51 - Class B Coaches Protest Hostetler Transfer

Sugarcreek-Shanesville Pirates' All-County Star Forward, Richard (Ike) Hostetler, who transfered to the Walnut Creek Cardinals during the 1950-51 season.

DOVER - A mass protest by the 11 Class B coaches of the Tuscarawas County Coaches Association against the transfer of Richard (Ike) Hostetler, former Sugarcreek-Shanesville athlete, to Walnut Creek High School in January has been filed with the Ohio High School Athletic Commissioner H.W. Emswiler, it was revealed today.  The County Coaches Association, headed by its president Don Martin of Strasburg, filed the protest last Saturday and requested an investigation of the transfer.

It is the 1st concerted protest on record by the Tuscarawas County organization.  In addition to Martin, coaches signing the petition for an investigation include Fritz Jacobs of Gnadenhutten, Doyle Shumaker of Baltic, Warren Craigo of Bolivar, Ike Wiseman of Dundee, Chuck Stocker of Midvale, Al Prazniak of Mineral City, Bray Toot of Port Washington, Ken Newlon of Stone Creek, Gerald Straley of Sugarcreek-Shanesville and Charles Lorenz of Tuscarawas.

The Association pointed out its protest was not meant to infer that Walnut Creek High School was guilty of any wrong-doing, but rather was pointed at "outside influences" which may have directed the transfer of Hostetler, an All-County selection last year.  "We do not feel that Walnut Creek High School is to blame if any rule was broken," Martin said.  "But we feel that there is something wrong and we want the situation cleared up."  "We feel that either Walnut Creek should be cleared or action taken to clarify the situation," the coaches' protest read.

Hostetler has already been given an okay by Emswiler.  Following the transfer of the ex-Pirate star to Walnut Creek, Head Coach John Ridley of the Walnut Creek Cardinals queried Emswiler as to the player's eligibility.  "Hostetler will be eligible for immediate competition with Walnut Creek High School since he has established permanent residence in that village," Emswiler answered, Ridley.  "He is eligible provided there was no undue influence."

It is the "undue influence" clause that the coaches of the county made their protest and requested an investigation.  Hostetler is a married student and because of this factor, is eligible under the clause which permits a player to transfer and become immediately eligible if his family has moved to a new site.

The Tuscarawas County protest is the 2nd which has been made by schools in this District since the transfer.  Berlin High School, which lost the Holmes County title this year to Walnut Creek, entered a protest based on the same principle as that of the county coaches.

Emswiler's office has not yet taken action on either of the protests other than to reiterate its original stand as stated in his ruling to Ridley.


Tuesday, February 20, 1951
The Daily Reporter
Dover, Ohio

NOTE:  EX-BRONCO STAR WINNING COACH

Charles R. Myers, former All-County performer for Tuscarawas High School, is still grabbing honors.  Only now, instead of a performer he is a winning coach.  Charles is Head Coach of York High School in Medina County.  In this, his 1st year as a coach, Mr. Myers copped a share of the Medina County Class B League Championship with a 9-1 record in League play.

He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Clarence A. Myers of 619 Fair Avenue NW, New Philadelphia.

In 1942, his team ended as Runner-up in the 20th Tuscarawas County Class B Basketball Tournament with a 3-1 record.  Chuck was 2nd in the tournament in scoring with 67 total points.  He is still tied for 4th place with 8 free throws in a single tournament game.

51 - Right Down The Line

Sports Editor
February 19, 1951
Dover, Ohio


REMEMBER THE OLD ARMY QUIP:  They're going to separate the men from the boys?  That is just what has happened in the Class B Tournament at Memorial Hall now and this week's action promises to be more torrid (if possible) than the firing last week.

The 4 top teams, so defined as a result of the recent County League scramble, are still around.  The Midvale Blue Devils (1-0) (17-4) (51-24), Tuscarawas Broncos (2-0) (13-7) (36-35), Dundee Bulldogs (2-0) (13-9) (24-42) and the Strasburg Tigers (1-0) (15-6) (79-20) appear to be headed for a terrific show-down session on Wednesday night with the Gnadenhutten Indians (2-1) (15-9) (45-38) still very much in the picture as a Consolation Division contender.

First-Year Head Coach Fritz Jacobs' Indians had the misfortune to collide with the Blue Devils 61-59 in the 2nd round and so were relegated to the Consolation Division bracket.  This does not mean; however, that the Tribe is finished.  They could drive through to the Sectional Tournament meet by copping Consolation Division honors.

