The 1959 Regional Tournament Bracket Guiding The Way To Columbus.
The 1959 Midvale Blue Devils Team readies for the Regional Tournament.
NEW PHILADELPHIA - "I definitely feel our chances are good Friday night. I think we are as good as they are. Doesn't that make our chances just as good?" Head Coach Pete Hilliard said today as he prepped his cagers for their Friday Regional tournament debut. While the Northwestern Huskies rely mainly on a one-two punch, the Midvale Blue Devils have 5 guns of almost equal caliber. In referring to the big one on Friday against the defending State Champion Huskies, Hilliard said the main thing is to outscore them. "We are in good physical condition and should be ready." he added.
The Blue Devils of Midvale, currently on a 16 game winning streak and victors of 22 of 23 outings this season, will not be authorized a practice session at Canton's Field House since none of the teams involved...the Northwestern Huskies, Braceville and Old Washington Warriors...have played on the floor this season. Midvale has also surpassed the use of its own floor this week, preparatory for its game on the huge Canton hardwood. This week, the Diablos have been practicing on the Garaway floor at Sugarcreek, making use of the glass backboards there since the boards are similar to those at Canton. Twice this week the coach has taken the team members to the doctor to try and stave off any possible illnesses and especially colds. Several have been inoculated to prevent the flu.
Everyone seems fit, according to Hilliard. The starters, all of whom are averaging in double figures are ready to go. Playing in regional tournaments is no milestone for Midvale High School, as neither is playing at Canton.
It was only 2 years ago that this writer was sitting at a scoring bench and covering the Devils' Regional action against the Vienna Mustangs and Savannah. Down Midvale way, where basketball is as popular as milk is to a tiny babe, fans and school officials are dearly hoping this year's action is not so nerve racking. In 1957, when the Blue Devils made it to Columbus before bowing to the ultimate State Champion Ayersville, its Regional games became legend.
That year it was the carrot topped Dick Leggett who in both Regional contests had a shot in the air when the buzzer sounded. When he flipped it toward the hoop Midvale was trailing both times and both times the roundball swished the cords, first for a 64-62 triumph over the Vienna Mustangs and then 61-60 over Savannah. The opposition will not be any easier this year, but those loyal fans who have followed the Devils all the way this season are already a bit shaken up. In the 22 victories this year Midvale has copped 6 by 3 points or less, including their gaining the District Tournament in a sudden-death double overtime verdict over the Killbuck Bucks. Coming through under pressure is really an asset in disguise.
But, this is only history now. The big thing at this particular moment is the Diablos' acid test against the highly touted Huskies who seem determined to go all the way again this year. Northwestern, a consolidation of Chester and West Salem a few years ago in Wayne County, is led by one of the State's better all-around athletes.
Dean Chance, 6-3 Senior, who in the spring is one of the best baseball hurlers in the State, has averaged 27.5 points per game this season as the Huskies have rolled over 23 of 25 foes. Their only losses were to Class AA Waynedale and Class A Rittman Indians. In both cases, Northwestern had won over the clubs in earlier season contests. A top play-maker and sporting an 18.5 average for the charges of Head Coach Dan Baker is Boze Johnson a 5-8 Senior. Both Johnson and Chance were members of last year's State Championship team.
The scoring...at least thus far this season...has been largely built around these 2 lads. A top rebounder for the Huskies is Dave Fuhrman, a 6-2 Junior who is averaging about 7 points per game. Russ Gortner, 6-0 Junior is at the other forward, opposite Fuhrman and is averaging about 9 points per game. In addition to Johnson at a guard slot, Dewight Wasson will be the counterpart. Wasson is a 5-10 Junior and the team's top playmaker. He is averaging about 6 points per game.
A fast-breaking aggregation that uses both a zone and man-to-man defense. Northwestern has been installed as the tournament favorites by Canton and Akron newspapers.
MIDVALE TEST IS AGAINST FAVORITES
MIDVALE (22-1) vs NORTHWESTERN (23-2)
MIDVALE BLUE DEVIL STARTERS
5-11 F Ron Breniser 462 20.0
6-3 F Hanes Hairston 271 11.8
6-3 C Bill Housel 329 14.3
5-8 G Dave Belknap 297 12.9
5-10 G Tom Krocker 204 14.5 (Only 14 Games)
NORTHWESTERN HUSKIE STARTERS
6-2 F Dave Fuhrman 175 7.0
6-0 F Russ Gortner 225 9.0
6-3 C Dean Chance 637 25.5
5-8 G Boze Johnson 462 18.5
5-10 G Dewight Wasson 150 6.0
SCORING
MIDVALE BLUE DEVILS
Augusta Blue Devils 89-38
Tuscarawas Broncos 68-51
Garaway Pirates 54-52
Baltic Eagles 73-71
Strasburg Tigers 66-65
Stone Creek Golden Panthers 45-42
Gnadenhutten Indians 76-78L
Tuscarawas Broncos 74-63
West LaFayette Generals 80-68
Port Washington Purple Riders 61-51
Tuscarawas Valley Trojans 81-56
Scio Panthers 68-66
Gnadenhutten Indians 70-63
Strasburg Tigers 73-53
Conotton Valley Rockets 71-70
Dennison Railroaders 98-55
Port Washington Purple Riders 90-41
COUNTY TOURNAMENT
Baltic Eagles 85-61
Gnadenhutten Indians 69-52
Tuscarawas Valley Trojans 65-43
SECTIONAL TOURNAMENT
Killbuck Bucks 84-83 (Double-Overtime)
DISTRICT TOURNAMENT
Brilliant Blue Devils 77-58
Conotton Valley Rockets 96-79
REGIONAL TOURNAMENT
Pending!
SCORING
NORTHWESTERN HUSKIES
Big Prairie-Lakeville Bulldogs 82-41
Savannah 87-49
Shreve 64-31
Waynedale 71-56
Smithville Smithies 69-49
Orrville Red Riders 66-44
Hiland Hawks 63-59
Dalton Bulldogs 89-65
Plymouth Big Red 90-53
Loudenville Redbirds 93-56
Norwayne 76-44
Hayesville 84-49
Shreve 59-49
Doylestown Chipps 82-51
Waynedale 58-68L
Smithville Smithies 70-45
Dalton Bulldogs 76-42
Rittman Indians 45-57L
Norwayne 81-48
Doylestown Chipps 95-64
COUNTY TOURNAMENT
Shreve 77-46
SECTIONAL TOURNAMENT
Jeromesville Falcons 72-63
Rittman Indians 86-57
DISTRICT TOURNAMENT
Geveva Spencer Eagles 50-43
United Local 79-44
REGIONAL TOURNAMENT
Pending!
Wednesday, March 11, 1959
Don Wagner, Sports Editor
The Daily Times
New Philadelphia, Ohio
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