Kankakee Valley Post, Volume 11, Number 4, DeMotte, Jasper County, 12 December 1940 — DeMotte High School Indians Win Kankakee Valley Crown; [ARTICLE]

DeMotte High School Indians Win Kankakee Valley Crown ;

(By Clarence Bushman)

A fighting group of DeMotte High School Indians garnered their first Kankakee Valley Tourhey championship in the history of the event by routing San Pierre in the final, 4626. The well-balanced Ruch-men again displayed their ability to come from behind as they outscored the Bulldogs 30-7 in the final half. Both teams played alert defensive ball the first three quarters, but in the last period the Indians changed to a rushing offense that swept their opponents off their feet. Marv Bernard and Kenny'Zeckj the two high scorers in the tourney, did the last quarter assault as they had done in the two preceding games. There was no doubt in the minds of anyone present but that DeMotte had the championship '•team. They practically annihilated Mt. Ayr in the first half of their game, and only the victors carelessness i n the last two frames allowed Mt. Ayr to come close. In the game with LaCrosse they showed the stuff of which champions are made by coming from behind 21-8 at the half to whip the Tigers 33-29. Congratulations to Charlie Ruch and the Indians. They worked hard, and deserved to win. Semi-finals DeMotte’s fighting Indians and San Pierre’s scrappy Bulldogs earned the right to enter the finals of the KVT by whipping LaCrosse and Wheatfield, respectively. San Pierre registered the biggest upset of the tourney by beating the pre-tourney favorites, Wheatfield. The rushing San Pierre defense was too much for the Red Devils who held a two point lead at the half. Jim Longstreth, lanky, high scoring Wheatfield center, was held to six points. That, along with a little dissension in the Red Devil ranks wre chief causes for the defeat. Dolezal, San Pierre center, was high for the victors with 15 points. In the second ga&e of the afternoon, the new tourney champ a downed LaCrosse in a scorcher. Trailing 21-8 at the half, the Indians went rampant the second half to go into the finals. Bernard and Kenny Zeck led the scoring parade with 12 and 11 points respectively. Friday Night LaCrosse and DeMotte moved into the semi-finals Friday night with victories over Center of Knox and Mt. Ayr. LaCrosse, trailing at the half, came back in the last quarter to defeat the strong Center team which was minus its brilliant center, Miller, who fouled out at the start of the second half. DeMotte ran roughshod over the Mt. Ayr in the first half and then coasted through the final two periods to win 48 to 41. The Indians piled up a 31 to 14 lead at the half and were never headed. Bernard and K. Zeck paced the winners with 17 and 16 points respectively.. Evans was brilliant in the DeMotte defense and also setting up many bnsket s with his passes. Thur*d a y Night Wheatfield and San Pierre knocked Tefft and Fair Oaks out of the tourney. Tefft bowed 30 to 13 with Jtn Longstreth starring for the Red Devils and San Pierre knocked off the defending champs with crushing 40-16 win.