Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 65, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 March 1917 — LEBANON FIVE TAKES THE TITLE HONORS [ARTICLE]

LEBANON FIVE TAKES THE TITLE HONORS

Boone County Five Runs True to Form and Emerson is Upset In Final Scrap 34 to 26. Running true to form and "playing a steady consistent game throughout the tournament, the basketball five playing under the colors of Lebanon high school annexed the highest honors in the state basketball tournamen. just closed at Bloomington. Emerson high of Gary was the final team disposed of. Lebanon won this game by a score of 34 to 26. The final battle was a pretty one to watch and was hard fought throughout. The Emerson team was the smallest in the tournament, averaging but 135 pounds to the man. Lebanon towered over them. Despite the weight handicap the Steel City five was not outfought nor outplayed except in the matter of basket shooting. The diminutive five from the northern Indiana city was one of the speediest and cleverest that . ever graced a floor at the state tournament and are deserving of a great deal ol credit for the showing they made. In winning the title, Lebanon defeated Trafalgar, Kendalville, Martinsville and Emerson. The Lebanon five , was made up of a team of veterans, several of whom will be lost this year by graduation—Gary, runnerup, loses but one man, Kyle, a guard, hence should be in the finals at the tournament again next year. The meet just closed was the greatest ever held and was witnessed by the largest crowds. Indiana’s new gymnasium was taxed to its capacity at every game. The interest beiha' manifested in this sport is wonderful. Basketball is rapidly becoming one of the most popular sports in the country, and Ed Smith, of the Chicago American, says that it is even tnreatening to become as popualr as base 'ball and golf, recognized as the two most popular sports m America. An illustration of how much a hold the Sime has on the people Is shown bv e outcome of the Rochester-Rich-mond game, in which the latter was eliminated. Women of Richmond stood in the streets and cried when the final score was posted showing that their favorites had lost.