DOVER - With their attack polished following a practice last night on the Kent State University hardwood, the Strasburg Tigers spent today sharpening their claws in preparation for Thursday night's battle with Lowellville in the opening round of the Regional Class B cage classic, stepping stone to the Ohio Championship finals at Columbus next week.
The contest is scheduled for 9PM following an engagement at 7:45 between Columbiana's Clippers and Springfield Township of Mahoning County. Strasburg if successful in its 1st bid, will engage the other bracket winner Saturday night at 8PM with the victor receiving the enviable ticket to Columbus.
The Lowellville Rockets, a "neighbor" of Springfield Township lost 36-28 in the finals of the Mahoning
County Tournament after beating the same team 35-33 during the regular season. It also bowed to North Lima 36-33, Struthers 46-38 and Youngstown Ursuling 39-34.
Victims of Lowellville during the regular campaign included Cambell Memorial 38-36, Boardman 46-31, Struthers 55-49 and Bessmer, PA 38-36 and 35-33. Five of its victories were registered by 2-point margins. In county tournament play the Tigers' foes beat Beloit 74-17 and North Lima before losing to Springfield Township, but still qualifying for Sectional competition. In the later event it topped Youngstown Fitch 40-23 and McDonald 37-35 and then spilled East Canton, Stark County Champion, 34-32 and Rittman 59-35 in District play.
Coached by Paul V. Johnson, a graduate of Ohio University Lowellville has rolled up 1,174 points in its 25 games for an offensive average of 46.9, slightly under Strasburg's mark of 50.2 or 1,507 points in 30 tilts. Lowellville's opponents garnered 858 points or 34.5 per contest, while Strasburg totaled 896 or 29.8 per contest.
Top scorer for Lowellville is center Joe Stephenson, 6-4 Senior, who has meshed only 318 points, indicating the club is well-balanced offensively. The quintet also has another tall starter in forward Larry Christ who is 6-2. The other forward positions held by Dick Williams 5-8, while John Crocetti 5-6 and John Escarco 5-10 are the starting guards. Grist is a Sophomore, while Escarco and Williams are Juniors.
The club's No. 1 replacement is Freshman Sam Mangine, a 5-11 forward, who netted 2 field goals to defeat East Canton in the District Tournament. Stephenson weighs 208, while Grist is at 170 and is the only other starter above the 150 mark.
Head Coach Riley's cagers, who are in top physical condition, will open with Roland Malcuit and Dean Beitzel at the forward positions. Clarence Yackey at center and Tom Haswell and Marvin Jeffers are the guards. The 2 teams will be fairly evenly matched in height as Yackey is 6-5 and Jeffers 6-1. Yackey will enter the fray with 515 points to his credit, 180 of which he scored in 9 tournament games. Haswell is next with 103 in tournament play.
Wednesday, March 12, 1947
The Daily Reporter
Dover, Ohio
No comments:
Post a Comment