41 - Baltic Defense In The 4th Stops Mineral City In 31-26 Comeback (2-21-41)

Baltic Eagles 1941 Basketball Team.  Front:  Paul Huff - Wallace Hahn - Glen Regula - Bill Lint - George Christman and John Young.  Back:  Head Coach L.P. Wartiainen - Jim Friend - Glen Schlarb - Glen Zimmerman - Bob Regula - Tom Fox - Dick Baab and Manager Ray Young.

Mineral City Tigers 1941 Basketball Team.  Front:  Ray Houze - Carl Gsell - Bill Abel - Wilbur Bailey - John Bartos and Tom Smitley.  Back:  Manager John Weaver - Gene Bozman - Arnold Pittman - Jack Pingstock - Evron Jones - Don McKinney - Head Coach C.J. Hanner and Manager Bill Jones.


DOVER - Another upset was recorded at Memorial Hall last night as the Bulldogs of Dundee dropped the Sugarcreek-Shanesville Pirates into the Consolation Division round of the 19th Annual Tuscarawas County Class B Basketball Tournament with a sweeping 30-27 victory.

Sugarcreek-Shanesville was the 3rd of 5 teams seeded to be dropped in the joust, while the Gnadenhutten Indians, a favored contender and another seeded team, had their hands full before finally eliminating a scrappy Port Washington Purple Riders Team 37-27 in the final period.  Baltic won the 1st Consolation game, edging Mineral City 31-26.  Gnaden and the Strasburg Tigers, which defeated Baltic Thursday night, are the only 2 teams of the 5 seeded quintets to remain in the regular tournament.

As the tournament goes on the Midvale Blue Devils are becoming more and more established as the favorite after its 34-20 upset of the Bolivar Cardinals Thursday night, while Strasburg is expected to come through in the lower bracket and meet the Blue Devils in the final next week.

Only 630 cash customers, 319 adults and 311 children, were present to witness the games last night, the attendance being higher than the 460 total of last year's Saturday afternoon session.  Thursday night 1,403 paid to see the tournament, 30 less adults and 12 more children than did on the opening night of last year, according to Tournament Manager Harold Everett.

The Baltic Eagles (1-1) (17-24)-Mineral City Tigers (0-2) (9-26) Consolation Division game was exciting throughout, the Tigers losing out because they were held to but one point in the final period.  Mineral City took a 15-5 lead at the 1st period, continued to stay ahead 20-14 at the half, but slowed up still more in the 3rd period, leading by only 25-21 going into the final which saw Baltic rally and score 10 points, while the Tigers were held to a single free throw.

Junior guard Bill Lint led the scoring for Baltic, dropping in 18 points to tie the mark set by Senior forward Dallas Crites of Gnaden this year, while forward Carl Gsell led Mineral City with 13 markers, all scored in the 1st half.  The Diridos Brothers, Valley and Francis, were again on the floor last night, officiating at all games and tossing 3 Mineral City players to the showers in the final period on 4 personal fouls.

BALTIC EAGLES - 31

Paul Huff F 1-4-6
John Young F 0-0-0
Glenn Regula C 1-3-5
Bill Lint G 8-2-18
Wallace Hahn G 0-0-0
George Christner G 1-0-2

MINERAL CITY TIGERS - 26

Carl Gsell F 6-1-13
John Bartos F 0-2-2
Wilbur Bailey C 3-0-6
Bill Abel G 0-1-1
Tom Smitley G 2-0-4
Ray Houze F 0-0-0
Gene Bozman C 0-0-0
Don McKinney F 0-0-0


Saturday, February 22, 1941
John Stratton, Sports Writer
The Daily Reporter
Dover, Ohio

NOTE:  BALTIC - Only 2 veterans from the team of a year ago had been available for 4th-year Head Coach L.P. Wartiainen.  The Eagles lost 5 regulars from last year's team through graduation last spring and has only Glenn Regula, a center and Bill Lint, a forward, returning.  Those lost were Myron Ott and Harold Lahm, forwards, Don Huff, Harold Snyder and Chester Froelich, all guards.

A group of 3 Juniors and 2 Sophomores have won themselves 1st crack at the remaining varsity positions, but must vie with another group, in which are 2 Freshmen and 3 Sophomores, for the work on the 1st team.  The 1st group consists of George Christner, a guard or center, Wallace Hahn, John Young and Glenn Schlarb, forwards and Paul Huff, who works at either forward or guard.  Huff and Young are Sophomores and the others Juniors.

The 5 doubtlessly will be shuttled between the Reserve team and the varsity combination are Glenn Zimmerman and Tom Fox, Freshmen and Bob Regula, Jim Friend and Vic Baab all Sophomores.  Zimmerman and Fox lineup at guards,  Regula at center and Friend and Baab at forwards.  On the reserve squad are Arthur Limbacher, Bob Reidenbach, Junior Ackerman and Ken Levengood, but despite a seeming supply of material.  Coach Wartiainen faces a big job loss of 5 regulars and doesn't leave very bright prospects.

