon Hilaman 0 0 0 0 0
=====================================================
FSU 5 0 22 0 13 23 57 0 21 0 0 0 0
Opp 0 13 11 22 37 18
| 1 | 2 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Troy State | |||
| Florida State |
From the Sunday News-Democrat, January 11, 1948, page 8, by Fred Pettijohn
TALLAHASSEE, FL - Wofford college's touring Terriers, on the last stand of a week-long road trip, handed Florida State University's stubborn Seminole cagers their first defeat of the season last night with a 48-45 triumph that kept some 1,100 fans in an uproar at the West Campus gym last night.
The Terriers, fresh from a pair of victories over Stetson's Hatters stretched their current winning streak to four in a row last night, and racked up their ninth decision in ten starts this winter.
Displaying a smooth, sure passing game the Terriers set up scoring plays for a squad that displayed more all-around strength than individual brilliance.
After trailing throughout the opening moments of the rough, helter-skelter tilt, the Terriers found the range and battled their way out in front during the remaining minutes of the first half.
After leading by counts of 12-5, 19-15, and 24-19 the South Carolinians made it to intermission with a 28-24 edge.
Coach Donald Loucks' Seminoles, making their first start since their Dec. 12 victory over Troy State's Red Wave, appeared to have lost their pre-holiday punch and failed to handle the ball with their customary sureness and smoothness. But the FSU five, hawking the ball continually with a pressing defense, kept in the ball game with a series of spurts that pulled up from the floor each time the Terriers had them in trouble.
Come out after halftime, the Indian quintet suddenly took the play away from Coach Joel Robertson's experienced Terrier team, and threatened to outbattle the scrappy Terriers at their own game.
Led by Jim Pavy and Bill Kratzert who contributed a half-dozen quick points, the Seminoles pulled up to a 31-31 deadlock early in the second half. And when big Hosea Maxwell, bulky Pensacola pivot man, hit twice from the field the Seminoles shot out in front for the first time since the tilt was in its infancy.
Riding the crest of their scoring streak the Seminoles boosted their lead to 39-35 when Chaudron and Pavy each flipped in double-deckers from the field.
But that was the end of the trail for the Seminoles. On their way in front they lost the services of Jim Pavy and Orlando (Wyman), a pair of ball-handling defensive specialists who went out on personal fouls. And before the FSU quintet could recover from the double-barreled blow the Terriers were off to the races.
With Mahaffey, Dean, Cothern, Powers and Stone ripping the cords the Terriers regained their lead 48-43 margin.
Still battling desperately FSU chipped two points off the Terrier's lead on Maxwell's one-hander. But their final rally failed when Kratzert and Maxwell both saw shots bound back out of the hoop.
For the Seminoles, Jim Pavy who hit three times from the field and five times from the foul line topped the individual scorers with 11 points. Bill Kratzert followed with 9.
Ralph Chaudron teamed with Pavy and Wyman to give the rangy Terriers a tough evening on the floor and stole the ball from the Wofford five all night.
Kratzert battled the big Carolina defenseman successfully underneath both boards, and stood out for FSU with his driving floor game.
The Seminoles kept Charlie Seay, Wofford's highly touted All-SIAA center in check only to see the remaining Terriers pick up the slack.
Seay and the Terriers both picked up an extra point in the official score when the scoring bench failed to catch the referee's signal which disallowed a successful foul shot by Seay when one of his teammates stepped into the foul lane.
NO NAME GS MIN FGM FGA FTM FTA PTS REB PF AST TO BLK STL
== ==================== == === === === === === === === == === == === ===
Hosea Maxwell c 4 1 3 9 1
3 Orlando Wyman f 1 2 4 4 5
8 Ralph Chaudron g 2 2 3 6 0
9 Bill Kratzert g 2 5 7 9 1
16 Larry Dickson f 3 0 1 6 3
Ernie Williams 0 0 0 0 0
6 Jim Pavy 3 5 6 11 5
11 Sheldon Hilaman 0 0 0 0 1
13 Ben McCrary 0 0 0 0 0
=====================================================
FSU 5 0 15 0 15 24 45 0 16 0 0 0 0
Opp 0 18 12 20 48 17
| 1 | 2 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wofford College | |||
| Florida State |
From the Daily Democrat, January 14, 1948, page 8, no writer mentioned
DELAND, FL - Florida State University's battling Seminole quintet dropped a 65-56 decision to the Stetson Hatters last night in a rough and tumble tilt that saw 50 personal fouls called against the two teams.
The Florida State five, unable to cope with the unerring marksmanship of sharp-shooting Jordan Maynard and lanky George Everett got off to a poor start and were unable to overhaul the high-scoring Hatters. Stetson led at half time 34-25.
Maynard, who has led the Stetson attack this season, dropped in nine goals from the field and clicked five out of six times from the foul line to take scoring honors with 23 points.
Everett, Hatter pivotman supported Maynard's assault with 17 points of his own.
Big Bill Kratzert, Florida State sparkplug and defensive ace, headed the Seminole attack with 16 points. Larry Dickson, lanky FSU shotmaker took runnerup honors with 13 markers.
The Seminoles, who threatened to upset the Wofford college Terriers last weekend until they lost two of their first string on personal fouls, suffered again last night when they lost three men via the foul route.
The Hatters lost a pair of players on personals.
The defeat was the second in four games for the Seminoles. And the win marked the third victory in seven starts for Coach Ben Clemon's Hatter five.
The Seminoles will return to Tallahassee today and begin preperations for their Thursday night tilt against the Georgia State Teachers.
