Bloomington High School, The Gothic, 1931, Page 70

Description:	BASKETBALLBASKETBALL■ he 1930-31 basketball team began their pre-season training long before the close* of the football season. The early weeks of practice were devoted to the study offundamentals of basketball and to becoming physically prepared for the strenuous season ahead.As there were only two letter-men from the 1929-30 squad available this year,Coach Phillips was confronted with the problem of breaking in new material. This required a great deal of time, drill, and patience on the part of both the coach and the boys.But this work progressed swiftly, and soon the squad started rounding into shape forthe first game.Although in the previous years we have inaugurated our basketball season with ahome game against a fairly easy opponent, this year we opened the calendar with a gameagainst Martinsville, there. Though Martinsville defeated us 37 to 19, the boys showedin the contest that they had the fight, determination, and grit that go to make up awinning team. The exhibition of these good qualities gave great confidence in the futureto the supporters and backers of the team.Bloomington opened its home schedule with a game against Spencer on December 5.In that game the boys certainly showed the townspeople that they could play ball.They led Spencer throughout the entire game, and finally defeated them 3 8 to 23.This decisive victory gave everybody an optimistic attitude toward the remainder ofthe schedule.The next contest was a mid-week affair at Brazil. The game was the result of apostponement which caused a hurried and unplanned trip. The boys reached Brazil onlya few minutes before the game, and were forced to play in a rather unsteady condition.They lost the game, but returned home with the determination to fight Bedford thenext Friday.For the first time in many years, Bloomington defeated Bedford. Through the entire week preceding the game, the student body and the townspeople held pep sessionsand in other ways expressed their loyalty to the boys. When the Bedford team with itssupporters arrived in Bloomington Friday night, our team and its backers were readyfor them. In the first half and during most of the second half, Coach Phillips usedseveral substitutes, keeping his best scoring combination in reserve for the last fewminutes of play. In the last quarter, Bartlett, Young, and Spriggs were sent into thebattle. With ease they acquired a good lead and maintained it till the end of the game.The next week-end the Panthers made the annual southern trip, meeting VincennesDecember 19, and Sullivan the following evening. The excursion proved to be a disastrous affair. In each game we suffered a bad defeat.In the following three games the team again showed the basketball fans that theycould win. On the night after Christmas the squad went over to Columbus and wonan exciting ball game, 29 to 25, after trailing during most of the contest.Page Seventy
Source:	http://cdm17129.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/hs-bloom/id/4174
Collection:	Bloomington High School

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