54 - Midvale Rocks Stone Creek 72-58 (2-20-54)

The 1954 Stone Creek Golden Panthers Basketball Team.  FRONT:  Jim Lorenz - Bill Jones - Floyd Patrick - Don Poland and Larry Sherretts.  BACK:  Head Coach Ken Newlon - Dave Wherley - Ron Deibel - Stan Phillippi - Melvin McAfee - Ben Wherley and Kerry Rice (Manager).

Bob Zontini is the Midvale Blue Devils' Junior Guard.  Standing 5-8, Zontini's ability to set up plays and scores himself has made him a starter all season after a stint on the Reserve Team last season.  Bob hit the nets for 15 points in the 2nd Consolation Division game of the night.


DOVER - Action in the Midvale Blue Devils (2-1) (9-13) (60-28) - Stone Creek Golden Panthers (1-2) (12-11) (24-40) tussle in the Consolation Division contest was hot and heavy with the Blue Devils glowing redhot in the last 4 minutes to spear the victor over the Golden Panthers.  Junior guard Bob Zontini, Senior guard Wil De Genova and Freshman forward Rich Leggett staged a running duel with Freshman forward Ron Deibel of the Panthers in the opening quarter and Midvale led 21-15.  Di Genova paired with Sophomore forward Larry Swinderman in the 2nd frame to lead the assault that gave the Diablos a 38-28 lead over Stone Creek at the half as guard Mel McAfee and Deibel, both Freshmen, kept the Golden Panthers in contention.

Junior forward Bill Jones, held scoreless from the field in the 1st half, joined Deibel in a 3rd-stanza assault that brought the Panthers to within one point of Midvale, but Swinderman, Di Genova and Zontini quickly changed the complexion and the Blue Devils led 49-45 at the end of the period.  The Cats crept to within 2 points of the Diablos in the final canto, but again, Head Coach Bob Singerman's charges, leading 56-54, poured on the coal and blazed away in the stretch.

Deibel tallied 25 points to lead Stone Creek and Jones contributed 14.  Di Genova collected 21 for the Diablos with Zontini adding 15, Swinderman 13 and Ron Weaver getting 10.

MIDVALE BLUE DEVILS - 72

Frank Davis F 0-0-0
Ed Krocker F 0-0-0
Larry Swinderman F 6-1-13
Rich Leggett F 2-2-6
Dave Martin F 2-2-6
Ron Weaver C 4-2-10
Roseberry G 0-0-0
Bob Zontini G 5-5-15
Wil Di Genova G 9-3-21

STONE CREEK GOLDEN PANTHERS - 58

Bill Jones F 5-4-14
Ron Deibel F 10-5-25
Don Poland C 0-0-0
Reuben Lorenz C 0-1-1
Earl Hothem G 0-3-3
Larry Haver G 0-0-0
Ben Wherley G 0-0-0
Mel McAfee G 3-0-6
Floyd Patrick G 1-2-4
Stan Phillippi G 1-3-5


Monday, February 22, 1954
Art Cicconetti, Sports Editor
The Daily Reporter
Dover, Ohio

NOTE:  WHATEVER HAPPENED TO STONE CREEK'S JIM LORENZ?

Senior Forward Jim Lorenz, 1954's leading scorer in the county, played his last game since he turned 20 years of age on January 27 and from then on ineligible for further scholastic competition including the 1954 Tournament.