Platoons of Crusaders

Basketball's breakneck pace puts wind and stamina to a sterner test than even modern football does. That is the reason why basketball coaches here & there have experimented with platoon substitutions for years. This season a few schools have been polishing the platoon system into a fine art. Exhibit A is Holy Cross, undefeated in 14 games and, on mid-season form, the top team in the college game.

Last week Holy Cross faced undefeated Providence College in Memorial Auditorium at Worcester, Mass. The fact that the

Crusaders' highly advertised star, slim, 6-ft.-1-in. Bob Cousy, was ill with grippe caused no visible slackening in pace. The platoons of 40-year-old Coach Lester Sheary carried on.

As usual, Sheary's orders were to "run the pants off the opposition." Then, when both sides were gulping for breath, Holy Cross sent in a fresh team. At half time, Providence staggered off the floor, trailing 45-28. In the second half, Coach Sheary used three platoons. Final score: Holy Cross 84, Providence 56.

The key to Holy Cross success was depth in its platoons. What Forward Bob Cousy (rhymes with woozy) added was near-perfection at handling a basketball, plus a touch of crowd-pleasing showmanship seldom seen on college courts. One of his specialties: a behind-the-back dribble in which he raced down the floor at top speed, dribbling with his right hand, then bounced the ball behind him and pivoted off in another direction, dribbling lefthanded. Another: stealing the ball from an opponent about to pass. Against Kansas, Cousy stole the ball twice in seven seconds, scored four of the 261 points he has run up in 13 games this season.

Showman, Cousy would be up to his tricks again next week, as the ringleader of Platoon 1, when Coach Sheary's boys launch the second half of their season. With the toughest half behind them, including wins over N.Y.U., Bowling Green and St. Louis, Holy Cross's talented platoons were aiming at a goal that few big-time basketball squads ever reach -- going undefeated all the way.

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