MINERAL CITY - Veteran performers 1st-year Head Coach C.J. Hanner had this season were:  Wilbur Bailey, Tom Smitley, Ray Houze, Carl Gsell and John Bartos.  Bailey, Smitley and Houze were all regular starters on the Mineral City team of last season and the other 2 the 1st line replacements, thus gaining a lot of experience which puts them on the inside track for varsity jobs.

Other squad members, all showing promise, are Ken Rainsberger, Dean Douglass, Bill and Evon Jones, Don McKinney, Walter Carling, Bill Abel, Jack Pingstock, Gene Bowman and Tom Emery.  Rainsberger and Douglass, both showing enough stuff to be probable starters, will be off the squad for several weeks.  Rainsberger, a Freshman, is suffering from tonsilities and Douglass, a Sophomore, from a hernia for which he may undergo an operation.

Coach Hanner is a graduate of Indiana State College and succeeds Darwin Davis as the Mineral City Athletic Director.  The new coach is unmarried and a former cage star at Marshall Indiana High School and a former Indiana State track ace.

41 - Dundee Hands Sugarcreek-Shanesville a 30-27 Loss (2-21-41)

Dundee Bulldogs 1941 Basketball Team.  Front:  Head Coach Ken Gartrell - Milton Fruchey - Junior "Buck" Machan - Vic Smith - Ralph Ogg - Don Weber - Paul Jones and Jerry Bussinger.  Back:  Joe Martin - Don Malone - Paul Stress - John Zaugg - Herschel Malone - Carroll Saam - Paul Laubscher and Assistant Manager Roger Plunk.

Sugarcreek-Shanesville Pirates 1941 Basketball Team.  Front:  Merle Smith - Nolan Kaser - Bill Mast - Junior Trachsel - Earl Smith and Howard Moomaw.  Back:  Manager Walter Reim - Bob Immel - Merlyn Jones - Head Coach Sylvester Harmon - John Theimer - Roy Blick and Manager Bob Spankle.


DOVER - The Dundee Bulldogs (1-0) (14-24), coached by 2nd-year mentor Ken Gartrell, lost to the Sugarcreek-Shanesville Pirates (1-1) (32-20) 35-28 a month ago in a League encounter, but last night's contest between the 2 schools saw the Bulldogs lead all the way to a 30-27 victory.

Dundee's well-balanced outfit, led by forwards Milton Fruchey and Junior "Buck" Machan, took an 11-9 lead at the 1st quarter's end, increased it to 18-14 at intermission and to 25-18 at the start of the 4th and final period.  Early in the 4th, they ran the count up to 28-20 and started to coast, but the Pirates pulled up to 28-23 with but 3 minutes to go before Machan dropped in a field goal which iced the contest.

Machan scored high for the Bulldogs, collecting 12 points, while his teammate Fruchey came through with 7 markers.  Center Junior Trachsel scored 7 points and guard Earl Smith picked up 6 markers for the Pirates.

DUNDEE BULLDOGS - 30

Milton Fruchey F 3-1-7
Junior "Buck" Machan F 4-4-12
Vic Smith C 1-0-2
Don Weber G 2-1-5
Paul Jones G 2-0-4
Rallph Ogg G 0-0-0
Jerry Bussinger G 0-0-0
Don Malone G 0-0-0

SUGARCREEK-SHANESVILLE PIRATES - 27

Nolan Kaser F 1-3-5
Howard Moomaw F 1-0-2
Junior Trachsel C 3-1-7
Earl Smith G 3-0-6
Merle Smith G 1-2-4
Bob Immel G 0-1-1
Dale Weiss G 1-0-2
Roy Blick G 0-0-0
John Sundheimer C 0-0-0


Saturday, February 22, 1941
John Stratton, Sports Writer
The Daily Reporter
Dover, Ohio

NOTE:  DUNDEE - With 6 varsity lettermen and 4 reserve lettermen returning, Head Coach Ken Gartrell has put a veteran basketball team on the floor this season.  Varsity performers available are Vic Smith, Ralph Ogg, Don Weber, Paul Jones, Junior Machan and Milton Fruchey.  The first 3 are all Seniors this year.  Reserve award winners now making bids for the varsity combination are:  Hershel Malone - Paul Stress - Don Malone and John Zaugg.

Ray Landis, a Junior, is also bidding for a post, while Freshmen are showing unusual promise.  The latter 3 are Paul Laubscher, Carroll Loom and Jerry Bussinger, the latter a left-hand tosser from New Philadelphia's Welty Junior High School.

Size has favored the Gartrell team this season and even though it faced a tougher schedule the team has inproved its League record to 3-7 vs last years 1-9 finish.  Two new opponents this year was Sherrodsville of Carroll County and Bowerston of Harrison County.  Coach Gartrell graduated from Kent State University and is in his 2nd year at Dundee.  He was a product of Bowerston High School where he was a basketball and baseball star for 4 years.  He won recognition on the All-Harrison County Team during his career and is considered one of the outstanding athletes turned out in that county.

