“Going to the Academy Tournament tonight. Old Hilary says that she wants to see her opponents, as if she were sure that it will be the senior collegiate that will play the winning academy class.” Thus Isabel.
“Too bad, Isabel, that you are a junior and can’t conscientiously root for us.”
“She talks as if I wanted to,” and Isabel turned to Virgie in pretended indignation.
There was great fun in the gymnasium that night. “Susan’s Band” had been revived and marched in between games with much playing upon combs, triangles and other difficult instruments. Four different classes had their class songs, class yells and unrepressed enthusiasms. Miss Randolph, who was present from a sense of duty, fairly put her hands over her ears as applause mingled with the closing strains and clashes from “Susan’s Band.” This was a longer performance than the contest between the junior and senior collegiates would be. That was to take place in a few days, provided no accident to the chief performers occurred tonight, to postpone the event of the contest between the winning academy team and that of the collegiates. But it was best to have the collegiates meet in battle early, for they too, might need time for recovery.
It was always determined by lot how the classes were to play. This time the freshmen, academy, met the sophomores and defeated them in a close game. The seniors and juniors played against each other, the juniors defeated. Both games were exciting, the scores nearly even. But the last game, between the excited little freshmen and the seniors was easily won by the senior class, with a score rather humiliating to the freshmen, but on the whole they were pleased to have been in the final game at all.
“It will be the seniors against seniors,” whispered Pauline to Juliet, who smiled at her and said, “Mayhap it will.”
Several days later, the gymnasium was again the scene of a real contest between the two collegiate classes. The seats were full of interested spectators from all the classes, academy and collegiate. Many of the teachers were there and some of the faculty wives who lived at Greycliff Heights. There was no uproar, the two classes contenting themselves with a few yells given at especially appropriate times, and the more dignified class songs of the upper classes, if any of the class songs can be called such at all. Very little nervousness, if any, was shown by either team at first, and the game began with much skill in evidence. Hilary’s forces began with success in getting the ball, and keeping it against much interference; the seniors made one basket after another, and the score was all in their favor. Then luck turned. Calamity of calamities, it was Juliet who fumbled and lost the ball to a junior, who tossed it some distance to a girl under their basket,—into which it went in a jiffy. After the ball was tossed, the juniors were again in possession. How the senior girls worked to get a chance once more, and when one of the juniors missed a basket it was a senior girl who captured the ball. Fast and furious waxed the efforts. For some time nobody could make a basket for the successful interference of opposing forces. But at last it was the senior class which was victorious, and as Pauline had said, it would be the seniors against the seniors in the final tournament.
The greatest interest, perhaps, centered in the first tournaments, for the academy classes were more interested in beating each other than in trying to win over the collegiates, while the senior and junior collegiates felt more eagerness to win from each other. However, at the last tournament the collegiate class always felt that they would be disgraced if beaten by the academy, a thing which rarely happened. The academy class which won in the academy tournament felt, moreover, that they must at least have a respectable score, and make it as hard as possible for their opponents to win. Then there was always the possibility of victory.
The senior academy of this year was especially good. Their team was made up of experienced players; their captain was a girl of good judgment and ability.
“Now, girls,” said Captain Hilary, “don’t imagine that we have already won this game. It may be close however. Remember how well these girls play. I feel sure that we can win if we are not over-confident and think that we need not play our best. Remember to keep your wits about you and feel that the game depends on how well each of you plays. I don’t think that this other team will try anything but straight, clean basket-ball, and let us be as careful. Look out that your interference is within rules.”