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HALL – CONARD: BASKETBALL
© 2012 James A. Johnson
INTRODUCTION
Two basketball junkies in 2011 were standing in the corridor to the gymnasium at Hall
High School before the start of the game between Hall and Conard. Coming down the aisle was
a gentleman, who looked like Paul Lorch, famed Hall 3-year varsity starter and basketball
alumnus. Paul Lorch was the point guard from 1958 – 60 and was a floor general supreme. He
was the bellwether of the team and coach Dave Deacon on the basketball court. One of the
basketball junkies shouted out: “There goes the second best guard to ever play for Hall High
School. Paul with an incredulous look on his face turned and asked: “Who’s first?” The other
basketball junkie said with an amusing chuckle: “What do you mean whose first – You must
have heard of Ray Moore.” This story is about the early years of Hall and Conard high school
basketball.
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Ray Moore, 5’ 9” was the starting guard and star from 1954-1956 at Hall High School.
Ray never played one second of junior varsity basketball. In 1956, his senior year he set the
West Hartford, Connecticut career scoring record and tallied 36 points in one game. Moreover,
his teams qualified for and played in the Connecticut State Tournament at the New Haven Arena,
3 straight years.
The other Co-Captain in 1955 was Dick “Spook” DelMastro, a lithe 6’ 1” forward, who
could shoot and handle the basketball. Dick is now in basketball heaven. The third star player
was Tony Newman, 6’ 2” and approximately 172 pounds, who could put the ball in the basket
with his jump shot and was a tremendous rebounder, to boot. Tony could dunk the ball with
ease. These three players are very possibly the finest threesome on the same team, in West
Hartford history. They were that prolific. If the reader is curious as to how I know all this
information, it is because I played with and against Tony Newman, after graduating from
Conard, in the summer for at least 4 years. The location where we played and the other star
players, I will get to later.
If any hip-hop generation reader believes that modern basketball started with Michael
Jordan and Reebok basketball shoes – you are dead wrong. The modern game started with the
advent of the jump shot that was predominantly used by high school players nationwide, in the
late 1940’s and early 1950’s. Ray Moore, Tony Newman and Dick DelMastro all had jumpers as
you see it executed by players today.
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Keep in mind, as this story unfolds that West Hartford had only one high school with
grades 10-12 and it was located where the Town Hall is today on North Main Street. In fact,
back then you could leave Hall High School and walk a few yards to study at the public library.
Conard High School opened in the fall of 1957 with grades 10 – 12 and remained with 3 grades
for many years thereafter.
MORLEY SCHOOL
Now to that question I raised, as to where the summer games took place in West
Hartford. The location was Morley Elementary School on Fern St. The basketball court in the
1960’s was near the street but some years later it was moved and reconfigured. But, it is still
there. This writer use to rule that court, but I was not the best player. That distinction belongs to
High School All- America, John Egan of Weaver H.S., Providence College and the NBA. When
he showed up the cars were parked on both sides of the street for ¼ mile. Even elderly residents
came out to see what was going on. What they saw was John Egan’s blinding speed, elevation
and forays to the basket on his drive. And, 6’ 2” Tony Newman dunking the basketball on a fast
break. Yes, you guessed it, Dick DelMastro and Tony Newman were present along with this
young writer. They seemed to know me, before I knew who they were. “Hi Jimmy” said Tony
and Dick.
At this juncture, you are probably thinking – what about Ray Moore and where does he
fit into this story. And, how can you state with such definitive accuracy about players before
your time. The answer to that question is by reading stories like this and all the players listed in
this article were outstanding basketball players. In addition, athletes always discussed in the
locker room and praised those who played before them. Moreover, in a small town like West
Hartford, athletes, especially basketball players are revered.
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THE HONOR ROLL
The following are some of the outstanding players who played at Morley School on Fern
Street:
John Egan Weaver & NBA
Don Langenauer Hartford Public
Tony Newman Hall & Univ. of Hartford
Dick DelMastro Hall & Univ. of Hartford
Bobby Knight Harlem Globetrotter & N.Y. Knick
Bob Pollack Weaver & Univ. of Hartford
Pat Burke Hartford Public
Larry Goffberg Weaver
Mike Kaplan Hall
Ed Driscoll Conard & Univ. of Hartford
John Lee Harrell Weaver
Dave Bovitz Weaver
Charles “Corky” Terry Hartford Public
Jimmy Lawrence Hall
Willie Hicks Conard & Univ. of Hartford
Frank Keitt Weaver
Jack Islieb Hall & American Univ.
