The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-03-29

Basket bali in the South made a great stride forward during the sea son just ended. More teams played the game and those teams reached high point of development, while the visits of several of the best Northern and Central West teams gave great impulse to the already growing inter asf. Anofher such season will see our Southern teams we'll able to hold their own with the best the country can turn out, for with a better knowledge If tha game as played in other sections. more fearless and impartial interpre- tation of the rules by officials and oet- ter organised control will come . Ias areater development and interest.
 A review of the 190T-0S season shows one taara standing out clearly from the rest though no real championship can be awarded. That team Is CMumpus, ia YM C. A., whose clean record or victories plainly entities her to nrst place and whose perfection or team play and strict adherence to both let- ter and spirit of the rules marx ois. tinct advance in the game as p,sysa in thiw section. Their record shouio DC no little satisfaction. to their coach.
 But after Columbus-who? Compar- alive scores count for nothing here. On scores Mobile, Montgomery Nash vilie A. C., and Birmingham A. C., have equal claim to second place. and tr re- qulres little stretch of the magma ton for the supporters of any one or them to sec in their favorites the real champions of the South.
 However this situation is not due 80 much to an actual equality Of these teams as to unduly prepondenf ao-' vantage on the home grounds and the laxity of officials, and 1t is not for one who has seen all these teams play to place them about as they deserve provided he is not blinded by that iHn- agination above mentioned.
 The writer would place the teams as
 Mobile. Y. M. c. A, second; Mont gomery, Y. M c. A., third; Birming- ham A. C., Nashville A. C., Auburn, Vanderbilt Birmingham r. M. 0. A.
 While Mobiles games, except two, were played at home, there is little question that she Is clearly entitled to the place. Hers is a well balanced team of husky veterans-strong indi- vidually and capable of great team play.
 But for her slump st the seasons end Montgomery's record suffers little by comparison with Mobile--and while not so strong individually made up in unity and team play.
 Birmingham A. c. handicapped by the loss of two of her best men soon after the season started, never struck her gait again till the very seasons end.
 Auburn with some brilliant individ- ual players lacked balance and the Ego" that makes for consistent play, most brilliant team play fell far short of her best form against both Mobile and Montgomery.
 In picking an all Southern five. only those teams are considered which the writer has seen play. Properly speak ing this should be called the Central South" five, for we have no means Of judging the merits of teams in the East and West of us. Nevertheless, ccfnpar- ative scores against Northern teams touring the South stamp the teams of this section as good as, if not better, than in any other part of the South, so we're probably safe in calling this the Ali South ern" five. Such selec- ton can. of course, only be matter of personal opinion and other critics may disagree as to the placing of the men.
 For the center position Penny of Mo bile is easily the best in the South. Ware of Auburn is his equal at goal shooting, but in reach, in quickness, in strength and in judgment Penny has no equal In this section.
 For the all Southern forwards we must consider Duffy of Mobile.-Cap- tain Warmack of Nashville, Woodruff of Auburn, Teddy and Peacock of Co., Iuuhus Of these men should choose Peddy and his team mate Peacock. who pIaved at center. Teddy, though a small man. Is a whiriwind at play-a wonderful goal shooter, cool and l .heady.", Peacock, because of his su- perioTity over every other center ex' cept Penny. his accuracy at goa ] throw,ing. his cool, shifty, clean, az. ! aressive play, gets the other place.
 Beardsiey of Mobile and Captain su song of Montgomery are entitled to thu guards positions. Their work stands out clearly above that of any othel l guards I have seen play this season | Bsardsley guards his closely but GOV | CTS a world of territory. gets Into o1