NO NAME GS MIN FGM FGA FTM FTA PTS REB PF AST TO BLK STL
== ==================== == === === === === === === === == === == === ===
Hosea Maxwell 0 4 4 4 2
Ronald Nettles 1 1 5 3 5
Jack Wilson 0 0 0 0 0
Billy O'Steen 0 0 0 0 3
3 Orlando Wyman 0 0 2 0 5
6 Jim Pavy 4 2 5 10 3
8 Ralph Chaudron 2 0 0 4 1
9 Bill Kratzert 6 4 7 16 3
11 Sheldon Hilaman 1 0 0 2 0
13 Ben McCrary 2 0 0 4 1
16 Larry Dickson 5 3 5 13 5
=====================================================
FSU 0 0 21 0 14 28 56 0 28 0 0 0 0
Opp 0 23 19 29 65 22
| 1 | 2 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida State | |||
| Stetson |
From the Daily Democrat, January 16, 1949, page 8, by Fred Pettijohn
TALLAHASSEE, FL - Georgia State's Blue Tide basketeers battled their way back from the brink of a decisive defeat and eked out a 60-56 decision over a fighting Florida State University five last night in a photo finish that left a slim crowd of 500 dog-tired and disappointed.
The eagle-eyed Georgia five trailing 55-47 and apparently hopelessly beaten, suddenly caught fire in the final minutes and swept through the tiring Seminole defense to pack up thier ninth victory of the season against a pair of setbacks.
For the Seminoles, who left this morning for tomorrow night's tilt with the Savannah branch of the University of Georgia, last night's defeat was a heartbreaker.
Coach Donald Loucks' spirited cagers had carried the battle to the taller, more experienced Tide five all night. And until the Tide began to roll in the closing stages of the game the Seminoles had carved out a clear margin of superiority.
With big Bill Kratzert, who tossed in 23 points from his newly assigned pivot post, standing out as the hub of the scoring wheel. Florida State flashed its most impressive offense of the season. And the garnet and gold performance gave promise of better things to come, out on the West campus.
Kratzert, taking machine-like passes from Ralph Chaudron and Ronald Nettles who stood out as a very neat pair of playmakers until Nettles' five fouls brought about his departure, fed the net and his teammates successfully all night.
Little Jim Pavy, whose early buckets got FSU off to a flying start took runnerup scoring honors for the Seminoles with 14 points.
Frank Bagley, a rangy six-foot senior sharpshooter who clicked for 17 points in his substitute scoring role led the Blue Tide offense, with Tom Dykes, veteran pivotman grabbing second honors with 11.
Ironically enough, however, it was Red Prosser's only point of the evening that sent the Seminoles reeling to their third straight defeat. The husky defensive ace dropped through a foul shot that broke a 56-56 deadlock in the fleeting seconds of the game. Pushing their advantage to the limit the Tide quickly added three insurance points when Jim Conner flipped in a double-decker and a foul shot a shade before the final buzzer sounded.
With Pavy clicking on his first three tosses from the field FSU jumped away to an early 8-2 lead that startled the confident visitors and prompted a flood of Tide substitutes.
The blue and white cagers with Dykes and Bagley clicking on a whirlwind break that left the Seminoles chugging up the floor all alone, regained their poise and staged their first rally. And they tied up the count at 14-all before Kratzert, Dickson and Pavy carved out a 29-23 halftime lead.
Coming back after intermission the Seminoles ripped the cords with regularity and built up margins of 41-33, 45-36 and 55-47 before the dike broke and the Tide swept home ahead.
Hampered in the final minutes by the loss of Nettles and Dickson who with Dykes of Georgia, fouled out, the Seminoles passed up several opportunities to regain their lost lead. Bad passes finally meant the difference.
NO NAME GS MIN FGM FGA FTM FTA PTS REB PF AST TO BLK STL
== ==================== == === === === === === === === == === == === ===
Ronald Nettles f 0 0 2 0 0
6 Jim Pavy g 6 2 4 14 2
8 Ralph Chaudron g 1 3 4 5 3
9 Bill Kratzert f 8 7 12 23 3
13 Ben McCrary c 2 3 4 7 4
Hosea Maxwell 0 0 0 0 0
3 Orlando Wyman 0 0 0 0 0
16 Larry Dickson 3 1 2 7 5
=====================================================
FSU 5 0 20 0 16 28 56 0 17 0 0 0 0
Opp 0 22 16 29 60 20
| 1 | 2 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia Teachers | |||
| Florida State |
From the Sunday News-Democrat, January 18, 1948, page 9, no reporter mentioned
SAVANNAH, GA - Florida State University's Seminoles, unable to shake the jinx that has dogged their play since the opening game of the new year, went down to their fourth consecutive defeat at the hands of the University of Georgia, Savannah division Bulldogs 63-46 in the Georgia city last night.
The tilt was reported to have been played under a vigorous protest after the game officials banished big Bill Kratzert, FSU ace, on a five foul total that was apparently composed of three personal and two technical fouls.
Kratzert's removal came in the first 16 minutes of the game.
According to basketball rules a player is disqualified on five personal fouls. Technical fouls are not figured in the disqualification of a player.
The heated dispute continued for an hour and a half after the game, according to telephone reports received here.
The Georgia five, led by Hugo Kappler, a Brooklyn boy with an eagle eye, jumped off to an early lead and held a 26-13 margin at halftime.
Kappler, hitting nine times from the field and three times from the foul line, led the Bulldog scoring. John Davis, pivotman from Columbus, Ga took runner-up honors with 15 markers.
Big Hosea Maxwell, hefty Pensacola pivotman, led the Seminoles' grim battle with 11 points. He was closely followed in the scoring by Sheldon Hilaman with 10 points.
In the Pressbox with Fred Pettijohn
Reports of the disputed basketball game between the Florida State University and University of Georgia, Savannah division, hereinafter referred to as the "UGS," indicate that the game officials were operating in a truly remarkable state of confusion.
It appears that not since Sherman stormed Savannah's defenses on his famous "march to the sea," have so many mistakes been made in the Georgia coastal city.
Ironically enough, those who saw the cage tilt, even those who saw it through FSU eyes, are of the opinion that the "UGS" would have beaten the Seminoles without the aid of the scorer's, referee's and umpire's lack of association with the rules that govern the court game.
The officials' removal of Bill Kratzert from the game after three personal and two technical fouls stands as one of the most baffling actions ever pulled on a court, basketball or legal.
