DOVER - The Strasburg Tigers' defending District Class B Champions face a clawing band of Jewett Wildcats (21-4) in the opening tussle of the 1954 Eastern District Class B Tournament at Brilliant tonight. The doors to the new Brilliant Auditorium will open at 7:00 with the contest slated to get underway at 8:00. Admission will be 75 cents for students and non-students alike.
Head Coach Leonard Mosser's Wildcats will be out to get revenge for the 59-57 setback they suffered at the hands of the Tigers at Memorial Hall last year.
Jewett has the same combination back from last season with big center Gary (Buck) Thompson still the offensive sparkplug of the high-scoring Wildcat combination. The J-Cats took their 1st Harrison County League title in 17 years with a 9-1 mark. That lone defeat was suffered at the hands of the Scio Panthers who had dropped a 65-44 decision to Jewett earlier in the campaign.
Strasburg's hopes of victory will depend upon how well Junior center Jerry (Moose) Von Kaenel can use his left hand. The Tiger's All-County pivotman suffered a bad bump in a last-minute scramble in the Millersburg Knights' contest and his hand was stiff swollen today. A series of X-rays taken revealed no fracture and whirlpool treatments have been used in an effort to bring down the swelling and loosen up the stiffness in the fingers.
Head Coach Don Martin's charges, unable to loosen up in their last few outings, will be shooting the works for the victory with their chief defensive target being the 6-4 Thompson. Thompson has totaled 488 points this season to lead the Wildcats in their drive that racked up a 21-4 record. The 4 defeats were suffered at the hands of the Dellroy Blue Jets 68-63, the Scio Panthers 68-54 and the Flushing Orioles 62-56 and 65-59 in overtime.
Jewett's other victories came over the Blue Jets 82-67, Franklin Wildcats 89-47 and 65-53, Conotton Valley Hawks 49-38 and 98-50, Springfield Township Tigers 60-40 and 64-55, Stone Creek Golden Panthers 62-58, Gnadenhutten Indians 77-55, Wayne 75-41 and 103-55, Hopedale 58-55 and 56-53.
The Freeport Raiders fell before the Wildcats 4 times, twice in the regular season 52-50 and 51-39 and twice in the tournament 72-59 and 78-57. Jewett also drubbed Franklin 98-67 and the Conotton Valley Hawks 70-44 in the county tournament.
Thompson has plenty of help from a pair of tall forwards, Gary Telfer 6-2 and Larry Townsend 6-0, guards Bill Cerett 5-10 and John Coutts 5-3, with Larry Telfer 6-1 as the 6th man.
Tuesday, March 9, 1954
The Daily Reporter
Dover, Ohio
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