1925 Eastern States Tournament — St. John’s Academy, 4th place

St. John’s Military Academy of Manlius, in Onondaga County, had additional emotional impetus as it defeated Salem High School of Massachusetts 23–19 in the opening round of the 1925 Eastern States High School Basketball Tournament at the Glens Falls Armory.

“Playing without Wood, their captain and star player, the Manlius athletes waded in at the start of their game against Salem with a spirit which could not be denied and held the favorable end of the score throughout the entire contest,” The Glens Falls Times reported on April 3.

“Salem was playing against a team last night that was playing for something besides mere victory. They were playing for the sake of their leader, who watched the game from the sidelines. And this spirit may do much more for the team in its future tourney contests.”

Wood, who had just turned 23, was disqualified because he exceeded the tournament’s age limit of 21.

The coach said he was not aware of the rule.

St. John’s was upset in the semi-final round, losing 18–9 to Christian Brothers Academy of Syracuse.

“A victory which I believe not many students of the game expected (C. B. A.) to win. Manlius looked too great for C. B. A. in the eyes of many,” Post-Star Sports Editor Ralph Knight reported on April 4. “But Manlius, perhaps characteristic of the game, moved away to a strong start, a start so deliberate that not anywhere in the game did this smart team (St. John’s) reach its rival’s momentum.”

The game revolved around C. B. A. doing a better job on foul shots.

“The principal fault one can find with the losers in this game was the inability of the Manlius players to score from the penalty line,” the Times reported on April 4.

St. John’s advanced to the consolation game, competing against St. Mary’s of Glens Falls for third place.

St. Mary’s won 26–18. (More on that in a separate upcoming post.)

“St. John’s Manlius … was swerved from its path of its purpose by the whirlwind attack of St. Mary’s Academy,” Post-Star Sports Editor Ralph Knight reported on April 6.

Click here to read the most recent previous 1925 Eastern States Tournament post.