Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 37, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 February 1919 — BROOK AGAIN FLOORS LOCALS [ARTICLE]

BROOK AGAIN FLOORS LOCALS

LARGE CROWD WITNESSES OVERTHROW OF LOCALS IN BASKETBALL CLASH 20 TO 16. Playing in a fashion that electrified the huge crowd that taxed every available inch of seating capacity of the high School gymnasium, and keeping them in a delirium of excitement from gong to gong, the Rensselaer basketball squad fell, fighting, before the onslaught of the bulkier five from Brook in the season’s premier offering, 20 to 16, last night in what was the second meeting of the season between the two quintets. Long before game time even the standing room only sign was placed on the shelf, and many ardent followers of the great winter pastime were turned away from the ticket office disappointed at not being able to secure tickets for the fray. The defeat of the locals at Brook a short time ago whetted the appetite of the basketball fans, and apparently the game in Rensselaer is due for a .wonderful comeback *in seasons to come. The game in itself was an article of clean, snappy, aggressive basketball, rough in spots, perhaps, but nevertheless there was action and brilliancy a plenty—and that is what the fans desire. At no time did either team have a commanding lead and until the timekeeper’s whistle for the cessation of play were the fans able to pick the victor. Half time found the visitors leading 12-5. The speed of the locals fell just short of offsetting the superior bulk of the invaders, who towered above them and were able to stand the gaff through the forty minutes of play better than the home lads. The team work and passing of the home five was brilliant, but it seemed as if the sharpshooters couldn’t force the ball to find a nestling place inside the, hoop. Time and again the crowd was silenced when a Rensselaer marksman flung the pellet toward the hoop for what looked like a sure goal, but the ball seemed not to realize the importance of its intended destination and with exasperating frequency would stumble around the rim, only to fall on the outside. The outstanding feature of the play of the home crew was the floor work and backguarding of Phegley. He was in every mix-up and had the opposing forwards gasping for air. The work of Brook was clever throughout an di they showed th alt they are more than a mediocre basketball team. Their passing and teamwork was not up to the standard of the Rensselaer five but their marksman had a better range of the basket, and. that told the story. Rensselaer journeys to Francesville Friday evening to hook up with the five of that place. Wolcott comes to Rensselaer on the 21st, after which the locals wind up their season with the Lowell quintet on the home court on the 28th. Superintendent Dean states that his charges will journey to Gary for the sectional meet on March 7-8, and it is hoped that the locals will have a reversal of form 'before that time.