The rules clearly state that five personal fouls shall cause the removal of a player from the game, but technicals are not to be included in the "fearsome five."
The smoke that clouded the "UGS" truimph first appeared at the 16-minute mark of the game. And the tiny flame that sent the dark clouds billowing skyward was the muscle-less, somewhat scorned technical foul.
With the "UGS" rocking along with a 20-4 lead, one of the officials overheard an FSU player make a remark that he classified as disparaging. And, apparently with justification, he called a technical foul.
That move by the ref appears to be the last correct gesture for quite some time.
The remark, actually made by Pavy, was charged to Chaudron by the referee. And at this point the official scorer silently slipped on the scene in a sudden burst of confusion and charges the foul to Kratzert, not as a technical but as a personal.
Shortly after that comedy of errors, Kratzert incurred another technical foul and like the preceding one it was changed, like the shade of a chameleon, to a personal foul by the official scorer.
By this time, of course, Kratzert's personal column was bulging, and the scorer signalled that big Bill had had the limit.
The FSU scorebook failed to support the official scorers claim, but since it hadn't been subjected to the strange changes the official book had been through that point was hardly worth mention.
Coach Don Loucks, checking with the official scorer, managed to piece the above version together and he appealed to the referee and umpire to exercise their authority and untangle the web of fouls. The officials, learning that the official scorer refused to admit his mistake, would not overrule him. Nor would the "UGS" coach, who was apparently conscious of the tangle, urge the officials to correct the scorer.
NO NAME GS MIN FGM FGA FTM FTA PTS REB PF AST TO BLK STL
== ==================== == === === === === === === === == === == === ===
Hosea Maxwell 5 0 10 2
Billy Parker 1 0 2 0
Jack Wilson 0 0 0 2
Bobby Roesch 0 0 0 1
Ronald Nettles 0 0 0 2
3 Orlando Wyman 0 1 1 2
6 Jim Pavy 3 0 6 3
8 Ralph Chaudron 3 3 9 1
9 Bill Kratzert 0 0 0 5
11 Sheldon Hilaman 5 1 11 3
13 Ben McCrary 0 1 1 4
16 Larry Dickson 2 2 6 3
=====================================================
FSU 0 0 19 0 8 0 46 0 28 0 0 0 0
Opp 0 24 15 63 14
| 1 | 2 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida State | |||
| Georgia-Savannah |
From the Sunday News-Democrat, January 25, 1948, page 8, no writer mentioned.
TALLAHASSEE, FL - Mercer's ball-hawking Bears sent an outclassed Florida State University quintet reeling to its fifth consecutive defeat Friday night with a 61-48 decision before some 950 fans in the West Campus gym.
The rangy orange and black clad Bruins, racking up their eighth victory in ten starts this winter, jumped away to an early 8-2 lead and were never headed.
Passing smartly and handling the ball in smooth fashion, the Bears repeatedly caught the Seminoles off balance with a lightning-like fast breaking offense. And the manner in which they dominated the leather off both boards left little doubt as to the eventual outcome.
The Seminoles, pressing desperately to snap their losing string, rallied several times in an effort to overhaul the flying Georgia cagers, but were unable to close the gap.
The steady experienced Bears, staffed with ten lettermen, clamped a pressing defense on the over-anxious Indian hoopsters and succeeded in hamstringing their high-scoring attack.
Only Bill Kratzert who out maneuvered the skin-tight Mercer defenders for five field goals from his pivot position, was able to rip the chords with any regularity.
Kratzert, adding four charity tosses to his field goals total took scoring honors for the Seminoles with 14 points.
Bill Osteen who came in late in the fray and slipped away for three quick buckets, and Orlando Wyman who hit twice from the field and foul line, followed Kratzert with six apiece.
Glenn Wilkes a tricky Eatonton, Ga. pivotman whose maneuvers drew fourteen foul shots from the desperate FSU defensemen, paced the Mercer attack with sixteen points - ten of which came from the free throw line.
Dick Thornton, a one-handed expert, and Maynard Reynolds, scrapping sophomore shotmaker, supported Wilkes' foul line barrage with nine points apiece to take runnerup scoring honors for the Bears.
After Ben McCrary had dropped through a charity tally, the Bears took quick command and dropped in four quick double-deckers while FSU was picking up another point from the free throw line.
With Kratzert breaking through several times the Seminoles hung on the Bears' heels, however, trailing 10-7 and 15-10. Battling back from the foul line FSU hit nine of their first ten tries to hang in the titlt 23-15 late in the first half.
The Bears, backed by a closing flurry of Wilkes and Reynolds baskets hit the halftime mark with a 30-20 lead.
Striking quickly after intermission, the Bruins pulled away to a 36-21 edge before FSU could regain its poise, and after the Seminoles had chopped the margin to 41-30 the Bears catapulted out in front again 54-34.
Big Hosea Maxwell and Osteen came in for a closing drive, however, and led FSU's final spurt, to narrow the gap.
NO NAME GS MIN FGM FGA FTM FTA PTS REB PF AST TO BLK STL
== ==================== == === === === === === === === == === == === ===
Ronald Nettles g 0 2 3 2 4
3 Orlando Wyman f 2 2 2 6 3
6 Jim Pavy g 0 4 5 4 3
9 Bill Kratzert f 5 4 5 14 5
13 Ben McCrary c 1 3 5 5 5
Billy O'Steen 3 0 1 6 0
Hosea Maxwell 2 1 1 5 4
Jack Wilson 0 0 0 0 0
Ernie Williams 0 0 1 0 0
8 Ralph Chaudron 0 1 1 1 0
11 Sheldon Hilaman 1 0 0 2 1
16 Larry Dickson 1 1 1 3 3
=====================================================
FSU 5 0 15 0 18 25 48 0 28 0 0 0 0
Opp 0 20 21 36 61 22
| 1 | 2 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mercer | |||
| Florida State |
From the Sunday News-Democrat, January 25, 1948, page 8, no writer mentioned.