SUGARCREEK-SHANESVILLE - The Pirate cagemen, one of the 3 combinations defending the County Class B League Championship, and Head Coach Syl Harmon has the services of 3 veterans from last year's team and some good replacements moving up from the Reserve club.  Coach Harmon cut his varsity and reserve teams to 17 players and found his biggest problem in finding a center to replace Walter Zechiel, one of the 4 members lost to the squad.  Front rank candidates are:  Walter Stauffer, Bill Mast, Dale Weiss and Junior Trachsel, all standing over 6 feet.

The 3 returning vets are the flashy Smith twins, Merle and Earle and Nolan Kaser.  Outstanding replacement is Howard Moomaw who gained a lot of experience this season.  Other squad members are John Sundheimer, Bill Mast, Roy Blick, Walter Stauffer, Bill Ridle, Corliss Smith, Bob Lenhart, Bob Immel, Gene Becker, Lowell Zechiel and Merlin Jones.

The work of bringing the squad into full condition for the opening of the cage season and tournament play was not so strenuous for Coach Harmon this year as 6-man football added to the Sugarcreek-Shanesville athletic program a year ago, has served to keep a number of the prospects on physical edge.  The team faced a 20-game schedule with half in the county League and half with schools such as Dennison, Walnut Creek, Dover and New Philadelphia reserve teams highlighted the non-circuit competition.

John Harmon (in circle), Sugarcreek-Shanesville Junior has scored the most points for the Heidelberg College Five this season, while they were hanging up a 4-2 record.  Harmon's 45 points doesn't rank high in the State scoring, but the coach has been using plenty of substitutes and the scoring was divided among 14 players.  His beefy teammate Bart Clark (above), Pleasant Hill Senior played football with Harmon last fall.  Both lads weigh near the 200 mark, but neither has ever been ejected from a game on fouls.

41 - 4th Quarter Ends Port's Bid For Upset Vs Gnaden 37-27 (2-21-41)

Gnadenhutten Indians 1941 Basketball Team.  Front:  Manager Bill Crouse - Al Galbraith - Dale Crites - Ralph Long - John Metzger - Gene Huebner and Manager Cecil Spurlock.  Back:  Bill Schreiner - Ken Kohl - Don Miller - Head Coach Ed Sears - Glen Montague and Manager Bill Lockette.

Port Washington Purple Riders 1941 Basketball Team.  Front:  Bob Goettge - Lester West - Bob Woodard - Jim Goettge - Floyd Kinsey and Dale Huston.  Back:  Duane Smith - Roy Steinbach - Ron Goettge - Head Coach Walter Meade - Bill Ludwig and Manager Clarence Linard.  Absent:  Dale Glazer.


DOVER - Pressed hard for 3 quarters by the Port Washington Purple Riders (0-1) (5-22), the Gnadenhutten Indians (1-0) (25-22) either had an off night or still haven't recovered from a defeat by the Midvale Blue Devils which robbed them of a tie for the League Championship.

The Indians were tied at the opening period 4-4 by the Purple Riders, but went on to cop a 15-13 lead at intermission and still remained in front 23-21 at the end of the 3rd period after coming from behind to check a Port Washington rally.  The final stanza saw the Indians reach form and sent 14 points through the nets, while the Riders were only able to collect 6 markers.

It was Senior Bob Woodard , fast Port center, who kept Gnaden in hot water all through the game.  Woodard hit the nets 7 times from action and once from the free throw line to pile up 15 points, but Senor forward Dallas Crites, the only Indian player to find his shooting eye, took scoring honors with a high of 18 points and game honors.

GNADENHUTTEN INDIANS - 37

Dallas Crites F 8-2-18
John Metzger F 2-2-6
Ralph Long C 2-1-5
Ken Kohl G 0-2-2
Bill Schreiner G 1-0-2
Don Miller G 0-4-4

PORT WASHINGTON PURPLE RIDERS - 27

Jim Goettge F 1-1-3
Floyd Kinsey F 2-0-4
Bob Woodard C 7-1-15
Ron Goettge G 0-2-2
Bob Goettge G 1-1-3
Dale Huston F 0-0-0


Saturday, February 22, 1941
John Stratton, Sports Writer
The Daily Reporter
Dover, Ohio

NOTE:  GNADEN - Fourth-year Head Coach Ed Sears in spite of the fact that he has 4 returning lettermen was none too optimistic.  Virgil Allensworth, sparkplug of the Gnadenhutten Indians last season, has moved to New Philadelphia and is trying out with the Quakers and another veteran, Earl Johnson, has moved to near Cleveland.  Two other members of the 1939-40 combination were lost through graduation.

The Indian village entry was built around John Metzger at center, Dallas Crites at forward and Ken Kohl and Bill Schreiner as the guards, all lettermen.  In addition, there are 5 others upon whom Sears has depended on this season, all of whom have seen service before.  They are Ralph Long, Don Miller, Al Galbraith, Bill Lockett and Gene Huebner.

Loss of Allensworth and Johnson; however, is keenly felt as they would have given the school an all-veteran combination.

