I think it was late December back in ’61. At the time, the Kiwanis Club of Chester sponsored an annual basketball tournament featuring selected Delaware County high school teams and was held at the Swarthmore College Field House between the Christmas and New Year holidays. I was a Cougar at the time, a Springfield Cougar…
After a storied career (possibly even legendary) as the MVP on the 1960 champion Springfield A.A. basketball squad, I had transferred in as a sophomore from Delco Christian. I was surprisingly familiar to Cougar Coach, “Ace” Bell, and there was a lot of nervous talk among the existing Cougars and the incredibly talented group that had moved up from Springfield Junior High. I had already peaked (as I later learned), but it was great to be a source of mystery, as briefly as it lasted…
As a sophomore, I played on the JV’s behind Mark Prager (my substitute on the A.A. squad). Finally, I became a varsity Cougar. I am convinced to this day that Ace kept me on the varsity that junior year only because I could beat up on Ted Crary in practice. Ted was a great player, a star, an all-time Cougar…
OK, so what about those Bulldogs, those Saint James basketball Bulldogs…We met that year in the Kiwanis Tournament. They had Tom Galia (I hope I have his name right) and a point guard whose name I don’t recall. Galia was only 5’10’’, but could dunk with both hands. We had Ted Crary down low at 6’5” and a point guard named Ritchie Spallone.
The game was physical from the start. Ritchie and his counterpart were equally determined to run their offense and to disrupt and deny at the other end of the floor. The tone of the game had been set and gained intensity as time progressed. After each possession, Ritchie and that Bulldog would meet at center court to renew the battle. Both had moments of triumph, but overall team size and talent were in our favor. Galia was getting mostly outside shots and Ritchie was smart enough to spread the ball around to other Cougars as the Bulldogs would collapse on Ted at the slightest suggestion of Ritchie’s intention to pass him the ball. Galia couldn’t do it all by himself and our outside shooters were hot, so frustrating for the Bulldogs, but that first pass from the point was never uncontested at either end of the floor, often nose to nose.
The fight started suddenly. I never understood why exactly, but most of the Bulldogs went after Ted, tangling him in the netting behind the basket. Maybe they were just nearby. Meanwhile, Ritchie had his own battle. We came off the Cougar bench as one. Ace went immediately to Ritchie, the rest of us to the aid of Ted.
I am tempted to say how I led the charge from my spot at the end of the bench, but, truth be told, I was so damn slow, I was not the first to arrive…
We had recently received our class rings. We were not allowed to wear jewelry during games, but, after all, I was the 12th man, unlikely to play. Ritchie was the heart of our team. So, there I was, sorting through fellow Cougars and peeling Bulldogs off Ted, imprinting Cougar stuff on their chins…
Film at 11…
IN RETROSPECT: I think it was fortunate that we never met the Bulldogs on the football field. I say this, not out of fear, but mindful of the Bulldogs great football tradition, and Ritchie was co-captain and a halfback on the Cougar football team…
…
SPAZZ
THE RAMBLERS
JIM GREENGRASS
THE INDIANS
THE PREACHER’S KID
THE KNIGHTS
PUBERTY
THE BULLDOGS