47 - Right Down The Line

RIGHT DOWN THE LINE
With Harry Yockey
Saturday, March 8, 1947

The Strasburg Tigers now are only 2 games away from a berth in the State Championship finals at Columbus and needless to say, their stock soared last night when they trampled the Walnut Creek Cardinals.  It still is a long pull, but you can mark the Tigers down as one of the leading contenders for the title.  Head Coach Emmet Riley tonight will be scouting the Tigers' possible Regional Tournament opponents as this team and Strasburg fans await the outcome of 3 games at Kent when the other position in that tournament will be filled.  Springfield Township from Mahoning County and Brecksville will collide at 6:45PM.  Lowerville will meet Rittman at 8PM and Akron Eilet will engage a touted Columbiana five at 9:15PM.

Eilet submerged Cuyahoga Heights 68-31 last night, while Rittman thumped Norton 70-55 and Columbiana repelled Ridgeville 40-37.  Springfield Township advanced to the finals by defeating a string of North Canton combine 46-43 Thursday night when Lowellville upset East Canton the Stark County Champion 34-32.

ZZZZZ

The Kent State University Gymnasium where both the Class B and Class A Regionals will be staged, seats approximately 4,100 fans and capacity turnouts are anticipated.  In fact, M.E. Wagoner of the University, who is the tournament manager, said the lone Hotel in Kent already has had many reservations for next week and rooms will be at a premium.  Word also has been received from Columbus that hotels there are also  being flooded with reservations for the State finals on March 20, 21 and 22.  Therefore, anyone planning to attend the classic 3 days without returning home should make their bids now for rooms.  It is easier to cancel them than to try to obtain accommodations at the last minute.

ZZZZZ

Regardless of how they fare from here on, the Mighty Tigers should be much stronger next year as they will lose only Senior guard Marvin Jeffers from the current starting five.

ZZZZZ

Those who have been following the Walnut Creek Cardinals and applauding the play of young Richard Hostetler, may be interested in knowing that the youngster, who wears No. 6, is a Sophomore who became 16 years old Wednesday when he starred in the Red Birds win over the Adena Warriors and he wasn't a regular until tournament time rolled around.  Hostetler, one of 21 boys enrolled at Walnut Creek High School and is an ace one-handed shooter, but isalso an excellent dribbler, who set up most of the Cardinals' plays.  Had they boasted more heighth, Walnut Creek would have been a real match for Strasburg.  As it was, they went exceptionally far considering their size.