Snow Does Not Prevent H.A. from Storming C.A. Stronghold and Winning
CRAFTSBURY – The biggest and most severe snowstorm in six years did not prevent the H.A. [Hardwick Academy] basketeers, with “Bill” Gallagher acting as coach in the absence of E.J. Tiffany, and “Duffy” Lewis, whom Craftsbury selected to referee the game, from driving to North Craftsbury last Friday afternoon, leaving the Hardwick Inn at 3:00 o’clock in two double teams. The trip, a twelve-mile jaunt, usually covered in an hour and a half, took about three hours to make, the team reaching their destination at 6:00 o’clock. Not many teams would have undertaken this trip, but the H.A. boys took it all in good fun, and the ultimate result was a reward that compensated them for all the hardships encountered. Several young ladies in another team, took the trip to be on hand to cheer the boys on to victory, which they earned by a score of 26 to 18.
The game was fast and clean, and in the rather small hall was considerably rough, but rough only in that it was played hard and fast, and the hall’s smallness had a tendency to make the boys bunch up. The fact that only five personals were called on H.A., and seven on the home team, speaks well for the sportsmanship of the two teams.
Hardwick started a fast offensive, with Alex McWilliam leading in the attack in the first half, this veteran caging four nice floor baskets; Young, one and J. McWilliam, one, while C.A. [Craftsbury Academy] was trailing far in the rear with only one floor basket and three free tries, the score being 13 to 5. Galli held the fast Hebert to no floor baskets and “Jackie” did not allow Spalding any points in the first half.
Letting up in the second half, H.A. played more of a guarding game, Alex holding himself well in check, letting “Jackie” and Young do more of the floor work and shooting. With Spalding caging three nice baskets, Easton one and Walker, one, with Easton shooting three fouls, the home team gave the visiting aggregation a fast run for honors in this half, the score being 13 to 12, in favor of Hardwick, showing that H.A. was running very evenly in play, scoring 13 points in each half, or a total of 12 floor baskets to six for C.A. Easton scored six out of ten tries for foul shots, and H.A. secured but two out of nine tries.
“Hoss” Calcagni was again in right forward position, and while he did not cage any baskets, he was working every minute and was good, both on the offensive and defensive, while Young again showed steady improvement.
The line-up:
H.A.: O. Calcagni, rf, G, 0; F, 0; 0 pts.; Young, lf, G, 4; F, 0; 8 pts.; A. McWilliam, c, G, 5; F, 0; 10 pts.; Galli, rg, G, 0; F, 1; 1 pt., J. McWilliam, lg., G, 3; F, 1; 7 pts.
C.A.: Spalding, rf, G, 3; F, 0; 6 pts.; Hebert, lf, G, 0; F, 0; 0 pts.; Easton, c, G, 2; F, 6; 10 pts.; Will Young, rg, G,0; F, 0; 0 pts.; Walker, lg, G, 1; F, 0; 2 pts., Wendell Young, lg, G, 0; F, 0; 0 pts.
The home team has now had a run of ten straight games and is making active preparations for its meeting tonight on the local court with the Orleans High School five, a new-comer on an H.A. schedule, but one that has an enviable record in the northern part of the state. Remember the game is to-night (Thursday), instead of Friday, and begins at the usual time, 8:15; doors opened at 7:45.
The boys remained at North Craftsbury all night Friday and started for home as 12:30 Saturday afternoon. They overtook the State truck and scraper near Gov. Graham’s and some of the boys got out and helped shovel it out, where it was stuck. After a tedious trip, the boys arrived home at 3:00 o’clock in the afternoon, having been gone just a day.