As for the 4 unbeaten tournament contenders, the road ends for 2 of them on Wednesday.  The Bulldogs and Diablos will battle it out in the top bracket, while the Tigers and Broncos collide in a lower bracket headliner.

All of which means that, in a tournament already saturated with thrills, more thrills are promised.  To date, all of the favorites have had trouble, Midvale with Gnaden, Tusky with the Sugarcreek-Shanesville Pirates (0-2) (11-10) (54-34) and Strasburg with the Port Washington Purple Riders (1-2) (6-12) (16-42).

On the other hand, Dundee whipped the Baltic Eagles (0-2) (13-7) (24-44), the team which won 6 League games in a row before tasting defeat.

Play in the 1st week produced some bright stars.  Rich Tolotti (30 points), Midvale's sparkling Sophomore - Baltic's 2 aces, Junior Dean Huprich (31 points) and Sophomore Jim Syler (28 points) - Dundee's Junior Loris Hostetler (44 points) and Junior Curt Beamer (14 points) -  Gnaden's Senior Ron Kohl (55 points), Junior Jerry (Ted) Martin (23 points) and Senior Bob Wilbarger (26 points) - Strasburg's Senior Dale Renner (20 points) and Senior John Zeigler (9 points) - Sugarcreek-Shanesville's Dale Rehard (17 points) - the power-packed Tusky Broncos' Senior Bill Tharp (29 points), Jerry Rausch (43 points) and Senior Bob McPeek (28 points) - Port Washington's fine pair, Ken Houston (47 points) and Bill Jones (21 points) - Stone Creek's Sophomore Jerry Gasser (47 points) and Junior Willis Ridenour (43 points) - Bolivar's Senior Junior Geers (18 points) and Mineral City's Ellsworth Tope (Sophomore Ellsworth Tope (37 points).

These men have sparkled for their respective teams and some of them will be around to lead their quintets this week.

A scoring mix-up crept into the picture Saturday night following the Gnaden-Baltic game.  The game ended 56-52 Indians, but a few minutes after the end, an announcement came over the public address system that Baltic had scored 54 points.  Officials Harold Johnson and Max Kister were the source for the correction.  A check with the official scorers; however, revealed that they had 52 points for Baltic as did the sports editors in the press box.  The score stood at 56-52.

51 - Tusky Cruises Past Bolivar 74-50 (2-17-51)

The Tuscarawas Broncos 1951 Basketball Team.  FRONT:  Senior Bob Cerana - Senior Jerry Rausch - Senior Martin Vesco - Senior Bob McPeek - Senior Bill Tharp and Senior Dick Kerns.  BACK:  Sophomore Gene Pfister - Sophomore Rich Hill - Freshman Harry Thompson - Senior Rich Simmons - Junior Bob Briggs - Glen Schumacher  and Chuck Lorenz (Head Coach)

Senior Jerry Rausch of the Tuscarawas Broncos led all scoring with 27 points making it a total of 43 points in 2 tournament games.  His points per game average is 21.5.


DOVER - The Strasburg Tigers, Tuscarawas Broncos and Midvale Blue Devils, the Co-Champions of the County Basketball League, today stood on the threshold of the showdown round on Wednesday night in the Class B Tournament at Memorial Hall.  The Broncos crushed a game by outclassing the Bolivar Cardinals team Saturday night 74-50 in a Championship fight contest to earn a berth in the semi-final round on Wednesday at 9PM against the Tigers which were given a scare by a scrappy Port Washington Purple Riders team last week.

The Gnadenhutten Indians meanwhile, kept going in the Consolation Division Saturday by eliminating the Baltic Eagles from from tournament play 56-52 in a thriller.  The Indians meet the Cardinals at 6:30PM  also on Wednesday.

The Purple Riders, the team which gave Strasburg such a battle and later eliminated the Sugarcreek-Shanesville Pirates from the meet, was knocked out of competition Saturday night by a surprising Stone Creek Golden Panthers team 47-43 in the tournament's 2nd overtime contest in another Consolation Division game.

With the exception of the Tuscarawas Broncos and Bolivar Cardinals battle, Saturday's round saw a continuation of tight, thrill-paced struggles which have featured play throughout the tourney.  Head Coach Chuck Lorenz' Broncos (2-0) (13-7) (36-35), one of the tournament favorites, simply outclassed a game, but impotent band of Cardinals (0-1) (5-15) (45-38), for their 2nd victory.  The Broncos earlier defeated the Pirates 55-43.

