The Bolivar Cardinals played through 3 games at American Legion Hall Friday and Saturday, defeating the Dundee Bulldogs, Baltic Eagles and Midvale Blue Devils to win the Tuscarawas County Class B Basketball Tournament for 1929. Championship members of the team are: Kienzie - Forward, Shulty - Guard, Dayton - Guard, Haueter - Forward, Kries - Forward, Lash - Center, Studer - Guard, Widder - Guard, Laughlin - Forward and Head Coach Birk.
DOVER - The Bolivar Cardinals (3-0) carried off honors in the Tuscarawas County Class B Basketball Tournament at American Legion Hall Saturday night, defeating the Midvale Blue Devils (2-1) by only 2 points in the last minute of tournament play. To the Cardinals goes the silver loving cup offered annually by The Daily Reporter. Bolivar's victory over the boys of Head Coach Robey from Goshen Township was achieved in the 1st half when forward Captain Widder and his men piled up a decided lead over Midvale. The latter aggregation took complete charge of the 2nd half, fighting a terrific uphill battle that reached the climax when forward Roy Smith, most versatile athlete of the tourney, had to leave the floor on personal fouls.
It was by far the best contest of the 2-day tournament and was witnessed by a packed auditorium of fans that created a bedlam with their cheering. Bolivar's victory came in the last 40 seconds of play when Widder tossed in a field goal after guard Shulty had missed a free throw that would have given Bolivar a one-point edge. Captain Roy Smith of Midvale's team, almost single-handedly did the scoring that brought Midvale from the trailing end into a tie at 24-24 before he was forced out of the game. Held scoreless through the 1st half but for a lone foul, tall, Smith came back with renewed determination in the 2nd period to score five field baskets and 2 more fouls, while his mates also counted 3 action shots. The Cardinals looked the best of any time during the tourney in the 1st half against the down-county quintet. In the initial quarter, they scored 12 points and held the Blue Devils to a trio of points that came on a field goal and a foul toss by center Zucal. Bolivar scored 4 field goals and the same number of fouls in the opening quarter.
At half time Bolivar still held a big advantage with the score standing at 15-6. Midvale's defense, ragged in the 1st period, tightened considerably in the 2nd quarter to allow Bolivar only a field goal and a foul, while Zucal scored another action shot for the Robeymen and Smith counted from the free throw line. Bolivar increased their lead to 12 points early in the 3rd period before Midvale finally started hitting the hoop. Zucal started the quarter off with his 3rd field goal, then forward Laughlin scored a pair of actions for Bolivar and Widder counted a foul to make the score 20-8. It was the greatest advantage the Birkmen held during the contest. Smith tossed one of 2 fouls, then dribbled into a corner and potted a field goal with one hand. He followed that shot a moment later with one from half the floor's length to make the score 20-13. Bolivar called time-out in an attempt to check the onrushing Miners. After play was resumed Fabiano, diminutive Midvale guard, scored his only basket from close under and made the count 20-15 as the period closed.
Laughlin scored for Bolivar to open the last quarter. Guard Baldwin scored from a corner for Midvale then Smith followed with one of 2 fouls that made Midvale 18 and put them within 4 points of Bolivar. Smith scored again from long distance that made Midvale 20. The shot was from 3 quarters length's of the floor. Shulty dribbled in for a Bolivar basket, then Smith scored another long distance shot to put his team within 2 points of the leaders. Another basket by Smith, made when he dribbled down the side of the floor and cut over past 2 Cardinal defensive men, tied the count. His leg cramped from the continuous playing with a badly sprained ankle. Smith called time out with 2 minutes to play. Then after resuming play for 2 minutes and 10 seconds, Smith fouled Shulty under the Bolivar basket and Shulty attempted the foul as Smith went out on personal fouls. Shulty missed, Widder grabbing the ball and heaving it into the nets for an action shot that put the game on ice. Midvale had the ball after that, but without Smith could not penetrate the Bolivar defense or score, nor get close enough to take any kind of a shot at the basket.
It was simply Bolivar's 5-man defense in the 1st half that prevented Midvale from scoring. Long tosses too by the Midvale team, was intercepted time after time by Bolivar players, leading to scores for the latter outfit. Perhaps what made Midvale come up in the final periods was the fact that 2 men were put in the corners drawing Bolivar guards over to enable Smith a clear alley-way down the middle. Both teams will enter the Eastern District Class B Tournament at Legion auditorium next Saturday in which teams from 8 surrounding counties will participate.
BOLIVAR CARDINALS - 26
Laughlin 4-0-8
Kreis 0-0-0
Lash 0-0-0
Shulty 3-4-10
Widder 3-2-8
MIDVALE BLUE DEVILS - 24
Roy Smith 5-3-13
Hirst 0-0-0
Morgan 0-0-0
Zucal 3-1-7
Baldwin 1-0-2
Fabiano 1-0-2
Monday, February 25, 1929
The Daily Reporter
Dover, Ohio
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