The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1901-11-12
The Champion Webster Team
Does Some Fast Playing
Against Lyceum Team and
Wins the First League Game
kEEGAN AND 0'REILLY
SHOW UP STRONGLY
Capt. ConIin's Men Played Their
First Game Of the Year To-
gether and Hustled the Wor-
cester Youths About in a Lively
Manner

COIiOu CudLtplOllS pcpPCiOA bhS
Lyceum basket in Father Mathew Hall
last night and won the opening game
of Massachusetts, Central Basketball
League season by a score Of % to IA.
During the first half the home team
kept the giants hustling but whirlwind
playing in the second half by the Wis
itors made a runaway race of the
match.
Neither team was in the best of
form. The passing was not excep-
tionally brilliant, but at times Webster
provided opportunities for recollections
of last years pennant winning aggre-
CATION Capt Conlon kept his men
keyed up to championship pitch and
there was not a moment in which the
vigorous work of the Webster backs
and centre was not noticeable in the
defense.
1t was the f appearance of the
Webster men canvas this sea-
son and when fact is considered
and IT is also .nto consideration
that the Lycc, IN had the ad-
vantage of bein he home floor, the
splendid playi, alities of Webster
may be better and erstood. Capt. Con-
lon and others of the visiting team
were prominent in forcing the play ana
but for the vigorous work of the
Lyceum backs the game might have
been stripped of all interest.
Keegan and O'Reilly, the youngsters
on the local team, were the stars OF
the evenings play from local stand
point. Keegan formerly of the
Byrons, was conspicuous in all the
good playing of the Lyceums as a
team Absolutely fearless and pos
sessed of a sound head at times when
the heat of the battle is at it's greatest
point, Keegan is sure to become a
prominent figure in Massachusetts Cen
trail League Basketball before the end
of the present season..
The crowd showed appreciation of
the efforts of Keegan and during the
game there was almost a continual
session of cheering in which the name,
"Keegan" was raised above every
other sound. The former Byron star
bumped against the giants of the Wis
iting team with as little regard for the
opposition's strength as a hero of any
battle might display.
There was more fumbling of the
leathern sphere than was mentioned in
detailed stories of the Harvard-Pennsy
football game The youths who at
tempted to clutch the leather in Father
Mathew Hall last night were unable
to maintain a firm grasp, and at times
Referee Morse saw at least five pairs
of hands on the ball and was so be-
wildered that it was barely possible
for him to blow his whistle.
There was little unnecessary rough
ness. At times the crowd complained
because Referee Morse did not dis
cover holding Shy the visitors, but the
sentiments of a majority of the spec
tators favored the Lyceums as expon-
ents of the clean style of basketball
Webster didn't rough 1t Intentionally
Capt Conlons players are physically
superior to any ordinary quintet OF
players and because of the advantage
of strength the attention of the Off
cial in charge is often directed to what
appears to be smuggling but is really
only a display of physical superiority.
After Keegan had figured in some
clean and pretty passing in the first
half. Dorman failed to score on an
easy try from the field. O'Reilly Crap
pied with Conlon and a foul was called
on the local man from which Thomp-
son scored. Thompson scored from the
field after passing by Conlon and
Scott. O'Reilly got the ball in a scrim-
mage and scored the first field goal
of the season for the Lyceums. Score,
Webster 3, Lyceums 2.
O'Reilly's clever receiving of passes
aided in the next field goal by the Ly-
ceums which OReilly tossed in. Shee-
han muffed a beautiful pass from
Quinn and an extraordinarily good
chance to score was sacrificed. Quinn
missed try from the foul line after
Cooley had been spotted for running
with the ball. Thompson again showed
a goal from the field, putting Webster
in the lead. A long throw from Shee-
han was received by Keegan and a
field goal resulted, the South Worces-
ter team going into the lead by a
score of 6 to- o.
Again the score was tied, Thompson
scoring from the foul line on a chance
afforded by Doran who clinched with
his opponent Webster began to show
strength in a scrimmage and he threw
superiority and forced Lyceum to the
limit, the half closing with the score,
Webster 10, Lyceum 8.
Ir/ the second half the visitors
swarmed down the canvas and whirled
the locals off their feet. Six field goals,
three each by Scott and Matthew were
made by Webster, and victory came
easily. Two field goals. one each by
Doran and Keegan, were made by the
home team in the second half and
Quinn scored twice on six free tries.
Score: 49, -s-
WEBSTER. C.. Y: M, L,
Matthew, If ro. Sheehan
Thompson, IF ID. heegan
scott c, Quinn
Cooley lb IF. O'Reilly
Conlon' RIB If, Dorman
Score webster %. c. Y. M. Lyceum
IA: goals from field Matthew 8, Thomp-
son .. Scott 4. Dorman, Keegan 2, o.
Reilly 8: goals from free tries, Thomp-
son /, Quinn 2; missed free tries,
Quinn 6, Thompson 6; fouls, Dorman