Paced by the hot-shooting Seniors of Jerry Rausch, Bill Tharp and Martin Vesco, the Broncos rolled to a 54-35 third stanza lead before Head Coach Chuck Lorenz called off his varsity and sent in his Reserves.  Tusky raced to a 22-14 lead in the 1st quarter and held a 14 point lead over Bolivar at intermission 38-24.

Rausch poured in 27 points to lead all scorers, while teammates Senior Bob McPeek and Vesco dropped in 15 and 11 markers respectively for Tusky.  Senior Junior Geers netted 18 points to pace Head Coach Warren Craigo's Red Birds who were playing without the services of high-scoring Senior Bill Willard, ill with the mumps.

Tuscarawas defeated Bolivar earlier in the season 79-57 in their only other contest together.

TUSCARAWAS BRONCOS - 74

Russ (Ike) Walton 0-4-4
Dick Kerns 0-1-1
Rich Hill 1-0-2
Jerry Rausch 12-3-27
Jim Ronald 1-0-2
Martin Vesco 5-1-11
Bob Cerana 0-1-1
Bill Tharp 3-1-7
Harry Thompson 1-2-4
Bob McPeek 6-3-15

BOLIVAR CARDINALS - 50

Junior Geers 8-2-18
Bill Rex 0-1-1
Delvin Haut 3-0-6
Everett 0-0-0
Calvin Geckler 3-3-9
Frame 3-1-7
Bob Burkhart 1-2-4


Monday, February 19, 1951
The Daily Reporter
Dover, Ohio

51 - Stone Creek Drops Port 47-43 In Overtime (2-17-51)

DOVER - Head Coach Bray Toot of the Port Washington Purple Riders (1-2) (6-12) (16-42) and Head Coach Ken Newlon of the Stone Creek Golden Panthers (2-1) (8-19) (18-36), 2 of the tournament's top strategists, matched wits in the 2nd game Saturday night.  The result was a spectaclular overtime battle which saw the score knotted 39-39 at the end of the regulation playing time.

Port Washington, the ball control artists, held a 37-35 lead with barely more than 2 minutes remaining and the Purple Riders elected to stall.  The Golden Panthers' Freshman Jim Lorenz pried the ball loose; however and drove in for a lay-up shot which knotted the count at 37-37.

Junior Willis Ridenour, another sparkling Golden Panther performer, gave the Creekers a 38-37 lead with one minute remaining.  At this stage, the Panthers tried to freeze the ball and Ridenour was fouled by a Purple Rider.  He made the toss, giving the Panthers a 39-37 edge.  Port Washington's Freshman Ken Huston then worked the ball loose and knotted the count 39-39 with a lay-up shot, sending the game into an overtime.  Sophomore Jerry Gasser and Ridenour notched the points in overtime which secured the Stone Creek victory.

The Purple Riders rode to a 12-9 first quarter lead.  The Golden Panthers tied the score 24-24 by intermission.  In the 3rd stanza, Stone Creek was again in the lead 32-31.

Houston of Port Washington led both teams with 22 points, while his teammate Senior Allen Corbett drove home 12 markers in a losing cause.  Gasser led Stone Creek with a high of 14 points and Senior Paul Heid and Ridenour followed up with 13 each.

STONE CREEK GOLDEN PANTHERS - 47

Jim Lorenz 5-3-13
Paul Heid 1-1-3
Gary Grimm 0-0-0
Ken Heid 0-0-0
Jerry Gasser 6-2-14
Willis Ridenour 5-3-13
Jerry Billman 2-0-4

PORT WASHINGTON PURPLE RIDERS - 43

Ken Houston 9-4-22
Delano Kees 1-0-2
Bill Jones 3-1-7
Allen Corbett 5-2-12
Bob Gray 0-0-0


Monday, February 19, 1951
The Daily Reporter
Dover, Ohio

51 - Gnaden Pulls-Out a 56-52 Triumph Over Baltic (2-17-51)

The Gnadenhutten Indians Senior Center Ron Kohl split the nets with a game high of 26 points in leading his team to a close 56-52 win over the Baltic Eagles in an important Consolation Division contest.  Kohl has a total of 56 markers in 3 games for an average of 18.7 points per game.


