Before They Wore Stripes, Basketball 2013-14

Before They Wore Stripes . . .

Some of the referees who handle city leagues' basketball games are former players.
Since I'm ancient (smile), I might have written stories about them during their high school careers.
We hope you enjoy this feature.
Would you like to see a story about someone who played in the Public, Catholic or Inter-Ac
leagues and is now a ref (assuming I did one on him)? Send me a note at tedted307@yahoo.com

Thanks,
Ted

The first story from January 1980 is about Frankford
senior guard Kevin "Cat" Compton, who is now a veteran
referee. The second story details Cat's commitment to Rhode
Island, where he had a fine career, in the summer following
his graduation. (Note: Anthony Chennault is the father of
Villanova's Tony Chennault. And Ralph Lewis, a classic
late bloomer, advanced to the NBA.)

PIONEER STARS LEARN TO PLAY UNDER WRAPS

By TED SILARY

They are almost as old as the game's inventor and to figure them out, it seems like even the guys with Ph.Ds have trouble.

At the very instant that Dr. James A. Naismith invented the game of basketball and chose up sides for a game to 20 by twos (win by four), we can bet that some wise guy among the participants looked at the opposing team and said, "See that guy with the sandy hair? We'd better handle him with a box-and-one."

And ever since, a "box", a diamond-and-one and a triangle-and-two have been as much a part of this game as two steps only before a player cans a layup and two techs only before a coach goes into a fit.

Alas, guard Kevin Compton and forward Anthony Chennault, the cornerstones of a Frankford High team that boasts few precious building blocks after them, stand high among the innocent victims.

Together, the lone Pioneers with experience are averaging close to 36 points a game. The rest, meanwhile, have barely totaled 36 points for the season -- or so it seems.

John Bartram started the parade of special defenses in the first Public League game after the Christmas holidays. And it has rarely been interrupted since.

" It can be frustrating," noted Compton , who shook the shackles enough to shoot 12-for-19 for 24 points yesterday, as the Pioneers flipped Jules Mastbaum Tech, 73-70. " It is really bad when you can't get the ball and your teammates are not putting the ball in the basket. You know, as one of the main players, it's your job to get points, but you just can't do it. "

As yesterday's game progressed, Mastbaum Coach Ralph (Bones) Schneider shifted from conventional defenses to a box, to a diamond and later, to a triangle.

" I guess they were kind of playing it by ear," Compton said. " I always see the scouts of other teams with clipboards and pencils and I am sure they're able to take note of what happens to us. I was 90 percent sure that we'd see a triangle by the end of the game. What we have to do is get one of these guys to stick three or four quick jumpers and blow 'em right out of it. "

FOR NOW, A SNOWBALL WOULD have a better chance to succeed in hell. Kenny Young (14) and Austin Wilder (12) fell into place after Compton and Chennault (16) in the double figures column, but as far as them instilling fear, forget it.

" Every club in this league knows that we have just two real players," said the Pioneers' brutally honest coach, Vince Miller. " We don't have anybody else that can generate any offense. If we had a third or fourth guy to score a little, we could sacrifice ( Compton and Chennault) and have a field day. The middle is the key. That's where the openings are. "

The openings, in another sense, are where Frankford decides to insert them.

After leading by 15 in the second period and letting it get away, the Pioneers then forged ahead by 12 early in the fourth. With that, Mastbaum (Ernell Harley 18 points, Kevin Adams 5 assists and 7 steals) scored eight straight.

Again, Frankford spurted enough to post a 67-57 lead with 2:50 to go. Well, as Harley, Kelly Anderson and Adams (two) hustled for four baskets off steals in a span of only 57 seconds, The 'Baum was back within two.

ONE-AND-ONE CONVERSIONS by Young and Ralph Lewis (13 rebounds) padded the lead back to six and . . . you guessed it. Harley nailed one of two foul shots, then Mark McDowell hit two and passed to Harley to cut the lead to 71- 70.

At that juncture, Adams and Compton collided on the inbound pass and Adams was called for the foul ("Boy, did they blow that call," said Daily News legman Don Conaway.).

Anyway, Compton blew the one-and-one and McDowell fumbled a long pass over the end line. Chennault added two free throws at 0:00.

" We really try to give 'em away, don't we?" said Miller. " We don't have a real leader and we don't have maturity. I have searched and searched and searched to find out what we do wrong (at the end). It can't be blamed on

inexperience now. We've played 12 games and that's half a season.

" Mastbaum should have won the game, actually. They fought and they sweated. It is a typical Bones team - well-coached, disciplined, not a whole lot of talent. For that matter, we don't have a whole lot of talent, either. "

What's there, however, is constantly under surveillance. And wraps.

ELSEWHERE: Northeast ( Willie Oliphant 23) hung a 59-57 surprise on Murrell Dobbins Tech ( Anthony Davidson 24) . . . Earl Hightower (12) led 10 scorers as Ben Franklin flattened Abraham Lincoln, 55-41 . . . James Gambrell sank 22 as Thomas Edison edged George Washington, 46-41.

FRANKFORD'S COMPTON TO PLAY FOR URI

By TED SILARY

One by one, the class of the basketball Class of 1980 dribbled to this
college or that college, or maybe even a prep school.

Kevin Compton , meanwhile, dribbled - and fumbled - his replies as time
marched on.

Sure, the 6-1 guard from Frankford High had been selected third-team All-
City. Sure, he was not named " The Cat" for nothing. Sure, he appeared to
have all the tools necessary to play at the Division I level.

But there he was, unsure about his future plans as the summer dragged on.

" People asked me over and over where I was going and I didn't have an
answer," said Compton . " It really wasn't a hassle, but it did kind of get to
me. "

Now, thanks to Jack Kraft, Compton has a place to go. A nice one, at that.
The knot was tied last night between Kevin and the University of Rhode Island,
also the present home of Horace Owens (Dobbins '79) and Roland Houston (King
'78).

" I had offers from Division II schools, but I didn't accept them," Kevin
said. " I know I'm a Division I player. He (Kraft) has not made any promises,
but lead guard is open and it will depend upon how I perform. I really didn't
want to go away from Philly, but at least this school isn't halfway across the
country.

" I visited the school last week and the people were nice. Then, Mr. Kraft
came to our house and explained everything about the scholarship to my
parents. They thought that was nice. The only thing he downed (smile) was
the food. He said there's nothing like mom's cooking."