47 - Right Down The Line

RIGHT DOWN THE LINE
With Harry Yockey
Saturday, February 22, 1947

HATS OFF to the Strasburg Tigers, who repelled all efforts to take away the crown they have been wearing as League and County Tournament Champions.  The boos which greeted them as long as it was possible for an underdog quintet to knock them off their perch changed to cheers as they walked off the floor with their 3rd Tournament title in a row.

Sensing the possibility of an upset as Sugarcreek-Shanesville's valiant Pirates went 6 points ahead of the Tigers in the 2nd period, the crowd rocked Memorial Hall.  But, like the Champions that they are, the Bengals refused to become rattled and successfully fought back into the lead and then applied the pressure to the closing minutes to retain their domain.

ZZZZZ

Strasburg, through its victory won the Daily Reporter Championship Trophy and individual gold basketballs presented by the Marsh Wall Tile Company.  Sugarcreek-Shanesville received the Runner-up Trophy from the Sanitary Milk Company and silver basketballs from George B. Deardorff and Sons Hardware. Tuscarawas was presented the S. Toomey Company Trophy as the Consolation Division winner.

Presentation of all but the Championship awards was made during the halftime of the title game by Supt. W.E. Laws who spoke briefly in appreciation for the support given the tournament.  He also presented Co-Captains Clarence Yackey and Tom Haswell of the Tigers the Daily Times League Championship Trophy.  Co-Captains Ed Hamshar and Bill Weiss of the Pirates and Co-Captains Ralph Lahm and Andy Steve of Tusky were introduced.

ZZZZZ

The final night's paid attendance was 1,325 and again scores were turned away.  The total turnout for the 6-night event was 6,896; although, many more saw the tournament as approximately 300 passes had been issued to teams, officials, etc.  The record for the tournament was set last year when there were 7,043 paid admission.

ZZZZZ

Junior Murray of Bolivar was the top scorer of the tournament, compiling 77 points in 5 games.  Yackey harvested 75 for Strasburg, but played in one less contest.

Loyal Bishop of Tuscarawas picked up 68 in 4 games, while Junior Lundenberger of Bolivar, one of the outstanding performers in the meet, totaled 61 as did Gene Montague of Gnaden.  Lee Lundenberger of Bolivar had 55, while Bill Weiss of Sugarcreek-Shaneville and Andy Steve of Tusky, 51 each.  Jack's Ford of Midvale and Davies of Port Washington dropped in 48 and 44.

Paul Kate of Dundee posted the best single-game effort when he tallied 28 points as his team lost to Baltic. Kate was the leading point maker in the League with 187.

ZZZZZ

I doubt whether any 2 officials ever worked a tournament of 18 games as successfully as Nick Frascel of Akron and Vally Dirodis of Cuyahoga Falls handled the county event.  Naturally, they drew some criticism from the partisan fan, but as a whole their work was very commendable.

After they had defeated Bolivar in the Consolation Division finals, some of the Tuscarawas players saw the title game from the press box because officials were unable to find them seats elsewhere.

20 YEARS AGO - Sugarcreek-Shanesville defeated Baltic 54-16 as Sliffe meshed 18 points.