BLACKSTONE VALLEY MEMORIES

March 24

1966Paw Benny Benoit, the former Sacred Heart Academy shooting star, coached the Pawtucket Fraternal Order of Police quintet to a big performance as the locals upset defending champion Taunton Boys’ Club 92-81 to capture the R. I. Junior Basketball Tournament championship at the Pawtucket Boys’ Club. Johnny Wilson, the tourney MVP, bagged 27 points and Karl Augustein pumped in 21 for the champs. Jimmy Braxton and Karl Allaire also were in double figures with 17 and 10 points, respectively, for the FOP.

1986Bill Manchester rolled a high three of 432 while Mark Mooney and Jerry Phaneuf shared the high single with 154 to take top honors in the weekly matches of the Consolation Men’s Duckpin Bowling League. Other leaders were Mooney 410, Bob Steele 149-395, Art Casavant 138-389, Bob Warzycha 131375, Joe Machado 146-369, Al Bergman 145-362, Jim McDonald 138-356, Phaneuf 352, Gary Cartwright 125-350, Craig Kelly 125347, Bill Foster Sr. 126-343, Steve Kaplan 136-342, Joe O’Brien 125-339 and Ray Robitaille 120-331.

1996Mike McParlin canned 16 points, grabbed 12 rebounds and stole the ball three times en route to the tournament MVP to pace the Boys and Girls Club of Pawtucket 10year-old all-stars to a 35-29 overtime win over South Providence to capture the Ryder Transportation Hoop tourney. Also starring for the locals were James Sorrentine (eight points, three rebounds, four steals), Dave Quinn (six points, 12 rebounds) and Jarred Lynch (four points, three steals), while Nick Bertrand and Jordan Rabbitt had two points and two steals each.