MOBILE, AL - Clicking in their best form of the season, the Spring Hill college Badgers outdistanced Florida State University's game Seminoles tonight, 76 to 54.
The victory, Spring Hill's fourth in its last five starts, avenged an early season defeat at the hands of the Seminoles in Tallahassee.
Terry Ryan, former Jesuit High star in New Orleans, set a furious scoring pace with 20 points to lead the Badgers offense, but he had plenty of help in the second half from teammates Buddy Lauten and Mike McCormick.
With classy Bill Kratzert and Williams showing the way, the Seminoles held the rangier Mobile team on even terms in the first half, and were trailing by only five points, 27-22 at the midway point.
Spring Hill hit a torrid scoring pace at the start of the second half and the Seminoles never caught up.
NO NAME GS MIN FGM FGA FTM FTA PTS REB PF AST TO BLK STL
== ==================== == === === === === === === === == === == === ===
Ernie Williams 4 5 5 13
Hosea Maxwell 2 0 0 4
Jack Wilson 0 1 1 1
Billy O'Steen 0 0 0 0
Ronald Nettles 0 0 1 0
3 Orlando Wyman 5 2 4 12
6 Jim Pavy 3 0 0 6
8 Ralph Chaudron 2 0 1 4
9 Bill Kratzert 6 2 4 14
11 Sheldon Hilaman 0 0 0 0
13 Ben McCrary 0 0 1 0
=====================================================
FSU 0 0 22 0 10 17 54 0 0 0 0 0 0
Opp 0 32 12 19 76
| 1 | 2 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida State | |||
| Spring Hill College |
From the Sunday News-Democrat, February 1, 1948, page 10, no writer mentioned.
TROY, AL - The jinx that has dogged Florida State University's cagers since the turn of the new year hung hard on their heels Friday night as the Seminoles dropped a 49-48 thriller to the Troy State Red Wave before some 600 fans in Troy's campus gym.
The defeat, the seventh in a row for the FSU quintet after a pair of December triumphs, gave Troy an even break in the two game series. The Seminoles took a 57-37 decision in the early-season opener.
The Garnet and Gold quintet, battling desperately to break the grip of their losing string, came roaring from behind in the closing minutes of the tough tilt only to see their bid for a victory fall short, when two shots popped out of the basket in the final thiry seconds.
Trailing by ten points with seven minutes of playing time remaining, the Seminoles suddenly began to roll. And paced by big Hosea Maxwell, who came into the tilt and immediately hit a hot hand, the Seminoles chopped steadily away at the Wave's margin until the clock stopped their last ditch rally.
Maxwell, coming in for Ben McCrary who fouled out after a brilliant defensive exhibition, hit four successive field goals in a single-handed scoring spree that hauled FSU back into the fray.
Troy, presenting a vastly different combine from the rough, unsteady quintet that had faced FSU in the opener, jumped away to an early lead. But the Seminoles, paced by McCrary, who tossed in the Indians' first five points, spurted to tie up the tilt and battled the Alabama hoopsters to almost even terms throughout the entire first half.
Troy held a 24-23 edge at the intermission.
Coming back after the halftime Troy jumped into the lead and continued to pull away until the Seminoles staged their rally.
Ernest Williams, rangy ex-Leon high star paced the FSU attack with five field goals and four charity tosses for a total of fourteen points.
In addition to heading the offense, Williams, who fouled out late in the fray, dominated the play off the boards and continually came up with the rebounds against the rangy Wave cagers.
Maxwell's second half flurry earned him runner-up honors with twelve points as he turned in his best performance of the season.
The Wave defense was set to stop Bill Kratzert, Seminole scoring star, and they kept the classy blonde sharpshooter covered in the scoring zone.
Kratzert, moved off the pivot position in a recent shuffle, was held to six points.
Wilson, who saw only limited action in the opening tilt with the Seminoles, paced the Troy attack with six double-deckers and three foul shots for fifteen points.
Billy Trussell, rangy center and grid star, took runner-up honors with nine markers.
NO NAME GS MIN FGM FGA FTM FTA PTS REB PF AST TO BLK STL
== ==================== == === === === === === === === == === == === ===
3 Orlando Wyman f 1 1 3 1
6 Jim Pavy g 1 0 2 4
9 Bill Kratzert f 2 2 6 3
13 Ben McCrary g 2 3 7 5
16 Larry Dickson c 0 2 2 1
Ernie Williams 5 4 14 5
Hosea Maxwell 5 2 12 1
Ronald Nettles 1 0 2 3
8 Ralph Chaudron 0 0 0 1
=====================================================
FSU 5 0 17 0 14 0 48 0 24 0 0 0 0
Opp 0 17 15 49 17
| 1 | 2 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida State | |||
| Troy State |
From the Daily Democrat, February 4, 1948, page 8, no writer mentioned.
MACON, GA - The Florida State University Seminoles dropped a 68-43 decision to the powerful Mercer Bears here last night in their first stop on a three-game road trip.
The triumph was the tenth of the season for the flashy Bruin quintet, and the setback was the eighth in a row suffered by the luckless Seminole cagers.
Playing without the services of rangy Ben McCrary and big Hosea Maxwell who were unable to make the trip, the FSU five was unable to cope with Hugh Snow and Glenn Wilkes, lanky Briun pivotmen, under the basket. And the sharpshooting pair paced the Bruins to their second decisive victory over the Garnet and Gold cagers. In the opening game playing in Tallahassee the Bears won 61-48.
The speedy Bears, hitting from all angles, jumped off to an early lead and added steadily to their margin throughout their tilt.
Coach Don Loucks, with his eyes on the Erskine and Wofford tilts this week, substituted freely after Mercer got off to their big early lead in an effort to rest his riddled regulars.
Bill Kratzert, blond FSU scoring ace, led the counter-attack with nine points. Ernest Williams was runnerup with eight.
Mercer held a 38-18 margin at halftime.
FSU meets Erskine in Due West, SC Thursday night.
