University of Virginia Library

Cavs Turn Portsiders On Navy's Halsey Field House

By DOUG DOUGHTY

If you have plenty of free
time, a car and not much
money, in addition to an
insatiable urge to see the 'Hoos
play an away game before the
end of the season, a trip to
Annapolis this afternoon might
be in order.

After a one-year layoff, the
Cavaliers meet Navy in a series
that has been a part of Bill
Gibson's scheduling every year
since he became head coach in
1963.

Off-And-On Series

The Middies last bested
Virginia in 1967 in a 77-75
cliffhanger. The off-and-on
series stands at 11 wins for the
Wahoos against 31 victories for
Navy. But it would be mildly
shocking if the Middies were to
improve this record tonight at
Halsey Field House, where
there is no admission charge.

Although the Middies are
coming off victories against
Princeton, 59-52, at Princeton,
and Rutgers, 84-70, much of
their success in posting a 9-8
record has come against the
likes of Haverford,
Randolph-Macon and Old
Dominion.

Navy basketball has done
nothing but improve since
Dave Smalley returned home
to the service academy seven
years ago. Last year's
sophomore-laden five managed
a 10-13 mark and the Virginia
scout has said of the Middies,
"This is the best Navy team in
a long time."

Sophomores Steadier

Last year's sophomores are
a little steadier but the Navy
club has been considerably
helped by the addition of three
talented sophomores, center
Bob Burns and guards Mickey
Hampton and Bill
Montgomery.

Burns currently leads the
Middies in scoring with 12.1
points per game and is second
in rebounding to 6-4 junior
forward Gary Carter. Burns at
6-7 is the tallest Navy starter.

Joining Carter in the
frontcourt is 6-3 junior Bob
Marshburn, who pumps in 11.3
points a game after a mediocre
first season.

Rookies Montgomery and
Hampton are the guards and
the keys to the Middies'
man-to-man defense, which
ranked 11th in the country last
week.

Budd Thalman, Navy SID,
when asked which of the
Middies would have the
unenviable chore of covering
Barry Parkhill, deadpanned,
"We'll have about six-guys on
Parkhill...no really, more than
likely it will be Hampton."

Hampton, who averaged
19.1 for last-year's Plebes, is
also carrying some of the
offensive burden for the
varsity. He averages 11.2, while
his mate Montgomery chips in
8.7 points a game.

Leading reserves for Navy
include guard Dave Stone, a
9.9 scorer in 1971-72, and
freshman forward Jay
Strosneider.