The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1917-04-30

Lower row, left to right-Leonard,
One of the most profitable seasons
of basketball that the Young Mems
Christian association OF Bennington
has ever experienced. was brought to
a close Thursday evening, April 18th
with the concluding game of the Sc
ries between the high school and the
association teams. The 'Y" team
won the first two games of the series,
so that the third game was unneces'
sary.
An effort was made this season, TO
make basket ball a cleaner and more
enjoyable game to watch, and results
along this line were most gratifying
to all concerned. With the coming OF
Mr.. Mann as physical director at the
association, the scheme of playing
real basketball according to the rules,
was inaugurated The results of the
past season have shown that this kind
is the most interesting to watch, and
of more pure enjoyment to the play
ers. than while playing the rough and
tumble style under the guise of bas-
ketball.
Mr.. Mann, a graduate of Springfield
college for association directors, was
responsible for the change in playing,
for at that institution the creed OF
clean playing and sport for sports
sake, is instilled into the men from
the time of their entrance to their
graduation. AS a member OF the cen
'ral board Of approved basketball oib
cials. Mr.. Mann was, in measure,
obliged to insist upon strict interpre-
tation of the rules and strlcter ad-
herence to their meaning.
Following out this plan, better or
ganized teams were induced to play
here. and the audience at the various
games saw a better brand of basket
ball than ever before, with high class
teams as opponents for the local
team. Very few games were arrang'
ed with town teams, as has heretofore
been done, for such teams usually in
sist upon conducting the game ac-
cording to their crude ideas Of basket
ball, with a fair share of football and
wrestling thrown in for good measure.
Such unpleasantness was eliminated
to a great degree this year.
The "Y" team is handicapped by
the lack of a suitable gymnasium in
which to present the games. The floor
space is too small and the accOmmo-
dations for spectators are very poor,
but plans are in the formative stage,
calling for a modern gymnasium, lar
ger and more adaptible to the present
needs. With this addition, more peo-
pie could see the games and the n
nancial standing of the sport would
be on a sounder basis.
Most of the games were played to
a larger gallery of spectators, who by
their steady patronage, evidently ap-
preciated the brand of basket ball be-
ing given them. AT the d. U. Frater-
nifty game. the seats were filled and
standing room was all taken, and
many could not gain entrance to the
gymnasium at all
The team was picked from the fol
lowing players, each of whom had had
previous experience with other teams,
and were rated as good players.
Mann, Levin and Morrissey looked af-
ter forward field; Butr and Colburn
played the center position, and Nc
Guire, Leonard and Austin took care
Of the back field. As the records
given below will indicate, the forwards
looked after the scoring end of the
game in fine style. The centers had
a bit more latitude and could roam
at will over the floor helping out in
the guarding or the scoring. Many
points were saved by the clever
blocking and covering of the guards.
while they found time occasionally to
drop the ball into the basket for a
few points.
With any combination out Of this
list, the team was enabled to win
big majority of its games, and the
and most gratifying feature
Of the season was the return to the
old time. effective passing game.
Most OF the players gave up the idea
of gathering baskets from the middle
of the floor. or on one hand shoots
from the corners, but instead passed
the ball to the man who had the best
to try for a basket This
tended to produce a team, working as
a unit and for the good of the whole.
rather than an aggregation of five
players each striving to score the
most baskets.
The team suffered but two bad de-
feats, one at Burr and Burton Semi
nary and the other by the d. U. Fra
ternity team of Williams college. The
latter team was made up of some