The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1918-02-10

game - over and then for while
longer, II necessary. OF Jerry's ability
~ coach there never has been any
doubt. Last year, after his regular
team had been barred. he took squad
Of substitutes, none Of whom had ever
played college basketball before, and
with three days practice won three OF
four conference games. This season
the Bruins have defeated Washington
State college on the Pullman floor. the
first time the feat has ever been ac-
complished by a Montana team. ana
two weeks later a weakened Bruin
quint took the Aggies into camp on the
Bozeman floor for the first time in Che
history Of athletic relations between
the two institutions.
Surely the coach and the players OF
the 1918 Montana State University
basketball team have made history IN
this year OF upheavals, and deserve not
, only due credit for their Joint achieve
ments. but the support OF every student
and basketball fan in general.
Hesis ouint Strong.
And the team that will come here
from Bozennan to play Friday and sat
urday in what Bruin supporters hope
viii be the Anal contests for the state
title. Is one OF the best Bennion has
ever had. Bennion, a good coach In
every branch Of sport. has proved an
admirable builder OF strong basketball
/ teams. not only at Montana State col
lege. but also at Utah. where lie
reigned before coming to the Treasure
state. Bennion Ia at present on leave
OF absence from the tate College.
working as agricultural director OF Vel
lowstone county under the state OK
tension department. but is devoting the
present month to the Aggie basketball
squad. Last year his team won Is
straight games. defeating the Bruins.
Whitman. Idaho. the Utah AEgies and
other fast teams, and finishing third
in the national championship tourna-
ment at Chicago after terrific strug-
, gle, losing to the Illinois Athletic club
!, In the semi finals.
| This year the ,Aggies had poor
start, being beaten three straight games
Ion an invasion OF Utah. After these
contests. the team rounder into form.
however and played at top speed
against the Bruins. fighting the Gris-
lilies every inch OF the way.
| At forwards there are Bush, the
/ whitehall giant. a fine shot and hard
imam to guard. Bush played on tho
second team most Of last season, after
several years spent In learning the
game at Whitehall high, and this sea-
son flashed forth as regular. Fitx-
/ gerald or Cameron may play at the
other forward. and again Pitts. also Il
substitute last year, who became
regular near the end of the season.
may play at forward. in case Bennion
decides to play Harris at center. pitts
is fine player. and hard to cover.
shooting from all angles OF the floor.
] II Harris. the tall Billings boy. who
played at guard on the Aggie cham
pionshlp quint last year. does not get
into the games in Missoula. Pitts will
play center. Harris Is an ideal center
man. tall and slim. with good eye for
the nets.
Tommy Ross. playing his fourth year
on the Bozeman quint. Is Bennion's
/ big ace. The husky football star Is a
clean player. good shot. and possesses
a splendid physique. Four years under
Bennion has taught him all any man
zee som eclassy guarding when this
basketball. Finch. playing his first
year on the State College team az
/ regular. showed his class by holding
Prescott down in the contests NJ Bo5e-
man and Missoula fans may expect TO
see some classy guarding when this
pair gets out on the floor.
/ The games at Boxeman resulted as
| follows: E4
Bruins, Is: Aggies. ~
Bruins, IS: Aggies, Is.
II Nissen's team should win both
games here this week they viii have
the state title cinched. II each team
should win one game here, a final game
will be played on q neutral f,oor. prob
ably at Helena, to decide the title.
Should the visitors win two they will
retain the title won last year.
No matter what the results OF the
contests next Friday and Saturday
nights may be. the games win be GER
tain to so down In the athletic history
Of the two schools as the two hardest
fought games ever staged in Aissouia.
Il