PORT WASHINGTON - Fifth-year Head Coach Walter J. Meade has been able to put a full team of lettermen on the floor this season.  Returning from last year's squad Coach Meade has Jim Goettge and Floyd Kinsey forwards, Bob Woodard at center and Dale Glazer and Bob Goettge the guards.

In addition, he has 5 returning from his Reserve team of a year ago, among whom he has found replacements and the "stuff" to spell off any of the veterans.  The 5 are:  Dale Huston, Ron Goettge, Dwain Smith, Roy Steinbach and Lester West.  Outstanding Freshmen has been Blaine and Dwain Gilmore.

41 - Tuscarawas Basketball Tournament (TBT) Talks

19th Tuscarawas County Class B Basketball Tourament Manager Harold Everett of Tuscarawas, shown above, worries for the entire group.

Official scorers, in the top panel above, are G.E. Schumacher of Baltic, Karl Muster of Bolivar and A.C. Bahler of Sugarcreek-Shanesville.  All are superintendents of their respective schools.

Timers, in the lower strip above, are Superintendent Paul O. Cochran of Midvale, County Superintendent W.E. Laws and Superintendent James C. Wilson of Stone Creek.

The referees above, are Valley and Francis Dirodis, a brother team from Ravenna.


DOVER - Back of the County Class B Basketball Tournament that opened at Memorial Hall here last night is a lot of work and planning on the part of county school officials who give their time to take care of such common place duties as keeping official scores and timing the games.  Above are shown some of the "powers behind the scenes" as well as the popular referees who are working their 2nd straight county tournament here.

* * *

There's something about the County Class B Tournament which lifts it out of the ordinary and turns it into a winter carnival as the more than 1,400 spectators at Memorial Hall last night will testify.  Perhaps it's the fact that 11 teams are entered, their school uniforms and colors dotting the crowd.  A community spirit prevails.  All through the Hall you can find youngsters now in school, former stars who performed on the floor, county school officials, parents of players and fans.

* * *

The 65-piece band in charge of County Music Supervisor Harold E. Mohr, was directed by several instructors during the evening and kept the few dull moments widely separated.  The band opened with "The Star Spangled Banner" and every one...players and fans alike...stood at attention.  Other selections were played at intervals throughout the evening.

* * *

Officials of the tournament stole an idea from Dover High School to add a little fanfare to the games and to give fans a chance to spot the players on each team.  In every game the 10 players took the floor after their names were called off, one by one, through a public address system in the press box.  Announcers were M.R. Helwick of Midvale, Taylor Foster of Tuscarawas, Earl Sundheimer of Sugarcreek and Roy Zimmerly of Bolivar.

* * *

The Dirodis brothers of Ravenna, Valley and Francis, were well accepted again last night, turning in as good a performance as they did when officiating the tourney last year.  Enough alike to be twins, the two handle a game efficiently, call their fouls justly and there are few if any complaints.  They were late one time in appearing at the start of a game, the Strasburg-Baltic tussle, but they had an excuse.  One of the 2 developed a blister on his foot and was busy taping it up in the dressing room when the game was ready to start.  The short delay only added to the usual 1st night delay as the 4 games, starting at 7PM and expected to be completed shortly after 11PM, went on into the morning, the final game winding up at about 12:30PM.

* * *

Among the interested spectators from the press box...and they had permission from tournament officials to be there...were Head Coach Dutch Furbay and his assistant Jim Morgan, both of Dennison.  Furbay's Railroaders, in Class B again this year after a year in the A Division, are considered a definite Sectional and District threat.  Also present was Head Coach Paul Hoernermann of New Philadelphia, County School Superintendent W.E. Laws and other county school officials.

* * *

Head Coach Pete Wolfe's Midvale club now finds itself in a favored position after slipping into the semi-finals with its victory over the Bolivar Cardinals.  Wolfe protested when the tournament drawings were made because his team had not played postponed games and therefore was not one of the 5 seeded.  But the way his team played last night it won't need to worry about seedings.  Midvale gave Bolivar the League Championship by whipping the Gnadenhutten Indians last Tuesday, but if the Indians can hop over the Port Washington Purple Riders tonight the 2 teams will meet next Thursday in a semi-final match which should be a great game.

* * *

Two scoreboards keep the fans informed as to the score of the game at all times.  The new electric scoreboard of Dover High School is being used, but in addition another scoreboard has been erected in the southwest corner, making it unnecessary for fans on the north side of the gym to stretch their necks to find the score.

* * *

SIDELIGHTS...Tournament Masnager Harold Everett of Tuscarawas, happy because of the crowd...disapponted when the Tuscarawas Broncos were upset as he sat on the scoring bench...Bud Ross of Bolivar coming back from the showers to shoot a foul without a jersey...Baltic's one-armed player, Hobert Regula, who lost part of the limb in a hunting accident, was in uniform, but did not play...cheerleaders were as impressive as ever...and as usual the ball was lost once under the bleachers.


