Crimson Eagles Survived Cold Shooting to Defeat Danbury, 68-60, 50 Years Ago Today

The Andrew Warde High School boys' varsity basketball team survived cold shooting and the 19-point effort of Charles Bogusis to hand Danbury a 68-60 loss in the Hat City, Tuesday, January 8, 1963.

The win was the fifth in eight starts for the Crimson Eagles. Coach Don Feeley's cagers improved to 4-2 in conference play.

The teams were tied at 12-12 after the first quarter, but Bogusis, a six-foot-seven inch, 208-pounder, nicknamed 'Baby Huey,' tossed in 10 points in the second quarter to pace the Hatters to a 30-26 lead at the half. Bob Ryan and Marty Melson combined for 10 Warde points in the second period.

Warde began to roll in the third period, though. Pete Jankovsky found his scoring touch for 10 points, and the visitors assumed a 44-40 cushion heading into the final period.

The scoring tempo increased for both sides in the fourth quarter, but the Eagles had the better of it as Wayne Gower, Jankovsky, and Ryan accounted for 22 points. Bill Coffey, Elmer Harrison, and 'Baby Huey' combined for 18 Danbury points.

The Crimson Eagles ultimately won the game at the foul line by sinking 12-of-21 free throws, compared to four-of-12 for the Hatters. Bogusis had 10 of the Danbury charity tosses, but he converted only three as he was continually fouled by the smaller Eagles.

Warde won the junior varsity game as Rusty Helgren scored 19 points and George Amarant added 10 for the Crimson Eagles.

Paul