Montrose High School - Blue Jay Yearbook (Montrose, MO)

Page 38 text:

calm and deliberate basketball: each team wanted to win. But when time had run out, it was the Blue Jays who were on top of a 49-46 score. Montrose had taken 3rd place and by doing so the first ten boys all received attractive individual trophy awards. A - After the Christmas holidays the Blue Jays got back to playing basketball once more, They' met Lowry City in a conference assignment on their home court January ll. During the first quarter the game was close with Lowry holding a 2 point margin at the end of that period. But the home town boys caught fire and from that time on the Bulldogs of Lowry City were left in a trail of dust as Montrose continued their winning ways and pulled away with a record- breaking score of 76-50. On January 21 Montrose received another victory from Calhoun. The Blue Jays played a good game. At the end of the first quarter they led Calhoun by a score of 17 to 12. At the half the score was almost tied. Itwas 28 to Z7 in favor of Montrose. At the end of the third quarter the score was 43 to 34 in favor of Montrose. At the end of the game the Blue Jays were still ahead with a score of 52 to 48. After winningla victory over Calhoun, Montrose went to Leeton to play a return game. The Blue Jays didn't play as they did against Calhoun. But they kept working until the end of the game and they came up only a few points short. Leeton played good ball and came out on top with a score of 41 to 35. This was not a conference game so the Blue Jays didn't feel too bad about losing it. On January Z8 the Blue Jays surprised everyone. Every one was confident of their playing ability, but were not sure, just when they would get the '.'sparks to flying. The Deepwater basket ball team was playing their homecoming game and tried valiantly to win. The Blue Jays were in fine playing fettle and came off the floor with a 66 to 63 victory. This was a game to remember! I I I On January 31 the Blue Jays entered the Clinton Invitational Tournament. The first game was with the Appleton City Bulldogs. After the game got underway, the Blue Jays couldn't stop the Bulldogs from scoring. The score at the half was 21 to 23 in favor of Appleton City. When V the final buzzer sounded Montrose was trailing by a score of 41' to 59. On Tuesday, February 1, Montrose played their second game of the tournament with Calhoun. This was an exciting game. Montrose started hitting in the last quarter and came out on top with a score of.56 to 49. . On Thursday night the Blue Jays played Kingsville for consolation. At the end of the first qua:-ter'Montrose was ahead 2 points. At the half Kingsville had a 4 point lead. At the end of the third quarter Kingsville was still ahead by Z points. But, at the end of the game Montrose was ahead by 12 points, cinching for Montrose the consolation trophy. The basketball boys would like to extend their appreciation to the student body, the faculty, and the whole community for helping them make this a successful season. 32

Page 37 text:

Montrose .Basketball Season 'A 1954-1955 The Montrose Blue Jays started the basketball season on somewhat of a sad note. On October 29, they dropped their first game to Deepwater by a score of 69-50, n November 2 still proved that the Blue .Tays would haveffbetter days as they lost a close hard-fought contest to a fine team from Lowry City by a score of 48-42. Finally on November 9, thef'good days did arrive as the boys from Montrose downed a great team from Leeton in 3 thrilling see-saw battle which found Montrose on the heavy side of a 60-61 score and also the first taste of victory for the Blue Jays. On November 12, the Montrose five met the Calhoun Eagles in a conference game at Mon- trose. The Blue Jays had full control of the game until the final quarter when Calhoun caught fire and made it a close game, but a couple of quick baskets in the final minute gave the Blue .Tays a 56-49 victory. The Conference Tournament began November 18, taking place in the Clinton High School Gymnasium. It looked as though the Blue .Tay's chances weren't so promising with a 2-2 record. Nevertheless, they went into the tournament with high spirits. In the first round they found themselves matched with Lowry City who had beaten them previously in an early season con- ference tilt.i But when Montrose took the floor, they showed confidence that they could win over the Lowry five. The going was tough and the game was close, but when the final buzzer sounded, the Blue-Jays were on top of a 49-42 score. By winning over Lowry City, Montrose was slated to meet the hustling quintet from Chil- howee who had been undefeated thus far, But, thef Boys from Montrose weren't to be denied, They were confident, they were hopeful--they fought hard from the start of the game to the finish, and yet were behind all the way. After overcoming a 9-point deficit at the quarter and battling through a feverish final period, they had deadlocked the score at 40-42 overtime victory. 'The Blue Jays were headed for the finals. I On the GVCUUIE Of November 20, the Blue and White from M,H.S. met Deepwater in the contest for lst place. The Blue Jays were confident and they played hard, but it just wasn't enough as they went down to defeat at the hands of a superb and well-balanced Deepwater team by a score of 53-48. Deepwater was not to be trifled withg they were truly the champions. At any rate everyone from Montrose was happy to see the Blue Jays take 2nd place honors. After taking second place in the tournament, Montrose again got back to conference play when they traveled to Chilhowee on November 23, for a game which proved to be another thriller. The Blue Jays battled hard, fought for every goal. .The game was nip and tuckf' all the way, the score never varying over 3 points. Coincidentally when the last whistle blew, the game was again tied by the same score 40-40 as was the previous game with Chilhowee. However, Montrose wasn't so fortunate this time as they dropped the game by a 47-43 margin in the overtime. On December 3 the Blue Jays were again matched with the powerful team from Chilhowee, the game taking place on the home court.. And like previous games between the two clubs, the contest was full of suspense down to the final whistle. Both teams played hard, driving basket- ball. Montrose was in the lead most of the game, but the score never mounted. It was only in the last seconds of play that the Blue Jays pulled it out of the fire with a field goal winning by a close one-point margin 47-48. But it was a victory for Montrose and everyone was happy. On December 6, Montrose entered the Archie Tournament and met Urich in the first round game ., The Blue Jays got off to a fast start and kept the lead throughout the game. At the 4th quarter the score was doubled when the B team went in the gamer The second string boys played nice ball as they walked off the floor with a 60-41 Montrose victory. In the semifinal game the Blue Jays were matched with a fine aggregation from Peculiar. The game started off at a fast pace with Peculiar taking an early lead. The home boys seemed too anxious and never could find the range of the basket. The fast-breaking Peculiar five were in the drivers seat all the way and emerged with a 50-42 victory. ' The next night, the Blue Jays went into the finals playing Garden City for 3rd place. Montrose was not so overconfident as they had a tough team to beat and they knew it. The game was close and full of excitement as the half ended with Garden City leading by two points 26-24. The second half was equally as thrilling as the score stayed very close..Each team played 3

Page 39 text:

5 gf