South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-03-20
An-state Legion Team.
BY JUNO KINERK.

South Bend Post No. so OF the
American Legion Is the undisputed
basketball champion Of the state.
They conclusively proved this fact
Saturday night when they walloped
the Gary crew. runners-up III the
tournament, which has been going
on here for two days, by the decisive
score OF 80 10 10. Gary played an
excellent game, no other team could
have done better. yet, their best was
about 90 per cent too short Of being
good enough TO cop. They were
easily outclassed but put up a game
fight
Frequent gubstitutions by the Gary
mentor failed to check the ferocity
and unerring deadliness of the local
attack. Fresh men came and re-
tired; their best failed and they were
out Of Il except that they ran around
and tried desperately TO check the
Wciousness Of the triumphant play
OF South Bend. without exaggera-
ton, South Bend played a "whiz" OF
a game. both as individuals and col
lectively. It Is very doubtful II any
team could have defeated them last
night.
McDermott was here and there,
so was every other man on the South
Bend squad. But to McDermott the
credit for establishing South Bends
prior claim TO the championship goes
unquestionably He was as elusive
as an eel. as deadly as a python, and
as steady as a clock. He shot like
a magnet was attracting the ball to
the net Five field goals attest mute
ly to this fact He tried approx
mately seven shots, several from
difficult angles, and missed but a
pair. In fact so much did the FIVE
judges think Of McDermott's stellar
playing during the whole touEnament
that he was unanimously agreed
upon TO receive the trophy for being
the most valuable man to his team
OF all the contestants. And 1t might
be added without disparagement
that his exhibition last night was not
fash in the pan. It was only his
natural strife.
Play Regular Ball.
But to harp too strongly on Nc
Dermott's play alone would be I'M
fair TO the other members OF the
South Bend team. Every one OF
them played like real champions.
Grant a running mate Of McDer-
motifs on the Notre Dame SQUAD.
who substituted for him in the sec
ond half played the game Of his
career. He shot like a demon and
played prominent part in the ex-
cellent team work Of the local ouin-
tet His guarding was all that one
could expect and was nigh onto per-
feet. G Kenzler proved that he
doesn't have TO be fed with the ball.
He accounted himself so creditab bly,
in the defensive play last night that
one would almost think that he was
not the offensive star that he is had
he not pockated three field goals
from hard and tight places. Rhodes
was the most important factor in the
team play Of South Bend. He passed
and dribbled and set the crowd wild
when he tossed one IN from the cen
ter OF the court Just before final
time. Kizer was a real star. His
shooting last night was nothing short
OF sensational Two IN rapid sue
cession from the center Of the court
was all that he did. Award. heady.
but not fashy back guard. In not a
grandstand player and the consist
ency and unerring judgment OF his
methods are lost TO the not careful
observer. he stops forwards like
Del Pratt stops grounders. Not one
man got past him for a short shot.
Grant In Game.
II was three minutes before a
score was made by either s6e. II
was Joe NIcCauley. Gary guard. who
broke the fee. He dropped a neat
one from near mid-court in the
mesh. Then Gary might as well have
been handcuned for all the shots
they got from then on till the end
OF the half. Veenker. added three
points from the foul line to make
their total add 10 FIVE when the half
was up. After McCauIey got his
basket the other Mick" in the game
got his dander up McDermott cleo
trifed the crowd with some OF the
best playing ever seen on this court.
He made Gary-look foolish b. secur-
ing FIVE losses from the field. Kenz-
Ter made a field goal and two free
throws TO boost the locals score 10
IA when the gun sounded the end
OF the half
Grant appeared in McDermott's
place for South Bend when the teams
again resumed play in tho second Pc
riod The whatever i was" that
inspired McDermott 10 such Hercu-
lean accomplishments must have
been connected with the right for
ward position. for Grant PLAYED
equally as well as his mate. He went
like a star. accounting for four field
losses and playing like Trojan on
the defense. Kenzler made a pair OF
neat field goals in the latter period
Flizer neglected his guarding a little
20 try a couple OF shots. and both OF
them were realized. They came d.
rect from the tip-off and went from
near the jumping ring straight
through the mesh. Rhodes aided
Grant greatly by his accurate passes.
Several new faces appeared in the
Gary lineup the last period. and they
bolstered up the steel city attack 10
a certain extent. All OF them tried
their hand az shooting and met with