DOVER - First-Year Head Coach Fritz Jacobs' Gnadenhutten Indians (2-1) (15-9) (45-38) further strengthened their position as a dark horse by toppling the hard charging Baltic Eagles (0-2) (13-7) (24-44) from the tournament by a score of 56-52.  The Indians lost an overtime thriller to defending Champions Midvale Blue Devils last Thursday night 61-59 after defeating the Stone Creek Golden Panthers 56-49 in the opener, but picked up the chips Saturday night by becoming the 2nd team to blast one of the better Eagle teams in years during the tournament.  Dundee's title challenging Bulldogs tripped the Eagles in the 2nd round 66-64 in the 2nd round.  First-Year Head Coach Ike Wiseman's Bulldogs get their golden chance on Wednesday night at 7:45PM when they collide head on with Midvale.

Senior Ron Kohl, Gnaden's fine center and Senior Bob Wilbarger, a smooth forward, outgunned the Birds's Junior Dean Huprich and Sophomore Jim Syler Saturday night to keep the Indians' chances alive.  Head Coach Doyle Shumaker's Eagles; however, staged a brilliant rally in the 2nd frame after trailing 20-12 in the 1st quarter.

Kohl and Junior Paul Brick, driving through Baltic defenses, staked the Tribe to that 1st quarter lead, but Huprich, the Eagles' clever guard, caught fire in the 2nd period to net 4 field goals which helped Baltic to a 32-31 halftime lead.  Early in the 3rd stanza, Junior Fred Huprich and Earl Wallace widened the Eagle lead to 36-32, but this proved to be the last Baltic bid as Gnadenhutten put the clamp on Dean Huprich and broke Wilbarger and Kohl loose for the decisive points in the last canto.

The Eagles still held a 40-38 lead going into the far turn, but Kohl put the Indians back in the lead with a pair of free throw shots to make it 44-42 in the 4th quarter and the Birds could never do better than tie the score twice after that.  With 3 minutes remaining, Kohl and Wilbarger scored a field goal each to give Gnaden the clincher.

The Indians stalled out the remaining minutes of the game against a desperately rushing Baltic defense.  Kohl led both teams with 26 points, while Gnadenhutten's Junior guard Jerry (Ted) Martin turned in another sparkling performance against Dean Huprich.  The Eagle ace netted 10 markers in the 1st  half, but was held scoreless by Martin in the 2nd half.  During the season, Gnaden won 69-64 in their encounter.

GNADENHUTTEN INDIANS - 56

Paul Brick 3-3-9
Gary Struchen 0-0-0
Bob Wilbarger 6-2-14
Ron Kohl 10-6-26
Jerry (Ted) Martin 1-3-5
Howard Weston 0-0-0
Bob Blickensderfer 1-0-2

BALTIC EAGLES 52

Fred Huprich 3-3-9
John Torgler 2-6-10
Jim Syler 4-3-11
Dean Huprich 5-0-10
Earl Wallace 2-4-8
Don Farnsworth 2-0-4


Monday, February 19, 1951
The Daily Reporter
Dover, Ohio

51 - Right Down The Line

Friday, February 16, 1951
Dover, Ohio


AFTER 3 NIGHTS OF PLAY, a favorite has not yet appeared in the Tuscarawas County Class B Basketball Tournament at Memorial Hall.  The 3 Co-Champions, the Midvale Blue Devils (1-0) (17-4) (51-24), Strasburg Tigers (1-0) (15-6) (79-20), and Tuscarawas Broncos (1-0) (12-7) (35-35), have all been pushed to the limit by lesser powers, making a choice almost impossible.

Last night, the Gnadenhutten Indians (1-1) (14-9) (44-38), who did not look too impressive in defeating the Stone Creek Golden Panthers (1-1) (7-19) (17-35) 56-49 in the 1st round, came back and forced the Blue Devils into an overtime before the defending Champions finally forged the decision 61-59.  Last night, also, the Port Washington Purple Riders (1-1) (6-11) (16-41), which nearly upset the Strasburg Tigers 57-46, proved it was no fluke by coming back and whipping the Sugarcreek-Shanesville Pirates (0-2) (11-10) (54-34) 44-38 and eliminating the Corsairs from tournament play.  It was the 1st time the Buccaneers have been banished so early for many years.

HEAD COACH BRAY TOOT, probably the best defensive coach in the county, now has his Purple Riders in a contending position for Consolation Division Honors, something that was not even thought of when the tournament opened.  The 3 Co-Champions of the County League Season are still around and may meet somewhere along the line.  As a matter of fact, Strasburg and Tusky will collide next Wednesday in the semi-finals if the Ponies can get by the Bolivar Cardinals, who have yet to play a single game, on Saturday night.

