A New Jersey Basketball Story

About the Book

Before there were Steph Curry and Caitlin Clark, there were Bobby Pisano and Kathy Cunningham, Bobby Pisano survives a near death experience at an early age and discovers his love for basketball. He becomes a scoring phenom for his elementary school.

In his first organized game as a sixth grader, he scores twenty nine points and outscores the opposing team. his torrid scoring continues against all of the other schools.

Kathy Cunningham loves basketball, but her girl friends do not. She must play against the boys to get better Kathy and Bobby become friends after she challenges him to game in the bark.

After that fateful game, they decide to help each other improve their skills by meeting at the park or the YMCA in town.

Sister Eugene allows Kathy to play for St. Bridget’s as a sixth grader, and she rewards Sister Eugene by becoming the team’s high scorer.

The exploits of Pisano and Cunningham result in a newspaper article in the town paper.

The Belleview boys’ high school basketball coach, Carl Doby, who has been from so many failed seasons is suddenly energized having Pisano, a stellar player. The games are exhilarating, and to Doby’s delight, his team is suddenly winning every game. Kathy Cunningham is also leading the girls’ team to an undefeated season.

Bobby and Kathy find that their affection for each other can no longer be ignored even though cheerleader Marilyn Raimondo thinks Bobby is gorgeous, and Danny Berry seemingly stalks Kathy in Chemistry Class and in the cafeteria.

As their teams advance to the State Championship game, there is also time for fun. If you love basketball, you will love this book!

About the Author

Fred Cerrato was a Middle School Reading Teacher and Reading Specialist for forty years in his home town of Bloomfield, New Jersey.

His High School team won the state championship in 1958. He was named to All-County and All-State basketball teams and earned a basketball scholarship to St. Michael's College in Winooski, Vermont where he was the starting point guard for four years. He was named to the All-Vermont team in 1962.

Mr. Cerrato was an English major in college and has written four books "A Vermont Basketball Story", "The Cruise Detectives", "Murder in Paradise", and "A New Jersey Basketball Story".