Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1906-03-23
ATHLETICS ARE CHAMPIONS
Company Of ST. Johnsbury Beaten in Deciding Game at White
River JuncOnResu in Doubt Until Very End-..ScOre q to
20-..Long's Basket Did the Trick

The Athletics are the real champions"
The basket ball championship of YER
mont dropped into their basket Wednes-
day night when by margin of one point
they defeated the Company ID team of st.
Johnsbury at White River Junction. Long
did the trick in the last half minute of
play, his only basket in the game making
the final score q to 20. The lead changed
four times in the third period, causing
heart palpitaton in both Brattleboro and
st. Johnsbury sections Of the hall, and
when the timers whistle announced that
the contest was over the Brattleboro con-
tingent INDUCED in a war dance that
would have given points to tribe of
copper-skins. The st. Johnsbury dele
cation was accompanied by brass band,
which made all kinds of noise during the
game, but 1t was noticeaby quiet after
ward.
The Athletics came on to the floor
about $50 O'Clock, and they were given
warm hand Their lineup included
Doyle and McGuigan of Newport, N II.
1t was nearly 8 o'clock when the Com
pany d team appeared, and they were
given a still warmer reception, having
a larger crowd of supporters present. In
their lineup were Rix, Russ and Bank
art of the strong Dartmouth college
team, all heavy foot ball players. st.
Johnsbury wanted to play three periods,
to which Brattleboro objected, but on
the toss-up St. Johnsbury won, and 1t
was decided that the first and third pc
RODS would be Is minutes and the Sec
ond period 10 minutes.
Davey made the first goal, after sew
eral shots on both sides missed. Nc
Govern scored on a foul and bas-
ket by Smythe put St. Johpsbury one
point ahead Davey tied the score on a
foul and a minute later made another
foul count one. BY this time the crowd
was on it's feet, and when Davey scored
again from the floor the Brattleboro
crowd, reinforced by a majority of the
White River Junction spectators, let
loose and made the "welkin' ring. This
ended the first period-a period of the
hottest kind of basket ball that the Ath-
letics ever mixed up in. Score, Athletics
G. Company d g.
Company D tied the score in the second
period, although the Athletics kept in the
lead until the last basket was made Beck
scored first on a foul. Davey and Smythe
followed with good shots. McGovern
scored on a foul cutting down Brattle-
boro's lead to one point. A free try by
Davey increased the lead to two and
Beck evened things up by pretty throw.
Score Athletics 9, Company ID g.
Ellis came into the game in the third
relay, taking Staffords place as guard
against Beck, Although Ellis did some
great work his opponent made three bas-
kets, against one in the two previous
periods Davey scored first and up to
score for the Athletics. Baskets by Russ
and Beck gave Company d the lead, but
IL was for a short time as Ellis was soon
heard from, making three baskets in
succession. The second was the real
sensational shot of the game, the ball
being Gagged on a long throw after lively
lodging and dribbling The attention of
the crowd was riveted on Ellis, and for a
time BILL was the favorite.
The score was now II to 13 in Brattle-
3 I, IL, to- IDa,1I
placed Smythe at centre, and the st.
Johnsbury and Dartmouth crowd gave a
long cheer. A series of fouls was called
on Brattleboro which netted Company d
three points to the credit of Russ At
least one of these was questionable but
the referee had been so emnently fair
that little kick was made about it. Com
pany ID was now one point behind. Davey
scored, followed by Beck, making the
relative standing the same. The crowd
turned to the timers. Two minutes of
play were left. Could Company D make
another basket? Beck answered by Gag
ing the ball. The din was deafening. The
st. Johnsbury crowd was on its feet flags
waved hats went into the air and the
band boys blew blasts without attempt
ing any tune. The tension was intense
and Brattleboro was a bit depressed but
the, game was not over yet. The ball
went to Brattleboro's side of the hall
and was knocked out of the side line. 1t
was Brattleboro's ball. Company D
knocked it out a second time and third
time. Company d plainly was killing
time. But the scheme did not work. By
some clever team play the ball was pass
ed to Long, who was alone near the bas-
lSet. A deliberate and graceful throw
and the championship was determined.