The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1901-11-15
Basketball Players Representing
the Ninth Ward Make Their
Bow as League Members and
Make a Hit
WORCESTER FAVORITES
STRENGTHEN THE TEAM
Father Mathew Beaten on Its
Home Floor Largely Through
the knowledge of Conditions by
the Visitors = Trouble on the
Wei Canvas

Millbury won gingery game, IN rain
er Mathew Hall, by score of IS to 10.
With Tim Koran, the former Lyceum
star as captain and centre, and Tom
Wiseman,. one Of the basketball pio-
neers Of Worcester and for many sea-
sons a Father Mathew hero, the Mill
bury team had a right to expect en-
couragement from the spectators, and
plenty was given.
Koran was never jostled about in
more vigorous fashion than last night,
when Cairns renewed acquaintance with
the South Worcester man at point
where it was dropped at the close OF
the last season. Cairns had strength
and, after a sizzling first half. Koran
appeared to be baked, but after few
minutes of play in the final period Tim
appeared to be possessed of added
stamina, and he shot trio of baskets
from the floor with dazzling rapidity.
This whirlwind exhibition by Koran
was sufficiently attractive when con-
sidered solely from playing stand
point to cause the applause to be di-
rected upon the Millbury leader.
The first half provided amusement,
although Of sort that might be con-
sidered positively dangerous. The can
vas had been literally sprinkled with
water and the drying process had not
been under way long when the game
begun. Players slipped so often that
goal shooting was almost impossible
But six points were scored in the half
Millbury having 8 to l lead at it's
close.
During 20 minutes Of wallowing on
the floor, some clever points Of play
were introduced. Rolling the ball along
tho HnnT from q gQri a. and then
bouncing upon 1t after it had passed
an opponent was one of Shorty
Rourke's innovations The little fell
low was fortunate in being able to re-
tain his balance in his dashes along
the sides of the hall. Noonan and Gull
len were unfortunate on half a dozen
occasions receiving long throws when
uncovered beneath the Millbury basket
Three times Noonan sent the sphere
spinning around the metal ring at the
top of the basket, but the leather
wabbled out.
Referee Fred Burgoyne's work was
not pleasing to Father Mathew men.
The intention of Mr.. Burgoyne surely
appeared to be one unfolding fairness
but possibly the fact that he is a
Father Mathew man caused him to be
extremely anxious to give no one a
chance for comment concerning his
1
Mathew men were held up for fouls
when there was little or no grounds for
official action.
The victory of Millbury was the Sec
ond of the week by visiting teams in
Father Mathew Hall and 1t emphasized
to the crowd that with playing con-
ditions equalized by sprinkling of men
with knowledge Of the scoring wrinkles
necessary in each hall, among the
league teams, the old belief that the
home team is nearly if not always 2
to l proposition is wiped out.
In the second half, the playing sur
face had lost its gloss and there was
better and more effective work by the
visitors. Paine and Burtt, a pair Of
rugged backs, kept the Lyceum for
wards well covered by the fastest kind
of checking, and neither of the Father
Mathew men landed a field goal.
Capt Noonan and his band received |
a cheer from the spectators when the |
teams came on the floor. The Father
Mathew men wore purple jerseys with
IF. NJ" interviewer on the breasts. /
The trunks are of purple. White canvas
shoes are the most snowy articles in I
the new uniforms of the Father /
Mathews, but there is little chance for
a player to have eyes blinded by too
much coloring if he should keep his i
eyes riveted on a Father Mathew bas
ketball uniform.
In centres up, Koran and Cairns |
came together lfge game cocks and the :
pair sprawled on the floor. For five
minutes, there was never a moment /
when at least one player was not
stretched on the floor as a result of at /
tempting to glide rapidly over the |
wet canvas. Cairns and Sweeney were
spotted for holding, but Horne missed |
two tries. Paine was guilty Of holding |
and Cullen scored from the foul line |
In a scrimmage beneath the Father |
Mathew basket, Koran wrested the /
ball from a group and wrung himself (
away with the sphere. From the side
of the hall, Koran shot into the basket /
and was cheered repeatedly. Cullen /
missed free try on Horan's foul |
Wiseman and Sweeney Topped over the
floor and once Sweeney went into the |
woodwork at the stage, receiving |
shaking up that necessitated call of |
time Noonan had two opportunities |
to toss the ball in from a point direct
ly beneath the basket but the ball was
lively and it hoped out after appear
ing to prepare to nestle in the netting. |
Horne scored from the foul line. Ho-
ran received a pass from Horne and
while taking deliberate aim NOonan
bounced upon him and blocked the
throw. This pay gave the enthusiasts
a chance to wkoop ii up for the Father
Mathew captain, but gloom settled soon
again when Burt scored from the field
on a throw from a serimmage beneath !
the Father Mathew basket. The half
ended with the score, Millbury s, Fa-
ther Mathew 1.
Cairns scored from the field on pass
from Noonan. Sullivan who had re-
placed Sweeney was detected holding
and Horne scored from the foul line
on the free try. Cairns showed strength
in scrimmage and he forced the play
ing, getting three shots for the basket,
the third landing the leather Noonan
was penalized for holding and Horne
scored from the free try. Cairns bump
ed against Wiseman and the latter was
foored. Horne missed. Cullen slipped
up on a chance from the foul line when
Paine held an opponent.
Sullivan tried to steal a ride on Wise
mans back, but Referee Burgoyne
gave Horne a chance from the foul
line, which netted nothing. After Gull
len had lost another chance from the
foul line, Horne made a splendid throw
for the basket from the side of the
hall. 30 feet from the netting. The
play by which Horne received the
leather was one Of the prettiest Of the
night. By spectacular work along the
side Of the hall, Koran worked the
leather from Millbury territory. He
passed to Horne, who returned the
sphere to Koran as the latter shot by.
While dribbling and at top speed.
Koran suddenly tossed the ball to the
rear. and Horne was there to receive
It, tossing the ball in the basket be-
fore the Father Mathew men had
~hanre 70 think ont the NAV