This day in 1914 in The Record

Friday, Jan. 16, 1914. Friday is basketball day throughout Troy as the city’s Public Schools League opens its season, Troy High hosts Pittsfield, and the first-place New York State League club plays Paterson at the Armory.

“Never before — perhaps never again — has or will be witnessed such a game of basketball as that staged between the Paterson Crescents and the Troy quintet,” The Record reports.

“It is but on extraordinary occasions that the fans of this city become so excited that they are unable to keep their seats, and [Friday] night was one of these.”

The two-time defending champions play their way out of a deep first-half hole and barely hold off a persistent Paterson five for a 30-28 victory. Poor shooting early allows the visitors to build a 9- 0 lead before center Chief Muller, who rejoined the club last week, puts Troy on the board with a free throw. Muller shifts to right forward when Bobby Vance is ejected late in the half, while veteran Ed Wachter takes over at center.

Paterson leads 20- 8 at halftime but Troy starts the second half with a 9- 0 run of its own to close within three points. By the time a timeout is called Paterson’s lead is 27-24. When play resumes Troy captain Jack Inglis and Wachter score baskets in succession to put the home team ahead at long last.

Paterson sinks a free throw to knot the game. “After three more minutes, during which every person in the place stood up and rooted, [Troy left guard] Flo Haggerty nosed in a one-timer and gave the locals another lead of a point. Paterson then held the ball but was unable to score, their plays being broken on each occasion.”

Inglis gets tripped up just as time expires and makes the final score 30-28 with his free throw. The captain “played like a wild man” in the second half, while Muller leads all scorers with 11 points. The victory allows Troy to put more distance between themselves and second-place Utica after the Indians lose to Gloversville, 39-23.

At the Central Y.M.C. A., Troy High drops a close one to Pittsfield High, 22-19. “The two teams were so matched, man to man, that the local representation was unable to draw away from the visitors at any time.” The Flying Horses briefly take the lead in the second half after trailing 9-7 at halftime, “but the time and Troy’s strength went together.”

In the Public Schools league, School 5 crushes School 16, 28- 5, while School 1 opens its season with an 11-7 victory over School 3.