Ott Laxton Features in Thrilling Battle

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Ott Laxton Features in Thrilling Battle — Camden Evening Courier, 1928
Camden Evening Courier, 1928
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OTT LAXTON FEATURES IN THRILLING BATTLE Plucky 'Oak' Pilot Scores Three Field Goals on Schrey CLEMENTON OUTPLAYED; NEXT GAME THURSDAY Brilliant Oaklyn captain and forward, played the greatest game of his young but dazzling career when his team mates thumped the Clementon club in the second game of the playoff series for the final half title of the Camden County League, at Clementon, last night. Oaklyn defeated Clementon by the score of 29-21 in the second game of the series for the final half championship of the Camden County cage circuit, on the court at Silver Lake Park, last night. The victory evened the playoff duel between the clubs and makes a third game necessary. The final scrap has been arranged for Thursday night and an effort is being made to secure the Collingswood High school for the scene of the conflict. The sturdy band of "Oaks" dashed around the court like a flock of whippets and completely outplayed the home team in every department of the game. The winners took the lead at the start, held it for a short time, were tied and then lost the advantage, but by sheer pluck and keen fighting spirit, combined with a pleasing degree of team play, forged ahead before the whistle closed the first period and held the lead until the end of the struggle. The game was one of the most exciting in the history of cage annals in this section. Bill Strobel almost batted the ball into the rim after the first toss-up but the leather rolled over to one side and into the waiting hands of Johnny Chambers. The latter passed to Laxton and a double pass worked the leather up to the Oaklyn goal post. Laxton cut for the basket and took a throw from Eddie Brandt but the Clementon backfield closed in and a scrimmage resulted. Chambers snatched the ball and attempted to dribble for a clearance to stick it up. Strobel "hooked" Chambers and Laxton's running mate counted on the toss from the penalty line. Johnny again scored on a foul and Laxton followed a minute later. Both teams were covering closely and it looked as though a duplicate of Saturday night's scrap was due. Brandt reached for the tap on the next play but Johnny Schrey dashed in and took the ball, quickly passing it to Wetzel who went up the floor. He was fouled before he could get "set" and dropped the ball through the net for the first Clementon point. Schrey followed with another foul. The "Clams" were passing better and it looked as though they had hit their stride. Wetzel made a clean pass to Billy Strobel who arched the sphere for the first field goal, giving his team the edge 4 to 3. Chambers attempted to break through but Strobel stopped him and the flashy "Oak" forward tied the score with another gift shot. Frank "Pop" Hambleton, who played basketball when his present captain was still in a cradle, took the ball on a pass from Grover Wearshing and was fouled before he could get started. "Ham" made the shot and boosted his team out in front once more. Laxton seemed to dart from nowhere and batted the ball from its course as it left the sorrel-topped guard's hands, at the same time charging Strobel and Referee Rumsey called a foul. Bill made the shot and boosted Clementon's lead to two points. Brandt's penalty toss and Wearshing's field goal, the first for Oaklyn, put the visitors back into the lead, 9-8. Wearshing's shot was caged after the ball bounced from the backboard and followed several "off" shots by team mates. It proved the goal which put the winners out in front to stay. Foul and field shots by Chambers followed by Brandt's free goal gave the "Oaks" their edge at the end of the first half. It was just a case of holding the lead with the invaders during the second half and how well they did this is clearly seen in the final figures. The home team threatened in the first six minutes of the period when they crept up to a tie at 13 points, but a spurt by the Frassmen choked the rally. To Captain Ott Laxton goes the hero's halo for the conquest. The scrappy pilot of the Oaklyn outfit put up one of the greatest games of any player seen in the County circuit this season. He dribbled low, passed nicely and was in nearly every play. He ran rings around Johnny Schrey, star Clementon guard, keeping him so busy that the eagle-eyed Philadelphia star failed to connect with the cords from the field. On the other hand Ott tallied a trio of timely and sensational shots, and scored four of his 12 chances from the penalty mark. Altogether Laxton richly earned his title as a "pocket edition of 'Soup' Campbell." Johnny Chambers, Laxton's mate at forward, was also a bright figure in the victory, as was Eddie Brandt, who made things mighty unpleasant for Joe Devlin, the Clementon center. Brandt shaded his individual foe in the battle for pivot honors and played a dazzling floor game. The defensive power of Wearshing and Hambleton is demonstrated in the field goal column of the Clementon crew. Their two field goals added to the one toss scored Saturday night means that only three shots from the floor has been registered against this pair in 80 minutes of actual play.

