Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 313, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 December 1919 — CONDITION TELLING FACTOR IN LOCALS’ DEFEAT. [ARTICLE]

CONDITION TELLING FACTOR IN LOCALS’ DEFEAT.

1 The lack of condition and team play were the factors responsible for the defeat of Hugh Kirk’s ‘basket ball quintette at Brook Tuesday Evening in what was the opening game of the season for the locals. Thp game was free from wrangling and was a clean, fast exhibition throughout, hard fought and interesting. The opening ten minutes favored the locals and found Brook on the 'defensive. The speed and dash' exhibited by Rensselaer bewildered the home five and made the outlook for £he locals "a bright one. However, the fire and energy of the Rensselaer" players soon gave out when the : continued fast pace told on their poor condition and Brook soon overhauled them and took the lead, never to relinquish it. The final score favored Brook, but was not a true criterion of the respective abilities of the two teams. Brook’s baskets came in shows and came when the locals slowed up to get their wind-. Once*"Rensselaer gathrered themselves ,tbgetb er Brook found scoring difficult. Captain Kirk remained out of the game until near the close, that he might be permitted to look oyer his players and get a better line on their ability, and changes were frequent. He was very well satisfied with the showing made and is of the belief that he has the nucleus of a team that will make the going rough for their opponents daring the remainder of the season. Babcock, Phggley, Nowels, Parks, Putts, Collins, Wartena, Kirk and Clark were used during the evening and all showed well. A defeat was expected by the Rensselaer players and did not come as a surprise, but a surprise is promised Brook by the local players when they trek their way on to the court at the armory Thursday night for a return engagement. Brook is the proud owner of a spacious community building and has one of the best basket ball floors in the state. The crowd was mannerly' and the Brook players gentlemanly, and Captain Kirk and his men are loud in their praise of the splendid treatment accorded them there.