51 - Midvale Stops Gnaden In OT Win 61-59 (2-15-51)

Senior Carl Pissocra, the Midvale Blue Devils' fine cager, drives in for a field goal attempt Thursday night at Memorial Hall as the Blue Devils defeated the Gnadenhutten Indians 61-59 in overtime.  The Indians' players are Senior Ron Kohl (11) and Junior Paul Brick (77).

The Gnadenhutten Indians 1951 Basketball Team:  LEFT:  Senior Ron Kohl - Junior Jim Shamel and Junior Gary Struchen.  CENTER:  Senior Bob Wilbarger - Head Coach Fritz Jacobs and Junior Howard Weston.  RIGHT:  Senior Bob Blickensderfer - Junior Jerry (Ted) Martin and Junior Paul Brick.


DOVER - Smiles...Tears...starched boos and roaring cheers...pulsating quietness...bleachers jammed with frenzied fans...upsets and sudden success.  That's the panorama of star-studded basketball that froze the attention of nearly 1,500 partisan fans at Memorial Hall last night in what proved to be the most hair-raising and torrid action thus far in the 29th Annual Tuscarawas County Class B Basketball Tournament.

Fans marched into the big auditorium long before the 1st struggle, hoping, but not daring to expect just that kind of performance.  They came wondering if the Gnadenhutten Indians would explode into the role of giant-killer and eliminate the Midvale Blue Devils' perennially powerful Blue Devils from the Championship race and saw Midvale's sparkling forward, Dick Tolotti, provide the answer in an overtime period when he meshed a drive-in shot to give the Diablos a 61-59 triumph.

They also wondered if the Port Washington Purple Riders would eliminate the Sugarcreek-Shanesville Pirates from the tournament in the Consolation Division bracket and saw the Purple Riders stage a brilliant 44-38 upset.  And to add the final stroke of color, the Mineral City Tigers came surging out of nowhere after a winless season and gave the Stone Creek Golden Panthers a stiff battle before being dropped from the annual skirmish 68-51.

As to further competition Saturday night...fans with weak hearts better stay at home.  And here's why.  The Bolivar Cardinals Cinderella Kids in last year's tournament, will play their 1st game when they tangle with Head Coach Chuck Lorenz's Tuscarawas Broncos in the Championship fight tilt at 9PM.  To round out the battle of nerves will be the Gnaden-Baltic Eagles clash at 6:30PM and the Stone Creek-Port Washington game at 7:45PM.

There probably wasn't a fan who took a normal breath in that Midvale Blue Devils (1-0) (17-4) (51-24) and Gnadenhutten Indians (1-1) (14-9) (44-38) game.  But, it's a fact that all breathing stopped momentarily when the Indians' diminutive guard, Junior Jerry (Ted) Martin, sent the ball arching toward the hoop in the last 3 seconds with the Blue Devils leading 59-57.  But, that mood changed to bedlam when the sphere dropped through to knot the count at 59-59 and sent the game into overtime.  Both clubs played cautiously in the last 3 minutes and after Tolotti broke loose to mesh the winning basket, the Diablos uncorked a stall to clinch the game and climb one step closer to another crown.

It was Tolotti's ball-hawking and accuracy from every angle that proved to be Midvale's panacres for the rugged defenses of Head Coach Fritz Jacob's Braves.  But, backing up Tolotti's performance was the bruising rebounding of Senior Harry Rennicker and Senior Carl Pissocra and the fire-ball aggressiveness of Junior Bill Marshall.  It was this combination that kept the Blue Devils out in front most of the way.  But Gnaden was not to be denied.

After the Diablo crew, sparked by Tolotti's 9 points, had forged a big 20-9 1st quarter lead, it was the Indians' Junior Paul Brick, a sub for Junior Howard Weston, who put the Tribe in the ball game to stay when he dunked 4 consecutive shots from the corner, the last one putting the Braves out in front 26-22.  After that, with Senior Ron Kohl, Senior Bob Wilbarger and Martin piercing Midvale's zone defense, the Warriors inched their way to a hair-raising finish.

The Blue Devils' gained its margin of victory from the free throw line, hitting 15 of 26 attempts, while Gnaden cashed in 7 of 13.  The Diablos collected 23 field goals to the Indians' 26.  Tolotti's 30 points paced the Midvale win, while Kohl sparked the Braves with 18 markers.  The Blue Devils' Harry Rennicker also contributed 11 points for the Diablos as Wilbarger and Martin each dropped in 10 markers for the Tribe.

