SMALL FRY
HISTORY
REPUBLICA DOMINICANA CAMPEONES MUNDIALES EN 1975!!!!
Eso era Baloncesto Bueno de verdad y en los Centro Americanos de
Mini Basket de Diciembre del 1977 RD gano Oro de nuevo
1968 - It was mid-December when four people, Robert Lueder, John Cifelli, Giulio Narcisi and Charles Panici, sat down in Chicago Heights, Illinois, and planned a youth basketball program that would prove fair and honest to all involved. While Cifelli and Panici constructed the rules, by-laws and constitution, Lueder and Narcisi went to work rounding up teams. Three months later, the birth of the International Small Fry Basketball program occurred and this is what has followed.
1969 -This is when it all began in Chicago Heights as the pre-tourney favorite, the Big Red of Lincoln, Nebraska, faced the Satellites of Harlem, New York. A 28-point performance by Ricky Cole earned him the game's outstanding player honor and led Lincoln to a 78-61 victory. Randy Streeton was the man behind the Lincoln team and Leroy Oatis was coach of the Harlem squad, both men providing a positive influence in Small Fry for years to come. Frank Sheridan was the coach of the first International champ.
1970 - New York returned to Chicago Heights and this time Coach Oatis had the hot hands of Timothy Shell and Rudy Pedrosa in the line-up. The group from Harlem survived the tough upper bracket and went on to post an easy 65-28 triumph over Orland Park, Ill. in the championship contest.
1971 - The popularity of Small Fry Basketball began to hit its peak in its infancy as the tournament moved from the cold and snow of Chicago Heights in favor of sunny San Juan, Puerto Rico. However, one thing remained the same as New York was in the championship game for the third consecutive year and repeated as International champions. Dominant Ted Campbell led New York to a 67-49 win over its neighbors from East Orange, New Jersey.
1972 - This year marked a first for Small Fry when the home team from Racine, Wis., led by Dale Bostick and Kerry Glover, took the top prize from Lincoln, 53-43, in the title contest. Who will forget the people in Racine giving out warm clothes to visitors from Puerto Rico and the joy of the Puerto Rican youth experiencing its first snow.
1973 - It was back to the warm weather as Bob Heinicka's Seminole Junior Warhawks sponsored the event in Florida and Racine made a strong bid to repeat as champions. But stalwart free-throw shooting thwarted Racine, as the Liga Club of San Juan sank 22 of 23 charity stripe tries to take the first trophy back to the Caribbean with a thrilling 54-53 victory.
1974 - The Elks Lodge of Lincoln, Nebraska played the part of a generous host to the International Small Fry tournament and when the smoke had settled down, New York emerged with a 65-61 decision over the Big Red.
1975 - It was back to Puerto Rico. This time to the home of Dr. Tito Cordero, Quebradillas, and the friendly people of the Caribbean had the most thrilling of tournaments. Nearly 4,000 people jammed in to watch the title game with bongo drums and all. As the final buzzer sounded, Chicago Heights and Santo Domingo were tied, 53-53. Chicago Heights had a pair of free throws, but luck was not on the side of Bruce Green's team, and Santo Domingo captured a 68-61overtime victory. A climax of the tournament found the Chicago Heights team stranded in Atlanta, Georgia as a heavy snow storm had closed Chicago's O'Hare airport.
1976 - The International event returned to Illinois, this time to Highwood where executive board member Ozzie Mazzetta proved to be an outstanding host. The tourney had a definite Caribbean flavor as Santo Domingo tried to defend its title against a very strong squad from the Liga Club in San Juan. When the final horn sounded, the joy was with the group that made the cheer "Puerto Rico, Fra" famous in a 76-67 Liga Club victory.
1977 - The teams were again able to head south and visit Indian Rocks Beach, where the host was again the Seminole Junior Warhawks. In heavyweight boxing, the cheer had been, "Ali, Ali," but the chant for the Liga Club became "Georgie, Georgie," as Georgie Garcia paced the Liga Club to repeat as Small Fry champs. San Juan joined New York as the only team to win the International three times, and it did it by topping New York, 79-68.
1978 - It was back to the home of "Small Fry" in Chicago Heights, where an added attraction was a snow and ice storm that the people of the Caribbean enjoyed. Dick Milkie's Kenosha, Wis. team made a gallant try to change the outcome, but again it was the Liga Club from Puerto Rico as the winner and still champion, this time, 39-35.
1979 - The Racine Optimist Club, along with the Racine Parks and Recreation Department served as the co-host for the 11th annual International tournament and as always, it was a great time for the Small Fry players and fans. The people from Kenosha were sent back down the road saying, "we have to stop meeting like this," as the Liga Club won its fourth straight title and second in a row over Coach Milkie's team. 53-44.
1980 - There was a late change in the playing site for the International tournament as the shift was made to Chicago Heights, the birthplace of Small Fry Basketball. And to host coach Chuck Panici, it was a great day when Chicago Heights downed neighbor Homewood, Ill., 51-46, to become the second host team to win the title. Team co-captains Nick Aleman and Tyrone Enoch led the team to the championship, while center Keith Mikalajunas was high scorer for the winners in the title game with 13 tallies.
