The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1922-12-04
LEGION FIVE EXPECTS
SUCCESSFUL SEASON
Ex.Service Men Pin Faith on Team OF
Experienced Basketball
Players.

The opening gun OF the local basket
ball season will be fired promptly at
8 o'clock Wednesday evening when
Fred Ladds Salem Athletic club meets
Captain Staffords Legionnaires at Ii.
brary hall.
a close and interesting game Is ex-
pected, as last year the Wis tors un-
doubtedly had one of the strongest
fives In northern New York. losing
only two games throughout the entire
season. Last Friday evening Salem
opened her season by winning from
the strong Academy team by a score
of to s, the winning point having
been scored by Robertson, who drop
ped foul goal In the basket during
the last minute OF play!
Fred Ladd, who will play right guard
for the visitors, Is one OF the most re-
markable figures In the history OF New
York state basket ball Forty-seven
years old with playing record OF
over thirty years behind him. he is
still able TO put up game that is the
envy OF the majority of boys quar-
ter of century younger than he. and
those who saw him play last year,
state that like certain uncomfortable
and now prohibited beverages. Ladd
seems to improve with age. The re-
mainder,of the team is composed of:
Church, RI; Ryan, IT,; Jordan, c; and
Evans. L., all veterans OF last years
team. who may be depended upon to
give good accounts OF themselves.
The Bennington team will probably
take the floor as follows: Denley. ri. :
L. Levin, IT,. Scott c.; Stafford, rg.;
Paulson lg.. with Gene Burt and
Graves substitutes. Denley needs no
introduction TO Bennington lovers of
athletics as he has been identified
with local teams for the past fifteen
years, first as member OF the High
School football team, then as mem.
ber OF the Y. NJ. c. A. basketball team
and for the past two years as for
ward on the Legion team. He is show.
ing up well this year and can be
counted on to play fine game at his
old position
Louis Levin, who Is probably Ben.
nington's most versatile athlete. will
fill the remaining forward position. He
has been a member of practically
every football and basketball team
which have worn the local colors since
the discovery of Bennington by Cap
tain Samuel Robinson and men who
are now grandfathers still tell stories
OF the havoc wrought when Louis hit
the line. Louis skill in athletics is
only eQualed by his love Of them and
just at present he is In the throes Of
recovery from n football game of re-
cent date In Albany. but when the
whistle blows on "wednesday night he
Is pos lively guaranteed TO appear like
the perennial circus, greater, grander
and more glorious.
Scott Is a graduate of the Lowell
Textile School OF Lowell, Mass, where
he was a member of the football,
baseball and basketball teams. He
has also played on the Bennington
baseball team and on the Legion bas-
ketball team for the past two years
and has the reputation of being one
OF the fastest centers in this section
OF the country
Captain Stafford came here four
years ago from Poultney and his play
ed with such good teams as the Sara.
toga High School and the Saratoga
Y. M, G. A. He has played on the
Legion team for the past two seasons
and may be depended on to play his
usual sterling game at guard.
Paulson who Is also former mem.
ber of the High School football team
and the Y, NJ. G. A. basketball team,
has been absent from Bennington for
the greater part Of the time since the
war: He has been showing good form
so far this year and should make a
most valuable addition to the team.
The team is fortunate this year in
having men versatile enough to play
any position on the floor so that It's
scoring ability would be IN no way i'm.
paired II the forwards and guards
were used INTERCHANGEABLE and in
the event of injury to Scott, Paulson
could he shifted to center.
: The officials VIII be as follows. VIII
liam Lonerg0n, referee and Maurice
Murphy, scorer. Both OF these men
have been prominently identified with
local athletics for the past ten years
and the Legion is to be congratulated
on securing the services of such fail
and competent judges and the fact
that they will ofliciate is sure guar
antee that the games will be conduc
ted In clean and sportsmanlike man
ner.
To stimulate interest in team work