Scholastic Basketball, 1951
---
City Title
At the
Palestra | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
St.
Thomas More 39, West Phila. 36 | | | | | | | | | | | |
With 0:45 left, John Wallin (15 points), the sixth of 12 children, took a fullcourt pass
from John "Misty" Fannon (10) and canned a layup to break a 35-35 tie. Frank "Bud" Brannan (10) added a clinching
basket. Bill Showell (11) paced West.
Public League
Playoffs
SEMIFINALS
Doubleheader at the Palestra
West 46, Northeast 35 (ot)
Earl Jackson (19 points) and George Tomosky (12) were the stars for West,
which won the overtime session, 14-3. Joe Belmont scored 18 points for Northeast.
Franklin 55, Southern 51
John Chaney’s 25 points tied the PL postseason record set in 1949 by
Overbrook’s Jackie Moore. Leon Whitley (12) and Bob Gainey (11) also reached double
figures. Barry Goldstein hit 14 for Southern.
FINAL
At the Palestra
West 41, Franklin 37
William Johnson (15 points) scored on a layup with 5:11 left to give West the
lead for good, 33-32. Earl Jackson and Bill Showell controlled the backboards. John Chaney
led Franklin with 15 points, but his final shot was blocked by Johnson with 0:05 left.
Standings
Southern | 13 | 2
Franklin | 13 | 2
Northeast | 13 | 2
West Phila. | 13 | 2
Overbrook | 12 | 3
Bartram | 9 | 6
Lincoln | 9 | 6
Bok | 6 | 9
Central | 6 | 9
Mastbaum | 6 | 9
Dobbins | 5 | 10
Germantown | 4 | 11
Gratz | 4 | 11
Olney | 3 | 12
Frankford | 2 | 13
Roxborough | 2 | 13
Coaches' All-Public
FIRST
TEAM | | | |
William Johnson | West | 15 | 252 | 16.8
Bob Gainey | Fkn | 15 | 246 | 16.4
Barry Goldstein | Sou | 14 | 221 | 13.7
Joe Belmont | NE | 15 | 204 | 13.6
John Chaney | Fkn | 15 | 239 | 15.9
SECOND
TEAM | | | |
Joe Gilson | Linc | 14 | 263 | 18.8
Roland
"Lefty" Sommers | Ovb | 13 | 134 | 10.3
Fred Douglas | Ovb | 15 | 174 | 11.6
Herb
Finkelstein | NE | 9 | 137 | 15.2
Willard Jacobs | Sou | 15 | 205 | 13.7
Champs' Rotation
WEST
Coach
Doug Connelly
Record
13-2, 17-4
Starters
William Johnson
Earl Jackson
George Tomosky
Bill Showell
Jim Miller
Key Sub
Ron Mitz
Catholic League
Playoffs
SEMIFINALS
At the Palestra
ST More 47, La Salle 43
As coach Joseph ‘‘Tubby’’ Walker again assumed command
after suffering a midseason medical setback, John ‘‘Misty’’ Fannon
scored 16 points and drained a hook shot to put More ahead for good, 44-43. The Rev.
Joseph Hilferty had coached the Golden Bears in the interim. Al Juliana added 11 points.
La Salle’s Tom Gola, who’d averaged 25.7 points in league player, was held to
14.
West 41, South 40
Jim Warrington (11 points) hit a decisive jumper with 0:41 left and Jack Devine
scored 13 points. John Lavin (19) was the only South player in double figures.
FINAL
At the Palestra
ST More 54, West 47
Before at least 7,500, the Golden Bears topped their neighborhood rival to win
their first championship in 14 years of CL play. Al Juliana (12), John Wallin (11), John
"Misty" Fannon and John Hueter (10 apiece) scored in double figures. Joseph
"Tubby" Walker coached More through the playoffs after yielding to the Rev.
Joseph Hilferty at midseason because of illness. Dave Clune (14) and Ed Williams (13) led
West.
Standings
La Salle | 11 | 3
West | 11 | 3
ST More | 10 | 4
South | 10 | 4
SJ Prep | 5 | 9
North | 3 | 11
Roman | 3 | 11
St. James | 3 | 11
Coaches' All-Catholic
FIRST
TEAM | | | |
Tom Gola | La S | 13 | 333 | 25.6
Bob Schafer | Roman | 14 | 291 | 20.9
John
"Misty" Fannon | More | 14 | 175 | 12.5
Jack Devine | West | 14 | 163 | 11.6
John Lavin | South | 14 | 181 | 12.9
Dave Clune | West | 14 | 183 | 13.1
SECOND
TEAM | | | |
Mike Driscoll | Prep | 14 | 223 | 15.9
Bill Simpson | South | 14 | 157 | 11.2
Bill Lynch | St. J | 13 | 215 | 16.5
Al Juliana | More | 14 | 174 | 12.4
Art Del Conte | South | 14 | 140 | 10.0
Champs' Rotation
ST MORE
Coaches
Tubby Walker
*Rev. Joseph
Hilferty
Record
10-4, 21-6
Starters
Al Juliana
John
"Misty" Fannon
John Hueter
John Wallin
Frank
"Bud" Brannan
Key
Subs
Vince Morris
Joe Pastore
Jim Purcell
*Replaced
Walker (medical leave) for final eight games of league season; Walker returned for
playoffs.
Inter-Ac League
Haverford School (7-3) Penn Charter (7-3)
In a final-day showdown, the Fords scrambled into a tie by posting a 50-44
win. Sub Dick Smith hit a field goal late in the third quarter to provide the lead for
good, 34-32. PC’s Drew Schaufler scored 26 points. Haverford had been upset by
Episcopal, 52-44, in Game No. 9.
Standings
Haverford Sch. | 7 | 3
Penn Charter | 7 | 3
Malvern | 5 | 5
Episcopal | 4 | 6
Gtn. Academy | 4 | 6
Fds. Central | 3 | 7
Coaches' All-Inter-Ac
FIRST
TEAM |
Bill Crowell | HS
Joe McCloskey | GA
Drew Schaufler | PC
Tom Collins | MP
John Loomis | HS
SECOND
TEAM |
Len Mercer | GA
Joe McArdle | MP
Bob Buckley | FC
Joe Gilfillan | PC
Barry Plotts | EA
Champs' Rotation
(Tie)
HAVER.
SCHOOL
Coach
Bill Prizer
Record
7-3
Starters
Bill Crowell
John Loomis
Jim Raugh
Dick Roberts
Frank Martin
Key
Subs
Dick Smith
Al Coburn
Jim Carroll
PENN
CHARTER
Coach
Duke Taylor
Record
7-3
Starters
Drew Schaufler
Joe Gilfillan
Jim Meyer
Colson Hillier
Bob Meyer
Key
Subs
Jerry Burns
Ed Sipler
Author
Published
March 5, 2026
Updated
March 5, 2026
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