Friday, February 21, 1941
John Stratton, Sports Writer
The Daily Reporter
Dover, Ohio

41 - Midvale Sails Past Bolivar 34-20 (2-20-41)

Midvale Blue Devils 1941 Basketball Team.  Front:  Charles Sogers - Bill Holmes - Glen Booth - Adrian Ford and John Downing.  Back:  Manager Tom Golder - Dale Ford - Vic Paris - Head Coach Pete Wolfe - Vic Cusano - Calvin "Tod" Hostetler and Manager Bob Meese.  Absent:  Lloyd Swinderman and Al Turrin.

Bolivar Cardinals 1941 Basketball Team.  Front:  Calvin Jones - Bill Zutavern - Russ Ross - Bud Ross - Warren Klink and Paul Cushing.  Back:  Manager Craig Reed - Don Lebold - Max Reed - Head Coach John Major - Bill Lebold - Joe Huffman  and Assistant Manager Ray Weber.


DOVER - Defeat of the Bolivar Cardinals and Tuscarawas Broncos drops 2 of the 5 seeded teams out of the regular tournament, their only hope now being to win in the Consolation Division.  Starting off with a bang...2 upsets being chalked up on the 1st night...the 19th Annual Tuscarawas County Class B Basketball Tournament opened last night at Memorial Hall with the Midvale Blue Devils eliminating the League Champions Bolivar, from regular tournament play with a resounding 34-20 defeat.

But Midvale wasn't the only team to turn in a spectacular triumph before the more than 1,800 fans who filled the hall to the walls...the Golden Panthers of Stone Creek scaled the heights to smash down any attempt of the Tuscaraws Broncos for a tourney title by dropping them into the Consolation Division 25-24 in an overtime contest.  The remaining 2 games saw Mineral City struggle desperately against the Sugarcreek-Shanesville Pirates, but lose 36-21 in the final period and the Strasburg Tigers showing a darkhorse team, turn back the Balic Eagles 43-25.

For basketball, the Midvale Blue Devils (1-0) (31-14)-Bolivar Cardinals (0-1) (25-21) game was the best offered fans as the colorful Cardinals...probably more unpredictable this year than any other recent year...opened with a crowd of approximately 1,400 paying admissions and staying until it was all over at 12:30AM.  The Blue Devils, strengthened at the 2nd semester by the return of forward "Ace" Adrian Ford, member of last year's County Tournament Championship Team which went on to cop the District Title at Dennison and win its 1st game at Columbus before losing out in the State Tournament, have been coming along rapidly in the past few weeks and last night they had it.

Bolivar, defeated only once in 10 League games and by Midvale 35-32 at Midvale a month ago, couldn't get going at any time in the game because of Midvale's tight zone defense.  Showing power that would not be denied, the Blue Devils took a 7-4 lead in the 1st quarter and were never headed.  They led 16-10 at the half and 23-18 at the end of the 3rd period and killed off all Cardinal hopes by running their score up to 31-18 early in the 4th stanza.  From here they coasted.

Adrian Ford was Midvale's point getter, sending 15 points through the nets, while center Bud Ross of Bolivar was 2nd high scorer with a total of 13 markers, more than half his team's total and all of which were scored in the first 3 periods.  The game was cleanly played, the Cardinals drawing only 7 personal fouls and Midvale 12, but Bolivar was weak at the free throw line, shooting in only 6 of 13, while Midvale sank 6 of 9.  Guard Jerry "Buzzy" Young was lost by the winners on personals.

Midvale handed Bolivar the League Championship last Monday night by dropping the Gnadenhutten Indians 39-36 and breaking a 2-way tie.

MIDVALE BLUE DEVILS - 34

Adrian "Ace" Ford F 7-1-15
Tod Hostetler F 0-2-2
Al Turrin C 2-1-5
Dale Ford G 3-1-7
Jerry "Buzzy"Young G 2-0-4
Vic Paris G 0-1-1
Glenn Booth F 0-0-0
John Downing F 0-0-0
Vic Cusano G 0-0-0
Lloyd Swinderman G 0-0-0

BOLIVAR CARDINALS - 20

Russ Ross F 1-0-2
Calvin Jones F 1-0-2
Bud Ross C 4-5-13
Warren Klink G 1-0-2
Bill Zutavern G 0-1-1
Paul Cushing F 0-0-0
Forest "Joe" Huffman G 0-0-0
Bill Lebold G 0-0-0
Max Reed F 0-0-0
Don Lebold C 0-0-0


Friday, February 21, 1941
John Stratton, Sports Writer
The Daily Reporter
Dover, Ohio

NOTE:  MIDVALE - First-year Head Coach Pete Wolfe of Midvale had his work cut-out for him as last year's team went all the way to the State Tournament, winning the county tournament and the Eastern Ohio District titles.  Coach Wolfe had only one veteran member of the Championship team back, Guard Jerry "Buzzy" Young.  Three members of the Reserve Team were also available, Bill Holmes, Al Turrin and Vic Paris who furnish the 1st replacements for the Wolfe team, while 3 others, Dale Ford, Lloyd Swinderman and Vic Cusano were outstanding among the new men.