MIDVALE BLUE DEVILS - 61

Rich Tolotti 12-6-30
Carl Pissocra 1-6-8
Harry Rennicker 5-1-11
Don Graham 2-0-4
Bill Marshall 3-2-8
John DeMattio 0-0-0

GNADENHUTTEN INDIANS - 59

Bob Blickensderfer 2-0-4
Gary Struchen 0-0-0
Bob Wilbarger 4-2-10
Ron Kohl 8-2-18
Jerry (Ted) Martin 4-2-10
Howard Weston 0-0-0
Paul Brick 8-1-17


Friday, February 16, 1951
Ray Stull, Sports Writer
The Daily Reporter
Dover, Ohio

NOTE:  WOODY HAYES APPOINTED HEAD COACH FOR THE OHIO STATE BUCKEYES FOOTBALL TEAM

No 1 Buckeye, Wayne Woodrow (Woody) Hayes, whose appointment Sunday as Ohio State University Head Coach ended weeks of rumor and speculation.  Hayes, former New Philadelphia High School Head Coach and a native of Newcomerstown, succeeds Weslely Fesler who resigned to accept a similar post at Minnesota.  Hayes is the husband of the former Ann Gross  of New Philadelphia.

51 - Stone Creek Whips Mineral City 68-51 (2-15-51)

Mineral City High School Sophomore students checkout the results of the 29th Annual Tuscarawas County Class B Basketball Tournament:  Shirley Gregor, Gene Lobus, Lorin Shroyer and Janice Bell.

The Mineral City Tigers 1951 Basketball Team:  FRONT:  Elmer Tope (Manager) - Bill Crilley - Lorin Shroyer - Bob Souers - Frank Price - Ron Kwasnicka (Manager) and Terry Kirker (Manager).  BACK:  Roger Wigfield - Ellsworth Tope - Dick McNutt - Jack Ayers - Chuck Carling - Gene Argento and Al Prazniak (Head Coach).


DOVER - With Sophomore Ellsworth Tope firing up the Mineral City Tigers (0-2) (0-24) (12-43), Head Coach Ken Newlon's Stone Creek Golden Panthers (1-1) (7-19) (17-35) were given an unexpected test in the 2nd Consolation Division contest after holding a 26-9 lead in the 2nd frame.  Going into the 3rd stanza with a 32-22 margin, the Golden Panthers were played on nearly a point for point basis by virtue of Tope's outburst of 13 points.  Stone Creek had raced to a 22-5 blustering lead in the 1st quarter.

Although the Tigers were given little chance to notch the win, they drew admiration of the fans by showing plenty of spunk right down to the final buzzer.  Tope shared scoring honors; however, with the Panthers' Freshman Jim Lorenz with each collecting 27 points.  Other double-figures scoring showed Junior Willis Ridenour with 19 markers for Stone Creek, while Juniors Jack Ayers posted 13 and Roger Wigfield 11 for Mineral City.  In their only clash during the season, the Golden Panthers slammed Mineral City 61-39.

STONE CREEK GOLDEN PANTHERS - 68

Jim Lorenz 9-2-22
Jerry Billman 0-4-4
Miller 1-0-2
Gary Grimm 0-0-0
Willis Ridenour 9-1-19
Paul Reid 4-0-8

MINERAL CITY TIGERS - 51

Bob McNutt 0-1-1
Roger Wigfield 3-5-11
Lorin Shroyer 1-0-2
Jack Ayers 5-3-13
Bob Souers 1-0-2
Bill Crilley 0-0-0
Ellsworth Tope 9-4-22


Friday, February 16, 1951
Ray Stull, Sports Writer
The Daily Reporter
Dover, Ohio

51 - Port Upsets Sugarcreek-Shanesville 44-39 (2-15-51)

The 1951 Sugarcreek-Shanesville Pirates Basketball Team.  BACK:  2nd-Year Head Coach Gerald Straley.  Everyone else is unidentified.

DOVER - Using ball control tactics and a pressing defense to brilliant advantage, the Port Washington Purple Riders (1-1) (16-41) (6-11) won the hearts of most fans in staging an uphill battle to upset the Sugarcreek-Shanesville Pirates (0-2) (11-10) (54-34) 44-38 in the 1st Consolation Division contest of the year in the 17th year of the tournament division.

