Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-02-18
IOWA STATE TITLE IS CAUSING
UNUSUAL INTEREST IN HIGH
SCHOOL CIRCLES.
LOCALS ARE STRONG
Ottumwsa Quintet Are Best In Th's
Section Of state-sloux City
Strong In Northwestern Part
Of the State.

than last year when the state wide
tournament was q new thing. Last
wear but four teams were chosen TO
visit the university city and compete.
This year eight will be picked and the
increased number has caused a larger
number of teams to try for the honor.
Thirty.three teams have paid their en-
trance fee and no one Ia envying the
state board their job of picking the
eight best, although last year only one
school raised any objection to their
choice.
with the season about half over the
race seems even between q number OF
schools. In the northwest, Sioux CITY,
who was second last year IN the
trounament, seems to have things all
her own way. This school has been
one of the live ones In basketball for
years. Four years ago when they had
overcome all their neighbors and had
made a successful raid on Red Oak,
Council Bluffs and Omaha, they put up
$50 az expenses for the Ottumwa
team to decide the state title. 1t was
this spirit that lead to the state uni
versity establishing the tournament
It Is an interesting coincidence that 1t
was these same two teams that play
ed the final game last year and the
packers won by the, same score as four
years ago.
Davenport last year played an er-
ratio game, being poor enough at
times to lose to inferior teams and
good enough at others to crimp the
aspirations of some Of the admittedly
strong teams. It has won all It's games
80 far on hard schedule, and nothing
less than a railroad smashup can keep
them rom being in the running all
the way.
Muscatine who last year was .
favorite until their star man was de-
clared ineligible, is experiencing all
the troubles incident to building up
new team. A decisive defeat by DAY.
export and Clinton, an even split with
Wilton seems to place them out of the
running unless they show more class
in their later games.
ottumwa Strong.
( In the extreme southeast the pres
emit title holders look best. With only
two Of last years team left Ottumwa
did not get into action until late. The
and should the team adjust themselves
as their team did last year 1t might
be we'll to watch Ottumwa. The only
team that seems likely to give the
locals trouble is Mt. Pleasant.
This school has recovered from Its
early defeat at Burlington and by
recent decisive victories over both Bur.
lington and Keokuk has kept itself In
the running. Cedar Rapids and Gin.
ton, although beaten by Davenport, can
not be passed over. Cedar Rapids has
string Of victories, including Marshall
town, both East and West Waterloo,
and Nevada; while Clinton has beaten
Muscatine and Wilton. Wilton, who
was accused Of having horseshoe hid.
den away last year, seems to be hitting
q few bumps in Clinton and Muscatine
and unless some of the teams meet .
series OF defeats will probably be left
out Waverly has me- q snag In
Marshalltown, which has been easy
for some other teams, but hope to re-
verse matters when the teams meet at
Waverly.
In the southwest the fight seems
now to be between Red Oak and Corn
ing. At present Corning has victory
Of four points on their own floor The
floor has a great Influence in this
game, as any old kind Of room is used.
In some, posts are scattered over the
playing space. Some Of the school
men think the board should take these
facts into consideration in choosing
the teams.
Fort Dodge May Be Strong.
Fort Dodge still remains an I'M
known quantity, as they have played
mostly teams not entered In the
league. Their victory Of three points
over Jefferson, which lost to Sioux
City AZ to IS, does not give them
high rating by the unreliable COM
parative score method and they may
yet uncover class that will carry them
to Iowa City.
Wancoma and Bedford are playing
remarkable ball for small towns but
no accurate rating is possible until
they meet better known teams.
In the north Charles City seems to
be the one best bet. They have won
nine games and have lost none. New
ton and the Reinbeck men are keeping
quiet and with some teams not show
Ing much now may be the surprises of
the season.
Some Of the scores of the strong
teams are:
The Scores Of Iowa Schools.
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