BOLIVAR - Taking up right where he left off a year ago when his Cardinal cagers finished in a 3-way tie with the Sugarcreek-Shanesville Pirates and the Midvale Blue Devils for the County Class B League Title, 2nd-year Head Coach George Wrentmore of the Bolivar Cardinals won this year's League Title outright.  Coach Wrentmore had 3 lettermen, Bud Ross and Warren Klink, 2 of the county's outstanding stars and Paul Cushing, the latter a veteran of 3 campaigns on the hardwood floor as a Red Bird regular.

Bud Ross is a 6-foot 1-inch pivot man who provided the Cardinals with plenty of under-the-bucket punch this season and Warren Klink the lad who caused a sensation last year as a Freshman.  Regulars lost last season included Russ Eberly, Ken Oberlin and Sam Notz.  Replacements for the lost members of the Cardinal quintet came mainly from the Reserve Team where Coach Wrentmore had Bill Lebold, Bill Zutavern, Russ Ross, Forest Huffman and Max Reed.  There is also Calvin Jones, a transfer from Strasburg.  Russ Ross is a brother of Bud Ross and tops 6 feet.

John Major was hired to take over from Head Coach George Wrentmore as he had a military commitment and would resign as Head Coach, while Major took over coaching duties for the tournaments.

41 - Stone Creek Upsets Tusky 25-24 (OT) (2-21-41)

Stone Creek Golden Panthers 1941 Basketball Team.  Front:  Head Coach George E. Holmes - Dale Wherley - David Buehler - Gil Miser - Ralph Kilehenmann - Bill Ridenour and Ed Arbogast.  Back:  Wayne Renner - Jim Arbogast - Wayne Kugler - Don Buehler - Glen Brown and Manager Paul Raher.

Tuscarawas Broncos 1941 Basketball Team.  Front:  Lester Meese - Charles Eckhardt - Angelo Cerqui - Charles Myers - Dick Schumacher and Howard Myers.  Back:  Phil Meese - Jim Veigel - Head Coach Charmis Davis - Warren Crites - Herbert Stemple and Manager Clarence Heldt.


DOVER - The Stone Creek Golden Panthers (1-0) (6-15) earlier in the season lost an overtime game to the Tuscarawas Broncos (0-1) (15-22), but last night the Golden Panthers turned the tables entirely with a 25-24 victory that set their supporters in a frenzy as the Tusky Five went down.

Stone Creek took a 3-1 lead in the 1st quarter, when neither team was able to dent the cords from action for the full 8 minutes, but in the 2nd period both teams got moving and Stone Creek led at the half 13-12.  The 3rd period saw the Broncos shake loose to take an 18-17 lead and run it up to 20-17 early in the 4th stanza.  With only 4 minutes remaining the Golden Panthers  rallied, guard Jim Arbogast scoring a free throw and forward Bill Ridenour tossing in a short action shot which tied the count at 20-all with a minute left to play.

Guard Ed Arbogast sent Stone Creek into the lead,with only 45 seconds to go when he dropped in his free throw, but Tusky guard Dick Schumacher tied the count at 21-21 with a free throw in the last 20-seconds.  The 3 minute overtime saw Ridenour come through with 2 field goals for the Golden Panthers and forward Charles Eckhardt scored an action shot and forward Bill Cox a free toss for the Broncos.

Stone Creek tossed in 11 of 24 free throws and Tuscarawas made 10 of 19 in the contest which saw the Panthers assessed 16 personals and the Broncos 18.  Forward Ralph Kilehenmann, Stone Creek forward, was high scorer in the game, turning in 9 points, while Ridenour's 7 points, all in the last half, counted heavily.  Guard Angelo Cerqui scored 7 markers to lead Tusky.  The Panthers lost guard Wayne Kugler on personals and the Broncos lost guard Howard Myers and Cerqui.

STONE CREEK GOLDEN PANTHERS - 25

Dale Wherley F 0-3-3
Rallph Kilehenmann F 3-3-9
Gil Mizer C 0-1-1
Ed Arbogast G 1-1-3
Wayne Kugler G 0-1-1
Bill Ridenour F 3-1-7
Jim Arbogast G 0-1-1
Don Buehler G 0-0-0

TUSCARAWAS BRONCOS - 24

Charles Eckhardt F 1-2-4
Lester Meese F 0-2-2
Charles Ramel C 1-0-2
Angelo Cerqui G 3-1-7
Howard Myers G 0-1-1
Charles Myers F 1-2-4
Bill Cox F 1-1-3
Dick Schumacher G 0-1-1


Friday, February 21, 1941
John Stratton, Sports Writer
The Daily Reporter
Dover, Ohio

NOTE:  The Stone Creek Golden Panthers, according to Head Coach George Holmes, had a squad of 21 candidates including 7 lettermen to form this year's basketball team.  Veterans returning this year were Gil Mizer who would replace Vic Turner at Center, who was lost from last year's team by graduation and Ed Arbogast, Don Buehler, Ralph Kilchenman, Wayne Kugler, Bill Ridenour and Dale Wherley.  This is Coach Holmes' 2nd year at Stone Creek.

