West Rutland High School - Green and Gold Yearbook (West Rutland, VT)

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Losing r hecrt-bre king two-oo'nt dr.cisJ n to an inspired Chester High School to in in the Rotary Tourn ment, nut the .vr p-per on the 195 3 5t » st Rutland High School biskotbrll campaign After splitting six games in the Pre-Southern Vermont League sesson, the Ilinchcymen registered a 5-9 circuit record. Howeu-r, the one bright spot was .Vest Rutland s impressive 52-50 win over our erch-rivcl Rutltnd High. The los3 was the first in league competition for the hodmen end their initial defeat after 9 straight verdicts. The Golden Horde.onuned the Pre-Southern Vermont League season by defei ting a favored Alumni cuintet twice before inaugurating the regular schedule. In the first game of tile season, Vest Rutland traveled to Granville,N.Y. only to lose by c |5-ij-2 score. The following game with Proctor at home showed the .Vest Rutland fans the spirit and power of their teem which downed Proctor, 53- 3 In the return contest at Proctor, Vest Side lost, lj.3-37. This v;r3 the first gc.no to b. played in the new Proctor gymnasium. The following tilt Y'ith Grrrr illc the Golden Horde showed again their egressiveness by winning, [j.1-33. 'Vest Side then moved to Pittsford where they were unable to cope with the red-hot McCormackmen end l)st, 63-51. At tfeat Rutland, however, Gene •Vasik rnd Richard Pocor -, spearheaded the offense to defeat the Panthers, 63-56. The preliminary round of the schedule for Rutland ended with the Hinoh yta« n posting s record of three wins and three iosfl«9.

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In the Southern Vermont League West Rutlend floored a strrt ing quintet of Joe Vaccarella ml Gene 7csik Pt forwards, John Socinski at center, r.nd Roy Piute end Dick Pccor guards. The reserve sourd consisted of Los Johnson, Ed Fabian, Johnny Birnchi, Strn Pletryka end Dick Symerski. The first gamc was at the Armory against MSJ which ’Vest Rutland lost, 67-J16. Brrttlcboro then mot West Side in West Rutland only to lo3c to an insr J.re Golden Horde team 1 Wasik again broke this one up, but it was the la3t minute free throws by Ed Fabian that clinched the game. The Ilordemen then lost to.favored Rutland High, 59“f3» £nd dropped a 3rueekor to Springfield, 60-59« Then the West Slders defeated Bennington in a close game at home 56-5 and overpowered Windsor for their first win a way from home, 67-57. Bo Hows Falls then broke West Sides winning wry a in r wild gene, 70-62. West Rutland traveled to Brcttleboro and dropped a 51-50 dccission to the Colonels, an! then upended a favored Rutland team at home, 52-50 in an amazing finish, Wasik and Pluta sterrod defensively, with Pccor scoring the feme winning basket in the last minute of play The Golden Horde l)st to Springfield, 62-52, and a Iso to Benning ton, 58-Ji.l. They then defeated Windsor, 52-lj.3. The Hincheymen onded the road campaign c t Bellows Falls and dropped a 72-1 9 count to the Terriers. In the finale at lest Side, the Hordes-mcn lost to MSJ 6 .j.-5l3. Thus, V est Rutland ended the SLV campaign with a .record of five wins, and nine loses, for a.fifth place finish in the stand ings. The season a record stood at eight, victories end twelve set-backs.

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The Golden Horde was then ordered by the Vermont Headmasters to oppose Brandon in a Clcs3 B playoff for a district tournamont berth. 'Vest Rutland v on, 61j.-l|.9 behind the offensive and defensive play of Gene Wesik end hsy Pluto. Thus, they entered the tournament against the powerhouse from Chester who defeated the Gojden Horde lest year, V IiHS, c slight favorite, lost, 5-3-£6 on the deadly' shooting of Mike Nason who scored a total of 39 points, Chester'went on to defeat Pittsford to win the Class 3 Championship for Southern Vermont, and elso to defeat St. Michaels of Montpelier to win the Class B Strte title. West Rutland placed Dick Pecor and Ray Pluta, who played 8 great game both offensive and defensive a a.-net Chester, on the Class 3 All Tournament team. Gene vVrsik was elected on the second five All Southern Vermont League team. He placed sixth In the selections. « Five members of this year’s team will be graduated in June. They include Gene' . rsik, Joe Vrccrrella, John Bianchi, Ray Pluta, and Rlclurd Pecor.