60 - Inside Sports

Tuesday, January 28, 1960
Sports Editor
The Daily Times
New Philadelphia, Ohio

IT SUDDENLY "REGISTERED" THE OTHER DAY HOW RIDICULOUS the tournament setup is this year for the Class A schools.  It was finally resolved, after many years of debate over Dover's Memorial Hall that the county tournament should be moved to a larger plant.  In addition to the inadequate seating situation (about 1,100 seats) most of the county coaches also felt the smallness of the Dover floor (43x67 was a detriment to the teams, because, as they advanced, the playing areas become larger.  Thus, calling for a different brand of ball.

In this argument, several area fans have pointed out that the 1953 Strasburg Tigers, 1954 Tuscarawas Broncos and the 1959 Midvale Blue Devils, who all lost in the Regionals, might have gone further had they been afforded an opportunity to play more games on larger floors.  To this...and we saw each of these schools lose the games...we might add all 3 were great teams and among the best in recent history and, we thought the size of the floors was significant.  So finally the coaches talked their school executives into moving the joust out of Dover Memorial Hall...primarily because of the floor size factor and seating.

QUITE NATURALLY, the 1st choice was New Philadelphia's new gymnasium which seats 2,200 fans and has a 50x90 playing floor that is considered one of the finest high school gymnasiums in Ohio.  But, then came the disappointing news that the 2 parties involved could not arrive at a satisfactory rental fee.  New Philadelphia asked $175 per night, while the Dennison gym (45x76) which seats about 1,600 fans, was chosen by the county school heads over the Quaker Gym because of the financial angle for $75.  Thus, on February 19th the 9 county-school system will open play in the Dennison Gymnasium.  Following the finals on February 27, the winner and runner-up will then move on to the Sectional event.  And, where is this to be played?  Where else but at Dover's Memorial Hall...the place that county school coaches had already agreed was too small for playing or for the fans.

So, we are right back where we started, in a gym that not only was voted out by the county schools, but is very much disliked by the others who are involved from Holmes and Carroll counties, as well as the non-county system schools.

THE CLASS A SECTIONAL could also have been held at Dennison.  It would have meant a tight schedule there, inasmuch as the Class AA Sectional was also being held the same week, but it could have been done.  Of course, the real solution would have been to hold it at New Philly.  It's too late to do anything about the situation this year.  But, it is certainly not too late to see what can be worked out for 1961.  The location facilities and seating arrangements at Quaker Gym are 2nd to none in the State of Ohio.  So, why not hold the always exciting tournaments in the best place available.  Money should not be the only consideration in choosing the site.  The fans are deserving of more than that.

THE DISTRICT TOURNAMENT, by the way is set for Brilliant in the Class A ranks and at Martins Ferry for the AA schools.

CLASS A

NON-COUNTY:

At Dennison, February 23 and 25. (Dennison, Dennison St. Mary's and Dover St. Joseph's)

COUNTY:

Tuscarawas County:  At Dennison, February 19,20,26 and 27.  (Garaway, Gnadenhutten, Baltic, Strasburg, Port Washington, Tuscarawas, Midvale, Tuscarawas Valley and Stone Creek)

Harrison County:  At Conotton Valley (Leesville), February 23,25 and 27.  (Scio, Jewett, Conotton, Freeport, Hopedale and Franklin)

SECTIONAL

At Dover - March 1,4, and 5.  (Champion and Runner-Up of Tuscarawas; Carroll County Champion; Champion and Runner-Up of Holmes County Tournament; and Non-County School Tournament Champion)

At Brilliant - March 2,4 and 5. (Belmont County Campion; Harrison County Champion and Runner-Up; Jefferson County Champion and Runner-Up and winner of Mingo Junction-Tiltonsville playoff.

DISTRICT

At Brilliant - March 8 and 11 (co-winners of Dover and Brilliant Sectionals.

REGIONAL

At Canton - Lima, Athens and Troy, March 17 and 19.  (Brilliant winner to Canton joust along with winner of Muskingum College event)

STATE

At Columbus, St. John's Area.  March 25 and 26 (Four Regional Winners)

NOTE:  Ben Price at Denison University

Ben Price, Freshman at Denison University, is a member of the school's Varsity Squad this season.  Price, a graduate of Tuscarawas Valley High School and winner of The Daily Times "Most Valuable Player Award" last year is looked at as one of Denison's most promising rookies by his Head Coach Dick Scott, a native of Scio and former Gnadenhutten coach.  The 6-4 youngster is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Price of Mineral City.