Editor's note: Bert F. Miller, cashier at the Albany National bank, yesterday received from a relative in Kansas City a sports column clipping which appeared n the Kansas City Star concerning the N.C.A.A. basketball games in that city last weekend. Interesting sidelights were revealed in the column, entitled "Sporting Comment," and for that reason it is re-printed in The Bulletin this morning. The note accompanying the clipping said, "Some basketball team the little-old town turned out. Well, anyhow, they put it over."

(by the Star's Sports Editor)

Another N.C.A.A regional basketball play-off has come and gone, entertained its splendid crowds, left its points for conversation and argument, and no doubt many of you who were fortunate enough to be in the auditorium Friday and Saturday nights are wondering if it was the last N.C.A.A tournament we'll be seeing until the war is won.

Of course, there is now way of knowing. The N.C.A.A people mean to be guided by the trend of time and condition. In the auditorium Saturday night you heard opposite expressions.

"We're looking at the last N.C.A.A. for several years," said one veteran Valley conference man.

"It'll be right back here next March," said another. "The players may be younger, 16 and 17, with a few 18-year-olds, but the competition will be just as keen, and after all that's the main item."

So take your choice and let Time bring the answer.

And what did you think of those fighting boys from the University of Texas? Battlers, weren't they? They didn't want to give up and you thrilled to their bristling, fighting spirit both against Washington and against Wyoming. Maybe they weren't so long on finesse and maneuvers to work the ball under the basket, but they were game battlers, they had a will to win and they had quite a bucket shooter in Hargis and they came up with the ball off the backboard and it took all that a really unusual team of Wyoming Cowboys could muster to send the Longhorns back to Texas instead of on to New York for the championship game with Georgetown Tuesday night.

Sailors Sailed the Court

And wasn't that Kenny Sailors, the Wyoming midget, a basketball player? Did you ever see a better one? Better passer, better dribbler, better shot, as much speed, so much annoyance in the man with the ball when on the defense, all in one little 145 pounder? Of so, who was it? Ernest Mehl, who covered the run of 14 successive A.A.U. tournaments in old Convention hall, was thrilled by the dauntless spirit and the swift, nonstop play of Sailors, "He's the best basketball player I ever saw," Mehl said.

And any doubts as to the Punchers' claims to national recognition were blasted thoroughly by the towering Cowboys Friday, who did things to the Utes that shouldn't happen to a dog. Wyoming height controlled the airlanes and Kenny Sailors' stutter-dribble took care of the ground attack in a on-man blitzkrieg. This Sailors, already being boomed for all-America, shakes off defensive men like Rommel outrunning il duce's dupes on the Tripoli highway.

While Sailors was the hay kay man in the setting up of the Wyoming offense, he was ably abbetted by Milo Komenich (six feet seven inches tall) and Jim Weir (six feet six). Komenich clipped the nets for 21 points to gain scoring honors, followed by Sailors' 14 and 13 a piece for Weir and Floyd Volker.

While the Phillips "66" Oilers - Wyoming basketball games at Denver helped toward gaining nation-wide recognition for Forwards Kenneth Sailors and Jim Weir and Center Milo Komenich, they will get their big chance at Kansas City.

And if Wyoming triumphs in the NCAA playoffs at Kansas City, and go to Madison Square Garden fo the finals March 30, Sailors and probably both Weir and Komenich will have excellent chances for all-American recognition.

The New York basketball writers, broadcasters, coaches and professional scouts of national reputation went all-out in their praise for the Cowboys, when they defeated St. Francis, 63 to 38, there at the beginning of the season.

In the opinion of John Mooney, sports editor of the Salt Lake City Telebram, who covered the Wyoming-Brigham Young conference playoff here last week, Sailors is the greatest basketball player he has ever "lamped." Mooney, by the way, covered sporting events in teh midwest before going to Salt Lake. Therefore, he should know whereof he speaks.

Regarding Wyoming's going to the NCAA playoff at Kansas City, Mooney said that Sailors, Weir and Komenich undoubtedly would get a great deal of recognition there, but if they went on to New York, Sailors, and probably Weir and Komenich, would be "in."

On March 26 and 27, Kansas City men who pass the printed and spoken work to all parts of the country will get a look at the three stars.

LaSalle Beaten

LaSalle, riding into its seasonal twin-bill debut on four straight victories, played both ends of the scale against the Rocky Mountain team. Unfortunately for the Explorers streak they concentrated on the lower octaves too frequently.

Before they knew what happened, or who done it, they were looking up from the bottom of a 10-0 score. By halftime, they knew that a slick little dribbler named Ken Sailors and a tall terror under the hoop labelled Milo Komenich were their chief enemies, but Wyoming then had a 29-11 edge.

LaSalle cut loose with a stirring rally early in the final session and almost got back into contention when the Explorers ripped the twine with 12 points in a row.

Close Gap

Irv Reichman got six of them on a variety of shots, as the locals pared the edge to 31-23. A few minutes later, it was 36-29, and the Explorers were on the move.

Bu the next move proved to be Wyoming's, and in quick order a retaliatory surge whipped the Cowboys well beyond danger. LaSalle made only one field goal and one foul for the balance of hte game as Sailors, Komenich, and co. poured 'em in from all angles.

Sailors' 20 points was gigh for the year at Convention Hall, and Komenich helped out with 14, Ed Masterson and Reichman paced the losers with eight.