NO NAME GS MIN FGM FGA FTM FTA PTS REB PF AST TO BLK STL
== ==================== == === === === === === === === == === == === ===
Ernie Williams 2 4 8 8 0
Jack Wilson 1 0 0 2 0
Ronald Nettles 0 1 1 1 3
3 Orlando Wyman 3 0 0 6 2
6 Jim Pavy 1 2 2 4 2
8 Ralph Chaudron 3 0 1 6 2
9 Bill Kratzert 2 5 8 9 4
11 Sheldon Hilaman 0 1 3 1 0
16 Larry Dickson 2 2 4 6 4
=====================================================
FSU 0 0 14 0 15 27 43 0 17 0 0 0 0
Opp 0 25 18 26 68 20
| 1 | 2 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida State | |||
| Mercer |
From the Daily Democrat, February 6, 1948, page 6, no writer mentioned.
DUE WEST, SC - The Florida State University Seminoles, still seeking to snap their prolonged losing string, staged a brilliant second half rally last night only to see it fall short in the final seconds as they bowed to Erskine college in a 47-45 thriller.
The Seminoles, emeshed in a nine-game losing string, hit twice from the field in the closing seconds, but an off-balance Erskine shot, sandwiched between the two FSU goals, protected the Fleet's margin and allowed them to eke out their triumph.
Jim Pavy, steady FSU floorman dropped a shot in from the side and Ernest Williams scored on a layup in the final futile drive.
The Seminoles will wind up their trip in Spartanburg, SC against the Wofford College Terriers in a return tilt between the two teams. In the opener Wofford copped a tight 48-45 decision.
Coach Don Loucks' cagers, off to a slow start, trailed 14-5 after the opening minutes and appeared on the verge of a rout before they pulled themselves together and began the long battle back uphill.
Clicking in the closing minutes of the first half the Seminoles reduced the Erskine edge to 25-19 at halftime.
Coming out after intermission FSU immediately took possession of the play and staged a prolonged drive that enabled them to knot the count at 30-all, and then forge ahead 34-30.
With Les Davidson, set shot artist, hitting a hot streak Erskine bounded back on the strength of four straight baskets from the field and went into the lead 38-34.
Erskine inched their edge up to six points several times late in the second period, but FSU overcame each spurt and kept themselves back in the ball game until their final drive fell short.
Davidson, Erskine ace, topped the scorers with 18 points.
Lanky Larry Dickson, FSU's early-season scoring leader, paced the Garnet and Gold quintet with 15 points.
Ralph Chaudron, Seminole playmaker, turned in a sparkling floor game for the Florida five.
NO NAME GS MIN FGM FGA FTM FTA PTS REB PF AST TO BLK STL
== ==================== == === === === === === === === == === == === ===
Ernie Williams 2 2 2 6 4
Ronald Nettles 0 1 1 1 2
3 Orlando Wyman 1 0 0 2 0
6 Jim Pavy 3 0 0 6 2
8 Ralph Chaudron 3 1 1 7 0
9 Bill Kratzert 3 0 2 6 0
11 Sheldon Hilaman 1 0 0 2 2
16 Larry Dickson 5 5 5 15 2
=====================================================
FSU 0 0 18 0 9 11 45 0 12 0 0 0 0
Opp 0 20 7 15 47 11
| 1 | 2 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida State | |||
| Erskine College |
From the Sunday News-Democrat, February 8, 1948, page 8, no writer mentioned, no Saturday paper.
SPARTANBURG, SC - The Seminoles of Florida State University, riddled by injuries and gripped tight in the teeth of a prolonged losing streak, were unable to cope with Wofford's tall Terriers Friday night and were smothered under a barrage of baskets 77-38 for their tenth successive setback.
The rangy Terrier quintet, led by Charlie Seay, all-SIAA center who was hitting from all angles, jumped away to an early lead and continued to pile up the points as the road-weary FSU hoopsters ran low on gas.
Seay, the smooth-working, point grabbing pivotman, slipped away from the Garnet and Gold defenders for eight field goals and checked in with four foul tosses to take scoring honors with 20 points.
The Terriers, working smoothly behind the sure-passing offense, displayed terrific all-around strength and carved out a 34-15 haltime lead over the stunned Seminoles.
The Indian quintet, hampered by the loss of Ben McCrary and Hosea Maxwell, a pair of big pivotmen who had provided most of their height under the baskets, were further stricken last night when Larry Dickson was forced out of action two minutes after the opening whistle.
Dickson, a rangy six-foot two inch cager and the Seminoles' tallest available man, injured his ankle against Erskine Thursday night and was unable to continue in the Terrier tilt with this injury.
To add to the Seminoles overwhelming woes, Bill Kratzert, blond ball hawk and scoring ace, fouled out of the affair after compiling only two points.
The Seminoles, with Ernie Williams setting the scoring pace, fought back at the rangy South Carolinians throughout the tilt, but were up against a team enjoying a terrific scoring night.
The Terriers tossed in 31 out of 81 attempts they made from the field for an astounding 38 percentage of success on their shots. Meanwhile, the Seminoles, rushed by the big Caroline defense men, were successful with only 15 of their 80 attempts from the field for a woeful 18 percent.
Williams topped the FSU point makers with 16 points.
The victory was the second win of the season that Coach Joel Robertson's veteran five has gained over the FSU hoopsters. In the opening game last month the Terrier team rallied in the closing minute to take a 48-45 decision.
