Omaha daily bee., 1916-01-02
MAY LENGTHEN STATE MEET
Plan TO Prolong State Basket Ball
Tournament One Day at
Nebraska Uni.
SHORT TOURNEY HARD ON MEN


The problem OF 40 arranging the state
tournament as 10 eliminate the strenu-
Gus features OF the three days' play is
already coming in for consideration from
official circles. The fact that two Omaha
athletes were confined to the hospital for
a matter OF several months after the close
OF the session last yesr has made II i'm
porative that something be done. Ac-
cording TO announcement Of NJ. r. Clapp.
chairman OF the athletic board at the
University OF Nebraska, the tournament
will be prolonged one day longer. Unoer
this now arrangement 1t will be possible
for teams Of each division TO play not
more than two games Cay, these being
not less than twelve hours apart.
Examples from last years tournament
when the two Omaha fives. Hastings and
lincoln played four games in less than
twenty-six hours. little over single
day, convinces officials at the university
and coaches throughout the state that
the playing ls far too strenuous. South
High met four Of the strongest teams in
the stste-Auburn. Crete. Alliance and
Central High--while Central IIigh, with
the exception OF their first match with
Dodge. met three topnotchers in Geneva,
York and South High. The game be-
tween South and Central High schools
was undoubtedly the most spectacular
and hardest fought OF the entire tourna-
mcnt. Notwithstanding the fact that both
teams were 80 tired that they could
hardly travel about the floor. Omaha
was compelled to play Lincoln the night
= following this strenuous schedule for the
state championship when their condition
was far from the best, On the other
hand Lincoln had comparatively easy
time in wiping out Wilbur and oakdsie
with second string men in the first two
rounds. while they easily won their game
from Hastings in the third round.
Last year University of Nebraska Off
cials made an effort to eliminate the OBJ
jectionable features OF tho meet by
dividing the teams into two classes. This
reduced the number of games to the mini
mum, and all that is needed to make the
tournament a physical success IL to
lengthen the periods OF rest between
games. But It would be rank injustice
TO compel a team that has q splendid
chance for the championship TO play three
of the best teams In the state all on the
same day. morning, afternoon and eve-
ming. ~ fSA4t
stars from Small Towns. ~
| For the reason that athletic stars OF
the state university hail in large part
/ from the smaller towns, the state uni
officials are unable to accord the larger
cities OF the state any more favors by
reason OF greater population. shonka,
All-Amerioan tackle In 1909, Halligan. ALI
American tackle In 1914, and Chamber
lain, All-American end In 1915, are stars
that come from such towns az David City,
North Platte and Blue Springs. 'Bill'
Chaloupka, 1909 foot bail phenom, came
from Wilbur; Captain Jim Harvey OF the
1903 eleven from Aurora; Buck Beltzer.
member OF the famous undefeated 1919
aggregation, from Broken Bow: while
score OF famous athletes have hailed from
other small towns OF the state. -
Local influence 10 being brought 20 bear
on the tournament problem. Officials
of both Central and South High schools
intimate that unless a better schedule
Is arranged neither team is likely to at
tend the tournament next March. The
financial feature is the only troubling
issue at present and IL the state univer-
sity committee finds Il possible TO in
crease their allowances to permit -four
days of playing instead of three. the trou-.
BILE will probably have been eliminated to
! the satisfaction OF all. The committee
awards the moneys to each team accord
ing to tho number OF miles travelled by
the men,. Last year the Omaha manage
ment received but 50 each as their share
but as the interest In the game Is good
here. the local teams have but little trou-
bic In making enough money to send their
squads TO the capital city.
Except for the games between Fremont
and Cedar Rapids. Arlington and the
Townsend Reserves of Omaha, the basket
ball field In the state was devoid of bait
tie during tho last week. Fremont de-
feated Cedar Rapids Monday evening by
a score OF 81 to e. The game was fast.
the Fremont five leading by only one
point at the end OF the first half Ar
lington defeated the Reserves. "a TO Is,
in hard fought game. The Arlington
five Is the team that gave South High
q scare last year In mid-season. The
town youths still have three of their old
men back and are looking forward to a
great season. They will play Fremont
soon.