The game with Gibbon closed the most successful basketball season that any local high school team ever had, Out of thirteen games played, ten were victorious all by decisive scores. All the games lost were by close scores the most points that any opponent could get, more than our boys, was five. The Statistics show that all of the eight home games were won and two out of five away from home. It is true that a really good, winning team must win away from home as well as at home to be considered a real team. Our fellows did not always win but comparative scores show that they always succeeded in holding the opponent’s score down better on the latter's floor than the opponents did on our floor. Therefore, It must be conceded that our boys had a real team—one which earned and won the right to be called "Champions of McLeod County." A strong team naturally, has some strong players and so it was with ours. In Hanson at center we had a man who never was outplayed nor out-jumped. Nor was he ever outscored. In the Glencoe game here Johnson tied him with three baskets but Senescall was not in the game so that Glencoe could center their defense on one man. In six games we find him scoring ten or more baskets, the University High game alone netting him sixteen, A fearless player, heart and soul in the game, a never-say-die spirit, a terror to guard—all this describes him. He has played his last game with us but the same characteristics, which he has shown here, will help him to make a success of life.
Second only to Hanson comes Normal Senescall. He was captain for the season and he and Hanson did most of the offensive work for the team. Out of a possible 453 points scored in 13 games the figures show that these two players scored 349 points between them, Hanson getting 194 points on 97 field baskets and 14 free throws. Normal is an experienced player, shifty, a good dribbler and a player who did much of his scoring from a distance. He will be here again for next year's team and should be better than ever. At the other forward position several men were tried. J. Roland played most of the gamed there and succeeded in scoring 23 field baskets. His best work was done in the Glencoe game here when, with Senescall on the sick list, the outcome looked dark indeed. The score was a tie in the Second half when James got a scoring streak, scored three baskets and won the game. With more aggressiveness, he will be a valuable player next season. W. Roland alternated at forward and guard and played a consistent game. He also is a senior and has played his last game.
In the guard positions we find that Leslie Grunnet played every minute of every game even though he was sometimes in poor condition. Before a stiff game the opponents' best forward was always picked out and handed to Leslie to take care of. And he always did it well. In only three games did his men get over three baskets, which proves our assertion. With Hanson' gone, he will probably be shifted to center and we all will look for him to strike terror in to the hearts of his victims there. Wangerin also played in eight of the games at guard. This was his first year at the game, so he developed fast. Next year he should be a much-improved player. Loniel Senescall also played to some extent and will make a regular position on the team next year.
Stewart, 34, 26—Bird Island, 11, 14
Stewart, 32, 12—Hutchinson, 13, 13
Stewart, 15, 20—Glencoe, 19 14
Stewart, 28, 52—Buffalo Lake, 18, 17
Stewart, 62—Cardinals, 39
Stewart, 57—Windom College, 25
Stewart, 61—University High School, 23
Stewart, 14—Brownton, 1
Stewart, 40—Gibbon, 45
Total points scored in 13 games, 453; by opponents, 252. Hanson averaged 8 baskets a game, making 97 in 12 games. Senescall averaged 6 a game, with a total of 62 for ten games. J. Roland averaged three a game for eight games.
Prospects for a good team next winter are bright. Two players will graduate but there will be enough left to again wage battle when the whistle blows.
From the April 12 1918 issue of the Stewart Tribune.
