Out of The Past
Pundit looks back at his introduction to Uniontown-Connellsville rivalry One game that sports writers like to play is “remember when…”
Not only are old games and players recalled, but at the same time you never know when a comment will lead to a future column, especially when you are doing sports history.
So it was, a few days ago when talk turned to the Uniontown and Connellsville basketball rivalry over the years.
There was a time when all you had to say was “Connellsville and Uniontown,” and go from there, for no matter if it was baseball, basketball, football or it could have even been tiddley-winks, and it was a strong, often hotly contested rivalry.
Looking back, it’s hard to believe that my introduction to the two-city basketball rivalry came two score and three years ago at this time. Dec. 8, 1961, to be exact. Connellsville was enjoying some good seasons under coach Ray Forquer, and Abe Everhart’s Uniontown teams were writing new pages in the history of county basketball success.
How many of these other coaches from that time do you remember – Ken Misiak at Connellsville IC (now Geibel Catholic), and the only one still coaching basketball; Don Crawford, Dunbar Twp., and still coaching golf at Laurel Highlands; Harry Mihalik, Scottdale; Chris Stoner, East Huntingdon; Ron Fudala, South Union; Vince Sonson, Beth-Center; Vic Lapkowicz, Carmichaels; Uniontown St. John, who else but the Ol’ Lasher himself, Jim Nesser; Larry Papini, California; Frank Dankovich, Brownsville; Ken Clark, Bellmar; Adam Donnelly, German Twp.; Paul Polink, Redstone; Henry DiVirgilio, Frazier; Tamer Joseph, Fairchance-Georges; Ed Barry, Mapletown; Rudy Marisa, Albert Gallatin; John Titus, Jefferson-Morgan; Fred Answine, Masontown All Saints; and Steve Furin, North Union.
Leading up to this game, Connellsville lost its opener at Johnstown, 48-46, and beat Beth-Center, 69-50.
Uniontown won its first nine games before losing the section opener to Monessen, 72-58.
On this night they got together at the packed Connellsville High gym (now Junior High East), and it was soon evident that the old rivalry was going to be as intense as ever.
Uniontown came out in its famed pressing defense-running offense that gave more than one opponent fits, and for the first quarter it bothered the Cokers. Just enough for Uniontown to score 13 points in five minutes, and race into a 13-point lead, 22-9.
But after that opening Raider drive, Connellsville got its own running game back on stride, and they outscored the Raiders the rest of the way, 49-39. But the opening rush by UHS was enough to hold off the last minute push by the home team.
Warned all week in practice by coach Forquer what to expect from the running, pressing Raiders, CHS worked to perfect a passing attack especially designed to break up the press. But it took until late in the opening quarter for the Cokers to get on the right track.
Jim Shallenberger gave CHS a 2-0 lead with a shot from the corner, on a pass from Emmy Shedlock, then Uniontown ran 13 in a row. But after that the game belonged to the Cokers.
Connellsville cut the halftime deficit to 26-18 and to 45-40 after three, as Shallenberger and Tim Beeman triggered a 22-point third-quarter rush.
Along with good work under the boards, the 6-6 Beeman put in four goals, on passes from Shedlock and Joe Mayercheck, plus three free throws. Shallenberger was strong on the boards along with scoring five points.
Don Yates helped keep Uniontown just out of reach with four goals, including two tap-ins and another on an interception and driving layup.
Connellsville came on strong in the fourth with Shallenberger’s two baskets and a free throw, Beeman a 2-3 card, Shedlock a goal, and Dave Hurst 1-2.
But Uniontown stayed just out of reach with two goals each by Al Curry and Yates, Pete Smith 1-2 and Ron Sepic’s two free ones.
With 3:21 left, Connellsville was down 57-48, then Hurst got a tap-in from Shallenberger’s missed free throw, Beeman two free ones and Shallenberger a goal from the corner, pulling the Cokers within three, 57-54.
But Yates and Curry countered with goals, and the Raider lead was back to seven, 61-54, and UHS then worked the clock down with some fine ball handling and freezing.
Yates was game high with 23, Sepic had 11, Curry and Smith 10, Ben Gregory five, and Barnes two. For CHS, Beeman had 22, Shallenberger 20, Shedlock eight, Hurst and Chuck Green four.
After this game, Uniontown would win six more before losing to Monessen, then they won six more, lost an exhibition at Bethlehem, 68-60, then swept 14 in a row, climaxing with the WPIAL championship (50-34 over Ford City) and the state title (70-57 over Norristown).
Connellsville followed with three wins, lost at Duquesne, 63-35, then won 15 in a row, including all 14 of their Section Two games, and advanced to the WPIAL playoffs, where they lost to Ford City, 50-31.
A great year in a great rivalry.
Remember?
Jim Kriek is a Herald-Standard sports correspondent.