The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1916-02-29
With Spotless and Unblem-
ished Record
Defeated Newark Team On
Friday Evening
In One of Hardest Fought
Games Of Season


basketball record of ten straight vic
tories, Mt. Vernon high will go to
the preliminaries of the state tourna-
ment at Delaware next week an unde-
feated team, despite the herculean ef.
forts of Newark at Newark Friday
night to stop the advance-efforts
which were unavailing, as Mt. Vernon
won by the score of AZ to 81 before
one of the largest and most enthus-
iastic audiences ever assembled at a
Newark game.
The tenth straight victory was
made possible by the marvellous work
of little "Davy" Jones at guard. The
name of Jones" was on the lips of
every one of the one hundred rooters
who returned Friday night from the
game, hoarse, and in some cases,
speechless. All one could hear was
praise for Jones, and it was only af-
ter some of the excitement subsidized
that it was learned that Mt. Vernon's
team as whole put up the finest
game 1t has played this season.
But Jones was the star, and honors
go unQuestioned to him. Right glad
ly are they bestowed, too, as "Davy"
is one of the most conscientious work
ers the high school has ever had. In
the game at Newark his spectacular
guarding and his manner of breaking
up formations and preventing the
shooting of baskets meant much for
Mt. Vernon. Pitted against player
much larger than himself, he played
rings around him and, in little rough
and-tumble exhibitions, forced the
forward to the mat continually.
Jones was very ably aided and
abetted by his mate, Cunningham,
who would have come in for an un-
usual share of honors for his work in
the game, were it for Jones' extraor-
dinary playing. Newark was almost
powerless against these guards and,
although their basket-shooting was
particularly strong, opportunity was
lacking for building up their score.
Time after time, Jones and Cunning
ham would smash up play that
seemed bound to give Newark two
points. The speed shown by the pair
astounded Newark rooters.
The game was fierce and bitter
struggle. Mt. Vernon enthusiasts oc-
cupied q special section and in root
ing fully rivalled the huge turnout
of Newark followers of the game.
This continuous cheering promoted
the speed of the game, and the play
ers on both teams worked like fiends.
Newark led Mt. Vernon for while,
but the first half ended with the
score 25 to "a in favor of Captain
Eastman's five.
AS an instance of the bewildering
pass work and speed of Mt. Vernon,
four baskets were scored in the last
minute of play before the first half
ended, Blair and Eastman both toss
ing two apiece-an average of bas-
ket every fifteen seconds. The score
prior to this was "a to II for Newark.
AT no time during the second half
was Mt. Vernon in danger, leading all
the way.
Emulating the work of the Buffalo
Orioles, Mt. Vernon executed in the
second half a series of back-hand
passes that left Newark gasping.
Cunningham received the ball and,
when a Newark player rushed to
guard him, passed behind his back to
Blair. The latter repeated the pro
cess to Eastman and the ball landed
in Sapp's hands for a basket East
man also tossing behind his back
Newark players and rooters were
dumbfounded.
Mt. Vernon players were in fine
condition at the end of the game
while the Licking county boys were
exhausted. This splendid condition
is a tribute to Coach Jacks and his
system of training.
The treatment by the Newark
crowd and referee of the Mt. Vernon
players and roofing contingent was