51 - Right Down The Line

Sports Editor
Friday, March 2, 1951
Dover, Ohio


THERE WASN'T MUCH BALM for the Stasburg Tigers (3-1) (17-7) in that defeat at the hands of the Walnut Creek Cardinals (22-1) last night.  The Tuscarawas County Champions gave it a try, a fine, heart-warming effort, but a blonde kid who stands only 5-9 staged an exhibition that shut the door tight.

We mean Bob (Bobby) Troyer, the Cardinals' superlative guard.  Troyer is the best there is.  He made the 1,800 perspiring fans who jammed into the hall last night forget about the controversy over Ike Hostetler, another fine cager.  Perhaps in the confusion which has attended the transfer of Hostetler from Sugarcreek-Shanesville High School to Walnut Creek, strategists forgot about Troyer's ability to crack a game wide open with that deadly set shot.

The Red Bird's home-grown kid, who has had many college offers, took over last night and that was that.  Troyer's sensational performance; however, did not detract from the play of the other Creeker regulars:  forward Hostetler, center Moe Hershberger, forward Keith Miller and guard Jim Jaberg.

That team packs power in every department.  They can go and they can take it away from you, both on the floor and under the boards.  They may not win the District title, but right now, there isn't anything else in sight that has quite what the glittering Cards possess.  Just for the record, Walnut Creek hit 5 of 18 field goal attempts in the 1st period, 10 of 19 in the 2nd, 9 of 16 in the 3rd and 6 of 14 in the final canto.  Strasburg's best quarter was the last when the Tigers made 8 of 16 shots from the field.  Troyer shot 20 times last night and made 14 of them.

Fans who were forced to stay outside last night for the Walnut Creek-Strasburg battle, there were 1,500 of them at various times and were able to "hear" the game, thanks to Tournament Manager Don Campbell.  A public address system was rigged up and beamed outside so the luckless fans who came out late would at least know what was going on.

Five top Strasburg cagers ended a brilliant career last night:  forward John Zeigler, guard Dale Bayer, forward Dale Renner, center Jim Reiger and guard Rich Rentsch are Seniors and closed there last game for the Tigers.  Even in defeat at the hands of a team which had them out-gunned and out-manned, the Bengal quintet need not feel badly for them it has been a show well played.

Head Coach Don Martin lost 6 varsity performers last year.  He came along slowly this year, but surely and picked up the tournament title and tied for the League Crown.  That's about all of the mileage you can expect from a team which opened the campaign without a single letterman.

NOTE:  SUGARCREEK-SHANESVILLE HEAD COACH RESIGNS

SUGARCREEK - Gerald Straley, basketball and baseball Head Coach of the Sugarcreek-Shanesville High School Pirates for the past 2 years, has handed in his resignation and requested to be relieved of his duties at the close of the present school year, it was revealed by Straley and school officials today.

Straley, who came to Sugarcreek-Shanesville in 1949 from Warsaw High School gave no reason for his resignation and did not reveal any future plans.

During the basketball season just ended, the Pirates under Straley's guidance won 11 and lost 10 games.  Straley figured briefly in the transfer of Richard (Ike) Hostetler from Sugarcreek to Walnut Creek High School in mid-season.   Stralely told newsmen that Hostetler did not tell him he was transferring.

A successor has not been named to replace Straley.  The Pirate coach yesterday revealed his house in Sugarcreek was up for sale.