Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-03-24
BASKET BALL
THE BAND PLAYED FUNERAL
 DIRGE FOR MIDDLET0WN.

DIRGE FOR MIDDLET0WN. Gilbert High of Winsted Made All
 the Prophets Look Very
 Tired. .s. z
 Oh, my! what surprise! Of all the unexpected happenings the one at the Auditorium last evening was the biggest that has been handed out in this city in long, long time. Accompanied by 2S0 roOters and headed by brass band, the Middle town High school basketball team arrived in this city last evening to carry home the championship of the state, opposing Gilbert at Eagles hall. But the grief of Niobe in her deepest agony was not to be com pared to the Middletown players as they journeyed homeward after suf- fering defeat by the score of to (. The contest was played before crowd of about seven hundred, 800 of whom came from Middletown and Winsted. Before the contest began High school yells were indulged in and all kinds of remarks were thrown across the hall. Middletown occupied the eastern gallery while Winsted believed defiance from the balcony opposite. As Middletown was regarded as sure winner, little or no betting was done.
 Although the game was scheduled for S:15, 1t was almost o'clock when Referee Hyatt, president of the intercollegiate rules committee on basketball, blew his whistle and called the captains to the center of the floor. g.s
 Captain ClossoH of .Middletpwn won the toss and chose the south goal. Middletown in their white uniforms with orange trimmings looked much bigger than their ob- ponents, clad in dark blue suits trim med with yellow. As Wilcox of Gill bert took his position the Winsted gallery shook with the favorite cry of Crosby High, but used for the oc- casion by Gilbert. Hyatt blew his whistle and the game was on.
 Wilcox easily got the toss-up and from the beginning of the game un- til the end it was Wilcox who was the star. He outplayed his oppon- ent, Calef, at center, although at times he seemed to be trifie rough. He was the star of the game and broke up Middletown's team work in such a fashion that the latter did not get in their lightning plays more than once or twice during the night. The game at times was somewhat rough and Gilbert more than held its own with the heavier opponents. Hyatt, the referee, did not seem to have any love for Winsted, but on the whole did perhaps as well as could be expected.
 The game had been on about two minutes when Wilcox fouled and iin- mediately Captain Closson tried for free goal, but missed. A moment la ter winsted committed another foul and the rafters shook when Davis. right forward on the Middletown five, made the first point for his col. ors. About five minutes later .Dsvis. who by the way did all the scoring for Middletown, made a neat field goal, and there was nothing in the air but Middletown colors and Mii- dletown cries.
 Gilbert meantime had couple of free throws, but failed to score. Fouls were being committed freely and Davis while attempting free throw was fouled. so an extra point was awarded the boys from the asylum town. Davis had meantime made an- other free throw and with the score five to nothing against Gilbert. things lookef bad for the Winsted crowd. But Wilcox, with those long. lanky arms, put on a look of determination and the manner in which he tore things up was a cau- tion. After making field goal he followed 1t up with a couple Of foul goals. co that at the end of the first half Middletovn was only leading by the score of to {.
 During the fntermission the spec tstors were furnished with a few stunts not on the program Thomp- son, who plays on the Winsted IT. A. B.. got a crowd together and pa- raded on the floor, doing something similar to a grand march Immedi- stely after the Middletown cohorts followed suit and both went rJund the hall in grand style. But rplash. the factions came together and when if was over the Middletovn follow ers had withdrawn; they did not care to fight, acting more cool headed than the wfnstsd rooters.
 m the second half Middlet0wn cane on the floor with a change of ierseys. wearing ones of orange and black. They must have been their hoodoo. for in this period they were outplsyed by their opponents Bur- veil replaced Coult for Wins-ed and during the half the Gilbersonizns were compelled to york the -kurt7 r.rle beczuse Of being vinded- Bur vel s0t into a nix-uP ufth DavtS- the former receiving bloody Ec>e- but rot long after Davis vent ur axzinst the posts near the no--hera rnal and he uas out for sh0-t tine
 wffk the sccre q tie. z uPs Nolan