Rick Turner Weaver
Billy Dunn Conard
Jimmy Johnson Conard
Now, the answer to that question I promised about the great Ray Moore. I met Ray
Moore, at age 14 on the outdoor basketball courts at Duffy Elementary School. He asked me my
name and where I went to school, which was Sedgwick Jr. H.S. (now middle school). Ray
proceeded to teach me the game for about one hour. I never saw Ray Moore again. But, it
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would not be the last time I heard his name. As I got older and developed my basketball skills,
Ray Moore’s name would constantly pop up and become the center of the discussion. Boys in
the locker room, in the cafeteria or hallway always discussing basketball. The conversation as I
remember it went something like this: “Ray Moore this……….. and Ray Moore that………” It
was not until years later that I realized the person who instructed me at Duffy School was none
other than the great Ray Moore. So, although I am late: THANK YOU, RAY MOORE! It was
Ray who engendered my interest in basketball and when I returned to Sedgwick for the 9th grade,
my coaches Mr. Wilson and Mr. Burroughs both said: “You have improved.”
Sedgwick Jr. H.S. Team Picture with Coach Bryce Burroughs
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As you view the 1955 Hall H.S. pictures at the end of this article you will also see Coach Dale
Harper. How good a coach was Dale Harper? His teams qualified for the state tournament every
year from 1954 to 1956. Or, better still ask Tony Newman.
You can find Tony Newman on the 25th Floor – City Place – Hartford, Connecticut
as Executive Vice President, Willis Group. He can probably broker any kind of property and
casualty insurance risk, covering individuals, companies, buildings, construction projects and
entertainment events.
TONY NEWMAN
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My teammate and friend at Conard, Ed Driscoll, a 6’ 2” forward, 3 year varsity starter
and 3 time All-CCIL selection broke Ray Moore’s career scoring record in 1960. Ed was a joy
to play with and he packed the stands to see his outstanding jump shooting. His jumper was as
pure and as soft as the driven snow.
In fact, Ed Driscoll averaged in his 3 year varsity career a solid 15 ppg and exceeded that
figure in his senior year. No sophomore forward, in West Hartford history has had such an
immediate impact on the varsity basketball team and sustained that performance for 3 years.
Even Marcus Camby of the Portland Trail Blazers, a 15 year NBA veteran, who attended Conard
High School for 1 year, cannot make this claim.
If you do not believe me ask Coach Bob McKee who coached Ed in football and baseball
where Ed was a huge star and Co-Captain in those sports, too. In case the reader is wondering if
that is the namesake of ROBERT J. MCKEE STADIUM – the answer is yes.
In 1961, 6’ 2” Jimmy Lawrence, Hall’s one man gang, broke Ed Driscoll’s 3 year
scoring record with 790 points. In addition, he was Hall’s top rebounder. Jim averaged 21.7 ppg
in his senior year and was an All-CCIL selection. The 4 year career scoring record at Conard is
held by Jack Phelan with 1,078 points from 1996-2000.
As you can glean, this wonderful game of basketball at Hall and Conard has produced a
plethora of solid and productive citizens. Oh, what a splendid game it is: footwork, boxing out,
rebounding, discipline, leadership, fair play and sportsmanship are all fundamentals of
basketball. However, these individual fundamentals are really the basis as to what they engender
collectively, in the game of life. Basketball participation not only builds character, it also
reveals character.
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In conclusion, Grantland Rice, the Dean of Sports Journalists, said it best: “When the
One Great Scorer comes to mark against your name, he will not write if you won or lost, but
how you played the game.” True to form and substance, that is, HALL – CONARD:
BASKETBALL.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I would like to acknowledge and thank current Conard basketball coach, John Benyei
who provided me with important statistical information for this article. In addition, he is a good
coach too, guiding young men beyond basketball. Also, George (Hall) and Nancy Dewey
(Conard) together with Jerry Maloy (Hall) were very helpful.
JAMES A. JOHNSON is a basketball cognoscente, Trial Lawyer and an active member of the
Massachusetts, Michigan and Texas Bars. He can be reached through his website:
www.JamesAJohnsonEsq.com
Jim is a prolific writer and his articles can be downloaded and printed for free at
http://ssrn.com/author=1653603
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1955 HALL H.S. BASKETBALL TEAM
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Banquet Honoring Hall & Conard Basketball Teams
L-R JIM JOHNSON, RAY OOSTING, TRINITY COLLEGE ATHLETIC DIR. &
PAUL LORCH
Coach Larry Stewart, Jimmy Johnson, Bill Julavits & Don Coppen
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DONALD TUCKER with the ball, ED DRISCOLL (13), JIMMY LAWRENCE (21)
BILLY DUNN (21)
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JIMMY JOHSON, DON TUCKER with the ball, JIM LAWRENCE (21), ED DRISCOLL
(13), Billy Dunn (21)
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JIMMY LAWRENCE (21) & PAUL LORCH (25)
