KENNEY WINS FIRST COUNTY TITLE
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Defeat Farmer City in Championship Game, 16-8
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Centerpiece Photo of the team, Caption:
Front Row -- L. Bartels, C. Roby, F. Abbott, H. Henderson, B. Todd;
Back Row -- Mgr. Holtz, J. Ballew, A. Mears, H. Roney, G. Henderson, C. Kincaid, Coach Miller. D. Wilson rangy
center of the team, is not shown in the picture.
Centerpiece Photo of coach, Title: THAT WINNING SMILE, Caption: Coach Johnny Miller of the Kenney basketball
squad wore a still wider grin Saturday night.
Story:
Wild enthusiasm reigned Saturday night on the Kenney gym floor as the local school quintet whipped Farmer City
in the DeWitt county basketball tourney championship game 16 to 8, to win their first county championship.
The Kenney cagers were among the several other teams playing the underdog role to Weldon which had been picked
by the daily newspapers to win the tourney. The showing of the local quintet was all that its backers could ask for
all through the tourney and the climax, which came when they faced the strong Farmer City aggregation, was enough to send
their backers into a wild jamboree after the game.
Cool, Fast Game
The game was pronouced by followers of the county tourneys as the best and cleverest played in the history
of these events. The cool calculating play of the players on both teams was matched with a display of strategy on the
part of Coach Johnny Miller of Kenney that was the cleverest we have ever seen. "Popeye" Ballew (so-called by the fans
about us) was the hero of the hour as he sank three baskets out of four attempts despite the fact that he was the midget of
the tourney. His shots broke the tight defense of Farmer City and enabled other team members to go in for short baskets.
The small number of fouls called against either team was remarkable considering the smallness of the floor and
the rapid handling of the ball. Farmer City had 5 and Kenney 4.
Farmer City Doubles Score
Farmer City doubled the score on the Kenney in the first period but that isn't near as bad as it sounds for the former
had only two free tosses to their credit against Kenney's one. The defense of both teams was airtight and the passing
of the Kenney team was exceptionally good, with very few wild ones.
Roby scored first for Kenney on a foul by Coleman, getting one toss. Roby in turn fouled Coleman, who evened
the count, sinking his. Shots by Roby and Rollins missed and Rollins scored a free toss on Wilson's foul. Rollins
then fouled Todd on the next play but he failed to connect. The rest of the period was devoted to thirteen basket attempts
by both teams with neither scoring, to end the quarter 2-1, Farmer City.
Kenney Grabs Lead
The second period was a reversal of the first with Kenney getting two points and holding their opponents scoreless.
The first two plays were fouls by each team. Watson fouled Todd, and Roby fouled Coleman but both failed to make their
tosses good.
Ballew, the little chap who was to turn an airtight ball game into a near rout, was inserted in place of Henderson.
His teammates, who were unable to break thru Farmer City's zone, maneuvered them out of position enough to pass to Ballew
way out on the side. His first one missed but that was the last one that did. His next one didn't touch the rim
and went thru. It seemed to excite both teams and they each wasted six shots as the play speeded up. Roby committed
his third foul and Roney went in. With 11 seconds to go Kenney called time out but their conversation didn't net them
a point as the half ended 3-2, Kenney.
Ballew Hits Twice
Ballew was almost the entire third quarter when he completely demoralized the Farmer City defense with two more of his
long shots from the side.
Play had no more than started, than clever ball handling got the defense off stride and Ballew slipped in a long
one. Wilson, rangy center, recovered a jump ball and went in for a short shot that scored a basket. Farmer City
was again out of position when Abbott shot a fast one to Ballew on the side and he swished
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KENNEY WINS FIRST TITLE
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the net for his third long one. Coleman's shot was in and out and then Watson sank a long one from the side as
Cahal went in for Rollins. Farmer City took time out twice in this period, after each of Ballew's shots. The third
period ended 9-4, Kenney.
Kenney Widens Margin
Farmer City was now playing a man-to-man defense and Coach Miller showed his smartness by sending in Roby to replace
Ballew and get more height. Roby went in for a nice dribble and scored as Farmer City's defense came out to force the
issue. Score 11-4, Kenney. Coleman went in to score a short onehander for Farmer City and Wilson came back with
a one-hand leaping shot that scored. Watson stole the ball and went down for a setup to score the last points made by
his team. Rollins fouled Roby who sank his free toss. Farmer City tried several hurried shots that missed and
then Abbott came in for a short one to score. Walden fouled Wilson, who missed as the game ended, 16-8, Kenney -- and
the championship.
Trophy Awards
The trophies were awarded at the close of the tourney as follows:
Shaver of Weldon received the rotating trophy which went to the player making the highest percentage of free throws,
Shaver making 41 out of 50. This tropy was won by Wapella in 1935, Kenney in 1936 and Wapella in 1937.
Championship -- Kenney.
Second place -- Farmer City.
Third place -- Weldon
First place, Second Teams -- Farmer City.
Second place -- Wapella
Wapella, Waynesvile and Weldon each won one game and lost three so it was necessary in the Round robin setup to
determine the winner on the basis of points, which showed Weldon high with 114, Waynesville 88, and Wapella 83.
Farmer City was the defending champion having won the DeWitt county tourney last year at Wapella.
Joe Ward, colored whistle tooter from Mansfield, and I. Means of Atwood, did a mighty fine job of whistle and fans
were well pleased with their work.
E. H. Burdock, principal of Kenney high, and manager of the tourney did a fine job of administrating the many details
connected with a tourney of this kind and the treatment visiting teams and fans received came in for considerable praise.
The Kenney Clown Band, under the direction of C. Scudder, performed faithfully and added to the spirit of enthusiasm.
Wapella Buys Basketball
The coach of the grade school at Wapella bought the basketball used in the championship game, when it was auctioned
off at the close of the tourney.
