1918

Captain Mel Cullen

Regarded as one of the fastest forwards that ever played on a Central team. A difficult man to guard; his basket shooting was the feature of many a game.

Earl Shaw

A four "D" man in basketball. Speedy work and hard, aggressive playing make him valuable man for all positions.

Jimmy O'Neill

He was a tower of strength on the offense, and could always be relied on as one of the mainstays of the team.

Eugene "Boots" Watts

Boots had little trouble in out-jumping all opposing centers. He played a hard consistent game all season, and it was due in large part to his injury that we lost the state championship.

Karon

He is a wonderful defensive player, and is also dangerous on the offense.

"Packy" McFarlane

He could always be counted on to hold his man in check, and by his accurate passing, he made many of Central's baskets possible.

Reserves - Edward Ritchie and Sidney Buchman - these boys stepped in (when Cullen and Watts were injured at state) and fought like old veterans.

Coach Paul Erhart

Review of the Season - from the 1918 Zenith

Central wound up her basketball season this year in a blaze of glory. From the start to the finish, the team was a decided success. The team, comprised of Cullen and O'Neill, forwards, Karon and Shaw, guards, and Watts, center, with Ritchie, McFarlane and Buchman as substitutes, more than upheld the honor of Central, being defeated only once, in their last game of the year, against Waseca, with a badly crippled team.

To Coach Paul Erhart, we owe much of their success. He drilled into them the spirit of "never die," which spirit won many games for Central in the last minutes of play. Team work also accounts for much of their success, individual playing being obscure. Every man on the team is an excellent shooter, and is capable of occupying any position on the floor. It is almost impossible to pick any one star on the team, each man covering his position in an able manner. Cullen and O'Neill did the major part of the scoring, due to their accuracy of shooting and also their positions as forwards. Watts covered his position in a splendid manner, and was the deciding factor in the district championship game at Eveleth against Buhl.

Thirteen straight games were won by the team, winning the right to represent the district in the state championship games at Northfield. here, the team literally covered themselves with glory, defeating Humboldt and Little Falls by last-minute spurts. They then disposed of Fosston easily, and went in the finals against Waseca. Watts and Captain Cullen were out of the game on account of injuries. Things looked rather black for Central. They were worn out, and up against a heavier and experienced team. We lost the game, but we are just as proud of our boys, and more so, than if they had won. The boys won the praise of everybody down there, the spectators declared that they never saw a finer example of gameness and grit. This game finished Central's most successful season in years. With three "D" men, and the three substitutes back next year, the chances look very bright.