Plucky 'Oak' Pilot Scores Three Field Goals on Schrey

Clementon Outplayed; Next Game Thursday

Brilliant Oaklyn captain and forward, played the greatest game of his young but dazzling career when his team mates thumped the Clementon club in the second game of the playoff series for the final half title of the Camden County League, at Clementon, last night.

Oaklyn defeated Clementon by the score of 29–21 in the second game of the series for the final half championship of the Camden County cage circuit, on the court at Silver Lake Park, last night. The victory evened the playoff duel between the clubs and makes a third game necessary. The final scrap has been arranged for Thursday night and an effort is being made to secure the Collingswood High school for the scene of the conflict.

The sturdy band of "Oaks" dashed around the court like a flock of whippets and completely outplayed the home team in every department of the game. The winners took the lead at the start, held it for a short time, were tied and then lost the advantage, but by sheer pluck and keen fighting spirit, combined with a pleasing degree of team play, forged ahead before the whistle closed the first period and held the lead until the end of the struggle. The game was one of the most exciting in the history of cage annals in this section.

Bill Strobel almost batted the ball into the rim after the first toss-up but the leather rolled over to one side and into the waiting hands of Johnny Chambers. The latter passed to Laxton and a double pass worked the leather up to the Oaklyn goal post. Laxton cut for the basket and took a throw from Eddie Brandt but the Clementon backfield closed in and a scrimmage resulted. Chambers snatched the ball and attempted to dribble for a clearance to stick it up. Strobel "hooked" Chambers and Laxton's running mate counted on the toss from the penalty line. Johnny again scored on a foul and Laxton followed a minute later.

Both teams were covering closely and it looked as though a duplicate of Saturday night's scrap was due.

Brandt reached for the tap on the next play but Johnny Schrey dashed in and took the ball, quickly passing it to Wetzel who went up the floor. He was fouled before he could get "set" and dropped the ball through the net for the first Clementon point. Schrey followed with another foul. The "Clams" were passing better and it looked as though they had hit their stride. Wetzel made a clean pass to Billy Strobel who arched the sphere for the first field goal, giving his team the edge 4 to 3.

Chambers attempted to break through but Strobel stopped him and the flashy "Oak" forward tied the score with another gift shot. Frank "Pop" Hambleton, who played basketball when his present captain was still in a cradle, took the ball on a pass from Grover Wearshing and was fouled before he could get started. "Ham" made the shot and boosted his team out in front once more.

Laxton seemed to dart from nowhere and batted the ball from its course as it left the sorrel-topped guard's hands, at the same time charging Strobel and Referee Rumsey called a foul. Bill made the shot and boosted Clementon's lead to two points.

Brandt's penalty toss and Wearshing's field goal, the first for Oaklyn, put the visitors back into the lead, 9–8. Wearshing's shot was caged after the ball bounced from the backboard and followed several "off" shots by team mates. It proved the goal which put the winners out in front to stay.

Foul and field shots by Chambers followed by Brandt's free goal gave the "Oaks" their edge at the end of the first half.

It was just a case of holding the lead with the invaders during the second half and how well they did this is clearly seen in the final figures. The home team threatened in the first six minutes of the period when they crept up to a tie at 13 points, but a spurt by the Frassmen choked the rally.

To Captain Ott Laxton goes the hero's halo for the conquest. The scrappy pilot of the Oaklyn outfit put up one of the greatest games of any player seen in the County circuit this season. He dribbled low, passed nicely and was in nearly every play. He ran rings around Johnny Schrey, star Clementon guard, keeping him so busy that the eagle-eyed Philadelphia star failed to connect with the cords from the field. On the other hand Ott tallied a trio of timely and sensational shots, and scored four of his 12 chances from the penalty mark. Altogether Laxton richly earned his title as a "pocket edition of 'Soup' Campbell."

Johnny Chambers, Laxton's mate at forward, was also a bright figure in the victory, as was Eddie Brandt, who made things mighty unpleasant for Joe Devlin, the Clementon center. Brandt shaded his individual foe in the battle for pivot honors and played a dazzling floor game. The defensive power of Wearshing and Hambleton is demonstrated in the field goal column of the Clementon crew. Their two field goals added to the one toss scored Saturday night means that only three shots from the floor has been registered against this pair in 80 minutes of actual play.

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