The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-01-22
SANTOPIETRO STARS IN GREAT CROSBY WIN OVER WILEY
Minus SchOfield and Colby, Handicapped Team Beats Rival P to 17-The Re- serves Win Too
By John A. Cluncy

Opportunity, that mythical yet realistic element which is supposed | to knock but once on everyOne's door, was seized, and throttled be- yond possible escape by tall, husky | kid who got his chance last night | and certainly made the most of It.. Ralph Santopietro, and his Crosby | high school basketball team shot and passed rings around a bewilder- ed Wilby team that played like a bunch of scared rabbits to 22-17 finish with the Blue and White vic- | torious in its first meeting of the l season.
 Fast and Furious
 Between 1000 and 1900 customers | saw the game and got super-a ction l each and every time the ball was tossed up. No matter how you looked | at the game, or how you think about it, the dark, speedy frame of that | Santopietro boys looms up as the hub about which sizzling Crosby l attack revolved and continued from start to finish. He scored four field goals of the nine checked in Cros- | by's favor, but that's not half the l story. In the first half of the game, pitted against Sonny Connell. the | jet-curly Ralph played a defensive game that was the exposure of all eyes. He was in on nearly every pass, never out of position and when l pin-hole openings presented them- selves he was through with certain | points. In other words, the story of Crosby's victory last night is the story of Ralph Santopietro, the boy who got his chance and made good. His was one of the most brilliant | L.. .ll l,,Sx
 Wilby competition.
 | Good in Defense
 Ike Kern proved himself an ideal floor leader in his own playing and direction of the Crosby attack which never slipped. An excellent defen- sive game must be credited to him and Harnick, Dunn and Santopietro's s opportunities to shoot came many times as a result of passes from Kern. Both Harnick and Dunn played a speedy game at forward, the former dropping two sensational shots while little Harp" was held to field goal.
 | Scared to Death.
 As for Wilby's playing, not much of commendable nature can he truthfully said. They passed well and that's all. Out of 52 shots at the hoop, just six dropped in, but the point to that statement is, not six of those 52 shots were taken from within the outside foul-line arc. The green-jerseyed boys acted and shot for ali the world like a litter of frightened bunnies. Time and again the various players had time to "set" for a shot but the ball just touched their finger-tips and 1t was hurtled toward the hoop with nothing but a prayer on it. Many of the shcts hit the rim and rolled out. but that's no more than can he expected when one considers the dis tance whom which they were taken. l Close.
 l Even at that. the Wilby boys were always dangerous. Crosby led 12 to 9 at llle half and it was 16 to II at the third. Directly after that IS where Student Santopietro entered the picture with a crash. Coole as the proverbial cucumber and steady as Ben Franklin's statue, Ralphie ran, passed and caught until his mid-cou.t he made one pivot, saw no one there to block him and slitn- cred in with two dribbles and a Sucker" shot that put Crosby over with safe margin of points. He was the best man on the floor last night, and a more than able substitute for the indisposed Herb Colby. The boys were nicely handled by Fran kie Conroy who took Billy Scho- fields place. when the Crosby men, tor was confined to his home.
 Jimmy Tracy at center and Cap,
 Billy Dwyer were outstanding in q
 weak Wlby attack and fair de. fense. Sne score: