Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1919-01-16
WIN OPENER
Open Season With Bril-
liant Victory Over Normal.

Before one of the largest opening
game crowd recorded Alma trounced
Mt. Pleasant Friday evening TO the
tune OF 29-2O. II was such "A game that
the thought Of it makes one bubble
over with JOY. From the very first
until within several minutes OF the
end it was so close that ones en-
thusasm was kept at white heat
Upon the middle Of the last half the
crowd was brought 10 its feet when
Mt Pleasant closed up and were only
one point behind. By a final burst
of speed. that took Mt. Pleasant off
its feet, the Alma team scored five
baskets in the last six minutes of
play and tucked the game away.
A great deal Of credit must be
given our team for not going 10
pieces. IL was their first game and
four are new men. Then they were
playing a team OF veterans who had
the advantage Of having played sevs-
raj games. One Of the things that
showed up most was their fight.
Aside from q temporary defeat the
end Of the fihsi half. which let Mt.
Pleasant close in the middle Of the
second half, they fought only as
Alma men. You have the old fight
men keep il up but don't ever let up,
for when we hit the VI. |. A. A.
schedule lapse of just minute
may lose a game.
In conclusion with this We migst
add that though team work was crude
at times still they showed excellent
work for the first game. At times
the guards let men get behind them
for clean shots at the basket. While
the oTenses were At times weak and
slow allowing Mt Pleasant to cover
up and then stop all chances for
/ baskets. on the other hand the thing
that gives great promise for the
team is the fact that there were five
men on the floor AT all tins. There
was no one doing sensational ma
neuvering 10 get in a position to
make a basket. Indeed it seemed no
one cared who made them but all
worked together for the good of the
team and that is a feat that has not
been exhibited by an Alma team for
years.
The work Of Anderson, our only
veteran. must receive the highest
praise. lie not only outplayed and
ought fought his own man but kept
encouraging the other men. Fay
COPIED the tip-off with regularity
made his share Of baskets as well.
Boyne, new man on the arena,
played scrappy game 10 make clean
getaways which inevitably ended in
scores
| Crittenden. one of the Frosh hope
fuls from Howell. displayed won
derful amount Of the alma fight
for one so inexperienced. He was in
most every play and was in hard.
The Detroit lay, Tebo, played a
sterling game at guard. He was
stationed under the basket 70 keep
alien hands off and did his work well.
Forrest Smith started the game at
forward for Alma and played his
usual scrappy. rushing, game, as well
as starting with q couple clever
basket shots. He was succeeded by
Glen Richards. Of Detroit North
western, who went at il with a will
and rolled 'em in frequently. Coach
Helmer is up against it this year
when Il comes to slowing up his
teams pace by changing nsen-for
every man on the squad seems TO be
Of approximately the same caliber,
and further, each one thinks of the
teamwork primarily.
The coach is feeling good and he
isn't alone by any means.
Everyone in college wants to begin
TO plan on going to LIT. Pleasant the
last of February. II will be fight
they told US so--and We need our
cohorts all on the job and well or
ganized.
Lineup Friday night:
Alma Nj Pleasant
Boyne r F. Wilson Captain
Smith, Richards l.. f. Niddleworth
Anderson G. Green, Abbott
Telo T. c. Lecronier
Crittenden l. G.. Shelton
Smoke the best. Wanigas.-S4-tf