New Britain herald., 1927-01-31

was fought at the state armory Sat urday night between the National Guards of this city and Middle town and incidentally, the Guards met the toughest opposition of the year on their home floor. By a bril- liant spurt in the last three minutes, the home team managed to come through with q victory but 1t was by the closest of margins. Three Mid dletown stars were banished at this critical moment by Referee Dillon for four personal fouls and this may have had an important bearing on the result of the game.
 McCabe, Hoist, a local boy and Waterman formed the threats that almost upset the New Britain team for the first time this year on it's home floor. Hoist played a whirl wind game at center and caged four field baskets for his team. His floor work was marvellous and on many occasions, he broke up the home teams pass work.
 Carl Restelli was the hero of the night. Going into the game in the second half, 1t was his three field goals that turned the tide for New Britain. Johnny Sheehan also play d a nifty floor game for the time that he was in. The local quintet couldn't get started until near the end of the second half although every man on the team was working hard to overcome the lead that Mid- dletown had piled up in the first half.
 Middletown led at the end of the first stanza by the score of 25 to 2 and though playing honors appeared to be about even. the down-river boys couldn't find the hoop more often and with better proficiency than the Hardware City team. Again in the second half, New Britain couldn't seem to place the ball in the hoop. Sloman and Sheehan each had sev- eral shots that just barely missed going in while Rubenstein couldn't locate the basket for more than one double counter.
 Hoist started things by scoring 8
 
 field basket minute and half after three minutes. Reynolds scored a free try but McCabe got away to cage another from the floor at the 4:4O mark Guerra added point from the free throw line. At the six minute mark, Sturm gave New Brit ain its second point on a free throw. McCabe followed with another free throw for Middletown.
 The crowd. the largest of the sea- son. was begging New Britain to get going and answering the pleas, the local team staged a spirited rally. Taylor slipptd one in and Reynolds scored a free try. Sloman added another point from the compliment ary stripe and Kilduff joined in with a basket, tying the score at the S.10 minute mark.
 Waterman put his team in the lead again at nine minutes with pretty shot. Sheehan tied it up with a beautiful carom off the back board and Taylor came through on light ming like play to put the locals in the lead. Again at 1l:5o, Taylor whizzed around and got his third field goal of the night making it IA to 10.
 long shot. Sheehan followed with a clever shot from near the center of the floor and added a point on a free try. Hoist broke through the New Britain defense to score a field goal from in under the basket. Reynolds popped one from the far side of the court and mtde the goal, leaving the score 19 to + for New Britain.
 Here Middletown broke out with rally. Waterman caged foul shot. Carlson caged goal and was fouled while so doing. He made the two tries good sending Middletown | into | 19 all. Hoist broke the ! ice with a pretty goal. Johnny sheehan made two free tries good | tying the score again. McCabe and ! Hoist followed each other in rapid | succession with baskets and the half 4 ended with Middletown leading 25 | to 2l.
 Second Half
 Middletown kept up the good work ! in the second half. Rubenstein re- placed Taylor and RestelH replaced ! Reynolds. Restelli made a goal and | was fouled while so doing. He made | one of the tries good bringing New i Britain's score to q. Hoist caged a foul goal and Waterman followed ! him with basket. McCabe got away again for another two pointer and the crowd was in a frenzy.
 Sloman made it 25 to g with a free try good. Then Sloman stood | on the free throw line and made two | points. He followed this with a field ! goal at 9:3O his first of the game. This made the score 33 to Sl for 1 Middletowl.
 Guerra made two free tries. ! Rubenstein followed him with one for New Britain. A few seconds later he caged two more free tries and to top off a good rally, followed soon after with a field goal putting | New Britain in the lead 36 10 35. |