After trailing until midway in the 3rd stanza, Fifth-Year Head Coach Bray Toot's Purple Riders grabbed the lead at 23-22, when Junior Delano Kees meshed a shot from the side.  With Senior Bill Jones doing brilliant passing to Freshman Ken Huston and Senior Allen Corbett in the most unexpected places, the Colts stayed in front the rest of the way.  The Pirates took the lead in the 1st quarter 10-7 and continued to maintain their margin at intermission 20-16.

Port Washington overhauled Sugarcreek-Shanesville by the end of the 3rd stanza 29-24 with their defense permitting but 4 points for the Corsairs, while the Purple Riders'offense ripped 13 markers during that frame.  At one point in the final canto they were leading 44-32.  It was Corbett who iced the game in this quarter with 5 field goals.  Jones also turned in a stellar performance on defense by holding the Pirates' ace pivot shooter, Senior Dale Rehard, to 3 points.

Senior John Lanzer sparked the Bucs with 14 points and his teammate Senior Don Limbacher dropped in 12 more points, but Corbett was high for the game with 18 points and his fellow-Colt Ken Houston hit double-figures with 13 markers.

PORT WASHINGTON PURPLE RIDERS - 44

Ken Huston 5-3-13
Delano Kees 3-0-6
Bill Jones 2-1-5
Bob Couts 0-0-0
Bob Gray 0-2-2
Allen Corbett 9-0-18

SUGARCREEK-SHANESVILLE PIRATES - 38

John Zanzer 6-2-14
Voris Stingel 1-1-3
K.R. Miller 1-0-2
Dale Rehard 1-3-5
Bill Ray 1-0-2
Dan Hostetler 0-0-0
Don Limbacher 6-0-12


Friday, February 16, 1951
Ray Stull, Sports Writer
The Daily Reporter
Dover, Ohio

51 - Right Down The Line

Thursday, February 15, 1951
Dover, Ohio


REMEMBER LAST YEAR when the Bolivar Cardinals came out of the wings of the 2nd division to upset the Strasburg Tigers 53-50 in the 1st round of the Tuscarawas County Tournament?  Head Coach Bray Toot and his Port Washington Purple Riders had the same idea in mind last night against the Tigers and nearly succeeded.

In fact, it was so close that much of the luster gained by the Tigers in gaining a tie for the County League title was dimmed.  The Purple Riders turned in a defensive gem 57-46.  It is quite probable that no other team in the meet can hold the Bengals on those terms in the remaining games.

STRASBURG WAS THE 2ND CO-CHAMPION to have trouble in tournament play.  The Tuscarawas Broncos were given a rough evening by the Sugarcreek-Shanesville Pirates 55-43.  Tonight the Midvale Blue Devils hit the Gnadenhutten Indians and the defending Champs and 3rd Co-Champion team this year can probably expect the same treatment the Broncos and Tigers received.  It was predicted to be that kind of tournament and it is.

THE DUNDEE BULLDOGS finally came through with the chips down and in defeating the Baltic Eagles 66-64 gained stature as a title contender.  Both teams were evenly matched and there wasn't much to choose between the two.

DRAWINGS FOR THE CLASS B SECTIONAL elimination tournament to be held at Memorial Hall on February 28th and March 1st, 2nd and 3rd, will be held at Dover High School, Room 114, Sunday, February 25th at 2PM, it was announced today by Tournament Manager Don Campbell.  Six teams from Tuscarawas County, including the County Tournament winner, runner-up and Consolation Division winner, and the Independents, the Dennison Railroaders, Dover St. Joseph Ramblers and the Dennison St. Mary Blue Waves, will compete in the meet along with the winner and runner-up from Holmes County plus the winner from Carroll County.

There will be 4 sessions in the Sectional meet, 2 games on Wednesday, February 28th, 2 games on Thursday, March 1st, 2 games on Friday, March 2nd and 2 games on March 3rd.  The winner in each bracket will advance to the Eastern District meet the following week in Dover.  Tournament officials will be Allen Viegel of Coshocton, formerly of Tuscarawas and McCoy Mariner, Muskingum Coach.

THERE WILL BE NEARLY as many trophies as basketball players when the awards are given out following the completion of the Cloass B Tournament at Memorial Hall February 23th.  The Daily Times Trophy, originally slated for the County League winner, proved to be not enough when 3 teams, Strasburg Tuscarawas and Midvale, all tied for the lead.

