The 1959 Gnadenhutten Indians' shortest basketball player, at 5-4, has showerd the nets for 177 points at this point in the season. (Photo...The Daily Times)
NEW PHILADELPHIA - TNT, they say, is small, but mighty! Then too, many claim that "It isn't the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog."
Maybe what they say is true. Who knows, for sure? Napoleon was a small fellow and yet pretty powerful too. But, in basketball more stories are written about big men than perhaps any one of the numerous and various aspects of the game.
This story is different. For, it is hoped it will give a new twist on the cage game and perhaps place at the feet of the small guy some of the big credit. Take for instance, Ron Clark of the Gnadenhutten Indians who has been a real standout for the Tribe this season as they rolled over 11 foes in 14 contests.
Although built much closer to the earth than the average and closer even than any other starting member of any County Basketball Team, this Clark fellow has chipped in an average of 13.3 points in every game. Then there is a wee-bit of a guy, William (Bill) Phillips of the Port Washington Purple Riders who has done even better than Clark, as far as point producing goes, averaging 18.7 per contest. But, Clark needn't feel bad, cause Phillips is a bigger player...heck Clark is only 5-feet, 4-inches tall and Phillips is way up there at 5-feet, 5-inches.
IT'S ALWAYS THE BIG GUY
Yep, everyday we read about big 7-foot Wilt Chamberlain or 6-10 Jerry Lucas of Ohio State, but how about these little guys who must overcome overwhelming odds and learn to arch the ball over those huge performers. Amonng those cagers in this county who stand 5-feet, 6 inches or shorter, Phillips is the leader as the wiry Sophomore has already totaled 272 points this season, including a 30-point outburst against the Stone Creek Golden Panthers on Tuesday night for his best game of the season.
In this same category, Co-Captain Jim McAfee of the Golden Panthers is also a "big man" for his team as the 5-6 Senior leads his squad with a 17.3 average with 275 points. Then there is 5-6 Senior Larry Yakley of the Garaway Pirates (Sugarcreek-Shanesville-Dundee) who is clipping them off at a 15 point average with 224 points. Yakley's biggest one game outburst was a 32-point effort against the Newcomerstown Trojans this season.
Another "small but mighty" player is Dennison St. Mary Wave's Sophomore standout Sandy Bonvechio who is averaging 14 per game for the Blue Wave. he stands 5-6. Dick Kilpatrict of Dennison at 5-5 and a Junior, can also be listed with the small elite with his 7.3 average in 11 games with the Railroaders.
But, all-in-all, little Ron Clark of the Tribesmen stands a little above...or is it below?...by being the smallest Varsity starter in the county.
THE COUNTY'S SMALL-FRY ELITE
Phillips (Port) 5-5 Sophomore 272 18.7
McAfee (Stone Creek) 5-6 Senior 275 17.2
Yakley (Garaway) 5-6 Senior 224 15.0
Bonvechio (St. Mary's) 5-6 Sophomore 126 14.0
Clark (Gnaden) 5-4 Junior 177 13.3
Kilpatrick (Dennison) 5-5 Junior 80 7.2
Lake (TV) 5-5 Sophomore 79 6.0
Summers (Tusky) 5-6 Sophomore 66 5.5
Donehue (St. Mary's) 5-6 Sophomore 44 4.4
B. Yakley (Garaway) 5-4 Sophomore 63 4.2
Thursday, January 22, 1959
Don Wagner, Sports Editor
The Daily Times
New Philadelphia, Ohio
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