Newspapers / Johnson C. Smith University … / March 1, 1929, edition 1 / Page 2
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Page Two THE UNIVERSITY STUDENT March, 1929 SPORTS ■ ■■ s '*y SMITH WINS STATE BASKET BALL CHAMPIONSHIP SPORTS THE 1928-29 BASKET BALL TEAM ‘ C. Randolph Taylor With the close of the victorious foot ball season of 1928, the Smith Bulls turned their attention to a new sport, that of basket ball. Basket ball here at the Uni versity was made possible by the generous gift of a new gymnasium by Mrs. Johnson C. Smith Ih vvere comparatively few men here who had any previous college experienc* ,ih basket ball. This made the problem of the coach all the more difficult. There was inaugurated a school for basket ball where men were taught the fundamentals of the game. With this as a background, together with the indomitable Smith spirit, the Bulls engaged in one of the hardest sched ules ever undertaken by a first year team. After a period of conditioning and ex perimentation the Bulls were ready for their first game. Lutheran College were the first to be trampled by the Bulls. The Bulls sent them back to the tune of 38- 12. Avant and La Saine were the only men who showed that they were of col lege varsity calibre. Howard University was the next to vis it us. After a hard fought game the Bulls were defeated by the surprisingly small score of 23-18. Our ancient rivals, Livingstone College, were the next on the list. The Bulls dis played a dazzling attack and an impreg nable defense and sent the Livingstonians back to their lair with a stinging defeat. Score 33-5. Jones, who^had been playing in the center position, came along with a rush that made it evident that he would be a vital factor in the team’s success in the games to come. In the next game, Smith elected to do the “David and Goliath” act. Virginia Seminary, C. I. A. A. and National Colle giate Champions, the Goliath of college basket ball, were the next visitors. How ever, Smith did not do the traditional. Henderson, Thomas, Fowler and Co., sub merged the Bulls by the score of 47-17. Not content with taking on Virginia Sem inary, Smith tackled another Tartar in Clark University, S. I. A. A. Champions. Johnson and Dalton could not be stopped, . so Smith was defeated, score 54-34. Smith then elected to do the iron-man stunt by playing two games in one night. The Junior Varsity tackled the fast five from Johnson County Training School and defeated them, score 36-28, in the first game of the evening. A determined and fighting team tackled the Shaw “Bears,” North Carolina Champions, in the second game of the evening. The Bulls literally swept the Bears off their feet and admin istered to them a severe trouncing, score 33-12. This score gave the Bulls a com manding position for the State title. Tucker, a new-comer in the varsity line'- up, gave a good account of himself. Jones, Christian and Avant showed up well for Smith. Morehouse College was the next to vis it us. The big maroon tide from Georgia defeated the Bulls in a close game, score 24-13. The Bulls, now well seasoned in the game, started out on the first Northern invasion of any Smith basket ball team. The first to be played was Shaw, at Ra leigh. The Bears, still remembering the defeat they suffered at the hands of Smith at Charlotte, set about to even the count, and defeated Smith, score 38-29. The Bulls journey to Bricks College to meet and defeat the fast Bricks five to the score of 21-13. This clinched the cham pionship of North Carolina for the Smith Bulls. The way of the champion is hard, so on playing the Johnson County Training School a return game at Smithfield, the Bulls were upset in an overtime period by a score of 32-30. Arriving at Washington for the game with Howard the Bulls were determined to kill the Bisons in their own backyard. After forty minutes of the most exciting basket ball the Howard Bisons stopped the Smith Bulls, score 41-40. Thfs game was the best that the Smith team had played thus far in the season. Simpson, Coats and Woods could do nothing with the Bulls. It was left to a substitute, Wil liams, to keep the Howard forces in the front. Ellis, Avant and Christian were the best for .Smith. Harrying forth to the lair of the Lin coln Lion was next on the program. The Lion chewed the Bull to pieces, defeating Smith to the score of 32-23. Bordentown Institute was met in Tren ton, ■ N. J. Stretch Russ was the whole works for Bordentown and Smith dropped another by the close margin of one point, score 41-40. Dropping back to Philadelphia to meet the Wissahickon Boys’ Club in the fa mous “Box,” Smith lost a heart-breaker by the close score of 24-22. Virginia Seminary was met at Lynch burg, Va., and Smith was defeated, score 44-25. The Danville Flashes, a professional team at Danville, Va., were defeated in the last game of the ripscore of 49-7. The Bulls then started on their way home. If we measure the success of the sea son in the matter of games won and lost the season was a failure, but the Bulls playing their first season of basket ball, gave a good .account of themselves, meet ing the best teams in the country. I would like to pay personal tribute to Captain Avant. This lad was the bulwark of the team on the offensive, amassing a total of 151 points in sixteen games. He was a true captain, leading his team and fighting every minute that he played. Jones, Christian and Ellis were also out standing men on the team. Jones rose from an obscure substitute to be the most dependable center on the squad. Christian, a floor man of the first order, bids fair to be a great basket ball player before his college career ends. Ellis, a dependable guard, the type that is always there when needed most, played consistent ball throughout the entire season. Individual Scoring Record. 