NEW PHILADELPHIA - Basketball tournaments are big business and if a team suddenly catches fire around the latter part of February and can survive the upsets of March, it can mean blue chips. The payoffs for teams participating in this year's county, Sectional and District Class A eliminations at Memorial Hall were among the highest in recent seasons. The bonus received by schools in the District was the highest in history.
The Midvale Blue Devils, which went through all 3 tournaments to gain the semi-finals of the Canton Regional Tournament, where it was defeated by Columbus-bound Northwestern Huskies, probably came out on top of all county and area schools financially. The Blue Devils, as well as 8 other county schools, picked up $400.00 each from the County Tournament and then added $109.75 from the Sectional, $666.08 from the District and $200.00 more-plus traveling expenses...from its one Regional appearance. It adds up to over $1,375.00.
Gross receipts from this year's county meet were $5,099.50 as compared with $5,687.00 over the 1958 route. It ranks 3rd in the history of the tournament with 1957's double elimination event tops at $6,282.00. Last year's take was 2nd highest.
Attendance at this year's Sectional Tournament was 2,730 with gross receipts standing at $2,218.40 and net gross receipts being $2,132.34. The "take home pay" for each school was $99.75 per game plus mileage. This compares favorably with other tournaments in the District. For instance, the Zanesville Sectional paid a bonus of only $49.08.
Admission receipts for the 3-night event were $2,158.40. In the highest paid District ever, 4,054 fans were in attendance for the 3-night session. Gross receipts were $3,418.40. Of the expenditures the OHSAA was tops when it took $503.14, while $134.18 went to the Eastern District Board.
The Conotton Valley Trojans and Midvale played 2 games apiece and received $666.08 respectively. The Brilliant Blue Devils, which had a mileage expense of $60.00 totaled $383.00, while the Hiland Hawks picked up a tab of $343.04. In setting the new mark of bonuses paid, it surpassed the $228.88 set in 1954 at Brilliant. Other than that season, the 1st for the tournament to be held there, the teams have realized more money by playing at Memorial Hall.
Last year Brilliant paid out $171.80.
Tuesday, March 17, 1959
The Daily Times
New Philadelphia, Ohio
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