Trapped is Port Washington's great center, Senior Paul Day (with ball) searching desperately for an opening in the Strasburg defense Wednesday night in the opening round of the Tuscarawas County Class B Tournament at Dennison. Guards Senior Jim Weber (22) and Junior John Reiger (44) of Strasburg have Day stopped in this photo, but the Purple Riders ace broke loose later to force the Tigers into a 4th quarter rally to win 42-39. Senior center Lewin Vermillion (66) and Junior forward John Haswell (77) are other Strasburg players in the action along with Junior guard Bill Jones (8) and Junior forward Hal Weber (6) of Port Washington.
DENNISON - Favored Strasburg Tigers (1-0) (15-5) (74-17) was fully extended to subdue the Port Washington Purple Riders (0-1) (6-10) (13-37) threat in last night's feature battle.
After a slow 1st quarter which closed with the Tigers of 1st-Year Head Coach Don Martin leading 10-6, the tempo increased. With 3 minutes remaining in the 1st half, Strasburg, on the basis of excellent pivot shooting by Senior center Lewin Vermillion and the set shot marksmanship of guards Senior Jim Weber and Junior John Reiger, held an 8-point, 19-11 margin. Senior center Paul Day, the County League's top scorer, suddenly exploded after being shackled effectively for nearly 2 periods by the defensive work of Junior forward John Haswell. Day, flashing into the corners on a fast break, feinted the Tiger defenders out of position and poured 3 consecutive field goals through the nets to narrow the Bengal lead to 20-17 as the half ended.
In a blistering 3rd stanza, the Purple Riders made their bid and led 32-28 going into the last canto. Day and his scoring mate, Senior guard Dick Corbett, paced the Riders attack in the 3rd quarter. After Corbett had knotted the count at 21-21, Reiger and Weber ut the Tigers back in front 25-21 with a pair of set shots, but Day, using his fast-breaking tactics, tied it again at 25-25 and Corbett sent Port Washington into a 27-26 lead with 2 free throws.
At the start of the 4th stanza, Coach Martin of the Bengals inserted Senior guard Junior Siber into the game and the strategy paid off as Siber banged 2 field goals in succession to knot the score at 32-32. Corbett raised the hopes of Port Washington followers as he hit a beautiful shot from the pivot, but Siber again came through to tie the score at 34-34. Reiger hit a set shot and Day matched this, but Vermillion, one of the night's outstanding performers, sent the Tigers ahead to stay with a pivot shot. With less than one minute left and the Tigers leading 40-39 after a free throw toss by Corbett and another field goal by Vermillion, Day missed a chance to knot the count from the free throw line.
Vermillion led the Tigers with 15 points, while Day and Corbett each collected 15 points, matching Vermillion, for the Purple Riders.
STRASBURG TIGERS - 42
Tom Miller F 1-1-3
John Haswell F 1-1-3
Lewin Vermillion C 6-3-15
Jim Weber G 3-0-6
John Reiger G 4-0-8
Junior Siber G 3-0-6
Dick Froman G 0-1-1
PORT WASHINGTON PURPLE RIDERS - 39
Dick Hursey F 0-1-1
Hal Weber F 1-1-3
Paul Day C 7-1-15
Dick Corbett G 6-3-15
Bill Jones G 2-1-5
Bob Frank G 0-0-0
Thursday, February 17, 1949
Rex Ridenour, Sports Editor
The Daily Reporter
Dover, Ohio
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