Tuesday, March 26, 1957
The Daily Reporter
Dover, Ohio
THE MIDVALE BLUE DEVILS were unable to break the jinx which had prevented county teams from gaining the State Class A Tournament finals in recent years, but the 12 players and 8 others making the trip with them, will never forget the Columbus weekend. The Blue Devils were treated royally, eating at the better restaurants and being quartered at Lincoln Lodge on Route 40, one of the better Columbus area motels.
The players and partisan fans alike expected Midvale to defeat the Ayersville Pilots. The Diablos were not over-confident. But, they felt they could gain the finals. However, as often happens, the Devils had a "cold streak" in the 1st half and after falling behind 19 points they faced an almost impossible situation. Yet they did come within 7 points of tying the score in the 3rd stanza, but that drive took most of their starch.
We still maintain that the Blue and Gold were a better team than the final score indicated and if it had not been for the "cold streak," would have been in the finals instead of Ayersville's eventual Champions. The Midvale Blue Devils had only a 26 field goal percentage for the contest whereas, during the regular season, they averaged above 40. But, while they didn't route the tournament jinx, the Blue Devils did provide one of the most exciting basketball stories in the county's history.
DESPITE THE DISAPPOINTMENT, Midvale is in the book of "firsts" for the new St. John's arena. Senior 6-0 Guard John Colombo committed the 1st foul in a State Tournament held there. Junior 6-2 Center Russ Hobart missed the 1st free throw attempted. The Diablos took the 1st time out in the tournament, Senior 5-9 Guard John Beans scored the 1st set shot and the Devils were the 1st team to lose a tournament game there.
Fans will long remember the large rooting section which followed the Midvale Blue Devils to the Capital. When Head Coach Pete Hilliard's cagers staged their terrific spurt in the 3rd quarter, the Blue Devils supporters made themselves heard. They cheered louder at that point than the Pilot fans did after the game was over.
HEAD COACH RALPH (PETE) HILLARD said he appreciated the many pre-game telegrams wishing the team good luck. The telegrams included ones from the Glen Miller family of Dover, Urfer Greenhouse, Chamber of Commerce, Post Office Employers and Elks Club of New Philadelphia, the Tuscarawas County Sheriff's and Police Departments. Another also was received from the Savannah Sailors' basketball team which Midvale defeated 61-60 in the Canton Regional finals.
SUPT. JOSEPH F. ZACK OF MIDVALE should be given a large amount of credit for the fine job of conducting the trip for the Diablos. All of the boys agreed after they arrived home yesterday that they had "lived like kings." There was no limit on the food they could eat after losing Friday afternoon. And during the Saturday morning breakfast at the motel Supt. Zack wondered if one player had eyes bigger than his stomach.
John Beans, along with Senior Manager Larry Gibbs, got a table all to themselves. The 2 lads ordered a double portion of hotcakes, ham, toast, orange juice and milk. Beans finished his off in fine style, but there was some doubt if "Gibby" would. He finally did and everyone sighed with relief, including the manager. But Beans and Gibbs were not hungry the rest of the day and when the rest of the group enjoyed a big supper the 2 boys just had sandwiches.
SUPT. ZACK ANNOUNCED yesterday that $561 was received by the school for Midvale's participation in the Regional Topurnament at Canton. Money for mileage amounted to $167, for meals $144 and $250 was the school's share in gate receipts.
SIX SENIORS dressed for their last high school basketball for the Devils in the game with Ayersville. They were:
REGULARS
John Beans
John Colombo
Dick Leggett
Lonnie Wolfe
RESERVES:
Dave De Mattio
Gary Haney
OTHER BOYS MAKING THE TRIP INCLUDED:
Dave Belknap
Lonnie Fulp
Russ Hobart
Bill Housel
Tom Krocker
Don Patterson
STUDENT MANAGERS:
Senior Jerry Benedum
Senior Larry Gibbs
Sophomore Bill Kerschbaumer
Senior Duane Zack (Son of Supt. Zack)
No comments:
Post a Comment