ALERT: The Squid is playing in our backyard(actually right

[UConn Hoops1]

the hell in our front yard)! I graduated from Notre Dame High School back in the 60s when it was a major player in the Bridgeport area hoops scene in the Metropolitan Bridgeport Interscholastic Athletic Conference(MBIAC) with the likes of Central,Harding,Bassick,Fairfield Prep,Stratford and others. It was great rivalries,great players and great hoops for a lotta years. At any rate, Vito Montelli was the head baseball coach at Notre Dame at the time(and very successful). He moved on to the, then, brand new St. Joseph's High School in Trumbull; and developed the boys basketball program into a one of the great powerhouses in Connecticut scholastic hoops history. Unfortunately, he is an admirer and friend of The Slimey One and must have hussled him across the border avoiding all alarms and armed security to give a speech. We do not need Kentucky basketball camped in our midst. Without intending to be paranoid, I am sure the Squid had more than a friendly local appearance in mind.

What was he really up to?


GO HUSKIES!!!

 

[sparky]

Vito Montelli was the baseball coach back in the sixties at Notre Dame. I too went to ND and played basketball with Bike & co. The basketball coaches were Alvin T. Clinkscales, varsity boys, James Marchetti Jv boys and 'Easy Ed" Wysocki Freshman boys. The only other coach in the sixties was John Waldyer. Wysocki played at UB and Clinkscales was one of the original Trotters.
Great memories.

 

[UConn Hoops1]

Vito Montelli was the baseball coach back in the sixties at Notre Dame. I too went to ND and played basketball with Bike & co. The basketball coaches were Alvin T. Clinkscales, varsity boys, James Marchetti Jv boys and 'Easy Ed" Wysocki Freshman boys. The only other coach in the sixties was John Waldyer. Wysocki played at UB and Clinkscales was one of the original Trotters.
Great memories.

David Bike was a good friend of mine back in the day. I think he's still coaching hoops at SHU but I'm not sure. Haven't seen him(except on TV) for a long,long time. Team included Bob Pavia,Mike Koritko,,Jack Ceccerelli,Mike Usdanoff and the "young phenom" Rodock Cox(who was my first experience watching a player who could quite literally jump out of the gym). I had Montelli and Lou Saccone(head football coach) for gym. ND is a shadow of itself now. In those days, besides the solid academics, there weren't many sports that we didn't compete for the top spot in every year. You have to remember the game at the old UConn fieldhouse against Hillhouse(?63 or 64) for the state championship that Hillhouse(with Walter Esdale and Cliff Branch) won 57-55 or 57-54(I believe). You are very right about the memories.

 

[nimzovich]

David Bike was a good friend of mine back in the day. . You have to remember the game at the old UConn fieldhouse against Hillhouse(?63 or 64) for the state championship that Hillhouse(with Walter Esdale and Cliff Branch) won 57-55 or 57-54(I believe). You are very right about the memories.

that championship game was 1965, the year i graduated from Hillhouse. Hillhouse beat Hartford Public in 1964 and Wilbur Cross in 1963 . Walt Esdaile (Cornell) and Billy Evans (BC) were friends of mine who were on that team. Mike (not Cliff) Branch (Fairfield U) had graduated much earlier, i believe 1962. Russell Joyner, Cliff Bush and Tony Barone were also on that Hillhouse team. It was closer than the final score, as Hillhouse won 57-51.

 

[sparky]

David Bike was a good friend of mine back in the day. I think he's still coaching hoops at SHU but I'm not sure. Haven't seen him(except on TV) for a long,long time. Team included Bob Pavia,Mike Koritko,,Jack Ceccerelli,Mike Usdanoff and the "young phenom" Rodock Cox(who was my first experience watching a player who could quite literally jump out of the gym). I had Montelli and Lou Saccone(head football coach) for gym. ND is a shadow of itself now. In those days, besides the solid academics, there weren't many sports that we didn't compete for the top spot in every year. You have to remember the game at the old UConn fieldhouse against Hillhouse(?63 or 64) for the state championship that Hillhouse(with Waltersdale and Cliff Branch) won 57-55 or 57-54(I believe). You are very right about the memories.

Some of your memories are correct. Bob Pavia, Mike Koritko, Dave, Reg Marinaccio, and Rodock. Rodock surely could leap. The Hillhouse game was in 1965 we were 23-0 until that loss. The score was 56-51. I had Montelli for PE too.We did receive a good education and you are correct we excelled in many sports. Did you know that Jack and Rodock are no longer with us?

 

[sparky]

that championship game was 1965, the year i graduated from Hillhouse. Hillhouse beat Hartford Public in 1964 and Wilbur Cross in 1963 . Walt Esdaile (Cornell) and Billy Evans (BC) were friends of mine who were on that team. Mike (not Cliff) Branch (Fairfield U) had graduated much earlier, i believe 1962. Russell Joyner, Cliff Bush and Tony Barone were also on that Hillhouse team. It was closer than the final score, as Hillhouse won 57-51.

