Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-02-24
By JOHN F. LUX.

That's only paragraph in cold type
but il tells the story of five of the
gamest men that ever represented q
high school in athletics, team that
wouldn't quit and didn't know the
meaning of the word.
Outclassed. Joliet out-gamed and
out-fought Wau&egan last night in the
second round OF the district tourna
ment. From gun to gun, the Sheltons
played basketball as it has never been
played iF Joliet before. They battled
desperately for every inch OF ground
Every second o. the game was closely
contested and nearly l.0G9 fans, who
packed the gym. were near heart fail
urc time and again.
Joliet took the lead early, but Wau
kegan. team OF experienced men,
kept up the pace. duplicating point
for point Joliet by burst of speed
near the finish Of the first period man.
aged to accumulate three point lead
Capt. Andy McEwan did valiant
work in the first half He was ably
assisted in the offensive by Larson
and Mauer, while Ohlhaver and Sehr.
ing, doing his first season as regu-
lar. performed nobly on the defense.
The Joliet team was near exhaustion
when the gun sounded and they were
sent to the showers.
Waukegan came up fresh for the
second half while the Joliet athletes
we're plainly tired. Waukegan tied up
the score promptly and clouds we're
lowering over the Joliet horizon. But
game little Larson came to the res
cue and tossed basket after basket,
putting Joliet back in the lead. Nc.
Evan also aided in putting Joliet on
top
Five minutes before the half ended
McEwan was injured in a scrimmage
He refused to rest however. and
waved to the referee to continue the
game while cheers swept the gymna
stun. He was given a great ovation
for his gameness.
Waukegan let out burst OF speed
near the close OF the game and two
minutes before the half ended tiet
the score at 20 all The gun sounded
with Joliet fighting desperately to pu
over winner.
1t was decided to play five minutes
to decide the contest. McEwan and
Larson, star Joliet forwards, were ex
hausted. Shelton motioned for Andy
to leave the game, but the doughty
captain refused Larson, just a wan
and slender kid, was trembling with
the strain and threatening to collapse
any minute. But he stuck gamely to
the finish.
Two minutes rest was granted the
athletes and then the battle was re.
opened, Larson responded with a
basket that put Joliet in the lead. A
technical foul on McEwan gave Wau.
kegan a point and a minute later
Poster put over basket, giving the
Lake county team the lead.
With three minutes to play, Joliet
battled hard for a score. Time aad
again the ball swept down toward the
basket, but Waukegans great defense
broke up every rally. There were just
fifteen seconds to play when Ohlhaver
started pass to McEwan. Andy got
the ball, made short shot. The ball
had just passed the rim in the basket
when the gun sounded Joliet had
won thru sheer gameness,
Larson collapsed as the extra period
ended and he was carried from the
field. McEwan, exhausted. was also
carried to the dressing rooms. Oil
ha YER, Shering and Mauer, who stood
up much better under the strain, were
mobbed by admiring fans. More thar
two hundred fans paraded the floor re
joicing in the Joliet victory.
The game was the closest cyei
staged on a Joliet floor Waukegau
outweighed Joliet and looked to be
the better team But gameness won
Joliet has the gamest basketball
team | ever watched in action" sale
Referee Fred Young after the game
They were outclassed but fought like
tigers all the way. The forwards
played on their nerve during the las
ten minutes Of the game"
This afternoon at o'clock Jolie
clashes with La SalA in the semi-fn
ais. Harvey will battle Macon at 3.G'
o'clock and the winners of these two
battles will meet tonight In the ANAL
while the losers will battle for thir,
place in the first contest this evening
Joliet has an excellent chance I,
grab sthe championship from this dis
lance. La Sale did not show ANYTHING
extraordinary last night in the gam
with Strcator and local fans are pre-
dieting win over the downstater
when the teams meet late this after
noon.
Joliet's showing in the tournament
has been remarkable. But this classi
has been series OF surprises. MOI
ris, recognized favorite for the It'll
and with team composed Of fou
year men, was eliminated In the frs
round. Waukegan. the team that d.
feated Morris earlier In the season an
picked to be runner.up for the It'll
hit the toboggan In the second roun,
Macon. counted as one Of the sea
sisters OF the tournament. has mad
a remarkable showing. The 0rund