Jumping exceedingly well for a cager, shy by 2 inches of 6-feet, the Midvale Blue Devils' 5-10 Senior Forward Tom Krocker (13) pots 2 points for the Blue Devils despite an earlier block attempt by 5-10 Junior Guard Gary Gerber (5) of the Baltic Eagles. The Diablos won 85-61 to gain a semi-final berth. (PHOTO...The Daily Times by Fisher)
The 1959 Midvale Blue Devils have successfully defended their League Championship of Tuscarawas County by turning back the Port Washington Purple Riders for their 8th straight League triumph. The Blue Devils, closed out the season with a 16-1 overall record which also gave the high school its best mark since 1949 when the Diablos had a 19-1 record. The Champions are...FRONT: Manager Joe Monte - Dave Belknap - Ron Breniser - Hanes Hairston - Bill Housel - Tom Krocker - and Manager Bill Kerschbaumer. BACK: Manager Ken Haney - Dale Stansbury - Ron Kaderly - John Everett - Leonard De Mattio - Jim Clark - Vince De Noi and Head Coach Ralph "Pete" Hilliard. (PHOTO...Harmon Studios)
The 1959 Baltic Eagles Cheerleaders: Ann Reidenbach - Sandra Stein and Rebecca Mutschelknaus who are in contention for the County Cheerleader Award to be made at the tournament finals on Saturday. (PHOTO...Harmon Studios)
NEW PHILADELPHIA - For 2 quarters the Baltic Eagles had illusions of knocking the defending Midvale Blue Devils from their perch. But, when it counted, the Blue Devils had it. Unlike their slim 73-71 victory over the Eagles in December. The Diablos' aggregation of 5th Year Head Coach Pete Hilliard waltzed to the decision this time.
It will be no easy task for the Devils to go all the way this year in the county joust. But, if they continue to explode with the poise they exhibited last night with all 5 starters in double figures, they could very well be the Champions once more. In every quarter all 5 starters scored and when it was all over the beginners were separated by only 10 points as 6-3 Senior forward Bill Housel showed the way with 22 points and 5-10 Senior forward Tom Krocker was at the other extremity with 12 in between andf 5-9 Senior guard Dave Belknap also had 12. Junior 5-11 Ron Breniser tallied 14 and 6-3 Junior center Hanes Hairston scored 16. Four Reserves also tallied 2 free throws apiece.
The Blue and Gold, posting a quick 10-4 lead, led 20-14 at the 1st quarter stop and then staved off the Flyer rallies in the 2nd quarter to hold the lead 38-33 at the long intermission. In the 2nd, the Orange and Black of 1st Year Head Coach Tom Bellville, who took over for his brother Jack Bellville, held the lead twice, 28-27 and 30-29. It was still at close quarters early in the 3rd stanza when the Blue Devils of Midvale was in front 42-37 with 7 minutes to go.
But, then it happened! Although it is hard to put a finger on the exact turning point, 2 factors were most noteworthy. First, the Eagles of Baltic's 6-1 Sophomore center Bob Ladrach, who had scored 5 points, all on free throw tosses, developed a bloody-nose in scuffling for the ball. He was given first aid twice early in the 3rd. But, after no apparent success the Eagles' coach was forced to bench him. It was at this same point that the Blue Devils started to roll.
For secondly, in addition to Ladrach now watching the action from the sidelines, the Diablos' coach rearranged his offense. Moving Housel into a back-court-to-key pivot, the Devils started finding the wiry lad with good passes. The lad, thanks to the fine feeds from Belknap and Krocker hit 13 points in the 3rd to move the Blue and Gold way, way out in front. From the slim 42-37 advantage, the Midvale Blue Devils ran over the Eagles to a big 57-37 lead in the next 5 minutes of play as the Flyers went scoreless. From then on it was just a matter of time with the Blue Devils moving to the front by as much as 26 points on 2 occasions.
Junior 5-11 forward John Rice, the Orange and Black's ace sharpshooter, tallied 28 points, all from action, to lead the Baltic Eagles. The Diablos shot 36 percent from the field, making 28 of 77 attempts including a good 10 for 24 in the 3rd period and a poor 7 for 22 in the 2nd frame.
The Flyers hit 26 of 72 attempts for 35 percent, including a good 7 for 14 in the 2nd period and 5 for 15 in the 3rd. Starting the 2nd quarter, the Orange and Black potted 6 straight from the field to tie it up at 24 all. Rice, ending his season with a rush, ended with 454 points in 21 games for a good 22 point average. Baltic copped 10 of the their outings.
MIDVALE BLUE DEVILS (17-1) 85
Tom Krocker 3-6-12
Bill Housel 8-6-22
Dave Belknap 4-5-13
Hanes Hairston 7-2-16
Ron Breniser 6-2-14
Jim Clark 0-2-2
Vince De Denoi 0-2-2
Len De Mattio 0-2-2
Warren Leggett 0-0-0
BALTIC EAGLES (10-11) 61
Sam Jacob 2-0-4
John Rice 14-0-28
Bob Ladrach 0-5-5
Gary Gerber 5-1-11
Larry Lautensleger 1-0-2
Gary Mast 2-1-5
Chuck McPherson 1-1-3
Dave Berger 1-0-2
Ted Oswald 0-1-1
Dale Lautensleger 0-0-0
Wednesday, February 11, 1959
The Daily Times
New Philadelphia, Ohio
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