New Britain herald., 1927-01-15
Spea king of Sport

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 The National Guards lost to the Atlas last night in New Haven 1T one of the hardest and most fiercel, fought games the local boys have ever been in. It was a tough game 10 lose but there was little to choose between the teams in the matter o1 basketball skill.
 As is always the case when the Atlas and the National Guards clash both teams went at each other ham, mer and tongs. The lead seesawed back and forth but it was really the failure of the locals to get going iu the first half that led to their down. fall.
 The score at half time stood at Il to 2 and in the second half, the Atlas had made 1t IS to when the Guards suddenly started to play.
 The score went to 22 to 19 with only a minute to go when Sloman got two free tries at the basket. He made one of the two tries good. Then "Tedders" Kilduff came through to get two more free tries, but he missed both of them on the run around the ring variety and the game was lost.
 The Atlas are scheduled to play a return game in this city on Satur- day evening, February and the Guards will have the opportunity of tying the count with this team.
 Spectators from New Britain who went to New Haven to see the game and they were legion, report this morning that 1t was a great battle. It always is when these two teams get together and the game on February will be no exception.
 Tonight the Guards go up against another tough team when the St. Joseph Tabs of Waterbury play here. The Waterbury team has Caring ton and Sheehy in the lineup and both of these boys are stars of the first magnitude. Sheehy himself with ms dribbling and clever pass work IS rated as one of the best guards Tn the state. The team has been pf f,r Guards will have to step lively to come through against the Brass City quintet.
 The Guards are being branded by local fans as home town team. meaning that the team can win it's games only bn the state arnory foor. That may be but any team that can go to New Haven in Music Hall and play the Atlas to 22 to 20 game, has morally won the con- test few times over.
 We would easily lay out dough on the Guards to beat the Atlas on the New Britain floor.
 There were some rough spots in the game last night as there always is between the two teams. Pite came dribblng down the floor and without warning, pushed "Butsy" Sturm in the face. Sturm chased him all around the floor but didn't catch him. Gubersky ripped Mert Taylor and as Taylor went down. he caught Gubersky's leg. Guberslly retaliated by stepping in Taylors face.
 Taylor was trying to take the ball from Botwinik on a dribbe play and Botwinik was "hipping" him off. Taylor hit the ball away and then spun Botwinik around. He landed on the floor on his back and slid about 15 feet before he did a back som 3rsault. Hope" Rcstelli was in the game only a few seconds when after q jump in the center of the floor, Pite,s mouth was bleed- ing. Restelli had q foul called son him.
 It was a great battle to watch from all accounts with the lead see saving back and forth. Kildulf got the spectacular shot of the night when he dropped in flip from the center of the floor.
 Next Wednesday night, the Guards will play the Fitton A. C. of Bos- ton. famed as one of the best bas- ketball teams in the country. The gam will be played under the su- pervision of Dick Dillon, Connecti- cuts premier referee. Dick will be on the job tonight in the game with Waterbury.
 Next Friday the Guards play Mid dletown in Middletown and on Sat urday they play the famous Green point. l.. l.. team of the town of tha. name at the state armory here. The following Thursday they play Elmwood there and the Saturday following. meet Middletown on the local floor. The following week comes the Atlas game. Some sched- ule for any basketball team, II ~ \ \ ~T