The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1928-03-15
MANDAN ONLY
FIVE TO LOSE
STAR PLAYER
Odds ON Eventual TitlehOlder
Swing Towards Fargo and
Grand Forks
BATTLE FLOOR is READY
Mandan, Valley City and Will
liston Press Midgets and
Forkers as FavOrites

While Mandan's light OF victory
burns low with the news that Blair
Seitz is lost to tournament play be-
cause of q sprained ankle, seven
other district champions Of the
North Dakota interscholastic basket
ball league are packing their toys
today preparatory to the jaunt to
Mandan where they will engage in
the climactic games Of the season
for the championship Of the state
in the training school gym Friday
and Saturday.
It is evident that every quint ex-
cept the Braves will be recruited to
full strength. No bear stories, sob
stories or other goat-getting tales
have emanated from any Of the
seven camps this week and it is safe
to Judge that the power Of every
team will be at peak.
w. F. McClelland, superintendent
of the tournament, has been allowing
q fresh coat Of varnish TO harder on
the battle floor the past few days
and pronounces the hardwood in the
best condition that it has been tor
any tournament. The bleachers have
also been FURNISHED with fresh paint
and the tourney site will present Q
spick-and-span appearance.
Fargo Looms
During the past week, odds which
had favored Grand Forks to cop the
highest honors have been shifting
slowly to Fargo. Fans are begin.
ming to realize that the willy Kim.
ball is about to spring another OF
his great machines on the state.
Last year he started with grour
of sophomores who made com.
mendable record before the close Of
the state meet. Charlie and all Far.
20 were satisfied with the results
"Just wait until next year," was the
motto.
Came this year and Fargo ha:
not seemed impressive until the
last three weeks. In this period ],
trounced st. Cloud, Willmar ans
Moorhead, district champions Of Min
nesota. In beating the Spuds the!
reversed an early season game. Thel
they proceeded to sail through thu
first district in handy style.
Promise Comes True
Now the dopesters say that Kim
ball has made his last years prom,
Use true and that Fargo will be th'
most dangerous contender of all tn
entries. Followers of the stat
meets know that the Midgets are a
the height Of their playing ab:'it.
at this time.
Among many Of the fans Crane
Forks still rules a topheavy favor
tie. Grand Forks appears impress
sive from the fact that they nov
hold the gonfalon and have devel
oped q powerful .Iuint this year. l
| is. questionable whether they are &.
strong as last years wonder five.
Running Fargo and Grand Fol !.
close races for favoritism are Man
dan, Valley City and Williston.
Seitz had not been injured, Manda'
would. have ranked with Fargo ant
the Forkers.
Hi-Liners May Surprise
Valley City's strength is problem
atical. Nobody knows just how IA
Claude Miller has brought hi
charges. The victory over James
town in the district games at Vale.
City showed that the Hi-liners ha,
steadily improved over previous
games, for jamestown produced on
Of its best quints in years.
Williston is more or less of darl
horse. It is known that Coach Coul
ter has built his team about severa
stars but it takes five stars to viii
q championship and the Willies will
face several all-star combinations j
they get past the first round.
Rolla, Bowbells and Hettinge
must be content with cursory ex
animation. This trio is regarded al
weak but may produce q champion
Rolla had some stiff competition il
it's district and is the most promis
| inn NJ the three