At Tuscarawas, although his athletic program had been upset by the tragedy which marked the final 6-man football game of the season when Charles Kohler, a stellar performer, was fatally injured, Head Coach Charmis Davis, working on his 13th year at Tusky, lacked height in this season's squad, but believed that his Broncos would make up for it in speed and experience.

He had 5 lettermen returning and a group of 15 others in which he had the necessary replacements and 2nd line of defense.  Verterans are Angelo Cerqui, Warren Crites, Lester Meese, Charles Meyers and Charles Eckhardt.  Kohler also had been a letterman.  Others who would supply the remainder of the varsity and reserve squads were:  Phil Meese, Howard Myers, Bob Davis, John Galanti, Herbert Stemple, Dick Walton, James Veigel, Radames Boni, Clarence Mezger and Phil Lahm.

41 - Strasburg Cruises Over Baltic 43-25 (2-20-41)

DOVER - Always "hot" for the Tuscarawas County tournaments, the Strasburg Tigers (1-0) (49-10) made a good showing in their victory over the Baltic Eagles (0-1) (16-24) who were playing without the services of one regular, Junior Wallace Hahn, who is ill at his home with the flu. 

In the 2nd game of the 19th Tuscarawas County Class B Basketball Tournament, 6-foot 2-inch Sophomore center Carl Yackey, was the mainspring, as the Tigers played a shoot-and-follow game which got them a 10-3 lead at the end of the 1st quarter and then went on to increase it to 22-13 at intermission.  By the time the end of the 3rd quarter rolled around, Strasburg had a 10-point lead at 31-21 which killed off any hopes of victory by the Eagles in the early stages of the 4th and final stanza.  The game wrapped up with another triumph by the fighting Tigers 43-25.

The Strasburg scoring was evenly divided with Sophomore guard Tom Miller and Junior forward Ken Houtz each getting 12 points and fellow teammate forward Gene Gordon picking up another 10 markers.  Yackey made only 4 points, but his height resulted in the Tigers keeping the ball most of the game.  Junior guard Bill Lint scored 9 points for Baltic, while Junior center Glenn Regula tossed in 8 and Sophomore forward Paul Huff getting 6 markers.

STRASBURG TIGERS - 43

Gene Gordon F 5-0-10
Ken Houtz F 5-2-12
Carl Yackey C 2-0-4
Dick Welsch G 1-1-3
Tom Miller G 6-0-12
Bill Schenk F 0-0-0
Erl Lingler F 0-0-0
Ed Weber C 0-0-0
Gene Hawk G 0-0-0
Bob Rousch G 1-0-2

BALTIC EAGLES - 25

John Young F 0-0-0
Paul Huff F 3-0-6
Glenn Regula C 3-2-8
Bill Lint G 3-3-9
George Christner G 1-0-2
Glenn Schlarb F 0-0-0
Glenn Zimmerman G 0-0-0

Friday, February 21, 1941
John Stratton, Sports Writer
The Daily Reporter
Dover, Ohio

41 - 19th Annual Tuscarawas County Class B Basketball Tournament (1941)

DOVER - Second-year Head Coach Sylvester Harmon's Sugarcreek-Shanesville Pirates (1-0) (32-19), a tournament seeded team, had all it could handle in the 1st contest of the 19th Tuscarawas County Class B Basketball Tournament, by escaping the threat of the Mineral City Tigers (0-1) (9-25) which refused to give up and lost 36-31 only when the Pirates dropped in 14 points through the nets in the final stanza. 

The Tigers took a 6-4 lead at the end of the 1st quarter, but Sugarcreek-Shanesville rallied in the 2nd period and took an 18-16 edge at halftime, only to have the League cellar champs bounce back and knot the count at 22-all at the close of the 3rd quarter.  But, 1st-year Head Coach C.J. Hanner of Mineral City encouraged his team not to stop there, as the cagers went on to take a 27-24 lead in the 1st part of the final period while worrying Pirate fans.  Sugarcreek-Shanesville found the hoop again and with forward Noland Kaser leading the way sank 9 points and went on to win easily.

Free throws kept the Mineral City Five in the game.  They dropped in 11 of 14 tosses, while the Pirates made only 6 of 11.  The Pirates lost guard Merle Smith as he took 4 of the 13 fouls assessed the winners, while Mineral City had 11 called against them.

Sugarcreek-Shanesville's Nolan Kaser led his team with 15 points and sailed the seas for game honors, while Mineral City's guard Tom Smitley turned in an excellent game by keeping his club in the contest with 11 markers.

