Yardling Cagers End Season With Disappointing 9-9 Mark

The freshman basketball team--characterized by strong rebounding, high scoring and weak defense--closed out a 9-9 season last Saturday with what coach John Harvey called a "mediocre record for the amount of individual talent we had."

Led by forward Lou Silver, who averaged 18.5 points and 15 rebounds per game, the Yardlings were a prolific scoring team that carried a big height advantage into every game. The Crimson shot 47 per cent from the field.

In assessing the team's weaknesses Harvey said, "We fouled too much trying to play aggressive defense. In at least five or six games we had more field goals than the opponent but lost the game because of fewer free throws."

The Yardling's Ivy League record was 3-3, losing to Brown twice, defeating Yale twice, and splitting with Dartmouth. Harvey called Boston College "the beat team we played." He added, however, that "Brown had the best material."

Best Against Competition

Harvey noted that the team seemed to play best against the better teams. He called the Crimson's loss to Boston College "one of our best efforts." Flashes of the Yardling's full potential were displayed in the team's last game against Yale, which Harvard won by ten points.

In the Yardlings' first game against Emerson at the IAB, the Crimson set a gymnasium record by scoring 135 points.

Harvey labelled Silver, forward Len Adams, and forward-guard Arnie Needleman as strong prospects for the varsity next year. He added that "at this point Harvard does not have any blue chip applicants for next year's freshman team."