As a result, Bretzius Pontiac Company of New Philadelphia and Wallick Coal of Strasburg will award duplicate trophies.

51 - Dundee Ekes Out 66-64 Victory Against Baltic (3-14-51)

Junior Curt Beamer of the Dundee Bulldogs goes in for a layup in the 3rd stanza of last night's tournament battle against the Baltic Eagles which was trailing 36-28.  Earl Wallace (6) of the Eagles was too late to stop the throw and Junior Loris Hostetler (45) of the Bulldogs was waiting for a possible rebound.  The Birds won 66-64.


DOVER - Dundee's fast-moving Bulldogs leaped into the title race in the Class B Basketball Tournament at Memorial Hall Wednesday night as they edged the Baltic Eagles 66-64 in a tense, thrill-packed struggle before a small crowd of 500 fans.  Head Coach Bray Toot's Port Washington Purple Riders, remembering the Bolivar Cardinals' upset victory over the Strasburg Tigers last year in the 1st round reached for the stars themselves last night, but the Tigers would prevail in the final canto 57-46 after being threatened with an upset during the 1st three quarters.

Tonight's firing in the 3rd round will send the Midvale Blue Devils, the defending Champions, against the Gnadenhutten Indians at 9PM in the Championship bracket and the Mineral City Tigers against the Stone Creek Golden Panthers, while the Purple Riders battle against the Sugarcreek-Shanesville Pirates in the Consolation Division part of the tournament.

The Dundee Bulldogs (2-0) (13-9) (24-42), on the basis of its victory over the Baltic Eagles (0-1) (13-6) (24-43) last night, gained a berth in the semi-finals next Wednesday night against the winner of the Midvale-Gnadenhutten contest.  The Bulldogs victory was secured in the final minute of a grim-faced struggle between 2 of the tournament dark horses.

It was a brilliant triumph in which the twins, Juniors Louis and Loris Hostetler, Junior Curt Beamer and little Senior Dick Kate combined to out-score Baltic's aces, Junior Dean Huprich, Sophomores Jim Syler and John Torgler.  For nearly 4 quarters; although, the 2 teams, both employing a fast-breaking attack, raced on even terms even thou Dundee had opened a 40-28 lead early in the 3rd stanza and seemed on their way to a decisive win.

Huprich, Syler and Earl Wallace teamed; however, to pull the Eagles back in the contest and the score was knotted 50-50 going into the last canto.  Dundee dropped behind 50-48 with seconds remaining in the 3rd frame on a set shot by Syler, but Junior Merlyn Immel drove into the keyhole to even the count before time ran out.

In the blistering last frame, the lead changed hands 8 times and the score was tied twice.  With 3 minutes remaining in the game, Wallace sent Baltic out in front with a field goal, but Louis Hostetler knotted the count.

Gene Muster returned the lead to Dundee, but Syler tied it again with another set shot.  Immel tallied a field goal and followed with another which proved to be the deciding factor as Huprich split the nets with a push shot with one minute still remaining to make it 66-64.

The Bulldogs grabbed the ball and stalled for the remainder of the time.  Baltic made a determined bid in the 3rd quarter after trailing 34-28 at halftime.  The Eagles of Head Coach Doyle Shumaker tallied 22 points, while Head Coach Ike Wiseman's Bulldogs were scoring 16.

After switching from a man-to-man defense to a sliding zone in the 2nd period, the Bulldogs held Huprich to one field goal.  The Eagle ace broke loose again; however, in the 3rd stanza.

Huprich netted 21 points and led all scores, while Syler and Torgler grabbed 17 and 11 markers respectively for the Eagles.  The Bulldogs also had 3 players in double-figures with Loris Hostetler, Kate, and Louis Hostetler dropping in 19, 11 and 10 points.

DUNDEE BULLDOGS - 66

Dick Kate 4-3-11
Weldon Flynn 3-1-7
Gene Muster 1-0-2
Louis Hostetler 4-2-10
Slemmer 0-0-0
Loris Hostetler 8-3-19
Merlyn Immel 4-0-8
Curt Beamer 3-3-9

BALTIC EAGLES - 64

Dean Huprich 9-3-21
Earl Wallace 3-3-9
Jim Syler 8-1-17
John Torgler 3-5-11
Fred Huprich 3-0-6
Garland Burger 0-0-0


Thursday, February 15, 1951
Rex Ridenour, Sports Editor
The Daily Reporter
Dover, Ohio