Philadelphia Scholastic Basketball, 1963

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City Title

Public League

Playoffs

FIRST ROUND
At Frankford
West 55, Germantown 44
  John Beach scored 20 points. Lou Gambrell had 13 for G-town.
At Franklin
Central 52, Overbrook 50
  Making its first postseason appearance since 1953, Central received double figures from Joe Heiser (18), Art King (14) and Dave Van Horn (11). Heiser’s steal and layup gave Central a 51-50 lead with 0:33 left. He added a free throw at 0:09 and then Overbrook’s Al Shipon missed a buzzer-beating 20-footer. Sub Gene Sayles (15) led ’Brook.
SEMIFINALS
Doubleheader at St. Joseph’s
West 62, Bartram 61
  John Evans made a layup with 3:08 left to give West a 60-59 lead and John Beach (20 points) added two clinching free throws. Al Alston (17) led Bartram.
Franklin 49, Central 47
  Fred Carter was held to five points, 12 below his average, but grabbed 22 rebounds and made a fullcourt outlet pass that enabled Bill Lofton, scoreless beforehand, to hit the winning basket on a jumper. Fred Ruben (10) was the only Franklin player to reach double figures. Joe Heiser (14) topped Central.
FINAL
At Southern
West 55, Franklin 51
  Lou Gates, a 5-4 whirlwind, scored 13 points and was dynamic in the last 2 minutes as West embarked on a 9-0 run to reverse a 51-46 deficit. The go-ahead points came as Gates stole the ball and hit two free throws for a 52-51 lead. John Thomas Evans (12) and John Beach (10) also scored in double figures. Carmen Garner (14) and Fred Carter (12) topped Franklin.

Standings

Coaches' All-Public

Champs' Rotation

Catholic League

Playoffs

Semifinals
Doubleheader at the Palestra
La Salle 75, Bonner 58
  George Smith shot 9-for-15 en route to 25 points and grabbed eight rebounds while Frank Gaidjunas contributed 22 points and 13 boards. Bill Magarity (14) and Joe Turk (11) also scored in double figures. Norm Kropp (22) topped Bonner.
Dougherty 47, ST More 45
  Fran ‘‘Chick’’ Wierzbowski, a sub until late in the regular season, shot 10-for-12 for 22 points and launched a buzzer-beating shot that rattled in for the game-winner. George Paull added 10 points. John Floyd scored 16 points for More.
FINAL
At the Palestra
La Salle 55, Dougherty 43
  Frank Gaidjunas contributed 22 points and eight rebounds as 34-year coach Charles "Obie" O'Brien won his seventh championship and first since 1950. George Smith added 12 points and nine boards and Bill Magarity five times forced Dougherty players into missed layups on fast breaks. George Paull (16) paced Dougherty.

Standings

Coaches' All-Catholic

Champs' Rotation

Inter-Ac League

Penn Charter (10-0)
  On the season’s final day, PC bested its chief competitor, visiting Episcopal, 53-49, as Bill Soens notched 22 points and four others scored between six and eight points. Episcopal (8-2) received 18 points from Don Lenhard and 16 from Rae Butler. Earlier, Soens had broken the league scoring mark with 63 points against Gtn. Academy, shooting 23-for-45 and 17-for-28.

Standings

Coaches' All-Inter-Ac

Champs' Rotation