Hillhouse and Cross were major powers back then. I do remember we (ND) won the initial tap and Esdale sped down court to block a layup attempt. Barone and Evans were a very good backcourt combo. Remember Super John Williamson? He was tough as nails.

 

[Yonick]

Hillhouse and Cross were major powers back then. I do remember we (ND) won the initial tap and Esdale sped down court to block a layup attempt. Barone and Evans were a very good backcourt combo. Remember Super John Williamson? He was tough as nails.

That Hillhouse team with Esdale & Evans as seniors was even better the previous year. In addition to Evans & Esdale, who were juniors they had Billy Gray (who could jump out of the gym, and attended UConn briefly) and Tom Chapman who went to St. Anselms.

 

[sparky]

That Hillhouse team with Esdale & Evans as seniors was even better the previous year. In addition to Evans & Esdale, who were juniors they had Billy Gray (who could jump out of the gym, and attended UConn briefly) and Tom Chapman who went to St. Anselms.

With only 2 schools in New Haven it's no wonder Cross and Hillhouse were so powerful. My memory has blanked out on Cross. Who was the terrific little guard they had in 64?

 

[UConn Hoops1]

That Hillhouse team with Esdale & Evans as seniors was even better the previous year. In addition to Evans & Esdale, who were juniors they had Billy Gray (who could jump out of the gym, and attended UConn briefly) and Tom Chapman who went to St. Anselms.

Man this is great! Thanks for the refresher. Yeah, when it came to hoops, in those days, the Bridgeport area schools were good; and nothing matched the ND-Prep rivalry(especially when Prep had Jim Lyddy). BUT, Hillhouse and Cross(and occasionally the two Hartford schools...Public & ?) defined Connecticut hoops. That year(23-0) before the Hillhouse game, I knew we were good; but I would guess, if you asked any ND fan at the time who was being honest, there was a great deal of trepidation(which, thankfully, our players didn't share) going into that game. I thought, afterwards, that we deserved a badge of honor for making the game so competitive. And you're(nimzovich) right about Cliff Bush(not Branch). Amazingly, I got to meet him the following year at SHU; and got to know him pretty well. And I'm sorry(sparky), I did not know about Jack. What happened? I do remember Rodock passing. Man, those were the days if you were into high school hoops in Connecticut. Unfortunately, in those days, most(if not all) of the great players did not stay home. Until Mr. Calhoun and Chris Smith came along!

 

[Stinger92860]

Never realized Vito started at ND. I went to Central and I always knew him from St. Joes, thanks!!!

 

[Yonick]

With only 2 schools in New Haven it's no wonder Cross and Hillhouse were so powerful. My memory has blanked out on Cross. Who was the terrific little guard they had in 64?

The little guard from Cross, in those days was Glenn Pollard. Glenn initially went to UConn with Hillhouse's Gray. Unfortunately, both didn't make it, academically, past their soph season. At that time freshman couldn't play. As I recall both flunked off in mid semester of their soph seasons.
Pollard transferred and starred at Southern. I don't have any idea where, if anywhere, where Gray ended up at.

 

[DaddyChoc]

Man this is great! Thanks for the refresher. Yeah, when it came to hoops, in those days, the Bridgeport area schools were good; and nothing matched the ND-Prep rivalry(especially when Prep had Jim Lyddy). BUT, Hillhouse and Cross(and occasionally the two Hartford schools...Public & ?) defined Connecticut hoops.

maybe Weaver High

 

[UConn Hoops1]

maybe Weaver High

Absolutely Hartford Weaver! Thanks.


GO HUSKIES!!!

 

[mauconnfan]

maybe Weaver High

Saw Weaver and Cross play at Maloney in the tourney in I believe '70 or '71.......Weaver had the Mahorns and Shorty Davis and Cross had Campbell, Heard, Thomas and I think Jiggy Williamson........unbelievable talent on that court that night to watch for a then 12 or 13 year old.......

 

[uconnfan68]

With only 2 schools in New Haven it's no wonder Cross and Hillhouse were so powerful. My memory has blanked out on Cross. Who was the terrific little guard they had in 64?

I think you mean Doug Wardlow, but he was a little earlier. I remember watching the Hillhouse-Cross games on Ch8 Saturday mornings. Was Dom Perno the guard in '64?

 

[uconnfan68]

Saw Weaver and Cross play at Maloney in the tourney in I believe '70 or '71.......Weaver had the Mahorns and Shorty Davis and Cross had Campbell, Heard, Thomas and I think Jiggy Williamson........unbelievable talent on that court that night to watch for a then 12 or 13 year old.......

Saw the LL championship in New Haven, between Cross-Trumbull. The Cross team had Campbell-Williamson. They were #1 in the country 2 straight years. Only bummer was no-dunk rule.

