Courtmen Register Season's First Win Over Navy 43-42

Harvard broke into the winning column for the first time this season last Wednesday night and did it the hard way. By virtue of Dean Hennessy's flip shot with 20 seconds left to play in the second over-time period, the first score was Harvard 43, Boston Naval Receiving Station 42.

This win gives the Crimson a slightly better record for tomorrow night's return engagement with Camp Edwards. The soldiers handed the courtmen a decisive setback in the initial encounter at Edwards last Saturday. The game will be played in the Indoor Athletic Building at 8 o'clock.

The action in Wednesday's encounter built up slowly from an inauspicious start, reaching a crescendo in the fourth and overtime periods. At the end of the first quarter the Navy boys had piled up a 12-8 lead mostly on the basis of the pivot play of their center, Gordinier. He amassed three personal fouls in a short time, however, and was replaced early in the second period.

Crimson Behind at Half

In this period, Harvard staged a rally to go ahead 15 to 14 with only a few second left to the half. The sailors dropped in a basket just before time ran out, to retain their lead at the intermission.

The Receiving Station started off the second half with a rush, rocketing the score up to 21 to 16 in their favor. Shortly after this point was reached. Gordinier left the game on his fourth personal. The Crimson seized the offensive and narrowed the margin between the two teams to three points at the end of the period. At this stage, the tally stood at 24 to 21.

Last Period Hectic

The lead changed hands several times during the fourth period, but with only five minutes left to play in the game the sailors manned the helm, 33 to 30. Ray Eder threw in a left-handed shot from the foul line to send it to 33 to 32. Dick Warren was fouled on an attempted shot and made good one of his free throws to even the count at 33 all. A minute later Caleb Loring sank a field goal to give the Stahlmen a two-point lead with two minutes to play. The Crimson tried to freeze the ball, but had it stolen away and thrown in for a basket by McGinnis of the Receiving Station. Neither team was able to tally in the last minute of play, so the game went into overtime.

Warren sank another foul and Ray Moley a looping set shot from almost midcourt to give the Crimson the edge early in the period. The Navy squared the count in the next two minutes, however, and neither team could break the deadlock, necessitating a second overtime period.

McGinnis and Warren sank a foul apiece early in this canto to prolong the stalemate. Moley touched the pot in an attempt to bat away a low shot by a sailor. The entire Navy bench screamed a protest and precipitated a royal argument involving everyone from Floyd Stahl to an assistant manager. Nothing came of this verbal engagement and the Receiving Station was awarded the ball for a take-out. Harvard took the ball away, and Moley dropped in a set shot on a pivot pass from oDn Geeson to give the Crimson a 41 to 39 edge. A foul and a field goal by McGinnis put the Johnnies behind again, with only 20 seconds to play. Then Hennessy threw in his toss from the right fore-court and the ball game was over.

The victory was truly a team affair, as a glance at the scoring records will show. Moley, Warren, Hennessy, Geeson and Loring scored 9, 8, 8, 7, and 6 points respectively