(By O. A. FITZGERALD)
Many seasons may pass before the western basketball fans will have the opportunity to follow a more thrilling and colorful title race than the one which came to a close Tuesday night when the powerful Navy of Idaho five gave the University of California its second defeat and repeated as coast conference champion. Idaho had previously won the northwest conference title for the second consecutive year by defeating the University of Washington in a post-season game at Spokane, necessitated when the two teams tied for the northwest title and the right to meet the Golden Bears, winners in the southern division.
Taking two conference titles in two consecutive years happens so seldom that a team making such a showing can be rated among the best in the country. The showing of this year's Idaho team is sufficiently significant to loom above the achievements of previous silver and gold machines, which is important when one considers that Idaho has always produced formidable fives.
Colorful Idaho Comeback
The Vandal record puts to rest forever the intimation that Idaho's two-conference championship last year was a "fluke." Idaho may have made a poor start at the first of the season, but the comeback battle more than compensated for it. When mid-winter found the Idaho team three times defeated no time was lost in removing it from the list of title contenders, which gave rise to the report that Idaho had no legitimate right to the high honors gained the year before.
The thrilling part of the season's story and the part which will live longest in Idaho history starts with the opening of the second semester. 