BLACKSTONE VALLEY MEMORIES

December 9

1953Vinnie Brennan and Dick Nolan, two former Pawtucket Vocational hoop stars, will head the fast Valentine Florists when they entertain Noury-Nassaney-Stephens Post in the nightcap of the Blackstone Valley Basketball League’s four-game Sunday schedule at the Pawtucket Boys’Club gym. Jim O’Brien, Andy Motta, Joe Furante, Joe Simone and Pete Ruggeri make Valentine’s one of the top quintets in the loop. The Vets have sufficient talent in Elias Hanna, Joe and Sig Demty, Jim Stephens, Joe Malky and Johnny Neery.

Veteran Tolman hoop mentor Ted McConnon has 6-6 All-Stater whiz Don Suggs (18.0 ppg), 6-2 All-Valley Frank Geiselman and 5-10 Jim Squadrito back from the team that won 19 consecutive games, made the state final, reached the New England semifinals and finished with a sparkling 21-3 record. Juniors 5-10 Eddie DaCruz and 5-8 John Derosh are set in the backcourt, while skyscraping 6-5 rookie Gerry Suggs, Don’s younger brother, and 6-3 Mike Eisolonis are making strong bids for starting jobs. Key reserves include 6-1 Larry Caswell, 5-8 Pete Giard and 5-10 Mike Riccardi along with Norm Perry, a strong, fast 5-9 transfer from Pawtucket West and one of the Valley high scorers a year ago.

19631973Tolman hoop coach Jim Donaldson will have good size in the starting frontcourt with 6-4 Pete Rankowitz and 6-1 Tom Michalczyk at the forwards and 6-7 Doug Clary at center along with 5-9 Ken Dickie and 5-10 Mike Rankowiz, Pete’s brother, completing the backcourt. The remainder of the Tiger cast includes 5-7 Tony Mendoza, 6-1 Ray Shepard, 5-6 Denny Williams, 6-2 Joe Dragon, 5-10 Ray Boisse, 5-8 Mike Paine and promising 6-1 sophomore Dave Leggat. “Our starters from game to game may depend on whether we are facing a big or small team. There is good depth, but we need to pick up on the experience,” said Donaldson.