Head Coach Ralph (Pete) Hilliard of the Midvale Blue Devils, Successful Mentor...
COLUMBUS - Since becoming Head Coach of the Midvale Blue Devils in 1954, Ralph (Pete) Hilliard has had 3 successful campaigns, reaching his peak this year. A modest, soft spoken mentor, Coach Hilliard has led the Blue Devil Team to 59 victories as against 22 losses since taking over the helm. Graduate of Kent State University in 1951, the 29-year-old coach was Assistant Coach in football, basketball and Head Coach in baseball from 1951 until 1954 when he was promoted to the Head Coach cage job replacing Bob Singerman as head basketball coach.
A veteran of 2 years in the Army, Hilliard attributes his success to the theory of basic fundamentals and strict training rules. "I wouldn't hesitate to kick a player off the squad right now if I caught him smoking or drinking," the almost shy mentor said. "I believe that any boy who wants to play basketball, or any sport for that matter, should abstain from drinking and smoking," he added.
When asked what he thought of the 4 teams in the semi-finals of the Class A State Basketball Tournament, in which he will lead Midvale against the Ayersville Pilots on Friday afternoon at 1:30, Hilliard said he believed his team can win their 1st State Championship "if they play the brand of basketball that they are capable." After his team had posted a mediocre 9-8 regular season record, it caught fire midway in the county tournament. They won their 1st game over the Tuscarawas Broncos and then lost their 2nd game to the Stone Creek Golden Panthers, a team which had defeated them in the regular season. Since then they have done nothing but win, romping past 10 straight tournament foes. They now have a record of 20 victories and 9 losses.
Last year Coach Hilliard's combine had a 21-5 season mark and won the County Tournament Championship after ending the season in 2nd place in the League. In the Sectional Tournament joust they lost a thrilling one-point verdict to the Strasburg Tigers which ousted them from the event. In his 1st year as Head Coach the Diablos posted a 17-8 record, again finishing in 2nd place in the League and was Runner-up in the County Tournament. But they dropped their 1st Sectional outing to the Dennison Railroaders.
Coach Hilliard, who is also Head Baseball Coach, graduated from Tuscarawas High School in 1945 and is presently a resident of that city; although, he is a native of Uhrichsville. He married the former Betty Tidrick of Tuscarawas and they have no children. He did not participate in sports at Tusky. He did play independent baseball around the county for many years. The Devils' mentor said that he "is very happy" over the success of the team this year and that he is proud of their past performances. He indicated that he will not attempt to change his offense or defense from what they have been using the entire year when they square off against the Pilots.
Believing that unless a team can play a good man-to-man defense they will not profit from a zone defense The dark-haired mentor has done a very good job. He also believes that fundamentals have given his team the edge over many opponents throughout the year. Hilliard's team has grown from an average one to a State Championship contender mainly because of 2 facts. First, the group of boys are a well-knit unit and secondly, there is an abundance of strength in our Reserves. More than once a boy has come off the bench in the last canto and aided the team tremendously in posting a victory.
Coach Hilliard will be pitting his 6 years of coaching experience against a young mentor in Head Coach Lee Himmeger, who is in his 1st year at the helm of the Cloudbusters. Himmeger has already established himself as a great coach and this year his team has lost only one game in posting a 27-1 record. Himmeger, only 22 years old, is a graduate of Findlay College and graduated from Delphos Jefferson public school in Delphias, in which Delphos St. John, a parochial school, has attained Statewide fame copping the Class A Crown in 1949.
GRATIS TROJANS (26-1)
Lewisburg 72-64
Monroe Fighting Hornets 76-74
Lewisburg 87-56
Jackson Ironmen 78-42
West Alexandria Panthers 78-59
Dixie 82-65 DEFEATED
Dixon 78-47
Farmersville Wildcats 65-50
Jefferson Falcons 77-60
Wayne 103-51
Brooksville Blue Devils 68-40
Eaton 53-41
Shawnee 54-53
Shawnee 95-70
Lamire 80-49
Randolph Tigers 74-60
College Corner Trojans 66-45
Verona 90-70
PREBLE COUNTY TOURNAMENT
Lewisburg 53-48
Jefferson Falcons 72-41
Shawnee 61-51
DAYTON SECTIONAL TOURNAMENT
Dixie 84-68
Wayne 68-67
DAYTON DISTRICT TOURNAMENT
Xenia Woodrow Wilson Cadets 55-49
Shawnee 61-58
TROY REGIONAL TOURNAMENT Bradford 86-67
Lockland Wayne 47-46
BETHEL BLACKHAWKS (27-1)
Lawrence 76-42
Pleasant City 91-56
Sarahsville Zeps 81-39
Lowell 82-60
Salem Liberty 104-30
Beallsville Blue Devils 124-38
Masrietta St. Mary's 96-47
Lewisville 117-62
Summerfield 69-49
River Local 81-65
Graysville 93-33
Sarahsville 79-51
Pleasant City 112-51
Graysville 110-34
Salem Liberty 72-41
River Local 74-69 DEFEATED
Summerfield 101-74
Beallsville Blue Devils 108-38
Lewisville 105-64
Marietta St. Mary's 94-50
MONROE COUNTY TOURNAMENT
Beallsville Blue Devils 95-51
River Local 73-70
MARIETTA SECTIONAL TOURNAMENT
Caldwell 76-45
Beverly Cadets 72-53
MARIETTA DISTRICT TOURNAMENT
South Zanesville 78-68
River Local 66-52
ATHENS REGIONAL TOURNAMENT
Newark St. Francis Green Wave 77-56
New Boston Tigers 74-64
Wednesday, March 20, 1957
Jim De Mello, Sports Editor
The Daily Reporter
Dover, Ohio
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