Senior Glen Zimmerman, great Sugarcreek-Shanesville Pirates forward (4), goes into the air in a field goal attempt against the Midvale Blue Devils in the tournament semi-finals last night. The Blue Devils forged a 51-49 decision after one of the most bitter battles in tournament history. Junior Carl Pissocra (9), Midvale guard, is standing by as Zimmerman makes his bid to put the Corsairs out in front in the 4th canto.
DOVER - The Sugarcreek-Shanesville Pirates (2-1) (17-5) (54-31), a sharp, fast, well-balanced club, ruled a slight favorite over the Midvale Blue Devils (2-0) (15-7) (49-24) at game time. The Pirates made a tremendous effort, but it wasn't their night. A field goal by Junior forward Harry Rennicker in the final 20 seconds broke a 49-49 deadlock and ended a glittering opportunity which had beckoned the Corsairs when they launched a sizzling rally near the close of the 4th canto.
From the opening whistle the fans sat tense and expectant in their seats and they were not disappointed. Sugarcreek-Shanesville moved swiftly to the offensive. With their great shot artist, Zimmerman hitting from mid-court, the Pirates swept to a 9-3 lead early in the initial quarter. With Senior center Wayne Schrock, guard Ike Hostetler, probably the tournament's outstanding floor man and Junior guard John Lanzer joining the attack, the Corsairs unleashed a passing game which baffled the Blue Devils for the entire 1st half and had them on the short end of a 27-22 score going into the 3rd stanza.
Only the set shooting of Senior guard George Wilson kept the Champions from falling completely off the pace. Wilson, cutting down the center, banged in 3 field goals in the 2nd period alone. That 1st half had cost the Bucs; however, as Hostetler drew 4 fouls in the 1st quarter as he ranged through the Midvale zone defense to unbalance the Diablos threat, 6-4 Senior center Bob Sherrell.
First-Year Head Coach Gerald Straley benched Hostetler in the 2nd period and the spark-plug of the Sugarcreek-Shanesville attack did not return to action until the 4th canto. The methodical Blue Devils switched to a man-to-man defense in the 3rd stanza and held the Pirates to 9 points, while scoring 20 to take a 42-36 lead.
A field goal by Junior guard Carl Pissocra knotted the count at 32-32 midway in the period and a free throw by Pissocra put the Devils out in front for the 1st time in the game. In a classic 4th quarter which saw Sherrell leave the game via the foul route, the Corsairs overhauled the Diablos, mostly through the efforts of Hostetler.
Early in the period, Senior forwards Kay Ford and Rudy Ruffini put the Champions ahead 45-36, but Zimmerman made it 45-39 with a set shot and a free throw. Junior forward Harry Rennicker hit from the field to make it 47-39 at the automatic timeout. Three consecutive missed free throw shots earlier in the quarter hurt the Buccaneers chances, but Zimmerman made it 47-40 with a charity toss and Hostetler banged in 5 points on 2 field goals and a free throw toss to bring the Bucs within 2 points of Midvale 47-45. Senior guard Glenn Miller scored again from the free throw line and with the stands going wild, sent Sugarcreek-Shanesville into a 48-47 lead with a layup shot.
Wilson returned the lead to Midvale with a set shot, but Glenn Miller netted his 2nd free throw to tie it up. The Blue Devils swung down under their basket and Rennicker grabbed his own rebound after missing a shot to score the deciding field goal.
Each team tallied 15 points from the free throw lane and Rennicker's last ditch field goal proved to be the winning margin. Pissocra tallied 15 points for Midvale, Sherrell 13; although, Hostetler and Schrock of the Pirates turned in a sound defensive performance against the Blue Devil ace and Wilson tossed in 10 markers. Zimmerman paced the Corsairs with 14 points, Hostetler meshed 11 and Schrock hit for 10.
MIDVALE BLUE DEVILS - 51
Harry Rennicker F 2-0-4
Rudy Ruffini F 1-2-4
Kay Ford F 1-3-5
Bob Sherrell C 6-1-13
Carl Pissocra G 4-7-15
Darrel Davis G 0-0-0
George Wilson G 4-2-10
SUGARCREEK-SHANESVILLE PIRATES - 49
Glen Zimmerman F 4-6-14
Jim Knox F 0-1-1
Wayne Schrock C 4-2-10
Ike Hostetler G 4-3-11
K.R. Miller G 0-1-1
Glenn Miller G 2-2-6
John Lanzer G 3-0-6
Thrusday, February 23, 1950
Rex Ridenour, Sports Editor
The Daily Reporter
Dover, Ohio
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