 

[DaddyChoc]

Saw Weaver and Cross play at Maloney in the tourney in I believe '70 or '71.......Weaver had the Mahorns and Shorty Davis and Cross had Campbell, Heard, Thomas and I think Jiggy Williamson........unbelievable talent on that court that night to watch for a then 12 or 13 year old.......

"Shorty George" was my local hero... his brother Nick Davis was just as good (baseball too). Also add Keith Morgan to the Weaver bunch, strong as an ox!

 

[LIUCHusky]

I think you mean Doug Wardlow, but he was a little earlier. I remember watching the Hillhouse-Cross games on Ch8 Saturday mornings. Was Dom Perno the guard in '64?

Dom Perno graduated from UConn in 1964.

 

[sparky]

The little guard from Cross, in those days was Glenn Pollard. Glenn initially went to UConn with Hillhouse's Gray. Unfortunately, both didn't make it, academically, past their soph season. At that time freshman couldn't play. As I recall both flunked off in mid semester of their soph seasons.
Pollard transferred and starred at Southern. I don't have any idea where, if anywhere, where Gray ended up at.

I remember Glenn. He was tough and tricky with the ball. Thanks for the update.

 

[CTFIRERETIRED]

That Hillhouse team with Esdale & Evans as seniors was even better the previous year. In addition to Evans & Esdale, who were juniors they had Billy Gray (who could jump out of the gym, and attended UConn briefly) and Tom Chapman who went to St. Anselms.

Re: Billy Gray, I remember him and his short stay @ Uconn, and a number of years later, I saw him playing for U.S. Navy in a tourney @ Subase, New London.

 

[CTFIRERETIRED]

The little guard from Cross, in those days was Glenn Pollard. Glenn initially went to UConn with Hillhouse's Gray. Unfortunately, both didn't make it, academically, past their soph season. At that time freshman couldn't play. As I recall both flunked off in mid semester of their soph seasons.
Pollard transferred and starred at Southern. I don't have any idea where, if anywhere, where Gray ended up at.

As I mentioned, I saw Billy Gray playing for U.S. Navy team @ tourney in Groton, at the Subase.

 

[CTFIRERETIRED]

maybe Weaver High

Bulkley too. As for high school teams, and conferences, downstate in the Bridgeport area was good, as was New Haven, up in our neck of the woods THE conference was the CDC (Capital District Conference) Hartford Public, Weaver, Bulkley, NFA (Norwich Free Academy), New London, and Fitch (Groton). Later New Britain, and East Hartford joined. I remember the Hartford Public team from 1965-66. Bob Nash, Steve Waterman, and a guard, (cant remember his name). They were the best team in the state, but lost to Wilbur Cross in the State Finals. Another interesting note, the first round of the tourney was held at school sites, and Public was playing NFA, at Windham High Schools, Caisse Gym. Unfortunately, the janitors tried to make the floor look nice for the game, and applied a wax of some sort to the floor. When both teams came out for warm ups, the floor was more like an ice skating rink instead of a basketball court. Players were falling all over the place. Attempts were made to make the floor playable, to no avail. The game was canceled, and rescheduled to be played at E.O. Smith, in Mansfield. Public won the game.

 

[sparky]

I remember playing against Weaver in the 1965 quarters at Uconn. They were fairly big and their guards were real good. Bike scored 42 for us and his supporting cast did the rest and ND won. After that game we had teh pleasure to me Calvin Murphy on the hardwood. Fun memories.I think for 3 years in a row we played Bulkley. CDC was a tough conference.

 

[60'sfan]

Dom Perno was the guard in '64 but it was for Uconn. That was the year they made it to the elite 8 by knocking off a solid Princeton team led by Bill Bradley. Perno may have stole the ball from Bradley at the end to secure the win. We won't talk about their next game.

 

[DaddyChoc]

Bulkley too. As for high school teams, and conferences, downstate in the Bridgeport area was good, as was New Haven, up in our neck of the woods THE conference was the CDC (Capital District Conference) Hartford Public, Weaver, Bulkley, NFA (Norwich Free Academy), New London, and Fitch (Groton). Later New Britain, and East Hartford joined. I remember the Hartford Public team from 1965-66. Bob Nash, Steve Waterman, and a guard, (cant remember his name). They were the best team in the state, but lost to Wilbur Cross in the State Finals. Another interesting note, the first round of the tourney was held at school sites, and Public was playing NFA, at Windham High Schools, Caisse Gym. Unfortunately, the janitors tried to make the floor look nice for the game, and applied a wax of some sort to the floor. When both teams came out for warm ups, the floor was more like an ice skating rink instead of a basketball court. Players were falling all over the place. Attempts were made to make the floor playable, to no avail. The game was canceled, and rescheduled to be played at E.O. Smith, in Mansfield. Public won the game.

Dwight POOCH Toliver?