Just a few weeks back we visited an Attleboro-Coyle contest from 1966 in a memoir submitted by old friend Johnny Thibeault which told of a real nail-biter which took a buzzer-beater jump shot from Dave Hardt to send Attleboro into the 1966 Tech Tourney.
Well, this relates a tale from two years previously which mirrored the finish, if not the circumstances, involved. I remember both games well and trust the retelling here will be half the kick it is now as it was then.
Foul shots tell story in wild overtime
Attleboro High tied Coyle High of Taunton for first place in the final Bristol County League standing here last night with an exciting 81-79 overtime win over Bishop Stang of North Dartmouth.
The Bombardiers closed out the season with their 10th straight BCL victory and an overall record of 18-3, which carried them for a qualifying birth in the Eastern Mass. Tech tournament at Boston garden on March 2. The breath-taking win found some clutch foul-shooting in the 3-minute overtime session, with Johnny Shockro making good on 3 of 4 foul shots and Johnny Simpson cashing in on a single charity toss. The only hoop of the extra stanza came on a corner push shot by Dave Wild. All of the Spartan points were from the foul line, as John Doherty and Mark Vigeault caged two apiece. Biggest lead posted by either team came as the Blue and White were ahead 39-34 with 37 seconds remaining in the 2nd stanza.
Every player of both teams took part in the first period, scoring with the exception of Attleboro’s Pete Kapinos. During this frame, the Spartans took a 19-15 lead. Range Ron Roscoweicz, who just about wrecked the Blue with his 21-point output, had 6 points during this span.
Both teams continued hot in the 2nd quarter with Roscoweicz getting 9 points and Johnny Shockro being the man of the hour for the Bombardiers with 4 hoops and 3 free tosses. Attleboro finished out their quarter with a 41-38 lead.
A big blitz started the 3rd as Delutis and Roscoweicz put on a great exhibition hoop shooting for both teams.
Fans became dizzy watching the clubs run up and down the floor with the 2 big fellows jumping them through the twine. Delutis had 10 of his 20 points and Roscoweicz had 10 of his 31.
Attleboro fell behind on 2 occasions during the 3rd quarter, but by only 2 points. As the buzzer sounded, the Attleboro team was in front by a 62-61 score. In the final can tell, both teams came out running and exchanged basket for basket. Wild suddenly waxed hot for 6 points and Delutis hit the mark for 2 field goals. Rascal continued his uncanny shooting, but it was a long shot by Mark Vigeault that in tied the score at 75 points to send the game into overtime.
Shockro, who made 11 of 18 foul shots, opened the extra. With a free-line toss and then wild hit from the corner. With 1:47 remaining, Wild was fouled by Doherty and the South Attleboro lad made good on both tosses. With 49 seconds to go, Roscoweicz fouled out of the game and the reliable Shockro sank 2 more for an 80-77 lead. Vigeault then stepped to the foul line for 2 free throws. Johnny Simpson hit the foul stripe with 26 seconds remaining, but missed and Stang called time.
What could have proved a disastrous foul with 10 seconds to play clicked away, went by the boards as Bob Matheson’s shot hit the rim and fell back into Simpson’s hands. The speedy back court man brought the ball up and was fouled by Matheson and he converted the first shot of the 1-1 situation for the last score of the game.
Matheson, Roscoweicz and Vigeault all fouled out in the overtime quarter for the visitors. Attleboro didn’t lose a player over the same route. You
That’s about it for me. I’m gonna get back to watching The ME Channel and transport myself into the 60’s! Peace, my friends.