The Gnadenhutten Indians Senior Center Ron Kohl split the nets with a game high of 26 points in leading his team to a close 56-52 win over the Baltic Eagles in an important Consolation Division contest. Kohl has a total of 56 markers in 3 games for an average of 18.7 points per game.
DOVER - First-Year Head Coach Fritz Jacobs' Gnadenhutten Indians (2-1) (15-9) (45-38) further strengthened their position as a dark horse by toppling the hard charging Baltic Eagles (0-2) (13-7) (24-44) from the tournament by a score of 56-52. The Indians lost an overtime thriller to defending Champions Midvale Blue Devils last Thursday night 61-59 after defeating the Stone Creek Golden Panthers 56-49 in the opener, but picked up the chips Saturday night by becoming the 2nd team to blast one of the better Eagle teams in years during the tournament. Dundee's title challenging Bulldogs tripped the Eagles in the 2nd round 66-64 in the 2nd round. First-Year Head Coach Ike Wiseman's Bulldogs get their golden chance on Wednesday night at 7:45PM when they collide head on with Midvale.
Senior Ron Kohl, Gnaden's fine center and Senior Bob Wilbarger, a smooth forward, outgunned the Birds's Junior Dean Huprich and Sophomore Jim Syler Saturday night to keep the Indians' chances alive. Head Coach Doyle Shumaker's Eagles; however, staged a brilliant rally in the 2nd frame after trailing 20-12 in the 1st quarter.
Kohl and Junior Paul Brick, driving through Baltic defenses, staked the Tribe to that 1st quarter lead, but Huprich, the Eagles' clever guard, caught fire in the 2nd period to net 4 field goals which helped Baltic to a 32-31 halftime lead. Early in the 3rd stanza, Junior Fred Huprich and Earl Wallace widened the Eagle lead to 36-32, but this proved to be the last Baltic bid as Gnadenhutten put the clamp on Dean Huprich and broke Wilbarger and Kohl loose for the decisive points in the last canto.
The Eagles still held a 40-38 lead going into the far turn, but Kohl put the Indians back in the lead with a pair of free throw shots to make it 44-42 in the 4th quarter and the Birds could never do better than tie the score twice after that. With 3 minutes remaining, Kohl and Wilbarger scored a field goal each to give Gnaden the clincher.
The Indians stalled out the remaining minutes of the game against a desperately rushing Baltic defense. Kohl led both teams with 26 points, while Gnadenhutten's Junior guard Jerry (Ted) Martin turned in another sparkling performance against Dean Huprich. The Eagle ace netted 10 markers in the 1st half, but was held scoreless by Martin in the 2nd half. During the season, Gnaden won 69-64 in their encounter.
GNADENHUTTEN INDIANS - 56
Paul Brick 3-3-9
Gary Struchen 0-0-0
Bob Wilbarger 6-2-14
Ron Kohl 10-6-26
Jerry (Ted) Martin 1-3-5
Howard Weston 0-0-0
Bob Blickensderfer 1-0-2
BALTIC EAGLES 52
Fred Huprich 3-3-9
John Torgler 2-6-10
Jim Syler 4-3-11
Dean Huprich 5-0-10
Earl Wallace 2-4-8
Don Farnsworth 2-0-4
Monday, February 19, 1951
The Daily Reporter
Dover, Ohio
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