Characterized off the playing field as a \u201creal, sturdy, Italian,\u201d 1994 Branford Sports Hall of Fame inductee Louis Aceto modified himself dramatically on the basketball court to an aggressive, robust guard for the Branford Hornets during the 1930\u2019s.\u00a0 Born in Branford on June 5, 1915, Aceto attended local schools in town, including Branford High School from 1929 to 1933.\u00a0 As the only freshman on the squad that year, he contributed to the Hornets’ basketball team which complied a 13-3 record, runner-up in the Housatonic League and Class C State Champions for 1988 Branford Sports Hall of Famer coach John Knecht, Jr.\u00a0 In the 1929-30 season, Branford won four if its first six games before assembling a six game winning streak against opponents such as Derby (18-12), Milford (21-14), New Canaan (17-6), Shelton (22-8), Stratford (28-19), and Guilford (21-18).\u00a0 Along with teammates George \u201cBattler\u201d Laich (1990 Sports Hall of Fame), Dominick \u201cMink\u201d Swirsky (1990), Harry \u201cHeb\u201d Williams (1990), Paul Pauk (1991), and Joe Purcell (1991), Aceto and the Hornets captured the Class C State Championship by turning away Woodbury (26-19) Madison (23-16), and Putnam (31-6).\u00a0 On the year, the Hornets outscored its opponents 352-255.<\/p>\n
In Aceto\u2019s junior year, the 1931-32 squad made quite an impression on its rivals by compiling a 10-7 record despite the move to the Class \u201cB\u201d division.\u00a0 Coach John Knecht Jr. made the schedule much stronger by adding two games each with three city district \u201cA\u201d schools, Hillhouse, West Haven, and Commercial.\u00a0 That year, the Hornets finished in second place in the Housatonic League.\u00a0 Aceto captained the 1932-33 squad and played with the likes of 1988 inductee Frank \u201cFritz\u201d Petela, Bob Donnely (1989), and Stan Sokolosky (1990).\u00a0 After graduating from Branford High School in 1933, Aceto continued to play basketball.\u00a0 That year, he played on the Branford Review team with Heb Williams, Pete Naimo (1992), and Stan Sokolosky.\u00a0 Later, he was part of the \u201cBranchini Big Five\u201d basketball team and the \u201cM.I.F.\u201d basketball team with 1989 Hall of Famer Alfred \u201cDoc: Aguzzi and Stan Sokolosky.\u00a0 Aceto transferred his basketball knowledge to the coaching box as he managed a women\u2019s team, known as the \u201cAshley Shirt Team\u201d, which included 1990 Sports Hall of Fame inductee Eleanor Laich Schmitz.<\/p>\n
As a resident of Branford, Aceto worked at the Malleable Iron Fittings and at the Giordano Construction Company as a supervisor\/foreman.\u00a0 Louis also played the role of \u201cUncle Sam” for the Stony Creek Fife and Drum Corp.\u00a0 He married the former Jenny Carrubba on June 14, 1937 and fathered four sons: Tony, Vincent, Louis and Robert.\u00a0 Aceto passed away in Hamden on September 17, 1959.\u00a0 \u201cThis award means a great deal to our family. \u00a0We only knew him for a short period of time but during that time he would always talk about sports.\u00a0 He was a real gusty player, a no-quit type of guy who strove for perfection,\u201d said his son, Tony Aceto.<\/p>\n
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