1. Avant, 151 points 2. Christian, 84 3. Jones, 78 4. Ellis, 28 5. Lindsay, 16 6. Goodwin, 12 7. Tucker, 11 8. Pride, 11 9. Houston, 10 10. Clement, 4 11. Horne, 3 Coach Randy Taylor’s All-Opponent’s Team Forward—Russ—Bordentown Forward—Thomas—Virginia Seminary. Center—Henderson—Seminary Guard—De Costa—Lincoln Guard—Crawford—-Morehouse EDUCATION AND LIFE INSURANCE Are both essential in Building a Race Insure With NORTH CAROLINA MU TUAL INSURANCE CO. C. C. SPAULDING, Pres. Durham, N. C. YES, WE DO NOT TRAIN By J. H. In reference to an article appearing in the February issue of The University Student, I wish to state that in addition to being in accord with the thought expressed therein, I wish to add further that lack of training is due at least partly to a wrong conception of college athletics. The players who constantly break train ing rules either don’t care about their school or they are weak and without any sense of responsibility. The exhibitions of our players reflect either favorably or unfavorably upon our entire student body. No one expects our teams to be perfect but we do require honest efforts on the part of our athletes. If that effort is giv en the student body will rally to the sup port of the teams instead of constantly “razzing” and criticising them. The Students as a whole are partly re sponsible because none of us ever admon ishes a player when we see him breaking training rules. Most students fail to re. alize how much the success or failure of any team representing the University af fects them. We, the students of Johnson C. Smith University, have an important part to play in the making of our teams. Let us do that part, then we are free to blame some one else for his shortcomings. By success I do not mean that the team must win always; that would be expecting too much. However, if the players keep fit and play the game hard and clean they will have the absolute commendation of the student body; and the only way to do that is to keep training. A system of athletics wherein the play ers who flagrantly break training rules are accorded the same opportunity of playing as those who keep training is demoralizing to any team. Players should train for their own benefit if no other. In so doing the team at large is benefited. The coach should keep those players in the game who co-eperate with the team by keeping in condition. A team of poor ly conditioned men, even though they have wonderful abilities, will be beaten as often, if not more often, than a team of well conditioned men who take the winning of games as a serious business. Keeping fit requires sacrifice; and since no one is compelled to participate in ath letics, when in active competition, why not do the fair thing both to the team and to yourself. For those men who are sincere in keeping training I have the greatest respect; for the others I have only contempt, and a hearty contempt at that. I have much more admiration for the athlete who is enough of a man to quit when he finds that for any reason he cannot do justice to himself and the team than I do for one who sticks on the squad for the purpose of making trips. The lat ter individual is always a liability, never an asset. No man is going to play the same class of game every time he goes into action; if, however, he is in condiiton he soon, earns a reputation for consistency. Our showing in competition during the past year is evidence enough to show that if a little more earnest, concentrated ef fort on the part of our athletes were put forth, we would now occupy the place in the athletic world which rightfully be longs to us. We have men here who are just as good as those anywhere else, but until we, the athletes, realize the importance and value of training, both to ourselves and to our school, we will continue to go around losing games and crying “tough breaks.” A good team makes its breaks; our base ball team is an example. Let’s get to gether; its our problem; let’s settle it like men. I have merely expressed my own opinion about the matter. My only rea son for saying anything at all is because I desire very muen for our teams to at tain a place in the athletic world in keep ing with our advancement in other fields. JOHNSON C. SMITH WINS BASKET BALL CHAM- From a hard season of playing With some of the best floor teams of the coun try, the Johnson C. Smith Bulls have emerged, bearing with them the State Basket Ball Championship for the season 1928-1929. Smith’s debut into basket ball was marked by unusual success and it is believed that the Bulls will add new trophies to their collection. The following letter from the North Carolina Athletic Union was received by Coach Taylor. “March 6, 1929. Mr. C. R. Taylor, J. C. Smith University, Charlotte, N. C. Dear Sir:— Please be informed that there is no tie in the Intercollegiate group of the North Carolina Athletic Union for the Basket Ball Championship for the season of 1928- 1929. Johnson C. Smith will be awarded the championship as the standing is at this writing according to the rules of Playing Regulations governing this body, due to the fact that she has played the required number of games and her near est competitor, Shaw University, has not played the required number of games to be eligible for championghip rating. If Shaw University playes and wins from another school of this group who is in good standing, that she has not already played, then there will be a tie. Accord ing to the constitution a team to be eligi ble for Championship in Basket Ball must play at least three games with as many different schools of this group. Trusting that I have answered your inquiries, I beg to remain. Respectfully yours, WM. H. ROBINSON, Sec.-Treas., N. C. A. U.” SMITH OFF TO ANOTHER With Coach I. A. Scales back and most of the regulars out for the drills the out look is very promising for another cup race. In athletics the University has al ready tucked away two championships and the Bulls are rearing to go for the third trophy which they already hold from last year. The team suffers from the loss of the veteran catcher MbKeithen, but with Massey and Martin of the squad from last year. Coach Scales feels confident that the is further strengthened by the return of Mose Ellis, and by a new comer, Eddie Tucker. Last year the Smith Bulls conquered the Bears, from Livingstone, both in the Easter Monday fracas and also in the return game at home, and the Bears seem to be bent on revenge, but Coach Scales is confident that they will have to wait an other season to have their desires grat ified. Yokeley was heard to remark that with McKeithen and Tucker off, the task would be quite easy, but when the battle has cleared away, he may find that these two men were only a small part of the mighty machine that Scales has^ built up.
Johnson C. Smith University Student Newspaper
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March 1, 1929, edition 1
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