1956 Roster

Player	Hometown	Team	College Choice
Tom Adams (*)	Washington, IL	North	Minnesota Duluth
Kenny Anderson	Moline, IL	North	Pueblo (CO) Junior College
Gene Arrington	Amarillo, TX	South	Texas Tech
Charles Chevalier	Boston, MA	North	Boston College
Kelly Coleman	Wayland, KY	South	Kentucky Wesleyan
Carney Crisler	Denver, CO	South	Utah
Ronald Dibelius	Menasha, WI	North	Wisconsin Oshkosh
Albert Ellison (*)	Linden, TN	South	Western Kentucky
Joseph Heyer	Philadelphia, PA	North	LaSalle
Howard Hurt	Beckley, WV	South	Duke
Ronald Johnson (*)	New Prague, MN	North	Minnesota
Henry Josefczyk	Yorkville, OH	North	Dayton
Gary Kesler	Willshire, OH	North	Dayton
Fred LaCour (**)	San Francisco, CA	South	San Francisco
Joseph Mack	West DePere, WI	North	Marquette
Jackie Moreland (*)	Minden, LA	South	Louisiana Tech
Roger Newman	Greenville, KY	South	Kentucky
Melvin Peterson	Stephenson, MI	North	Wheaton
Jack Pirrie	Maplewood, MO	South	Vanderbilt
Dick Soergel	Oklahoma City, OK	South	Oklahoma State
Larry Swift	Keokuk, IA	North	Truman State
Michael Tipton	Casper, WY	North	Stanford
Dennis Walker	Newton, KS	South	Oklahoma A&M
Raymond "Corky" Withrow	Central City, KY	South	Georgetown College (KY)


(* - indicates All-American; ** - indicates "Mr. Basketball")

1956 Boxscore

North - 95

Player	FG	FT	PF	Pts
Tom Adams	6	3	1	15
Kenny Anderson	3	1	1	7
Charles Chevalier	3	0	3	6
Ronald Dibelius	1	2	1	4
Joseph Heyer	7	0	1	14
Ronald Johnson	7	5	0	19
Henry Josefczyk	0	0	0	0
Gary Kesler	0	0	1	0
Joseph Mack	0	3	1	0
Melvin Peterson	5	4	2	14
Larry Swift	6	0	1	12
Michael Tipton	2	0	1	4
Summary	40	15	13	96

---

South - 103

Gene Arrington	2	0	1	4
Carney Crisler	3	0	0	6
Albert Ellison	8	2	1	18
Howard Hurt	8	0	0	16
Fred LaCour	7	4	0	18
Jackie Moreland	9	3	5	21
Roger Newman	2	2	2	6
Jack Pirrie	0	0	1	0
Dick Soergel	1	2	1	4
Dennis Walker	3	0	1	6
Raymond "Corky" Withrow	2	0	1	4
Summary	45	13	14	103

Published in Converse Yearbook, 1956

by BILL BROOK (Murray State College, Murray, Ky.)

HIGH SCHOOL All-AMERICANS - as selected by Chuck Taylor, coaches, sportswriters and sportscasters at 8th Annual North-South game. (L-R): LaCour, Moreland, Johnson, Taylor, Adams, Ellison, Jr.

CONFEDERATE MONEY became legal tender in Murray, Ky. last June 16, following the South's 103-95 victory over the North in eight annual North-South game at Murray State College.

The South's victory, fourth in a row, gave it a 5-3 edge in the series.

Named the game's "Mr. Basketball", fred La Cour received an award from Chuck Taylor, Converse's Basketball Ambassador.

The North broke fast and threatened to make it a rout, it leading 26-17 at the end of the first quarter. The big lead evaported late in the second period, as the Confederates chipped away. Led by Moreland, La Cour, and Howard Hurt, the South overhauled the Yanks with 2:18 left in the half.

LaCour put the South ahead on the free throw and the Greys walked off the floor, with a 46-41 halftime lead.

The North returned red hot, and the battle was nip and tuck. The North led for a short time, when Joe Heyer fired in a two pointer from the side. The South retaliated with a bucket by Ellison and the Greys never trailed again.

During the remainder of the quarter, the South was never able to build up a substantial lead as the North always kept within striking distance. The score was knotted twice, at 63-63 and 67-67.

The North was still battling bfor the game, and came back with quick buckets by Heyer and Larry Swift to tie the score at 73-73. Moreland hooked one in from the keyhole and the North came back with a side shot by Adams to tie it again, 75-75.

With eight minutes remaining, the South sent in a fresh team, and Dick Soergel put the Greys ahead to stay. The North still refused to quit and made a game fight of it. Twice they came to within two points, only to have the South move out.

With 2:28 left in the game, Mel Peterson put the fear of the Almighty in the South with a goal that closed the gap to 95-93. It was still anybody's ball game.

However, "Corky" Withrow removed all doubt as tot he outcome with a cool running under-shot that iced the decision for the South.

Two records were set in the game, the "best yet." The attendance of 4220 set a new high. Also the North squad scored the most points for a losing team, exceeding the 93 of 1954.

Winning co-coaches were Willie Hudson of Linden (Tenn.) High School and Charles Huhn of Northeast High School, Kansas City, Mo.

