47 - Class B Regional Tournament

DOVER - The Strasburg Tigers, Eastern Ohio District Class B Champions, will return to tournament warfare next Thursday night at 9PM when they will encounter the Lowellville Rockets from Mahoning County on the Kent State University court in the opening round of the Class B Regional Tournament.  The preceding game, at 7:45, will match the Columbiana Clippers and Springfield Township, another Mahoning five.  Carrying this county's hopes for the State title, Strasburg will be meeting a quintet which has the poorest record of the 4 entrants; although, it isn't one to be sneezed at.  Lowellville rated 4th in pre-tournament rankings, has won 21 and lost 4, while Strasburg owns 29 wins in 30 starts.  Columbiana has won 20 of 21 and Springfield Township 26 of 30.

Pairings for the tournament were made Sunday afternoon following a dinner in Kent.  The finals will be staged Saturday night with the Class B winners meeting at 8PM.  The winner will go to Columbus for the Ohio finals March 20, 21 and 22.  Strasburg qualified for the Regional by whipping the Walnut Creek Cardinals 56-39 in the Dennison District meet, while Lowellville bested Rittman 59-39 in the District finals at Kent.  In the same event, Columbiana topped Akron Eilet 59-42 and Springfield Township eliminated Brecksville 52-34.

Being from the same county, Springfield Township and Lowellville were placed in opposite brackets, Springfield winning the 1st draw.  It pulled the No. 1 spot in the top bracket with Lowellville automatically going into the lower division.  When it came time for Strasburg and Columbiana to draw, Head Coach Johnny Laids asked Head Coach Emmet Riley of the Tigers to make the selection and he drew No. 4, placing Strasburg opposite Lowellville, leaving the No. 2 spot opposite Springfield Township for Columbiana.  After watching the other 3 teams in action Saturday night, Coach Riley believed the Tigers would fare better against Lowellville in their initial appearance on the Kent floor and therefore was pleased with his draw, inasmuch as the other clubs have played on the university court.  Coach Riley was given permission for a half-hour practice, the date for which was to be set today.

Officials for the tournament will be John Russ of Youngstown, Paul Tobin of Akron and Robert Oldfather of Plainsville.  Admission will be $1.00 for all 12 or over.  The doors will open each night at 6:30PM.  Seating capacity of the gymnasium is 4,200 and an attendance of 5,000 is anticipated each night of the Regionals.  M.E. Wagoner of Kent State University is the tournament manager.  In addition to coaches, school officials and sports writers, others present at Sunday's meeting included members of the District Board of the Ohio High School Athletic Association, under whose jurisdiction the Regionals are operated.


Monday, March 10, 1947
Harry Yockey, Right Down The Line
The Daily Reporter
Dover, Ohio

NOTE:  DISTRICT CLASS B ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM

The Strasburg Tigers were awarded 3 positions on the Class B All-Star Tournament Club:

Senior Marvin Jeffers (Guard)
Junior Tom Haswell (Forward)
Junior Clarence Yackey (Center)

Bob Gerber of the Walnut Creek Cardinals received the other guard berth, while the other forward spot went to the Adena Warriors' Mitchell Black.