CHAMPIONS AT LAST! The Stone Creek Golden Panthers finally soared to the top of the heap on Saturday night when they defeated the stubborn Baltic Eagles 58-56 to capture their 1st ever Tuscarawas County Class B Basketball Tournament title in the 30 year history of the event. The Golden Panthers were more than happy to receive the top Championship award known as The Daily Reporter Trophy. FRONT: Dave Gross - Carl Poland - Jerry Gasser - Jerry Billman - Gary Grimm and Willis Ridenour. BACK: Don Miller - Bill Jones - Jim Lorenz -Ken Heid and 5th-Year Head Coach Ken Newlon.
The small community of Stone Creek (225 citizens), the home of the Stone Creek Golden Panthers, rejoiced in their town's very first Championship...their 1st title received since the town was founded in 1827.
The Runner-up Baltic Eagles were not in a hilarious mood after they were vanquished Saturday night by just 2 points (58-56) by the Champion Stone Creek Golden Panthers. FRONT: Errol Jacobs - Don Farnsworth - Tom Ott - Ron Eckert - Earl Wallace and Andy Huffman. BACK; John Torgler - Paul Reidenbach - Jim Syler - Dean Huprich - Fred Huprich - Noah Beechy and Head Coach Doyle Shumaker.
DOVER - The Stone Creek Golden Panthers, the wonder team which copped this year's ipsy-doodle basketball tournament, will clash with the Dover St. Joseph Ramblers Wednesday night at 8:45 in the opening round of the Sectional Tournament at Memorial Hall. The curtain-raiser at 7:30 will pit the Tuscarawas Giant Killing Tuscarawas Broncos against the Dennison Railroaders. The Panthers, who clawed out history Saturday night by edging the Baltic Eagles 58-56 drew into the bottom bracket along with the dangerous Big Prairie Bulldogs and Malvern Green Hornets in pairings held yesterday afternoon in County Superintendant W.E. Laws' office in the Courthouse.
Spotted in the top bracket along with Dennison and Tuscarawas are the Millersburg Knights, Dennison St. Mary Blue Waves and the Killbuck cagers. Big Prairie and Killbuck are the winner and runner-up respectively of the Holmes County meet. Both teams were seeded on a vote by coaches, since they have the best records. Big Prairie will enter the tournament with the top record, 21-2 and will tangle with the Baltic Eagles on Thursday night at 8:45 following the Killbuck-Millersburg fray at 7:30.
Tournament Manager Laws said each school will receive 26 passes and 2 additional ones for school heads. Officials will be Norman Sommers of Mt. Pleasant and Allen Viegel of Coshocton. Admission will be 50 and 75 cents. And taking a look at the Sectional Class B Tournament, probably it will shape up as a repeat performance of the county tournament which roared to a blazing climax Saturday night with Stone Creek's stunning triumph over Baltic and Tusky eually startling 56-55 decision over Dundee's League Co-Champion Bulldogs.
But, who would have guessed it? There was a good hint as to what was in the wind in the 2nd period of the Championship tilt when Head Coach Ken Newlon's Stone Creek Golden Panthers (3-0) (11-11) (21-36) swept up and down the floor in their blazing fast break to pile up an impressive 25-15 bulge at one juncture. But the soaring Baltic Eagles (2-1) (14-7) (26-45) were not out of the game yet. Senior forward Dean Huprich, the Eagles ace who garnered 20 points for the night, cut loose for 5 points before the Golden Panthers ' cracker-Jack Sophomore forward Jim Lorenz canned 3 points to keep the winners out in front 28-20.
Huprich then rimmed a fielder, but the Panthers'sensational Freshman forward Bill Jones ended the scoring for the quarter by dunking an action shot from the corner as the proud Cats charged into the big intermission breather with a 29-22 advantage.
After Tournament Manager W.E. Laws made the trophy presentations, the Stone Creek Five ran into double-trouble as Baltic uncorked a convincing fast break that saw them grab a 36-34 lead as Fred Huprich canned one from the side. Junior center Jim Syler and Dean Huprich combined to push the Eagles' total to 40, while Stone Creek's Junior center Jerry Gasser, Lorenz and Jones pushed the Golden Panthers count to 37. But, the Panthers came surging back, copped a 45-40 bulge at the quarter's close and raced to a 54-46 margin in the first 4 minutes of the Championship stretch.
However, Coach Shumaker's chargers, giving their all to stave off the pending upset, were not whipped. Junior forward Paul Reidenbach canned a 2-pointer from the side, Gasser countered with a free throw, Syler hit from out front to slice the margin to 55-50. Gasser increased the count seconds later to 57-50 on 2 free throws before Reidenbach and Dean Huprich scored 2 quick action shots to bring the more than 1,080 fans to their feet with the score standing at 58-54...and a minute still on the clock.
Baltic's hopes were shattered at that point; however, when Dean Huprich drew his 5th personal foul. Jones then iced the game with a half minute left by connecting on a rebound. The Eagle's Sophomore guard Tom Ott nearly threw the tilt into an overtime when he dunked Baltic's last basket from mid-court and then just before the buzzer scored a near-miss which would have given the Eagles another chance. Four of Stone Creek's players hit double figures in the scoring column, largely because of the fact that they meshed 20 out of 27 free throws. Lorenz was high with 18, Jones bagged 14, Ridenour 13 and Gasser 10.
Backing up Dean Huprich were Jones with 14, Syler meshed 13 and Fred Huprich dropped in 10. Baltic outscored the Golden Panthers 21 to 19 from the field. Another factor which hurt the Eagles was that 4 of the players in action were shouldering 4 personals. Three of the Panthers' cagers were in the same cramping position. As a result, Stone Creek's Whiz Kids captured their 1st trophy and their 1st Championship in the history of the school...in addition to the hearts of many a fan.
Baltic's Dean Huprich walked off the floor with the Sanitary Milk Company's Runner-up Award, while Senior Dick Ronald received the S. Toomey Company's Consolation Division Championship Trophy for the Tuscarawas Broncos. In addition to these awards, gold basketballs will go to the 12 players on the Stone Creek squad, which was represented by Jerry Gasser. They were provided by Marsh Wall Products Inc. of Dover. Twelve silver basketballs were provided by the Stone Creek Brick Company which went to the Baltic team.
Prior to the annual classic the Dundee and Tuscarawas bands played several selections and made snappy T D and V formations.
STONE CREEK GOLDEN PANTHERS - 58
Jim Lorenz (347) F 7-4-18
Bill Jones (332) F 4-6-14
Jerry Gasser C 2-6-10
Willis Ridenour G 5-3-13
Jerry Billman G 0-1-1
Miller G 1-0-2
Ken Heid G 0-0-0
BALTIC EAGLES - 56
Paul Reidenbach F 2-0-4
Dean Huprich (384) F 7-6-20
Andy Hoffman F 0-0-0
Jim Syler (298) C 5-3-13
Errol Jacobs C 0-0-0
Tom Ott G 1-0-2
Fred Huprich F 4-2-10
John Torgler G 2-3-7
Monday, February 25, 1952
The Daily Reporter
Dover, Ohio
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