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This article was written by George C. Halfmann of Aiken S.C. He is the son of George Halfmann Sr.
who was the star player on the Minonk Fans basketball team in the 1920's. Mr. Halfmann
compiled this information from old Minonk News-Dispatch articles. We are deeply grateful
to him for bringing back a glorious time in the history of Minonk when the Minonk Fans where regarded
as one of the best basketball teams in the country.
The 1919-1920 team is shown at the right. First row left: Richard "Dickie" Devon, Mascot Raymond Ketchmark "Little Sip", George Halfmann; Second row left: Joseph "Sip" Wolf, Manager R. R. Sutton, John "Jake" Meierhofer; Third row left: Floyd "Bucky" Jones, Herman "Smiley" Halfmann. Folkert Vissering was secretary-treasurer. Below is a summary of the 1919-1920, 1920-1921, and 1921-1922 seasons. |
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Season 1919-1920The rosterR.R.Sutton, manager; George Halfmann, secretary; players: J. Meierhofer (capt.), G. Halfmann, Floyd Jones, forwards; Howard Jury, Sip Wolfe, centers; H. Halfmann, Richard Devon, guards; Clifford Ridge, guard and center; John Gregorich, guard; Fred Meierhofer, center and guard. The scores of the 1919-1920 season are as follows: Minonk Fans' 93 Roanoke 23 Twenty-four games are in this list, the Fans' winning 21 and losing 3 games. Minonk made a total of 1153 points for an average of 48 per game, while opponents gathered 479 points for an average of 19. Individual scoringThe individual scores for the Fans' players were as follows:G. Halfmann, 19 games, 128 f.g., 35 f.t., total 291; John (Jake) Meierhofer, 19 games,191 f.g., 1 f.t., total 383; Jones, 14 games, 90 f.g., 14 f.t., total 194; Wolfe, 15 games, 104 f.g., total 208; Devon, 21 games, 30 f.g., total 60; H.Halfmann, 15 games, 27 f.g., 54; Jury, 3 games, 12 f.g., total 24. |
Season 1920-1921The rosterR.R. Sutton, manager; F.J. Vissering, secretary and treasurer; players; G. Halfmann, J. Meierhofer, and Floyd Jones, forwards; Wolfe, center; H. Halfmann (capt), Devon, F. Meierhofer, guards. The scores of this season follow: Minonk Fans' 32 Rutland 7
Minonk won 25 games and lost 5 during this season, the first game with Blooming-ton being a 5-minute overtime game. Minonk scored a total of 1107 points, an average of 37 per game, as against a total of 562 by opposing teams, an average of 19. Individual scoringThe individual scores are recorded as follows:G. Halfmann, 19 games, 90 f.g., 48 f.t., total 228; J. Meierhofer, 20 games, 152 f.g., total 304; Wolfe, 30 games, 126 f.g., total 252; H.Halfmann, 29 games, 30 f.g., total 60; Devon, 26 games, 29 f.g., total 58; Jones, 18 games, 86 f.g., 26 f.t., total 198; F. Meierhofer, 3 games, 1 f.g., total 2 points. In a final resume of all games played, 84 in number, we find that the Fans' won 75 games and lost 9 games.The Fans' scored a total of 3542 points for an average of 42 per game, as against 1723 by their opponents, an average of 20 points per game. A recapitulation of the scoring of the individual players, ten games or more, shows the following:
The Fans' team has long been reputed to be the strongest defensive team in the country and with the addition of Phillips they are more powerful in this department than ever. In looking over the records it will be seen that the quintet is also a most powerful scoring outfit, with balance being almost perfect. The forwards naturally come first, Jake Meierhofer being in the lead. Then comes the center and he does his share. As a climax, the guards, who have held the classiest of opposition, each averages more than a field goal per game. The records show the team to be a well-rounded organization of individual stars. Their record is a glorious one and outshines that of any team in the country. |
Season 1921-1922Complete Resume of What Team Does During Past Three Years.The fans have been clamoring for a detailed record of the Minonk Fans' efforts during the great team's activities during the past three seasons, or since it was organized, and this has been arranged.During the season 1921-22, R.R.Sutton was manager and F.J. Vissering secretary and treasurer, while the team was composed of these players: George Halfmann, Jake Meierhofer, Floyd Jones (three games),forwards; Sip Wolf (captain), center; Herman Halfmann, Richard Devon, Gerald D. Phillips, Valerian McHatten, guards. Of the thirty games played during the season, but one was lost. The Armour Post five of Chicago managed to nose out a meager victory by a margin of three points. Minonk lost the game through carelessness, as it was eight points in the lead a few minutes before the end of the game. The record of the games reads as follows:
Minonk Fans' 62 Peoria Liberties 4
Minonk made a total of 1282 points, for an average of 42 points to the game, as against a total of 682 points for the opposition, an average of 22. Two games were overtime contests, the game at Elmwood and the one here against the Freeport Badgers. Not only were the teams in this vicinity accorded games, but those that came from afar, including LaPorte, champions of Indiana, and the Buckeyes of Ohio. Individual scoringThe scoring by the individuals was as follows:G. Halfmann, 29 games, 172 f.g., 120 f.t., total 464; J. Meierhofer, 29 games, 210 f.g., total 420; Wolfe, 26 games, 115 f.g. total 230; H. Halfmann, 26 games, 19 f.g., total 38; R. Devon 21 games, 30 f.g., total 60; G. Phillips, 10 games, 11 f.g., total 22; V. McHattan. 5 games, 6 f.g., total 12; Floyd Jones, 3 games, 11 f.g., total 22. |