The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-03-10
TAKE ON SHAKY MERIDEN TEAM
 THURSDAY EYE
Locals WaIlop Windharl Fishers Field Goals
 Equal Losers Total
By JOHN A. CLUNEY

wager all the Japs in Java, the Ehamrocks in Ireland and the tea in China that Crosby high schools 1941-42 baskstballers which had Q far from sensational season, will be battling for the state high school championship st the New Haven Arena, come Saturday night.
 Right now, as one gent So gnbly expressed the situation in a few well-chosen words, just after CroS- by knocked in the defending state champs from Windham of Willi- mantle last night Crosby is the hottest thing in the tourna- ment." As a matter of fact the Schofielders were not exactly luke warm the night they defeated the central Connecticut champs from Manchester, 46 to 31, and followed that up with a splendid 38 to 24 win over Windham last night, you can figure that the only team that stands in the way of state chanl- pionship is Warren Harding of Bridgeport or possibly Naugatuck which must out-point the Nauga- tuck Valley champs to meet Crosby for the big prize.
 What about Meriden? Well, in my humble but studied opinion, backed by 30 years of basketball ex~ perience, and knowledge such as it IS, Meriden does not belong on the same court as the Crosby team which won last night, as Meriden, with the 9Os6 aid of Singer midget tagged 'tMouse" Gostyla, won 8 a. 22 decision over another so-so team from New Britain. With the ex- ception of the little guy, who has an eagle eye, if allowed to "set" for 8 shot, and is as fast as a Inon- goose and seemingly tireless, Meri- den has one other player that is flair" for tournament play, a husky hard working defensive player, D'Annibile, by name. Against Mer~ iden, Crosby should not lose unless they take the floor with but four players, and do not shoot at the hoops at any time.
 Anw now, let's get back to the big moments of last evening which saw Crosby start Mast, gain an II to 2 lead, but Windham cut them down with some fast scoring in the second period, yet Crosby had 3 10--l4 edge at half time.
 Sloppy ball-handling by Crosby, notably by Belanger, cost the team several points which it might have scored. allowed Wi11dham to recover the ball and catch up to 15-14 situation, but the eventual winners came to life as the first half neared finish, got four points more and walked of the court a tired and jit- tery bunch of kids with a f1ve-point edge. All kinds of passes were made, many of them went wild, a dozen or more were dropped, but the points were going in.
 Simply Sensational
 There was one exception through out the game, and he was agile Artie Fisher, whose seven field goals EQUALED THE ENTIRE WINDHAM TEAM including the all- state forward, Joe Seretny, who was held to three field goals by the col. losal Crosby defense, and Russ Bar bero, a bang-up pivot player all season, who found the nets for just two field goals all evening. Fishers performance was absolutely amaz. ing, for, in addition to scoring 14 points, his floor worK was something to marvel at as he broke up Wind ham passes, cut in and out, was ale ways in position to shoot when Crosby had the ball, passed Co Kelly when he was covered and all In all gave a performance that stamps him as the outstanding for- ward of the tournament to date. His work in the Manchester game was almost as good, but last night, as the rug-cutters say it was "out of this world" Usually, the writer Is not in the habit of stopping over on high school players perform ance for too many adjectives have spoiled many a promising lad, but Fisher, in this instance, completely rates 1t, and may 1t do him more good than harm.
 Crosby held its five point half- time edge, and, in fact, picked up a point for 26-20 leaz going into the final heat, and, at this time, Crosby really went to town" as Fisher continued his great play, D'Agostino, sub came in and went well for two hoops and some good passing, Fietleson, started, then benched and put back again wound up with three nice field goals, while Reynolds and Kelly played fine defensive game, until the form seemed to be exhausted and had to be rested while Jocko Conlon took over. Tn the last four minutes Windhaln was held scoreless as Crosby hit the hoops for added points which gave them q fourteen point elge at the finish 3S to 24 and certainly a sure thing for the finales Saturday night, for if the Meriden team that.1 saw last night beats Crosby, I shall leave forth with for SoostoonowOckie, Siberia, and try to figure out the Einstein theory while I'm up there. Score:
 One Man Team
 Gostyla's 10 points, indlAding a one hand hook shot that won the game in the last 30 seconds, was the Story of the AEeriden 1A~22 win over New Britain, winch had hig- ger, rougher but off-balance team that missed enough shots near the hoOns to win five games. which served to put a few more wrinkles in the noble Esihernian brow of Coach Chick Shea, who sat on the bench a picture of utter dejectlon, with one exception, when the ball was given to Meriden after & Meri- a.A- sMA..s2 a. swm