Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1906-03-30
A ST. JoHNsBURY VIEW.
What the Republican Says OF the
Championship Basketball Game.

In its account of the state basketball
championship game between the Brat
tleboro Athletics and Company ID IN
White River Junction last week We'd
nesday evening the ST. Johnsbury Re
publican says;
II was nearly clock when Referee
Joe Kilhoury Of Laeonia,, N. H., tossed
the ball up and blew the whistle,
which started the most strenuous game
ever witnessed in this section. Davey
early Gagged the ball for Brattleboro.
McGovern soon after scored point
from foul; Davey also threw goal
from foul, this making the score Attn
letics 3, Company d |. The score was
tied shortly by pretty goal from the
floor by Smythe. Before tbe close OF
the period Davey scored another point
on a foul and threw a second goal from
the floor, giving the Athletics the lead
by three points. This period was sure
lly Brattleboro s, and gave the sup,
porters of that team right to feel
we'll But this period, as well as the
second, was married by the rough
house tactics and slugging INDUCED In
by some of the players on both teams,
especially Doyle and Michigan of the
Newports. Rix of Company ID did ms
share in this respect, but it was done
in elf,defense. Doyle found himself
up against the real article. Doyle, the
wonder, never threw goal from the
floor, and his running mate, Mcduigan,
didn't even see the basket, so closely
did Smythe cover him. -,
The second period should, by all
odds. be counted st. Johnsbury's as
Beck and Smythe made goals from the
floor, and McGovern and Beck scored
one ON fouls. The Athletics scoring
was limited to one goal from floor and
one from foul, the period closing tie,
10 to o.
In the third period, both teams came
on to the floor determined to do or DIE,
the playing was fast and furious, both
teams doing some fine blocking and
passing; it was anybody's game up to
the very last few seconds of play. Ellis,
the whirlwind, replaced Stafford in this
period. Company d came on the floor
without change in its lineup, but IN
the last few minutes Of play, Smythe
was replaced by Bankhart. The Ath-
letics took the lead in this period,
Davey making his fourth goal from the
floor, but Beck and Russ soon scored
couple, giving Company ID the lead by
two points. Right here Company DIS
supporters warmed up, but Ellis threw
cold water on their ardor by scoring
three goals in quick succession, caging
a pretty one from the center of the
hall. This made the score read, Atm
letics II, Company d ID, and this made
things fly in the Brattleboro section.
There were mt least two of these goais
made at the end of a dribble part way
across the hall, and, according to rules,
thev shouldn't have counted. Company
ID took some of the wind out of Brat
tleboro s sails by scoring three points
on fouls, lowering their lead to one
point. Davey connected with the bas-
ket for the fifth and last time during
the game, which put the Bratteboro
enthusiasts back on to their feet again,
but Beck had something up his sleeve
and scored two goals in succession, CIV
ing Company ID the lead, 20 to IL. Then
there was excitement among Company
DIS supporters, everyone was on ms
feet cheering and waving, for with only
about minute to play it didn I seem
possible that Brattleboro could win out.
st. .Johnsbury's enthusiasm was short
lived, for with only few seconds left
to play, it fell to the lot of the man
who hadn t scored during the whole
game to drop the ball into the basket,
thus winning the championship OF
1866. His name was Long.
The lead changed four times in the
last period The two teams We're never
but a few points apart, the biggest lead
being four points. Davey, Long, Ellis,
!: and Stafford played the best and clean
est game for Brattleboro, and Russ,
Rix, and Smythe excelled for Company
d. In fact, every man on both teams
PLAYED ball nearly every minute.
The only thing to be regretted about
the whole affair is that the management
, of both teams could not have agreed
to play their regular lineup, and 1t is
, thought that this could have been done
if Brattleboro had been as anxious TO
do so when negotiation for the game
, began as they were after the fr. Mat
, hews team played here. In that case
, the game might not have been so close
and consequently as interesting, but
the winning team would have felt more
like the "real champeens. Company
/, D had outside players, but they were
gentlemen.
The Junction people, of course, were
in sympathy with Brattleboro and were
verv much pleased with the result.