The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1942-03-16
FLASHES
LAST IN MEET,
FINISH FIRST
Third Period Drive Brings
State Title to Naugy as
Crosby Loses 1896

New Haven, March 16--Naugatuck
High, expecting to take part in the
Class "B" basketball tournament
two weeks ago, was pleasantly sur
prised to be selected as the four
tenth and final team to take part
in the "a" meet at the Arena, which
came to a sensational close last
Saturday night, as the boys from
the little borough near Waterbury
scored 20 points in the third period
of eight minutes, then stood off
hard drive by Crosby High of Wat
erbury IN the final heat, to win the
final game and the state high school
hoop championship by score of SO
to 80.
The result, based on Naugatuck's
seasonal record, position at the start
Of the tournament, and progress
through the meet which included
wins over the Naugatuck Valley lea
que champions, from Warren Hard
ing of Bridgeport and the 1000 rated
Bridgeport Central, was one of those
things you hear about occasionally,
read about in sports magazines, but
seldom see, unless you were one Of
the $500 people who crowded into
the Arna Saturday night, to bear
witness to the final chapter Of the
tournament, entitled "the last shall
be first and the first shall. be ELI
minated"
Sour First Half
Neither Crosby nor Naugatuck
played much of the better basket
ball that they are capable Of, the
first period ending 6-5 for Crosby,
with each team having 10 points at
half time. Then came the deiuge Of
Naugatuck points IL in less than
five minutes. and a SO to 81 score
going into the final eight minutes,
in which Crosby staged desperate
bid to pull the game out of the fire,
but there was not time enough, and
hiatt II point lead was bit too
much for Bill Schofield's lads.
Naugatuck's speed and suddenly
found scoring ability, when 1t was
needed most, brought sweet victory
and another state title, the first
however, in more than ten years.
In Ryan and Fogarty, Coach Pete
Foley has two lads, listed as reserve
players, whose defensive play and
general all around ability kept
Naugatuck In the tournament, no
tably in the Harding game while
Naugy's Reilly has been a tower Of
strength, as Furs supplied the speed,
with the team aided no little by
Captain Eddie Mariana and his
ability from the free throw line,
which helped beat both Central and
Harding the two really tough"
teams of the tournament.
For Crosby, Art Fishers work has
been outstanding, all week, Albie
Kelly running close second, while
the defensive play Of Reynolds has
been very much worth while, Fisher
and Kelly, co-captains of the Crosby
club were both named to the all
tournament team by sports-writers,
with Meriden's Walter Mouse" Cos
tyla Naugy's Ed Mariana and Walter
Allesevich Of Harding the others
selected.
On the second team were Hugya
and Napoli, the two Harding for
wards; Reilly Of Naugautck at cent
er; Charley Fogarty of Naugatuck
and George D'Anniabile OF Meriden,
guards.
Trophies Awarded
Captain Eddie Mariana accepted
gold trophy, emblematic of the
state championship, from President
Harold SwaffieId of Fairfield, pres
ident of the CIAC after Saturdays
game: Bob Boucher, of Crosby ac-
cepting a silver trophy for the Cros-
by team; with individual gold and
silver basketball awards going to the
players.
Perhaps the most exciting moment
of the final game was the 1888
score, with three minutes to go and
Crosby coming on like the rpoyerbial
"house afire", but Naugy's Reilly's
picked up the bali near the Naugy
hoop, scored and that hoop was the
enc that beat a game, fast and able
Crosby crew that made remarkable
showing throughout the tourney.
bed Winners
Branford High won another Glass
"B" title by defeating woodrow VIII
son of Middletown Al to IS in a pre-
lin to the Crosby Naugatuck game,
as MontelinS, Branford center with
is points and Owens, forward with
9 led the scoring, the eventual win
ners leading, 10 to 16 at half time.
Wadsworth and Mrozowski scored "
points for the Middletown team.
At Hartford the Glass CD finals
and championship was decided, Old
Saybrooking winning top honors
over a strong team from Portland
High 81 to 90; Torrenti scoring u
points for the winners who were De
- half TINA PORT