Northern co-coaches were Paul Walker of Middletown (O.) High School and Munroe MacLean of Quincy (Mass.) High School.

TROPHY FOR LA COUR - "Mr. Basketball" receives trophy from hands of Chuck Taylor as MVP in the North-South game. La Cour is from St. Ignatius High of San Francisco

4th Straight Win For Rebs; LaCour 'Mr. Basketball'

by Bill Carter, Paducah Sun-Democrat

MURRAY, Ky, June 15 - The Rebels made it four in a row over the Yankees in the North-South Cage Classic here tonight, scoring a 103-95 victory in the most exciting game of the eight-year-old series.

The South, which now leads with five wins against three defeats, overcame an 11-point deficit with a sizzlng rally late in the second period and never trailed again, although the score was deadlocked n numerous occasions.

With two minutes remaining in the savegely-fought high school all star game, the South held a mere two-pont lead, 95-93 and it was still anybody's decision.

At this point "Corky" Withrow of Central City, held in check all night, shook loose for a jump shot. Seconds later popular Fred La Cour of San Francisco whose dynamic play kept the Rebs fired up all night was fouled and sank both free throws.

This was the ball game. The South controlled most of the final six minutes and got loose for a couple of easy layups as the Yanks battled desperately to gain possession of the ball.

La Cour Real Standout

La Cour, a 6-4, 185-pound French Creole, was a popular choice for the coveted "Mr. Basketball" award. He was selected for Chuck Taylor by press, radio and coaches.

Named with La Cour on the all American team were Al Ellison of Linden, Tenn. and Jack Moreland of Minden, La., both of the South and two Yankees, Tom Adams of Washington, Ill. and Ron Johnson of New Prague, Minn.

La Cour, the first Californian ever to play in the North-South game, won the fancy of the crowd early with his spirited play both on offense and defense. A real demon all over the court, he showed the record crowd of more than 4,500 just about every trick in basketball.

Exhibiting a variety of shots, he hit seven of 12 field goal attempts and added four free throws for a total of 18 points.

Moreland, who sat out the entire third period with four personals, led all scorers with 21 points, 10 of them coming in the first five minutes of the fourth period to keep the South ahead.

Ellison, a jump shot artist collected 18 points all in the first three periods. Close behind with 16 was sensational-shooting Howard Hurt of Beckley, W. Va.

Johnson Leads North Attack

Johnson, smooth 6-7 pivoter who completely stole the show from Moreland until the fourth quarter, paced the North with 19 points. He hit seven of 10 shots from the field, added five free tosses and led all players with 10 rebounds.

Adams, who missed only one of his seven attempts from the field, finished with 15. Joe Heyer of Philadelphia, sharp from the outside and Mel Peterson of Stephenson, Mich. each had 14 points, two more than Larry Swift of Keokuk Ia, whose scoring in the last quarter almost pulled the game out of the fire for the Yankees.

The North, a definite underdog for the first time in this exciting series, almost swept the Rebels off their feet in the first quarter with a whirlwind attack that had them ahead 26-15 with only seconds remaining in the period.

Suddenly, though Moreland came to life at the beginning of the second period. Pouring in seven quick points on his spin, a tip, a hook and a free throw, this lanky ace pulled the Rebels to within three points of the pacesetters, 31-28, with six minutes left in the 10-minute period.

The North pulled away again, building the lead to nine pionts and then the South sent in some fresh players, including La Cour, Hurt and Roger Newman of Greenfield, Ky.

This trio virutally kayoed the Yankees and the South finally went ahead, 38-37, with 2:18 left on a pair of free throwsby La Cour. The lead, fast in the game for the Rebs, was short lived as Ronnie Dibelius sank a jump shot for the Yanks.

But Hurt and Newan hit on successive jumps to put th eSouth ahead again. The Yanks never led thereafter, but knotted the count several times.

The halftime score was 46-41 in favor of the South.

Ellison was the big gun for the South in the third quarter when Adams, Johnson and Howard teamed up to put the Yanks back in the ball game.

With 1:15 to go, Swift tied the game at 67-67, but Withrow, Dennis Walker of Newton, Kan. and Hurt hit quick field goals to build up another lead, which was four points, 73-69 at the quarter's end.

The North had two ties early in the fourth period. Dick Soergel of Oklahoma City caged one for the South then, and the Yanks were never able to catch up again.

This was by far the most spine-tingling game of the series. Both teams were downright brutal on the boards and the offensive performance has never been excelled in this classic.

The fans wouldn't have accepted any name but La Cour for Mr. Basketball. When he left the floor with 11 seconds remaining he received a deafening ovation, many of the fans standing to do their cheering.

And when he was announced as "Mr. Basketball," everybody did stand and they cheered for at least a full minute, a tribute never received before by a player in the North-South game.

Only one game record was broken. The 95 points scored by the North was the most ever amassed by a losing team.

The South won the first game in 1949, but the North won the next three before the Rebels began to dominate.

The victorious south team was coached by Willie Hudson of Linden, Tenn., and Charles Huhn of Kansas City, Mo. Paul Walker of Middletown Ohio and Munroe MacLean of Quincy, Mass. piloted the North team.

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