New Britain herald., 1927-04-08
STATE BASKETBALL TITLE
 WOW BY NATIONAL GUARDS
New Britain Takes Final Game From Bristol Endees By 2l to 19 Score-SensatiOnal Battle Staged by Two Teams-Sturm Ties Score and Sheehan Shoots Winning Points-Hardware City Five Leads at Half Time ' to 5-Fans Pack Meriden Armory

A spectacular rally in the closin g minutes. two sensational shots, one by "Butsy" Sturm and the other 5y Johnny Sheehan. and finish packed with all the thrills possible in a basketball game, brought the court championship of the state to New Britain last night. Tue simple statement that the National Guards beat the Bristol Endees. titleholders ot last year, by the score Of 2l-19 for the highest honors Tn basketball in Connecticut, tells nothing Of the titanic struggle staged by the two quintets for victory.
 Before q crowd of roaring fans who packed every available space in the Meridcn state armory. tho Guards and Endees played the tierc- est brand Of basketball seen ln these parts in the last decade and 90 great was the strain under which the players were laboring that some of them were near collapse al the finish.
 New Rritain's chances looked gloomy in the second half when Bristol had a lead of five points and the team started it's stailing tactics 10 keep the ball safely In the back court. but the local players broke through and got the ball to battle along until Sturm's spectacular shot from over his head. tied the score.
 Johnny Sheehan followed with another, just as sensational. glNlng the New Britain team the necessary two points for victory and then New Britain put up an impregnable de- fense to hold the score until the final whistle blew.
 The first half was an exhibition Of almost perfect basketball but it was devoid Of many thrills because both teams were strictly on the defense. The second frame. however, had everything crammed into it that could be possible in a basketball contest. Sensational shots, dazzling pass work, spectacular dribbling and u fierce struggle all combined to make the state title game hair raiser and a thriller of the most thrilling sort.
 It would be unfair to name any outstanding player on either team. No one man stood out but every one o. the 10 engaged in the game, played his heart out in the effort to win. Nothing but admiration can be expressed for the Bristol team which went down with flying colors in defeat and were 1t not for the breaks" which came to New Brit ain, the score might have just as Well been the other way around. The teams today are still an even bet anyway one wants to look at the matter.
 First Half.
 The teams battled fercely. both on the defense for five minutes with out a score being made. Finally at the 5:20 mark. Sloman was toulcd and he made the first point Of the game. New Britain's lead. however, was short lived because Risky Feldman hoped In a pretty basket one point edge. The see-saw was continued when Sturm caromed around and with a beautiful one hand toss. landed one through the hoop at the 6:15 mark, making it 3 to for New Britain.
 n fn,Y1a1 nd ha made his try. giving New Britain four points at the S:l5 mark. At a:@0, Marchinek was hacked and he made his try good. The scores were coming few and far between. neither team being able to penetrate the al most perfect defense thrown up. Both teams were using the tive-man play and few shots were being made at either basket.
 Faidman was fouled at the 12 minute mark and he made his try good. tying the score at four all. 4 minute later Rubensteiu was fouled and he again sent New Britain into the lead with a neat toss from the pimentary stripe. Sturm again came through and with great block ing by his mates, he cagei his sec ond field goal of the halt at the II minute mark. Bristol was battling desperately 10 get through the net work of players thrown up by New Britain. out their efforts We're in vain. Every shot Was hurried and all r-.gs at the basket went wild. Mar chinek added q point on free try at the 1S:1g mark, ending the scoring for the half. The count stood 2 to ; ln favor or New Britain.
 second Half,
 E.bens' 'cin, after missing some shots in the first frame, took Bristol by surprise within the first mUuj" Of play in the second half and SCOT ed field goal, making il 10 ,. Bristol came back strong and with series of dazzling passes, brought the ball to Manning, who caE'i II, making the score 10 : with two minutes played. At the 3.&9 count. Feldman let long heaye go anu the bal whistled cleanly through to tls the score.
 Bristol was off. on splft. Zai;- zewskl hacked Marchlnck as the doughty guard ut the Euders was shooting and he was awarded two shots. He made both good, putting Bristol in the lead. ] to 5 with minutes and 4U second played. Slo- man cut this lead to one point on a free try at the 5;20 mark, but 30 seconds later, fellman uSaln Cdlut through with beautiful toss 10 give Bristol a three point edge, I3 to 10.
 Here Johnny Sheehan whose work all night was keeping Malcolm In a subducd state, broke away and clipped basket through the hoop from a distance. Six minutes and tve seconds had been played. feId-