NO NAME GS MIN FGM FGA FTM FTA PTS REB PF AST TO BLK STL
== ==================== == === === === === === === === == === == === ===
Ernie Williams 5 6 8 16 2
Ronald Nettles 0 1 1 1 2
Jack Wilson 0 0 0 0 0
Billy O'Steen 0 0 0 0 0
3 Orlando Wyman 1 1 1 3 1
6 Jim Pavy 3 0 0 6 4
8 Ralph Chaudron 3 0 2 6 3
9 Bill Kratzert 1 0 0 2 5
11 Sheldon Hilaman 2 0 0 4 2
16 Larry Dickson 0 0 0 0 0
=====================================================
FSU 0 0 15 0 8 12 38 0 19 0 0 0 0
Opp 0 31 15 26 77 11
| 1 | 2 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida State | |||
| Wofford College |
From the Daily Democrat, February 13, 1948, page 8, by Fred Pettijohn
TALLAHASSEE, FL - A sluggish Seminole quintet that had stumbled, fumbled and fallen for 36 minutes against Georgia's Savannah Branch cagers almost erased all their early errors last night with a desperate last-ditch rally before they finally bowed 44-42 in a thrill-packed finish to a dull game in the West Campus gym.
The setback was the 11th in succession for the Seminoles, and the fifth time they have gone down by a heartbreaking margin.
Coach Don Loucks' squad will wind up its weeks play tonight in Lakeland when they meet the Southern college Mocs in an intra-state clash.
Trailing 41-32 and apparently hopelessly beaten with less than five minutes to go, FSU suddenly found the spark that it had lacked all night, and began a race against the clock in a hurried, flurry of points.
After John Davis, big Bulldog center who dominated the play all night, had tossed in a one-hander that gave Savannah a 44-35 edge the Garnet and Gold really moved.
While their sticky man-to-man defense kept the Bulldogs scoreless, FSU piled up seven points in the final two minutes of play. Larry Dickson, hitting three times from the foul line, and Bill Osteen and Ralph Chaudron slipping in for field goals spearheaded the closing rush.
At the final whistle the dazed Bulldogs were holding desperate possession of the ball deep in FSU's back court. Four seconds before the finish they had lost the ball and allowed Chaudron to slip in the score that cut their lead to two points.
Until the Seminoles started their closing rush the red and black Georgia cagers had held a definite margin.
Constantly stealing the ball and intercepting a flock of FSU passes, the Bulldog five overcame the Seminoles early lead and steadily inched away from the Garnet and Gold five.
The Seminoles moved out in front in the opening minutes when Ernest Williams caged a free throw and Hosea Maxwell threw in a pair of pivot shots for a 5-0 jump, but they couldn't stand prosperity.
With tall Hugo Kappler hitting three times in the opening minutes the Bulldogs overhauled the Indian five and battled their way out in front 14-13. From that point the two teams traded baskets throughout the remainder of the first half and the Georgia five hit the halftime ahead 21-19.
After a slow start in the second half, which saw the Bulldogs hold a narrow 25-23 margin, the Savannah combine suddenly found the range.
Led by Davis, the Georgians spurted out in front 33-23 before the stunned Seminoles recovered and tried to battle their way back into the tilt.
Moving along on spasmodic scores by Williams, Kratzert and Dickson, the Seminoles tagged along eight to 10 points in arrears until they staged their futile closing sprint.
The Indians kept Kappler, the highly-publicized Bulldog scoring star fairly well covered, but they couldn't stop Davis.
The big Columbus, Ga. boy, a calm, cool character with a delicate sense of timing constantly tipped rebounds in despite the Indians frantic defensive efforts.
Ernest Williams sparked the FSU scorers with three double-deckers and seven foul shots before he fouled out late in the tilt.
Big Hosea Maxwell hit four times from the field in the space of a few minutes but cooled off considerably and broke through for only one more score before coming out of action midway in the second half.
In a preliminary tilt the Seminole reserve squad took a 32-33 decision over Norman Park junior college.
Charlie Fellows topped the B squad attack with six field goals.
NO NAME GS MIN FGM FGA FTM FTA PTS REB PF AST TO BLK STL
== ==================== == === === === === === === === == === == === ===
Ernie Williams f 3 7 13 5
Hosea Maxwell c 5 0 10 1
8 Ralph Chaudron g 1 1 3 4
9 Bill Kratzert g 1 2 4 3
11 Sheldon Hilaman f 0 3 3 4
Billy O'Steen 1 0 2 1
3 Orlando Wyman 0 0 0 0
16 Larry Dickson 1 5 7 4
=====================================================
FSU 5 0 12 0 18 0 42 0 22 0 0 0 0
Opp 0 15 14 44 23
| 1 | 2 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia-Savannah | |||
| Florida State |
From the Sunday News-Democrat, February 15, 1948, page 8, no writer mentioned, no Saturday paper
LAKELAND, FL - Florida State's luckless Seminoles dropped their twelfth consecutive cage decision of the season Friday night when a closing rally by the Southern College Moccasins enabled them to overcome an early Indian lead and grab a tight 47-41 decision.
The Seminoles, completely reversing the procedure of the previous night's play when their own last-minute dash almost earned them an upset win over Georgia's Savannah Branch quintet, suddenly ran completely out of gas against the Southern cagers.
Leading 41-38 with five minutes to play the FSU attack stalled completely, and the Mocs, flipped in nine successive points, took the opener of the home and home series. The two teams will meet in Tallahassee's West Campus gym Saturday, Feb 21, in the second and final game of the series.
The Seminoles, playing without the services of Bill Kratzert and Ralph Chaudron who were unable to make the trip, presented a juggled lineup for the intra-state fray.
Kratzert, who remained on the FSU campus to take a test, was replaced by Jim Pavy, who has been favoring an injured leg. Orlando Wyman replaced Chaudron in the starting lineup when the stocky Pensacola playmaker was called home because of illness in the family.
Southern, sparked by Obie O'Brien, Capt. Joe Zovath and Jack Palma, got away to a flying start and built up a 26-18 lead at halftime.
The Seminoles, roared out after the intermission, however, and took the play completely away from the veteran Moc combine.
Discarding their zone defense in favor of a tight man-to-man style, the Garnet and Gold cagers completely throttled the Moc attack while they poured eight points through the hoop and drew up a 26-26 deadlock.
The two clubs battled on even terms throughout the majority of the second half and were tied at 38-all before FSU staged a three point spurt that gave them their 41-38 margin.
