DOVER - The Gnadenhutten Indians (7-2), so it appears, was favored by Dame Fortune, that fickle goddess of sports, in the drawings for the Tuscarawas County Class B Basketball Tournament here Friday and Saturday. Gnaden, providing they stop the Tuscarawas Broncos (2-7) in the 1st encounter at 1PM Friday, will not be forced to play again until 3:30PM Saturday. The Indians also had the advantage in the draw of being selected in what looks like the weaker bracket. By virtue of their luck they have an excellent chance of coming through to the finals or semi-finals.
What a battle will wage in that lower bracket where 4 of the toughest teams are clustered! Right off the bat the Strasburg Tigers (8-1) and the Bolivar Cardinals (3-6), each of whom has defeated the other by 1 point this season, meet at 7PM Friday. Then the Sugarcreek-Shanesville Pirates (7-2) and the Midvale Blue Devils (5-3) tangle at 8PM. Both of these struggles are toss-ups. The 2 winners meet at 2:30PM Saturday. These teams in the upper bracket are evenly matched too. Take the Dundee Bulldogs (2-7) and the Mineral City Tigers (3-6). They officially open the tourney at 2PM Friday. And then the Baltic Eagles (3-5) and Port Washington Purple Riders (4-5) tangle in another hard-to-judge affair.
Anyhow, who can tell what a team will do in a tournament? Some of the outfits that finished close to the bottom in the regular league season have just started to hit their stride. Others are "tournament" teams and do their best work when under high pressure and with the championship of the county at stake as well as for the prize such as being offered by the Daily Reporter. All indications point to huge crowds at the 2-day session at Legion Hall. Everything is being done to make the tournament the same success it has been in former years. Strasburg by virtue of their fine achievement in winning, will be a favorite to cop the tourney. Also finding favor with the fans throughout the county are Midvale, Gnadenhutten and Sugarcreek-Shanesville as well as Bolivar, last year's tournament champions. The Bolivar team has been crippled by practically the entire season and may be all set to hand out some surprises this Friday and Saturday. And, maybe a dark horse will come through. Who can tell?
FINAL 1930 LEAGUE STANDINGS
1. Strasburg Tigers 8-1 .889
2. Gnadenhutten Indians 7-2 .778
3. Sugarcreek-Shanesville Pirates 7-2 .778
4. Midvale Blue Devils 5-3 .625
5. Port Washington Purple Riders 4-5 .444
6. Baltic Eagles 3-5 .375
7. Bolivar Cardinals 3-6 .333
8. Mineral City Tigers 3-6 .333
9. Dundee Bulldogs 2-7 .222
10. Tuscarawas Broncos 2-7 .222
Tuesday, February 25, 1930
The Daily Reporter
Dover, Ohio
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