- Saturday, March 6 1920 -
Centre College - 20 (Head Coach: Ray Higgins)
Player | Pts |
---|---|
Allen Davis | 2 |
Bo McMillin (*) | 6 |
James 'Red' Roberts | 2 |
Madison Bell (*) | 6 |
Norris Armstrong | 0 |
William Walden | 4 |
Totals | 20 |
Kentucky - 18 (Head Coach: George C. Buchheit) - [Final Rank ]
Player | Pts |
---|---|
Bob Lavin | 5 |
Basil Hayden | 11 |
James Wilhelm | 0 |
Sam Ridgway | 2 |
Lawrence Burnham | 0 |
Totals | 18 |
Prior Game | | | Next Game |
Tennessee 34 - 26 | | | Kentucky Wesleyan 38 - 13 |
CENTRE QUINTET CAPTURES BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP OF STATE
WILDCATS BEATEN IN OVERTIME PLAY
When an Eastern coach declared that there was no sport as exciting to the spectators as basketball, he had such a contest as was played on the University of Kentucky floor last night in mind.
Five minutes of extra play spelled defeat for the Wildcats and a state championship for Centre. The score stood Centre 14, Kentucky 14 at the end of the second half. "Bo" McMillan tossed two goals in the first 90 seconds of the extra period and Walden added another fifteen seconds later bringing the Centre total to 20 with the Wildcats seemingly "winded". Hayden tossed two goals, and the Kentucky quintet was all over the floor living up to its Wildcat cognomen. But the rally came too late. The final whistle blew with the score at 20-18.
The Wildcats failed to take advantage of opportunities to pile up a big score on the Colonels in the first half, but managed to lead the McMillanites, 9 to 8 at the close of the opening period.
Personal Fouls Numerous
During the second half the game waxed furious in the last few minutes of play personal fouls were numerous, football tactics were brought into play and angry words passed.
Early in the game it was proved that it is not such a difficult task to upset two football starts at once. Bobby Lavin, diminutive Kentucky forward, charging down the floor dropped "Red" and "Bo" -- Roberts and McMillan to Walter Camp.
McMillan was always on the spot when a good man was needed and his two goals in the extra period gave Centre the game, but he was outshone as a star by Hayden, Wildcat forward. The latter was the real bulwark of the Kentucky defense and its great factor on offense.
Roberts Heavily Weights
Roberts, Centre center, is not as active as he used to be. He appears to have taken on weight since the football season.
The wrestlers scheduled to appear between halves did not perform.
Game Writeup - Kentucky Advocate (March 8, 1920)
CHAMPIONSHIP
Of State Won for Another Year by Centre Basketball Five - Defeat State 20-18
Once again that "Old Fight" that has characterized Centre's athletic season of the past was brought into play Saturday night at a most opportune time. With twelve to five standing against them and with only eight minutes left to play the Gold and White quintette buckled down to some spectacular work and scored 4 field goals and one foul in fast order, making the score 14-12 in their favor, in the closing minute of play. Referee Hinton, who had rather overlooked fouls earlier in the contest called ???? on Centre. State made two of these good, leaving the score tied. An additional five minutes was necessary to decide the struggle. Hardley had the whistle sounded to resume play when Bo McMillan made a lunge in the air and dropped in a perfect field goal. Thirty seconds later he repeated the performance and Bell followed closely on his heels with another perfect shot. With a six point lead the Colonels became careless and permitted the Wildcats to come within two points of tying the score a second time.
Fans who had expected to witness a tame affair were sent home with their expectations shattered, for it was the roughest kind of a knock-down and tumble affair. The crowd that taxed the gym to its limit went wild when either McMillan or Roberts would hit the floor or would fail to make a goal on a shot. They seemed to have it in for these two men, for horses were never given a harder ride than these two stars during the performance. The first half ended with the score standing 8 to 5 in favor of the Blue and White. It had been so long since the Kentucky adherents had enjoyed the novel experience of being out in front that they were literally thrown into fits of galaxy. State put up a greatly improved style of play over their previous performance here. The small floor was another point in their favor for the Colonels found it hard to get loose.
Everyone of Centre's players, Davis, Bell, Roberts, Armstrong, McMillan and Walden, acquitted themselves in fine fashion This makes the third straight year that Centre has coveted the State basketball championship and from material on hand we confidently believe they are due for at least three more years of success.
Game Writeup - [by John R. Marsh] Lexington Leader
CENTRE DEFEATS WILDCATS 20-18 IN LAST BASKET GAME OF SEASON
By the heart-breaking margin of two points, University of Kentucky's fighting Wildcats lost the final game of its basket ball season to Centre College Saturday night. It was a game in which the Lexington team outplayed the more renowned quintet for all but the last few minutes of the game and lost because its lighter team was worn out by the desperate battle with heavier opponents. The game took place at the university.
The score was 20 to 18. At the end of the first half, Kentucky led 8 to 5. With less than five minutes to play, Kentucky had a lead of 12 to 5, a lead won by superior playing, better guarding, better team work, more accurate goal shooting.
With one of the whirlwind finishes which Centre's teams make when "Bo" McMillin calls them into prayer meeting, the Colonels ran the score up to 14 to 12. Just before the whistle blew, Lavin looped two foul shots into the basket and tied the score. Referee Hinton announced a tie and the game was extended for five minutes. Almost as soon as the ball was put into play, McMillin slipped away and made two goals and Bell got the third which game Centre its 20 points.
Kentucky was behind by six points. Its men were winded and weak. Centre began toying with the ball, but Haydon, of Kentucky, shot the basket and range the bell twice, bringing the Lexington team within two points of a tie. The timekeeper's whistle cut off Kentucky's rally and the final score was 20 to 18.
It was one of the most exciting, most bitterly fought battles played on a basket ball floor in this city in years.
"Bobby" Lvain and "Dutch Burnham, who are not yet out of kindergarten, if size counts for anything, showed themselves to be post-graduates in the net game by the way they handled men of such renowned strength and weight as "Red" Roberts and "Bo" McMillin.
"Matty" Bell, who has been Centre's chief reliance in pointmaking thruout the season, was so excellently guarded by Kentucky's Wilhelm that he was able to make but three goals, one just before the end of the second period and the other two in the added five minutes. Haydon led in points scored, and Ridgway was with the others into every play on the floor. Kentucky's team play was remarkable. Two of the regular squad, Blakey and Evertt, were unable to play, but the work of the five men who represented U.K. could not have been improved upon.
The smallness of the score indicates the bitterness of the fight between the two teams, and almost every successful shot was sensational, so close was the guarding.