Former Massachusetts basketball standouts Ruben Britt and Arnie Whitman reunite at the Masters Basketball Association National Championship Tournament in Coral Springs, Florida.
It was the moment basketball fans had been waiting for that Saturday night in February of 1970. Fans packed the gym of Ipswich High School to watch Massachusetts’s top two players, Ruben Britt and Arnold “Arnie” Whitman, go head-to-head. Ruben of Ipswich High School and Arnie of Dover Sherborn High School, were some of Massachusetts’s most recruited guards. The sold-out game had been postponed previously due to inclement weather, so when that Saturday night finally came, it was the talk of Boston sports and the suburbs afar. The combo guards battled it out ultimately yielding Ipswich with the win. Britt went on to become a high school All-American and play at Southern University and Whitman went on to play at the University of Denver. But that was not the last time Ruben and Arnie would see one another.
Cut to 44 years later. It’s May and the Masters’ Basketball Association (MBA) National Championship Tournament in Coral Springs, Florida. For those unfamiliar with MBA, it is a basketball league for adults ranging from 40 to 70+ years old. It is the crème de le crème of national senior championships, featuring a number of former professional players. What are the odds, that once again: Ruben Britt and Arnie Whitman go head-to-head with one another in the national championship. This time, Arnie’s MBA team took the win. But the unplanned and spontaneous moment speaks of the inevitable nature of the sport of basketball.
Excerpts from Ruben & Arnie after the MBA National Championship Encounter:
44 years ago when I was playing high school basketball my greatest personal rival was a kid from Ipswich Mass named Ruben Britt. Our teams were the two top rated teams in our state divisions. Today, I am competing in the National Masters Basketball Association Championships in Coral Springs, Florida. I make my way to the finals of the 3 point competition and who do I meet in the finals: Ruben Britt! I can't tell you the joy we both felt. Neither one of us realized it until right before the final shoot out. Amazing!
-Words By Arnie Whitman
-Words By Arnie Whitman
Arnie Whitman
This was truly a special moment. Two weeks ago, I was, telling my wife about one of the biggest basketball games that I played in high school was against a guy named Arnold “Smokey” Whitman. I had not seen him since that game in February of 1970. Wow! It was truly special, seeing him again. I'll never forget it. Just amazing!
-Words By Ruben Britt
-Words By Ruben Britt
Ruben Britt (1969)
About the author: This special blog post was written by Savannah Britt, proud daughter of Ruben Britt. Follow her at Instagram & Twitter using @sav_britt and check out her website is www.girlpez.com.
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