The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1914-12-07
NAVY BASKETBALL
NOW HOLDS FLOOR
Big Squad Working Out at An
napoIis for Coming Cam
paign Against Foemen.

ANNAPOLIS. Dec. I. - Basketball
closes the gap at the Naval Academy
between the close OF the football sea-
son and the opening Of the period or
winter athletics. In several branches OF
which the midshipmen are very active
and successful It is the policy Of the
Naval Academy authorities to support
competitive. athletics in every way II
can, and there are teams which engage
in competition with other college aggre-
cations in nearly all the branches that
are recognized by the leading lnstitu-
tons. During December and a part Of
January. basketball holds the field
alone. so far as games with outside
teams are concerned, though the SQUADS
in swimming, fencing. gymnastics and
wrestling are working hard for their
matches, which take place during the
latter part of January and February.
and March. carrying the winter season
well into the opening of the season for
baseball and other spring sports.
Nearly fifty midshipmen have been
practicing basketball actively during
the fall. and this squad will now gain
recruits from the Academy and class
football squads, bringing It up to about
sixty. With four OF the strong five Of
last year available, the midsniprnen ara
sure OF making a fine record this sea-
SON. though the fact that the midship-
men play only on their own court
makes any claim TO championships out
Of the question, il Is felt mere that the
Academy has played the most consist
emily good basketball of any college
for several years past. Games have
been arranged with all The stroAg quints
that could be induced to come to An
napolis, and the midsh pmen have
rarely lost game. For the last two
seasons they have finished their sched-
ules without losing a game
Tn year. the schedule has been ar
ranged with the definite idea of dem
onstTating that the Academy has the
best basketball five in the country. All
the dates have not been fixed vet but
there Will probably be a game on De-
cemer L, VIII lie n game against George
washington University has been definite
" liked for December f9, and one with
the University Of Pennsylvan a for De-
cember 30. There will also be a series
OF class games during the month. other
teams that will oppose the Midshipmen
are Yale, Pennsylvania State, Cornell.
Dartmouth. Georgetown, Catholic Uni
verSity. Washington and Lee. University
OF West Virginia and Wesleyan.
The Navy will have its star forwards
Smith and Adams. and its capable
guards, Overesch and W lkes, from last
years FIVE. 1t must replace McReavey.
the tall and powerful center, who grad
uated. Smith. who captains the team
viii play his fourth year on {. He Is
not only a wonderful goal shooter. but
his playing of the ball from down court
his team play and defensive work
stamp hIm as a wonderful player, and
II is claimed for him at Annapolis that
he Is the best forward IN the game.
Adams. a Washington city boy, played
on the team for the first time last year.
and nearly equaled Smith n ability i'm
shooting goals Overesch is the foot
ball captain. and II IS poss BILE that he
may be moved to center this season.
Both Oyeresch and Wilkes are strong
defense men. Among the best Of last
years subst tutes and class team men
available are Calhoun and Moran. for
wards. and Clark, Daab and Bright
man. guards.
The nidshlpmen will make a more
ambitious effort in swiTnm ng comps-
titions this winter than ever before
There Will be matches aga nst the
teams Of Columbia. Princeton. Cnivers-
ity of Pennsylvania and Un versity OF
Pittsburgh, and an exh'b ton against
the crack team of the New York
Athletic Club. The rather poor show
ing of the M'dshipmen in a sport so
closely connected with their calling has
been a matter OF chagrn to navy
people. and efforts are being made TO
secure the services Of one OF the bes-
coaches in the country.