After a fast start over the opening laps of the Central Suburban League season, the Warrior machine's engine has stalled. Dropping conference games at Deerfield, 61‑48, and Niles West, 76‑47, the Warriors returned home to lose a non-conference game to Proviso East, 75‑63. With a conference record of 4‑3, Maine West trails Maine South by two games in their battle for first place.

Going into the game against Deerfield on January 19, Maine South, Deerfield, and Maine West all held a share of first place in the South Division of the Central Suburban League. That night, though, Deerfield decided they wanted a bigger share and chalked up a big win. Warrior scoring leader was Joe Thimm '73, who tallied 12 points.

Playing at Niles West on January 2, the Indians provided the Warriors with their biggest loss since the Maine South game of December 15. Chris Bouchee '73 led Warrior scorers in this game with 15 points.

On the following night Proviso East's Pirates invaded the Maine West spectator gym, bringing with them high‑scoring senior Larry Yates, who came into the game with a scoring average of more than 21 points per game.

Chris Bouchee hit a lay‑up to give the Warriors their first points. Then it was John O'Connor '74 popping one from the corner and Joe Thimm twisting to hit a short jumper. And suddenly the Warriors had the lead with O'Connor putting in a rebound underneath.

Later in the same quarter, with the score tied 12‑12, Joe Prang '73 snuck away from the pack to score an easy bucket. A corner jumper by Prang sandwiched in between a pair of buckets by Proviso's Larry Parrish gave the Warriors an 18‑16 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Early in the second quarter the Pirates converted a three-point play to take a 21‑19 lead. The Warriors retook the lead briefly later in the quarter on a jump shot by Thimm, but a couple of buckets by Proviso's Lodell Burnett and a three‑point play by Yates put the Pirates back on top, 34‑28.

In the third quarter a jump shot by Bouchee cut Proviso's lead to four points, 46‑42. But then the Pirate offense netted 13 points in a row to give themselves a 17‑point lead, their biggest of the night. Some good outside shots by Prang and Bouchee and a lay‑up by O'Connor brought the Warriors back to within 11 points, 59‑48.

For much of the fourth quarter the two teams matched each other point for point. A free throw and then a lay‑up by Thimm cut the Proviso East lead to 69‑63; but with very little time remaining, the Warriors were forced to take chances on defense which resulted in Proviso's last six points.

Scoring leader for the Warriors was Chris Bouchee, who had 21 points. He was followed by Joe Timm, who tallied 15 points; Joe Prang, who scored 41 points; and John O'Connor, who chipped in with 10 points.

Tonight the Warriors will be at home to host Niles East, with the sophomore game starting at 6:45 p.m.