Omaha daily bee., 1914-12-20
BASKET BALL MEET
FOR HIGH SCHOOLS
University Of Nebraska Announces
Annual Tournament at Lincoln
for Middle of March.
FOR STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
Big Loving Cup to Be Presented to
Winning Five and Banners for
Consolation Teams.
PREDICT RECORD TOURNEY
Manager Reed Expects Seventy-Fve
Entries This Year.
HUSKERS AND IOWA FIGHT
Nebraska Asks Larger Guarantee
from Hawkeyes when I'm lows
City-Offers Lower one for
Games at LIncOIn.
PREDICT RECORD TOURNEY
Manager Reed Expects Seventy-Kve
Entries This Year.
HUsKERs AND IOWA FIGHT
DIV LAMns E. LAMRENcFs.

LINCOLN. Dec. 1e.-(Special )-Manager
Guy r. Reed has announced March TO- IL.
12 and IS as the dates for the fifth an
nual Nebraska state high school basket
ball tournament, which is held under the
auspices of the state university. The
largest interscholastic event of its kind
west Of the Mississippi river and a rival
OF eastern tournaments. II the plans OF
the Nebraska management don't go amiss
this year. there will be more teams than
ever entered In anticipation Of the in
creased entries, for the tournament Is
yearly becoming more popular, Manager
Reed has added another day to the dates
for the playing OF the championship
series
To meet the objection that teams from
smaller towns had no chance against the
representatives OF Omaha, Lincoln and
Beatrice in the earlier rounds of the
tournament, Manager Reed has devised
new system of arranging the prelimi-
nary games. In past tournaments draw
ings determined the early games. Reed
viii attempt classification Of the scores
made by the teams during the season.
Each school which enters the tournament
must file by February is a complete rec
ord of the scores made during the bas-
ket ball season. Before the registration
blanks are issued Reed will tabulate
these scores for the classification OF
teams.
Two Divisions Formed.
Two and possibly three divisions, pro-
viding enough schools enter, will be
formed-the weaker schools pitted against
the weaker. and the stronger against the
stronger. The system calls for a games
committee, composed of university ath-
letes, whose duty 1t will be to classify
the teams. according to the records and
size of the town which they represent
Manager Reed will announce the men,
bers OF this committee later.
Another change has been provided for
by Reed to eliminate some OF the cont.
plaint which arose last year. Champion
ship games have been played In the gym
nasium OF the State university. with pre-
liminary games In the gymnasium, chapel
and Young Mems Christian association
gymnasium. Now Reed proposes that
the championship final ana semi-final
games be played in the city Auditorium,
upon a strange" floor, so,~that all con-
testants be placed on an equal basis.
Hope TO Clear Expense.
The Lincoln Commercial club Is behind
! the tournament this year and will grant
the use of the Auditorium free of charge
Reed believes that with the increased
seating accommodations he will be ablc
to clear enough money from the tourna-
ment to pay the railroad expenses OF all
OF the competing teams.
The usual medals and pennants for win
ming teams and individual medals for the
members of tho championship five will
be awarded. The big loving cup for the
championship five has been arranged for
Banners go to the runners-up and a con-
ISOLATION tournament will probably be
arranged.
Nebraska's high school tournament is
attracting more students to the uni
versity every year. Last season sixty
four high schools competed, while a year
before but forty-eight took part. The first
tournament had but twenty contest
ants. Reed expects seventy-five TO eighty
entries in the tournament this year, bring
ing close to 600 athletes TO the state uni
verslty.
Nebraska and Iowa Play.
Nebraska will probably meet Iowa on
the gridiron next fall II the two schools
meet, it will be on the Nebraska grldiron.
Ior IL Is lowa's turn TO come to Lincoln
next fall. The Iowa game has the ad-
vantage of giving Nebraska a western
conference opponent. but It has the dis
advantage Of failing to draw like IL
should The only question hanging fire
between the managements OF the two
schools is the question Of guarantees. II
another contract is signed for a series OF
games Reed is insistent that Iowa give
Nebraska bigger guarantee at Iowa
City while the Huskers will probably cut
down Iowa's share at Lincoln. The Lin
coin crowds are nearly double those se-
cured at Iowa City.