Canisius College - Azuwur Yearbook (Buffalo, NY)

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'Barsitp Jgaskethall Team O. S. MURPHY, S. J ............. , ................... ..... ll Ianager JAS. E. MAI-IONEY .... ....... .... L EE Ptaln JNO. WILLO ........ . . .pbcorer Jos. BLAUM .......... ---- if ,OTWM Jog, HELMINIAK ,,,, ............. 11 orward LEG E, B.ENNIS ,,,,,,, ................. L enter J AS. E. MAI-IONEY . .. .... Center and Forward FRANK G, KEMPEL ................ Guard CHARLES MCCABE ,,,, .............. G uard a ED. J. ESCHRICH .... ---- G Hard- ART. T. BENNIS ............... . . . . . . . . . . .Guard which defeated the 'Varsity 53-31. The next two regular exhibitions were with the Ariel Club. The first one proved a walkaway match, in which the 'varsity lacked the necessary requisites for a winning team, i. e., spirit, team work and good shooting. The second one showed a slight improvement, but, nevertheless, the prospects for a. victorious season seemed to he enveloped by dark clouds. However, the old adage, Every dark cloud has a silver lining, put hope into the hearts of the management, and no stone was left unturned by them in the perfecting of the team. 32

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4' fa' H NX J Hriltp T 5 r Zgaskethall . The 'varsity basketball team this year displays a record which compares most favorably with the record of last year's championship quintette. For the quint enjoys the reputation of intercollegiate champs of VVestern New York, which they earned by defeating the Niagara University live. The University of Buffalo was also included in the strife for the coveted honor, but for obvious reasons, cancelled, at short notice, both games, which had been scheduled for some time. It has been the great desire of basketball enthusiasts for the past years to see these two quints meet, but, although dates were given and accepted, no game ever matured, for U. of B. failed to appear. The squad began training in the latter part of November, and the outlook was anything but bright, for lVerder and Ehrman, the team's sturdy guards for the past three years, had departed for other fields-the former matricu- lated at Notre Dame, while the latter became a student at Ohio State Un-i- versity. These men had been the mainstay of the team, and, consequently, it seemed discouraging to break in two new guards. Then Paul Snyder, who had been taken on the team towards the end of the season and played a star, game, was also among the missing, being entered in the University of Pennsylvania. Bennis, Helmiak, Eschrich and Mahoney went to make up the nucleus of the team. The call for candidates found Frank Kempel, who starred on the 704-705 Prep. team, again in the running, as was also Charlie McCabe, a prom- inent player from one of the city's crack teams. Joseph Blaum of last year's Reserve team swelled the list of promising men. The tirst tryout was in a game with the speedy Central Y. M. C. A. five, 31

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The next game was played with practically the University of Rochester at Dansville. The 'Varsity surprised its supporters by taking Rochester into camp, 46-35. The following night 'the ' Varsity, fatigued from the longjourney and having. accumulated several injuries from the Rochester game, lined up against the crack 13th Separate Company of Jamestown. Best not to' say too much about it. The- result was 58-18. After this contest the team 'dis- banded and the individual members repaired to their homes for theholidays. After vacation the quint resumed training and gradually rounded into form. Just a.s the team work was nearing-perfection, and the members of the team- had become acquainted with each others style of play, they received a lament- able setback. Leo- E. Bennis, the star center and 'Varsity captain for two years, fell ill with typhoid fever. Much, indeed, was feared, for the team relied greatly on his outjumping his opponent, starting the plays and figuring in their execution. The management was in a dilemma, b-ut immediately set to work to fill the vacancy. Capt. Mahoney succeeded Bennis at center, while Blaum became a regular at forward. TVith odds against them, several mem- bers being injured, the 'Varsity was whipped into shape, and took the measure. of every opposing team. The work in the last few games was simply excel- lent. Large scores were rolled up against strong teams, while small, indeed, were the points secured by the opponents. But three of the regularly scheduled games were lost. Quite a number of exhibition games were played with teams much stronger than the ' Varsity, but its work always elicited much admiration and praise. I ' , - The support given the 'Varsity by the students was loyal, indeed, and the presence of a large number of outsiders who congregated at each contest testif iies to the interest taken ina well-played basketball game. ' v The best of feeling existed 'throughout the season between the 'members, which, no doubt, accounts for the splendid results obtained. There,was no individual playing, but all five worked as a unit. 'i Rlaum at forward, though this was his first year in fast company, proved to be a. very .efficient man. He was a good shot and was always relied upon for his aggressive spirit. Helminiak, as Blaum's running mate, put up a fast game, both on the 'offence and defence. His spectacular goal throwing was the feature of many contests. What aided considerably in the victories this year was the rapid develop- ment of Kempel and McCabe as guards. As the season wore on these men became a tower of strength to their team mates, always working, never lag- ging: they most creditably filled the shoes of Ehrman and lVerder. and won a. bright place in the hearts of the admirers 'of the 'varsitv. Eschrich readily filled the position of guard or forward and could always be depended' upon for consistent work. f Art Rennis, captain of the Reserves, was added to the team and proved, in the games in which -he participated, that ho was of the right caliber. lVith a little more experience Art will prove a valuable candidate for a regular position 'on the 'varsity next year. All possible credit must be tendered Father Murphy for his indofatigable 33