PANGUITCH PANGS
Sirs:
Thanks for your fine article on the Panguitch, Utah basketball fever (The Only Game in Panguitch, March 4). As one who graduated from high school in neighboring Cedar City, and who was there as a disappointed high school senior when Panguitch captured the Utah Class-B championship in 1957 (I think my Cedar City team finished fifth), I feel you have captured the attitude, spirit and atmosphere of a small Utah town exactly, and with excellence. This atmosphere is, in its way, exciting, but it is something the large city resident cannot ordinarily appreciate. Congratulations for presenting it to them as it actually is—and good luck to Panguitch in this year's state tournament.
DAVID R. NEWELL
Brookline, Mass.
Sirs:
In Panguitch vernacular your story is swell. That equals sensational in Hollywood.
THE MCEWENS
Panguitch, Utah
Sirs:
I had never heard of Panguitch, Utah and never expect to see the town. Yet John Underwood made me feel as though I knew those kids and parents. By the way, just how pretty is this Melanie McEwen? She can't be that pretty!
HAROLD SEVERSON
Kenyon, Minn.
•Even prettier.—ED
Sirs:
Buna (Texas to you, sir), about which I write to you at this time every year, is apparently on its way back to its sixth or seventh (I've lost count) state basketball championship of the decade. But it looks like youse dopes ain't never gonna get to Buna because you got lost in Panguitch looking at Melanie. So I ain't gonna call Buna to your attention no more. Phooey.
E. C. BARKSDALE
Arlington, Texas
Sirs:
I was editor of the Garfield County News at the time of the Panguitch "drink of water" incident. What happened in the next five to seven minutes is also a part of the story of basketball U.S.A.
An SRO crowd prevented the Panguitch team from returning to the floor by the time the signal was given to resume play. One of the referees (whose back was turned to the playing floor) threw the ball to the opponents. Without opposition, naturally, they scored. A Panguitch rooter bounded to his feet to yell to the referee that he shouldn't have put the ball in play. A friend reached over to pull him to his seat. He whirled, thinking it was an opposing team fan, and started that evening's biggest battle. The floor was immediately covered with irate fans. Fists flew—even a little blood.
Postmaster Frank Richards, who has a very fabulous memory for sport detail, could tell you for sure, but I seem to recall that the two points were taken away from the other team. Panguitch went on to win by more than two points, but the "town talk" dwelled for some weeks on what would have happened had Panguitch won by only one point.
JIM CRAWFORD
Grinnell, Iowa
Sirs:
The other day I came through Panguitch on my return to Arizona and had breakfast there. As you may guess, the folks at the café were talking about the basketball thriller of the night before. It seems that the home town had won again.
QUENTIN S. HALE
Snowflake, Ariz.
Sirs:
Author Underwood's story brought to light a glaring problem in Utah. The people of Garfield County are willing to spend $380,000 for a gym as large as most Class-A schools have, but they are unwilling to pay their teachers a salary commensurate with their training and responsibilities ($4,750 for Coach Davis).
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