49 - Right Down The Line

Thursday, March 10, 1949
Dover, Ohio

Bob Troyer, Walnut Creek's 5-6 fireball goes into the air to score over the heads of a towering Scio team which handed the Cardinals their 1st defeat in 26 games in the District Tournament at Dennison last night 57-55.  Dick Hostetler (5), Red Bird Center, awaits a rebound as does Henry Crall (27), Sam Custer (26) and Bob Hugh (24) of Scio.  It was the 6-3 Hugh's field goal in the last 3 seconds which won the game for the Panthers.

Lowell Zook (4), great Cardinals Forward, fires at the nets in the last canto, while Gordon Bower (30), of Scio stands by.


THE MOST REMARKABLE RECORD in Ohio scholastic basketball circles ended last night at Dennison.  It was the finish of a brilliant era.  The Walnut Creek Cardinals (25-1) string ran out, but not many of the more than 2,000 fans who packed the Dennison Railroad Gymnasium were convinced that the Cardinals had been defeated 57-55 by a better team.

For weeks, while the Red Birds rolled on unbeaten, pressure built up, but last night it was not pressure that tripped them up.  Cool, calm, crafty, Walnut Creek finally came to the end of the trail because they could not quite overcome that shocking height advantage held by the Scio Panthers (25-3).

Scio, undoubtedly, has, man for man, what is probably the tallest club in Class B circles this year.  And yet for all of this, the Panthers could never command the situation.

The end may have been inevitable, but last night as you watched the fluid-smooth Cardinals outplay their towering opponents, you wondered if this "cinderella" team might not have been Columbus-bound had they ousted Scio.  The Red Birds raced through 25 straight games unbeaten.  Playing without benefit of a full-time coach, cramped by the knowledge that they had no strength beyond the starting 5, the Creekers relied on finesse, marksmanship and clean basketball.

Last night, lack of reserve strength took its toil.  Lowell Zook, one of the finest class B performers we have seen, drew 4 fouls in the 1st half.  Whether they were deserved fouls is unimportant now.

With Zook slowed down, Scio did not have to battle quite so hard under the boards.  Walnut Creek efficiency was seriously impaired and the story ended after a heroic effort by 5-6 Bob Troyer nearly swayed the balance.  All was quiet in the Walnut Creek dressing room after it was over.

But, Head Coach Abe Mast and the Cardinals did not even offer to give an alibi.  They missed it and that was that!

They won't be in Columbus.  They won't even be at Kent State next week, but we still have the feeling that Zook, Troyer, Dick Hostetler, Ted Horrisberger and Lorrell Mast would have made it very interesting for any club in the State.  As for Scio.  They have a fine club, featuring, of course, height.  The Pantehrs are sportsmen.  One of the finest gestures we have seen was made by Bill Boone, 6-4 Scio guard, in the 4th period.

With his team behind, Boone fouled out.  Bill walked to the center of the floor, shook hands with Troyer, Zook and Hostetler before going off of the court.  That sort of thing, coming when it did, is impressive.

THE SPOTLIGHT now centers on the Midvale Blue Devils (24-1).

Midvale, once by the Dillonvale Night Riders (12-7) tonight will test Scio power.  The Blue Devils, equipped with height that Walnut Creek did not have, are our choice for District Champs!