SUGARCREEK-SHANESVILLE PIRATES - 36

Noland Kaser F 7-1-15
Howard Moomaw F 1-0-2
Junior Trachsel C 4-3-11
Earl Smith G 1-0-2
Merle Smith G 0-0-0
Bob Immel G 2-0-4
John Sundheimer G 1-0-2
Roy Blick F 0-0-0
Dale Weiss G 0-0-0

MINERAL CITY TIGERS - 31

Carl Gsell F 2-1-5
John Bartos F 2-2-6
Wilbur Bailey C 1-3-5
Bill Abel G 0-0-0
Tom Smitley G 3-5-11
Ray Houze G 2-0-4
Gene Bozman F 0-0-0


Friday, February 21, 1941
John Stratton, Sports Writer
The Daily Reporter
Dover, Ohio

FINAL LEAGUE STANDINGS FOR 1940-41

1.  Bolivar Cardinals (George Wrentmore-2) 9-1 .900 (4th Title) (2nd Straight)
2.  Gnadenhutten Indians (Ed J. Sears-4) 8-2 .800
3.  Tuscarawas Broncos (Charmis Davis-11) 7-3 .700
4.  Midvale Blue Devils (Pete Wolfe-1) 7-3 .700
5.  Sugarcreek-Shanesville Pirates (Sylvester Harmon-2) 6-4 .600
6.  Strasburg Tigers (Sam Andrews-2) 6-4 .600
7.  Baltic Eagles (L.P. Wartiainen-4) 5-5 .500
8.  Dundee Bulldogs (Ken Gartrell-2) 3-7 .300
9.  Port Washington Purple Riders (Walter J. Meade-5) 2-8 .200
10. Mineral City Tigers (C.J. Hanner-1) 1-9 .100
11. Stone Creek Golden Panthers (George E. Holmes-2) 1-9 .100

40 - Smithfield's Defense Ends Midvale Title Bid 39-29 (3-15-40)

COLUMBUS - A vise-like defense that gripped them tightly in the 1st half and hurried the few good shots they did get ended the basketball wars for the Midvale Blue Devils (9-1) (25-4) here yesterday afternoon.  In fact that led to the Smithfield Sentinels (30-0) limiting the Blue Devils to just 7 points in the entire 1st half.  The Devils were eliminated by the highly favored Smithfield quintet by a score of 39-29.  The Sentinels have yet to lose a single game.  Midvale came back in the 2nd half and outscored the Smithfield lads, but they had dropped too far back to overcome the long 21-7 lead their opponents piled up in the 1st two periods.

In those opening periods Head Coach M.R. Helwick's team was unable to feed the ball into the pivot for #13 forward Frank Morrison or to shake #9 forward Jerry Young open at the sides.  With those 2 boys cut down, the Blue Devils offense had nothing left to travel on.  Meanwhile, Smithfield clicked regularly and piled up an 11-4 advantage in the 1st quarter and push it to the 21-7 score at intermissioni.

Led by #5 center Adrian Ford and #7 guard Captain Bob Baldwin, the Blue Devils began their 2nd half rush early in the 3rd period and paced a touch-and-go fight from the start of the period to the end and in it outscored Smithfield 12-10.  Ford gathered a field goal and a pair of free throws during the quarter, while Baldwin contributed a fielder and a free toss.  Morrison found the range and dropped in a field goal and 2 free throws to aid the onslaught.

Captain Baldwin narrowly escaped serious injury when he turned in one of the tournament's most spectacular plays during the period.  Caught short by Smithfield's center Ed Zink who was dribbling in for a sucker shot on a fast break, Baldwin rushed him headlong, jumped, knocked the ball out of bounds with a beautiful clean sweep, but himself flew off the floor to the side of the court and had to hurdle 2 rows of benches to avert a collision.  The referees called a foul on him for the flop and won themselves a long lusty round of boos.

Midvale scored 10 more points in the final quarter, while holding the Sentinels to 8.  Ford twirled in 2 action shots and Morrison, Young and Baldwin one each.

Smithfield tallied on 3 fielders and a pair of free tosses.  Zink won individual scoring honors with 18 points collected from 5 field goals and 8 free throws.  His teammate Phillips, a forward, scored 12 markers, while Ford led the way for Midvale with 10 points scored on 4 field goals and 2 free throws.  Morrison and Young each tallied 6 points.  The Referees Tom Vernia of Chillicothe and Hugh McPhee of Struthers, called 16 fouls on Midvale and 12 on Smithfield.  The Blue Devils lost #4 guard Warrent Leggett near the end of the 3rd period and Young early in the 4th stanza.  Smithfield lost only guard Murphy, who left the game after Leggett in the 3rd period.

SMITHFIELD SENTINELS - 39

Burris F 0-2-2
Phillips F 5-2-12
Ed Zink C 5-8-18
Foster G-C 2-1-5
Murphy G 1-0-2
Campbell F 0-0-0
Cibulka G 0-0-0

MIDVALE BLUE DEVILS - 29

Frank Morrison F 2-2-6
Jerry Young F 1-4-6
Adrian Ford C 4-2-10
Bob Baldwin G 2-1-5
Warren Leggett G 0-2-2
Lew Daltau G 0-0-0
Vic Paris F 0-0-0


Saturday, March 16, 1940
Clyde Shaffer, Sports Writer
The Daily Reporter
Dover, Ohio

NOTE:  The New Philadelphia Quakers went on to become Class A STATE Champions.