Sheldon Hilaman, Pennsville, Oh boy who has come along fast of late sparked the Seminole attack with 13 points. Ernest Williams, rangy ex-Leon high ace dropped in seven points for runner-up honors.
Billy Osteen, speedy forward who has seen only limited action this season looked good during his tour of duty and dropped in three quick double-deckers to pick up the lagging Indian attack.
Obie O'Brien, lanky Mulberry pivotman who dominated the ball off the boards and continually broke up the Seminole offense, topped the Moc scorers with three field goals and five foul shots that were good for 11 points. The box score:
NO NAME GS MIN FGM FGA FTM FTA PTS REB PF AST TO BLK STL
== ==================== == === === === === === === === == === == === ===
Ernie Williams f 3 1 2 7 4
Billy O'Steen g 3 0 1 6 0
3 Orlando Wyman g 2 1 2 5 2
6 Jim Pavy f 2 0 1 4 3
11 Sheldon Hilaman c 5 3 3 13 3
Hosea Maxwell 1 0 0 2 0
Jack Wilson 0 0 0 0 0
Ronald Nettles 0 0 0 0 1
13 Ben McCrary 0 1 1 1 2
16 Larry Dickson 1 1 8 3 3
=====================================================
FSU 5 0 17 0 7 18 41 0 18 0 0 0 0
Opp 0 18 11 18 47 17
| 1 | 2 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida State | |||
| Southern College |
From the Daily Democrat, February 20, 1948, page 8, no writer mentioned
STATESBORO, GA - Last night in Statesboro Florida State hung hard on Georgia State's heels midway in the second half when the fast pace began to tell.
The Seminoles, who had pulled up to 30-28, couldn't match the Georgia combine's closing flurry of baskets and fell before the scoring drive.
Rangy Ben McCrary turned in his second successive game against the Tide as he checked in with a dozen markers for the FSU five. Bill Kratzert, moved back to his familiar pivot position was another spearhead in the Seminole attack as he tossed in 12 points. Ernest Williams clicked with 10.
NO NAME GS MIN FGM FGA FTM FTA PTS REB PF AST TO BLK STL
== ==================== == === === === === === === === == === == === ===
Ernie Williams f 4 2 10 4
Billy O'Steen g 2 1 5 2
8 Ralph Chaudron g 0 1 1 2
9 Bill Kratzert c 3 6 12 4
11 Sheldon Hilaman f 1 0 2 1
Jack Wilson 1 0 2 0
Charlie Fellows 0 0 0 3
Ronald Nettles 0 0 0 0
3 Orlando Wyman 0 0 0 4
6 Jim Pavy 1 1 3 0
13 Ben McCrary 5 2 12 5
16 Larry Dickson 0 0 0 3
=====================================================
FSU 5 0 17 0 13 0 47 0 28 0 0 0 0
Opp 0 25 15 65 23
| 1 | 2 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida State | |||
| Georgia Teachers |
From the Sunday News-Democrat, February 22, 1948, page 8, by T.C. Raker
TALLAHASSEE, FL - Florida State University's long losing streak which started Jan 10 and began to look as if it might run on forever, was stopped with startling suddenness last night when the spirited Seminoles walloped Southern college's Moc quintet 55-48 before 750 hopeful fans in the West Campus gym.
The triumph cracked a string of 13 consecutive losses and was the Garnet and Gold's third win of the season. Spring Hill and Troy, Ala. had previously fallen before the fighting Indian quintet.
FSU banged away to an early lead and was never headed as Ralph Chaudron, tricky play-maker for the Seminole five, fed the the ball into big, shifty Bill Kratzert for 11 fast points in the first 15 minutes of play.
Kratzert and Ernest Williams, both ex-Leon High performers, led the scoring parade last night with 13 and 12 points respectively and kept FSU on top 34-27 at the half.
The Florida State hoopsters, displaying probably the best exhibition of ballhandling they have shown all season, whipped the ball through, over and around Southern in the first 10 minutes holding a 14-point lead at the end of that time.
Hanging in the game grimly and trying to get within fighting distance of the flying Seminoles, the Mocs turned loose a one-man point barrage in the form of rangy pivot-man O'Brien, who garnered high point honors for both teams with 18 counters.
Riding on the strength of the apparently unstoppable O'Brien, the Mocs drew within five points of State late in the game but Sheldon Hilaman tossed in five last counters to put the final skids under the downstate five.
NO NAME GS MIN FGM FGA FTM FTA PTS REB PF AST TO BLK STL
== ==================== == === === === === === === === == === == === ===
Ernie Williams f 5 3 13 1
Billy O'Steen g 4 1 9 1
8 Ralph Chaudron g 1 3 5 2
9 Bill Kratzert c 5 2 12 2
11 Sheldon Hilaman f 3 3 9 2
Hosea Maxwell 0 0 0 2
3 Orlando Wyman 0 0 0 3
6 Jim Pavy 1 0 2 0
13 Ben McCrary 1 1 3 4
16 Larry Dickson 1 0 2 1
=====================================================
FSU 5 0 21 0 13 0 55 0 18 0 0 0 0
Opp 0 18 12 48 20
| 1 | 2 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southern College | |||
| Florida State |
From the Daily Democrat, February 25, 1948, page 8, by Fred Pettijohn
TALLAHASSEE, FL - The Florida State Seminoles barely limped home last night with a tight 41-38 decision over Stetson's quintet after having threatened to race completely away from the Hatters in the first 30 minutes of the spirited tilt.
Some 750 fans in the West Campus gym saw the Garnet five rack up its fourth victory of the campaign and its second successive win over a state rival after having suffered 13 consecutive defeats.
The Seminoles, after completely dominating the play and carefully fashioning a 36-20 lead suddenly changed their driving tactics with 10 minutes left to go and tried to pull into their defensive shell.
The Hatters, taking quick advantage of the overly-cautious Indians staged a closing spurt that quickly wiped 13 of the Seminoles 16 points of margin off the books.
