44 - Midvale Sends Magnolia Home 44-34 In A Tight Game (3-3-44)

Midvale Blue Devils looking forward to  their 1st Sectional Tournament contest.  BACK:   Baumholtz, B. Hensel - Melvin Davis - W. Beahon - Jim Morgan and Manager Duane Smith  FRONT:  Sam Booth - Dave Stevenson - Gene Hawkins - Jack Rennicker - Gil Bartles and Head Coach Travis U. White.


Three of the 4 teams in the final 2 games of the Sectional Class B Basketball Tournament at Memorial Hall tonight will carry the colors of Tuscarawas County as a result of semi-finals last night when the 3rd entry was named.  The Dennison Railroaders and Midvale Blue Devils gained the playoffs last night, each scoring a 10-point victory, the Railroaders over the Dover St. Joseph Ramblers and the Blue Devils over the Masgnolia Panthers.  Dennison won 37-27 and Midvale triumphed 44-34.

Both games were won in the final quarter after nip-and-tuck battles staged before a crowd that included 646 cash customers.  Midvale's last-period margin over Magnolia was 19 to 8 after the Magnolia Club led 26-25 at the start of the stretch drive.  Behind the all-star shooting of Junior center Gene Hawkins, who banged in 5 field goals in the final chukker...the Blue Devils romped home with their triumph.

They had led 7-4 at the 1st quarter, but trailed 18-14 at intermission and then gained equal footing in the 3rd stanza with Hawkins sitting on the bench.  He was benched by Head Coach Travis White after drawing his 3rd personal foul near the end of the half and kept there until the start of the final quarter.

Once back in the game he sparked the Blue Devils to a 36-26 lead before Magnolia found pay dirt and then continued to lead his team to a saw-off the remainder of the way home.  Hawkins came out of the encounter with 17 points (8 field goals and a free throw).  Forward T. Crowe and center Houze led Magnolia with 10 points apiece.  Midvale ace, forward Jack Rennicker followed up Hawkins with 13 points.

MIDVALE BLUE DEVILS - 44

Jack Rennicker F 6-1-13
Gil Bartles F 3-0-6
Gene Hawkins C 8-1-17
Sam Booth G 3-1-7
Dave Stevenson G 0-1-1
Jim Morgan G 0-0-0

MAGNOLIA PANTHERS - 34

T. Crowe F 5-0-10
Trushel F 3-2-8
Hamilton C 3-0-6
Houze G 4-2-10
J. Crowe G 0-0-0
Markle G 0-0-0


Saturday, March 4, 1944
The Daily Reporter
Dover, Oho

SECTIONIAL 3-4-44

Dennison vs Walnut Creek 8PM
Sugarcreek-Shanesville vs Midvale 9PM