Leesburg Falls To Lakeland In State Championship Game, March 9, 1929

Dreadnaughts In Win Over Jacket Quint By 18-10

Leesburg Team Showed The Way For First Half, Faltered

And In Second Half, No Jacket Man Is Able To Get Going

Sports Section

Leesburg Commercial

March 9, 1929

UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA GYMNASIUM, Gainesville March 9-(AP)-Lakeland High School won a title tonight, approached for several successive years the basketball championship of Florida. In a tense and bitterly-fought contest, the Dreadnaughts overcame a six point lead to outpoint Leesburg in the last half of the game and win by a margin of 18 to 10.

For several years the Dreadnaughts have advanced in the annual state tourney to either the finals or semifinals only to be nosed out at last. Tonights victory gave them their first title.

So perfectly did Lakeland play tonight that Leesburg failed to score a single point during the last half. The Yellow Jackets saw their margin of 10 to 4 at the half dwindle as the Dreadnaught offense bombarded their basket from midcourt. At the end of the third period Lakeland was leading 14 to 10. Then in the last quarter the Dreadnaught appeared to tightened their apparently already airtight defense, while their long distance artillery accounted for two more field baskets.

Melton, Goodyear Shine

The entire Dreadnaught defense was responsible for turning the tide but the work of Melton and Goodyear stood out in particular.

Time and again the Yellow Jackets would drive toward their basket, but were unable to penetrate within safe shooting distance, and when they resorted to long shots, their aim was off.

Smith of Leesburg drew first blood, caging a foul goal near the opening of the game, but Pope of Lakeland retaliated with a field goal, Rountree added a field goal and a foul to give the Jackets a 4 to 2 lead at the end of the first period.

Jackets Ahead

From then to the rest at the half, the Jackets pulled steadily ahead to the 10 to 4 mark. Here the tide turned and those who believe the Dreadnaughts had shot their bolt during the grueling first half, found the reverse to be true.

The third period had scarcely opened when Lakeland whipped in three baskets from the field, to deadlock the score.

It was all Lakeland from then on out. Both Battled valiantly during the final period, but Leesburg could not meet the ripping offense nor penetrate the impregnable defense.

On All-State

Lakeland and Leesburg, both placed two men on the mythical All-State team, selected by coaches and officials of the tournament. Pope and Melton were named for the champions, while Cherry and Cahill were Leesburg's contingent, Rosenburg, Robert E. Lee (Jacksonville) guard, completed the team.

The lineup and summary:

Lakeland 18,            Pos.            Leesburg 10,

Murrel                         RF              Smith (3)

C. Pope (5)               LF               Rountree (3)

Goodyear (2)            C                 Cherry (4)

Melton (4)                  RG              Cahill

Woodall (1)               LG               Entz

Substitutes: For Lakeland - Morris (6) for B. Pope, who had relieved Murrel.

Referee, Buchanan: Umpire Higgins

Resources

Leesburg Commercial

Leesburg Public Library

March 9, 1929

Article provided by:
Gerald Lacey
Staff Writer
Carver Heights Quarterback Club
1986 Varsity Jackets Football Lettermen #82
Class of 1988 Leesburg High School
leesburgyellowjacketsfootball@yahoo.com
www.leesburgyellowjacketsbasketball.com   

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