Deming graphic. (Deming, N.M.) 1903-1948, 1919-03-18
TIGERS BORDER CHAMPS
Deming Alumni Fought Hard. but
Lost In Crucial Battle Of the
basketball Season
FL Pasoans Also Won Both Games
With Deming High School
Saturday Night


The border basketball championship
will remain at FL Paso for another
year at least. That much was settled
at the armory Friday night, when the
FL Paso high school Tigers" cham
pions Of FL Paso and Fort Bliss and
without serious opposition to the title
except in Deming. defeated our high
school Alumni team In a whirlwind
battle before crowd Of eight hun
dred people. The score was 30 to 2l.
The Alumni gave the visitors a
hard fight. but ii was uphill all the
way for them and they never quite
overlook the fast going FL Pasoans.
Thrice in the first half they were
within one point Of them, and that
period ended with a i4-ll score, but
the Tigers Gagged four baskets in quick
succession as the second half opened,
giving them lead that was never
again threatened. Except for that
brief spurt the Alumni held them
even on the score sheet.
Although they offered no excuses
for their defeat, il is only fair to the
Deming team to state that they were
under heavy handicap because Of
the death Of Harry Bell, whose work
was an important factor in their
winning the Deming- Cody champion
ship. Bell died at 4 o'clock on the aft
ernoon Of the game. The Alumni
players wished to cancel the game,
but as the FL Paso team was here
and as any attempt to return the
money to ticket-holders would have
resulted in a hopeless tangle, they
were prevailed upon to play the game.
At their request Rev. Norris Reasoner
explained their position in a brief
announcement just preceding the
game and offered n short but very
fervent and sympathetic prayer, while
the big crowd. assembled for an even
ing OF unconstrained enjoyment, bent
their heads in quiet sympathy.
Williams. the FL Paso center, shot
basket within a few seconds after
the toss-up, giving his team lead
it never lost. A moment later he
Gagged another Trowbridge put the
Alumni in the game at this point
with a pretty shot, but Ponsford, the
elongated FL Paso forward, nullified
it with one of his own. Major shot
one and then got free throw that
reduced the lead TO one point, but
Williams got away again and droppcd
IN, this third goal Major nicked the
basket again, but back came Pons-
ford, the basket hound" with an
other. Trowbridge and Williams
shot baskets that Offset each other.
Cooper, playing center for Deming,
cut the lead to one point for the third
time with long shot, but just before
the whistle Ponsford slammed one in
that increased II again to three.
Ponsford at this stage was playing
about so per cent of FL Paso's game
he seemed TO have Che ball over half
the time, and his passing and
dribbling made home fans hair stand
on end.
Booth, shut out in the first half by
Ruebush, opened the second with n
basket, and Ponsford got two more
in quick succession, followed by an
other by Williams. The game was
settled right there. Mclaughlin went
in at forward for Deming, Trow-
bridge going to guard, and Rosch,
guard, going out. Cooper got under
the basket and shot goal, but
Booths second goal offset it.
Major, closely chased by Urueta.
eluded him long enough to cage a
couple of baskets at =. this juncture,
both neat one-hand shots as he
steamed under the basket. The rap
idly shifting play now rushed to the
other end of the court and Booth and
Ponsford each registered. Trowbridge
took the ball down the court like Il
comet and slipped in his third and
last goal. Williams kept up FL Paso's
lead with another shot, his last of
SIX. Major pumped the ball through
the ring for the last goal of the game.
Ponsford pitched one just after the
whistle blew, which Referee Crissman
disallowed.
The FL Pasoans passing was
faster and cleaner than Deming's,
and they were faster on their feet as
rule, showing the effect of long and
constant practice under the eye Of n
good coach. Their game seems TO
center around Ponsford. who is half
their team and does by far their mos.
effective floor work, as we'll as lead
ing the scoring.
The Alumni were forced to shift
their lineup because of Bells death,
and two men played out of their
accustomed positions Cooper, whose
regular place is at forward, and
Rosch. who has played at center all
winter. Bell, moreover, was the
teams most effective free thrower,
and he was needed in this game. for
Major got only one shot out Of seven
from the foul line. The Alumni
established a record for the armory
court by going through the game
without having single foul called on
them.
Ruebush played his usual steady,
effective game. and Trowbridge's floor
work was a feature Of the home
teams play throughout.
Midgets Beat 7th Regular
The 7th cavalry Midgets took the
7th Regulars into camp by n 20-l4
count in the preliminary. II was their