Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1915-01-26

wEsrBRooK II 8 20; N. II. 8. 25.

wEsTBRooK 20; N. Il. 8. rs.
The large crowd which nearly filled
Norway Opera House Friday evening
had the privilege of witnessing the best
game of the season, and 1t is hard to
imagine how a game could be more even.
ly contested or exciting than was this
contest. Both teams played the hard
est and best basket ball they knew from
the start to the finish, and 1t was the
kind of basket ball that everyone en-
joys, for despite the evenness OF the
game and the hard and fierce playing,
there was no unnecessary roughness,
and the players of both teams should be
given lot of credit for the way they
conducted themselves under the tre-
mendous nervous strain.
Westbrook won according to the score
of the writer) by playing a better de-
fensive game than did the home team.
In most of the games that Norway has
played this season their offense has been
so strong that the defence did not mat
ter much, as both forwards and guards
have been busy in helping make baskets.
In this game things were different. West
brook had players that could shoot for
the baskets just as accurately as could
the Norway boys, and these men should
have been constantly covered. They
were not, and there were several times
when there would be one or two of the
Westbrook men over near the Norway
basket with no Norway player near
enough to reach them should their team
mates succeed in getting the ball over to
them. This their fellow players were
able to do at times, and some of their
baskets were shot with no interference
whatever from the Norway players. Nor
way took too big chance in playing
this style Of game against opponents OF
such sterling ability.
Again Norway's weakness in throwing
baskets from fouls was in evidence. Ger
tainly they should have man on the
team capable of getting at least an even
break in this department. Had they
done this the game would have been in
the won column without doubt, and
there are many of Norway's strongest
supporters that will always regret that
Shepard was not used for this work
throughout the game. His success In
the first part of the game seemed to
stamp him as the one most likely to get
the larger number of points for his team
in this way.
Notwithstanding the facts mentioned
above, Norway played fine game. After
being led by the visitors at the close Of
the first half they came back strong in,
the second half and we're playing wbirl-
wind game at the finish. They were out
passing their opponents at this stage of
the contest and were getting results,
coming within one point of tieing the
game, and with little more time to play
we do not believe the visitors could have
held them. There was practically no
difference in the strength of the TWO
teams and to both 60 much credit.
Smith playing as guard, was the
high scoring man for the Norway team,
getting five baskets, while Hawkes. of
the visitors got the same number for his
team. Sanderson was very closely CIV
cred, having Two men against him most
of the time, and failed to shoot basket.
However We have seen him shoot baskets
under just as trying conditions, and to
the writer it appeared as il he was bav-
ing an off night and simply could not get
things to break his way. His work on
fouls seemed to indicate the same con-
dition. If these teams meet again, watch
his work.
The line.up.