Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1921-11-26
BASKETBALL SEASON
ITO OPEN IN OTTAWA
THURSDAY, DEC. z
FIRST BIG GAME OF SEASON WILL
BE PLAYED AT ARMoRY C DEC.
2, WHEN MARSElLLEs' JOLLY
BOYS APPEAR HERE--sMITH's
TALENT START DRILL MONDAY
NIGHT FOR SEASONS BATTLES.

With the annual Streator-Ottawa
gridiron battle of Thanksgiving DAY
as the climax of the 1921 football sea-
son in this city, local sport deyotees
will turn to vers Interesting card o.
basketball events throughout the win
Ter months. Together with both the
American Legion quintet and Coach
Smiths red and white squad, Ottawa
fans will be well supplied with activ-
tiles Besides. Coach Smith is al
the head of star team which Is com
posed of several members OF the high
school faculty and also several mem
bers of the alumni, and there is pos
sibility of them filling out an interest
ing schedule for the season.
Ottawa fans will be treated to their
first basketball game of the season on
next Thursday night, Dec 2, when
lIitter's American Legion OUTFIT pry
off the lid in contest with the Mar
settles Jolly BOYS at the Ottawa Arm
DRY c. 1t will he their initial bow to
Ottawa supporters of the basketball
world, and it will also be a tough Skin
mish from the time the whistle blows
sending them into the ARRAY until the
final gong is sounded.
The Legion outfik is composed prac-
tically of former high school players
including Hitter, who pilots the
bunch; Andy LEX. Harley Langan.
Glenn Mathes, Laverne BowermasteT
and several others. This band OF meL
have been working cat at every spare
moment and, according to statements
by several critics who have seen them
in action. they are in tiptop condition
for the first big battle at home
Although the Ottawa Marseilles tilt
will be the first game here. Hitter's
gang will play the curtain raiser on
next Tuesday night, Nov 30, when
they trek up to EarlviIle and settle d
little argument with the EarlVille City
club. Earlville for the past several
years has had a whirlwtmd of basket
aggregation. and this year they ars
predicted as being even stronger than
ever. The game viii be played at the
Earlville hall and fairly good sized
band of local legiornaires and other
basketball supporters are planning on
making the trip UP the way.
On Monday night Coach Smiths
high school team will put in their first
real drill of the season in preparation
for their card of events, which prom
Uses to be a very interesting one. II
will be the first time that all OF the
basket talent OF the institution as
semble at once to make preparations
although several stars of last years
team who were not on the football
eleven have been putting in time for
the past several months.
Joe Geiger. who promises to be the
looming light Of the l92l-l922 team,
has been geeting into trim lately Joe
wasn't a member of the football team,
this year and has had little advan-
tage over the rest of the basketball
ME yers, Thus far he has evidenced
some very keen ability at the game
and Coach Smith banks on him as one
man among others who will make the
going tough for opposing teams.
On the football team, Meckenstock
Carey, Dougherty. Byrne and Leland
besides several others, are applicants
for berths on the basketball five. Eacl,
and every one of these men have had
considerable experience at the game
and promise to whip themselves into
a championship basket aggregation
this year
Coach Smith has not as yet fully
completed his basketball schedule and
there are several open dates which
have to be filled. Streator and LA
Sale high schools are scheduled to
play two games with the local high
school team One game with each
viii be played here. while Smiths