Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-02-19
HARD PRACTICE FOR
HIGH SCHOOL FIVE.
WHITNEY OUTLINES PLANS FOR
PUTTING "RED AND WHITE"
BUNCH INTO SHAPE FOR MEET
AT JOLIET NEXT THURSDAY.

Coach Whitney is now facing the
task of whipping his basketball war
riors into shape for the games in tht
tournament. starting next Thursday
afternoon at Joliet.
Based on the excellent showing OF
the locals against Streator, Whitney S
crew have gathered up a lot OF conf
dence which may tide them over &c
victory al the Joliet meet The fact
that Spring Valley gave La Sale a
humping Saturday evening means that
La Sale is about on the same par with
the Ottawa quintet Streator holds a
victory over the Hall township five
by slight margin.
Slight technical fouls are going TO
play a prominent part in the tourn.
ment games. The ruling of the oilic,
ials Is very strict at often times and
the question as to which team has the
best free goal tossers often decides a
game.
Sheffield. the opponents of Whit.
ney's bunch, are not looked upon with
any great degree of fright. They have
not been up in the state running but
perhaps have corking good little
team.
Practice Hard.
This evening Whitney has mapped
out line OF training that will keep
the quintet on the Jump for the next
few days. More speed in getting over
the floor will be the watchword. Tie
Joliet playing area Is much larger
than the floor In the high school
gym, consequently the red and white
men must move around fast.
Naturally, big Oscar Osmundson is
slated to be the important factor in
the attack of the locals. The big
youngster showed q wonderful amount
of form In the game Friday evening
and promised to set fast pace next
Thursday afternoon.
Concerning the coming meet the
Joliet Herald has the following to say;
Interest Is keen In the local tour
hament ana there is much specula.
ton as TO the probable winner. Most
Of the critics are picking Morris and
Waukegan to be In the final battle
for iIonors, Blu a dark horse may
atep In and walk of with the velvet.
Twenty teams are entered in the
olassIc--the largest number ever
signed for local basketball event.
Joliet, Plainield and Lockport will
represent viii county, while Macon
and Morris win do honors for Grundy
county Macon, by the way, will be in
the melee with both feet and intends
To rlake quite show.
Joliet Has Chance.
Just What the Joliet chances are
10 hard to Judge from this distance
Murray Shekon's gang of basket
balleis have played an in.and-out
brand of the game, and il is difficult
TO predict Just what they are goin"
TO do next. They may prove TO be
whrfwlnds in the clas5c-yanevor
cantell
The first round OF games in the
tournament IL Of the classy variety,
Morris clashes with Macon right of
the bat Thursday afternoon and the
wise ones are picking Morris to win
Sheffield meets Ottawa in the first
game OF the tourney and the winner OF
the Morris Macon match will clash
With the winner of this contest Thus
they are picking Ottawa to beat Shelf
ND and meet Morris.
Joliet should cop It's first game,
which viii be against Antioch. The
Sheltons have been fortunate in the
matter of schedule and stand good
chance of being among those present
In the finals Saturday afternoon, at
least
Plainheld does not play until Fri.
day afternoon, meeting La Sale. La
sale Is an unknown quantity and may
cause the suburban team considerable
trouble