The Caledonian-record. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1920-current, 1920-12-24
Company L Beats Legion
BY Score $3.50

CONTINUED from page one)
play predominated with clever pass
ing and shooting, the Co. l. quintet
burst forth a winner over the veter-
an Legion team by a score of "a to
80. 1t was the old story of age pitted
against youth, of strength versus
agility, and as usual the younger
element came out on top.
Yet no one can dispute the fact
that the American Legion five staged
magnificent come back. Give the
same Legion men, who played last
night few weeks of conditioning,
and an opportunity to develop great
er team work, and Newport will have
basket ball team that will be able
to topple opposing basketeers, with
the same facility that the former
doughboys used to topple the Hun.
With all credit to those who deserve
it, one William Mossa, who cavorted
at left forward vester night for the
Legion, is the peer of the best Of
fensive basket ball men in the Green
Mountain State. Bring on your col
lege stars, your scintillating wonders
fromthe big prep schools--look
them over, and they will shrink in
glory when compared to this diminu-
tive, bow-le&ged basketeer from tie
Border City.
Bill Mossa was not in the pink of
condition last night He told the
Caledonian-Record scribe, before the
game that he had played but one
game this season. His thick, muscu-
lar arms were somewhat soft and fab
by. But lack Of condition did not de-
ted the abbreviated athlete from play
ing a whirl wind contest. Bill was
there, when the big sphere was
there. At one instant he was scoop
ing up the ball in one corner Of
School Hall, and the next instant he
had scampered to another corner
the ball seemed part of him. When
q short chuck into the mcshes was
needed, Bill chucked it in; when a
long shot was necessary, Bill arched
it into the basket
Basil Hadlock Wasthe other satellite
for the American Legion. The big
guard was playing his first contest
last night after recuperating from a
severe attack of blood poisoning
result of the late tussle with the
Hun. Hadlock deserved to be called
the best guard in Newport today. He
was assigned post under the bas-
ket, and during the second period,
the formed Montpelier star, dropped
in five pretty shots.
Both teams played forward game
last night. The Legion men espec-
ally, decided to throw caution to the
winds, and Henry Mossa, brother of
the inimitable Bill, and Hadlock both
rushed the ball as much as their own
offensive wing men did. Thus the
Co. L youngsters were enabled 20
amass basket after basket. The big
leather ball was fed to Rudolph
BigeloW necessarily via the Sam Da-
vis--Slim Hill route, and BigeloW
tossed it into the basket for Is beau
tiful shots, netting his team a total
Of points-a fine evenings work for
one man. Bigelow was in great form,
and could not seem to miss the bas-
ket, practically all of his hcaves,
cleaving the meshes, without touch
ing the back board,
Donald Akin of Boston University
more than upheld his end Of the
game The ball was passed to him
but four times in the first period,
and each time he scored a basket.
There is no doubt but that, if the
Co. L guards had been instructed to-
pass the sphere to Akin oftener, he
would have greatly augmented his
splendid total of baskets, or II
points.
1t is doubtful if a brighter galaxy
of basket ball stars were ever gath
cred under the roof of Old School
Hall As a dIibbler, the veteran BIZ
Mossa is the fastest man seen on the
local court this season, and for sew
eral season past. He eXemplitied a
type Of game that should be revived
the dribbling style of play. The ten
dency among the younger crop Of
basketeers in this city today is to
take chance at long shot. Until
i'll staged his comeback last evening,
there has been a lamentable rarity Of
the speedy, clever, rushing and dHb-
bling of the ball, that characterizes
Mossas work on the court.
Add to the name of Mossa, such
players as Rudolph Bigelow, Sam Da-
Wis, the fast Middlebury College pi-
votal man, Shy Kennison, past mas
ter of the back-handed pass, Had
lock, bear at guarding, Akin, star
forward, and Slim Hill, all around
player, and you have an aggregation
of which the Border city may well be
proud.
In the second period Captain
Jimmy Jones removed himself from
the lineup and sent in Ed Wells, for
the only substitution. Saunders,
new man played center for the Lee
gion and showed up well.
The score:
co. l. LEGION
BigeloW, If Mossa, If
Akin, If Kennison, IF
Davis, Saunders,
Jones, Wells. IL II. MoSsa, lg