The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1939-03-09
Sank Centre 80; Melrose FL

oaoA SCAAtTc C~S VAcATOSc "a
Lacking the dramatic quality
found in last years finalist round
when a Sank Centre-Melrose battle
turned the tourney into a shambles,
Sank Centre before a crowd that
packed Swanvilles gym Thursday
evening, scored its most phenomen-
al defensive success, defeated dan
gerous Melrose team 80 to q, and
assured its passage to the district
tournament. A passage that before
that game hung seemingly by
thread.
It was easily Sank Centres best
game of the year. Melrose was
completely dominated, when, as
runnersup last year, they were
dropped from the district race in
this sub-district first round pairing.
Sank Centres victory came as
the result of brilliantly planned
campaign that stopped Melrose
potential scorers, held them to three
points in the entire last half, and
launched Sank Centre to a wide
open scoring avenue. 1t was not
victory of individual men but
that Of team smoothly perfected
to handle its assignments as a
team. But individuals stood out
in defensive maneuvers.
Even the offensive that Toftness
chose for his boys had defensive
quality. Slow, deliberate passing
that broke only when shots were
available, stumbled the Melrose de-
Tense. It was the type of offensive
that doesn't breed counter attacks.
It leaves little opening for quick
interruptions and fast breaks by
the opposing team.
Definitely assured that Melrose
had a dangerous height advantage
in some positions who were able
scorers, Sank Centre went into
the ball game with defensive upper
most in their minds. And each man
played a defensive game that top
ped any other performance of the
season.
Furnishing work on rebounds I'M
der both baskets was telling force
in this Sank Centre victory. Kring-
en- stood out for work under the
defensive basket. But Conkey, |
Ethun, Pangburn and Larson were |
most effective covering extensively.
Just once, during the second
quarter, did Sank Centre release
it's hold on this cover work, and
Melrose drove into a dangerous
position. With Koechler, Kleber
and Godfrey leading a scoring
frame, Melrose romped out in their
only break during the game to
close wide lead to only five points
at halftime, % to IS. That 13-point
quarter for Melrose seemed to put
back into the money, after
the locals had ridden to IA to 5
lead at the first quarters end. It
was a brilliant start at a come
back that seemed dangerous. But
It never spanked again.
With instructions to feed Pang-
burn, in the hole position, the team
whipped its passes to score Pang
time and again. He netted 16
points during the night. Directing
this fine bit of attack were guards
Kringen and Conkey. Pulling the
a zone type employed by
Melrose, wide were forwards Ethun
and Larson who sucked men out
to give Pangburn his scoring |
chances.
That's as much as there was to
the ball game. Except that Sank
Centre found in the second quarter
that one defensive slip and Melrose
was dangerously scoring POSSIBLE
ity. There was no time for let
down at any point. Melrose didn't
press the boys; Sank Centre main
tanned an average of 10 points over
their rivals throughout; but Mel
rose could have pressed with even
a bit of relaxed effort in defensive
work.
It was 80 minutes Of ball for Sank |
with the best defensive they
have shown. In the first quarter
Ethun and Conkey started scoring.
Gallagher, Melrose forward, scored.
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