The Indian quintet, which has suffered five heart-breaking defeats in the closing minutes this year, refused to fold in the face of the Hatters hurrying flurry of points, however, and they rode out the last minute and five seconds of the storm to take the decision.
Coach Don Loucks' Seminoles, definitely on the rebound and aiming for a successful climax to their somewhat dreary campaign, played some of their best ball of the year against the Stetson quintet.
Big Bill Kratzert, Seminole scoring spark, turned in one of his best performances of the year. He topped the game scorers with 13 points, but that only tells a small part of the story.
The husky ex-Leon ace constantly outjumped and outfought the taller Hatters for possession of the ball off the backboards. He continually tied up the Hatter offense in scrambles under the Green and White goal, and he generally made himself a source of great annoyance to Coach Ben Clemson's combine.
Ernest Williams and Billy Osteen, assigned to the tough task of trumping Stetson's scoring aces, came through in great fashion.
The speedy Osteen raced in circles around Hatter ace Jordan Maynard and kept the Stetson star scoreless from the field until FSU had a 37-22 lead.
Williams, swarming over rangy George Everett, Stetson hook shot artist, kept him smothered under the hoop until midway in the second half.
Everett topped Stetson's scoring attack with 10 points, but he didn't even begin to click until FSU had drawn into its shell and allowed the Hatters to take the play away from them.
It was Everett who sparked the final Hatter drive before he fouled out with his mates still trailing 40-34.
Sheldon Hilaman and Ralph Chaudron, who rounded out the starting quintet which carried most of the load for FSU, lent large and able hands to the cause.
Chaudron hit three times from the field in the opening minutes to put the Indians out in front by counts of 8-0, 16-5, and 18-7. And when he relinquished the scoring reins he immediately took over the playmaking.
Hilaman contributed 7 points to the attack, the last of which was counted from the foul line and gave the Indians the final urge they needed when it upped their edge from 40-38 to 41-38.
Driving hard throughout the first half, FSU piled up a 24-11 halftime margin.
NO NAME GS MIN FGM FGA FTM FTA PTS REB PF AST TO BLK STL
== ==================== == === === === === === === === == === == === ===
Billy O'Steen g 3 3 6 9 1
Ernie Williams f 2 0 5 4 4
8 Ralph Chaudron g 3 2 3 8 4
9 Bill Kratzert f 4 5 5 13 1
11 Sheldon Hilaman c 2 3 4 7 2
Ronald Nettles 0 0 0 0 0
6 Jim Pavy 0 0 1 0 0
13 Ben McCrary 0 0 0 0 1
16 Larry Dickson 0 0 0 0 1
=====================================================
FSU 5 0 14 0 13 24 41 0 14 0 0 0 0
Opp 0 14 10 18 38 21
| 1 | 2 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stetson | |||
| Florida State |
From the Sunday-News Democrat, February 29, 1948, page 8, no writer mentioned
TALLAHASSEE, FL - A battling Florida State Seminole quintet fought off Erskine's Flying Fleet for the final seven minutes of a fast, furious and fumble-filled finish to rack up a narrow 49-48 victory before some 600 fans in the West Campus gym last night.
The victoey, which closed FSU's initial cage campaign, was the third successive triumph for Coach Don Loucks' Garnet and Gold hoopsters, and it marked their fifth win of the season against 13 setbacks.
For the Seminole five, fighting their way free of the constant trouble that their own fumbles incurred, the game was a fitting finale to a season that has seen them battling against the breaks. And the student body, pouring out on the floor after the final whistle, gave the spirited Seminoles a rousing ovation as the left the floor for the last time this season.
Erskine's Fleet had the memory of a last minute 47-45 early-season win they had taken over the Indians to help them in their drive as they pounded down the home stretch just one short breath in back of the FSU cagers, but they just couldn't bridge the gap last night. The Seminoles just wouldn't crack.
Once in the closing minutes the Fleet pulled up on even terms at 42-all, but the Indians immediately shot out in front 45-42 and held on tight 47-44, 49-46 and finally 49-48 throughout the last minute and a half of play.
Les Davidson, Fleet ace, and Allen Shelton, substitute forward, both missed foul shots in those 90 seconds of play that would have knotted the count, but they both rolled the rim and refused to drop through.
The Seminoles, off to a slow start, trailed throughout most of the first half as the sharpshooting South Carolinians hit consistently from way out to grab a 22-16 margin. But the Indians spurted just before the intermission and poured through seven straight points to take a 23-22 halftime lead.
Pounding back in the second half FSU shot out in front 35-29 and threatened to pull completely away before the Fleet steadied and got back into the ball game.
Bill Kratzert topped the Seminole scorers with 13 points and battled the big Fleet pivotmen for control of the boards until he fouled out late in the game.
Ralph Chaudron, setting up the Seminole plays early in the game and hitting with two vital goals late in the title, stood out in the final game as did speedy Bill Osteen who again ran the opposition into the ground.
Orlando Wyman, coming in late in the tilt steadied the Indian five in that last mad scramble and tossed in four fat points.
Ben McCrary, who came in when Kratzert fouled out, turned in a spirited clutch performance while Sheldon Hilaman was steady throughout the tilt.
Ernest Williams, ex-Leon ace, had a miserable night under the hoops and watched a half-dozen layups fall out instead of in, but he followed the ball off the boards constantly.
NO NAME GS MIN FGM FGA FTM FTA PTS REB PF AST TO BLK STL
== ==================== == === === === === === === === == === == === ===
Billy O'Steen g 3 1 2 7 2
Ernie Williams f 1 4 6 6 4
8 Ralph Chaudron g 4 0 1 8 1
9 Bill Kratzert f 5 3 5 13 5
11 Sheldon Hilaman c 1 2 5 4 2
3 Orlando Wyman 2 0 0 4 2
13 Ben McCrary 1 2 4 4 2
16 Larry Dickson 1 1 4 3 2
=====================================================
FSU 5 0 18 0 13 27 49 0 20 0 0 0 0
Opp 0 20 8 24 48 23
| 1 | 2 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Erskine College | |||
| Florida State |