New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1918-01-09
7. N. c. A. Quintet
TRIMS MIDDLETOWN
State Basketball Champions on
Short End Of ST to Is Score

The Middletown state champions
proved easy picking for the Y. M.
c. y. basketball quintet last evening
on the local gymnasium floor, Slater
ct al, winning in rather easy fashion,
score 81 to %. Flushed with conf
dence at the outset, the visitors fought I,
hard to offset inevitable defeat, but
after the home boys passed the ball y
around 'em a few times and showed
Il keen eye for dropping the ball in
the net, the much Wanted prowess of
the champions disappeared. The
doWr-state boys are a formidable
looking lot, and in pra ctice they dis
played plenty of class. Every mem
Der of the home team made q score
with the exception Of jacobson, and
this brilliant player came within a
hairline Of making his initial point of
the season on the home floor. On
the defensive, the Cubs outfielder
however was the goods, Salmonson
and the Spear brothers were kept busy
throughout the game. re-
Captain Slater and Kopf as usual
scintiIlatcd, this pair scoring 20
points between thcm, three less than
the entire rCmber garnered by the
losers big C,hief'' Larson and Step
sions, of the the Chiefs shots being
a corker. Time and again, we'll di-
rectcd passes from Ahern to his for
wards were intercepted by Stepanian, 3
whose defensive work was all that"
could be desired.
For the losers, Danny Ahern was
the same old reliable player of old.
''Father Time" has not been very Sc
we're with Daniel, who is still able to
toss EN- in from the foul line with
his old time skill. Nine of the points
gained by the losers went to Ahern's
credit. Salmonson and r. Spear, put
up q good game. Ruffin, who played
here several weeks ago with the All
Stars of Syracuse, n. Y, was in the
visitors lineup and played the weak
est game Of the outfit. At the time
of the Stars appearance in this city,
Ruffin at the close of the overWhelm-
ing defeat expressed g, desire to have
the Middletown quintet tackle the To-
Gals McConochie one Of the stars of
the visitors was unable to participate
in the game, having to remain at
home it is said to fill out his quesr
tionnaire. Had he been playing in
place of the substitute, Ruffin, q bet
ter contest might have occurred.
Picking on little Slater, occupied too
much Of Rufffns time to indulge in
basketball, and at times when he had
chance to pass the ball to fellow
player, Ruffin elected to toss the ball
the whole length of the floor at the,
basket Sometimes he managed to
strike the wall.
i The game opened at 8:45 o'clock,
and the guests were first to score,
infringing on the rules, and Ahern
rang up a foul goal, "Chief' Larson
then got into the fray and with
beautiful shot he made the first floor
goal and New Britain was in the lead,
never to relinquish it during the game.
r. Spear foulcd a minute later and
Slater made his free try a good one.
Larson then started his mates on a
scoring matinee which resulted in the
home team piling up point after point
until at the close Of the half the score.
stood, New Britain IS, Middletown 10.
For a few brief moments in the
second half, the visitors played rings
around the home boys and scored two
field goals with a foul counter. Right
here Billy kopf got his basket eye
working and broke the ice for the
locals. 1t was the first counter of
the game for Willyum, but before the
game ended, the King secured four
more.
Every available spot Of room was
occupied by spectators, the largest
crowd of the season being on hand
to witness the contest. At the close
of the game, dancing was enjoyed.
Director Slater has arranged the
following games for the team:
January Is, Naval Reserves Of
New Haven, here; January %, Swed-
ish Lutherans of Meriden, here;
January IS, Middletown in Middle
town; January 20, F'iske Red Tops OF
The score and summary:
Chicopee, Mass, here.
NEW BRITAIN MIDDLETO OWN q
Kopf .rf. ... SaImonson