New Britain herald., 1925-01-26
CHAMPIONS FALL
 BEFORE NATIONALS
GuardSmen Send Atlas Home al Small End Of 4O-S4 Score

The National Guard wonder team came through again Saturday night when 1t defeated tho Atlas of New Haven, New England state cham pions, by the score of flo to Si in one Of the most spectacular and eN- citing of games. Clearly outcasslng the visitors in the first half, the New Britain team registered 2S points to the visitors ten. In the second half however, the Atlas recovered their lost form and showed wherein they earned their reputation, They kept New Britain almost constantly on the defensive and successfully broke up the locals defense. The final on- sIaugt Of the Atlas, led by Botwinck, Bailey and Pite, was a thriller and this trio ran wild with the locals trailing them desperately. In this half the Atlas rushed 24 points through the netting 10 twelve for the locals and had not Sheehan, Key holds and Taylor done so brilliantly in the first half the Mats would sure ly have been defeated. The whistle cut short a closing rally by the Atlas that looked really dangerous, for they were creeping up steadily on the New Britain boys. Incidentally, this was but the third defeat for the visitors. They had lost one to the Lyrics in Hartford and another game in New York city.
 e Atlas Start Fast.
 The Atlas started off in whirlwind style and only quarter of minute had passed when Greenberg got the ball and swished 1t in for TWO points and the first score of the gaem. Johnny Sheehan, taking a pass from back court, then scored from the fifteen foot mark for a two pointer, evening things up and on resump- tion of play Taylor shot. but missed and Restelll followed the play and batted the ball in, putting New Brit ain in the lead from which they were not again displaced.
 Witllin. who Is a remarkably fine guard and usually succeeds in keep ing Taylor well covered, found the local flash too fast for him Saturday night. Mert had evidently doped out his opponents method guard ing for he back-stepped, side stepped speeded up and lodged until the brilliant Witkin was dizzy and the blondes first field goal came with Witkin guarding him under the bas- ket. Taylor took the ball in one hand and Tipped 1t under Wilkins arm for two points.
 Hay had no sooner started again that New Britain got the Tall. They resorted to pass work and it was kil- duff to Resteli, then back to Taylcr who shot from just beyond center and rang the bell for two mere points.
 The Atlas then got going again and Botwinick scored. Taylor made a remarkable dash down the court and tossed it in as Witkin held an, DuJ llt5 llctu bESlI U q CIll4SS ullA llAS tally was not allowed.
 Some more clever passwork by the locals took the ball well up un- der the Atlas baskets. The guards were drawn in, when the ball was passed back into the court again and Reynolds came through with one of his fine shots. Botwinick again came through to offset this and Restelli then fouled Pite and the former Yale star made good his one try.
 More dazzling passwork by New Britain had the visitors running around in circles and while Witkin was trying to keep track of Taylor, Mert Tipped the ball to Reynolds and "Red" once more dented the scoreboard for two points. To show that he also could pass. Reynolds lodged through the Atlas crew and instead of shooting tossed it to Res telli and he made good. At this point it was evident that Taylor had played Witkin off his feet and the Atlas manager called him from the game and put In Gubersky. Johnny sheehan got away with another long shot and then Gubersky made him self evident by fouling Taylor and Mert was in form for his two tries succeeded. On the tap Reynolds got the ball and fltcked it in for two more. Guhersky offset this however, when he got his point aft CT being fouled by "Red". Some more fast work. this time it being the visitors who flashed down the floor, and Gubersky dropped in a
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