54 - Right Down The Line

RIGHT DOWN THE LINE
With Art Cicconetti, Sports Editor
Wednesday, February 17, 1954
The Daily Reporter
Dover, Ohio


EVERYTHING WENT ACCORDING TO THE SCRIPT in the first round of the 32nd Annual Tuscarawas County Class B Basketball Tournament last night.  The underdogs put up a lot of scrap, but the favorites had too many guns.  The Strasburg Tigers (1-0) (22-0), rated the 4th best Class B Team in the State, didn't show as much finesse as expected, but the Tigers still had plenty of punch left to win handily.

Head Coach Don Martin's crew was tight and this can be expected since the Bengals have survived the opening round only a few times in recent years.  Strasburg usually comes up with a top team, the underdog whips into an upset frenzy and that's the story.  The Port Washington Purple Riders almost pulled the trick in 1949 losing 42-39.  Bolivar did it in 1950 winning 53-50 when the Tigers went on to the District finals after winning the Consolation Title.  Last year the Stone Creek Golden Panthers came up with a 62-53 upset and almost did it twice with the Panthers losing 76-62, but the Bengals won the Consolation Crown and went on to the Regional finals.

NOW THAT THE 1ST ROUND IS OVER, Strasburg will still have plenty of opposition with that 22-0 record making a huge target for any underdog that sets it sites on the right night.  But, it  is doubtful that the Tigers will be as tight the next time out as they were last night.  The Midvale Blue Devils (0-1) outplayed the Bengals in the last half with a good shooting percentage helping its cause.

Control of the boards spelled defeat for the Blue Devils; however, with Seniors, Elden (Zeke) Mullett and John Shetler, coming in to fill the gap when Junior Jerry (Goose) Von Kaenel was out.  This trio makes a formidable inner offense or defense, whichever the case may be and they shouldn't encounter too much difficulty until they run into a team with as tall an inner guard.

TONIGHT'S SLATE promises to provide more fireworks with the Purple Riders-Mineral City Tiger tussle looming as a nip and tuck fight all the way.  The 2 teams staged such a battle in the Tigers' den last Friday night.  It took a last-period splurge for the Riders to come through with a victory in that one and both teams are gunning for a spot in the winners' circle.  Port has never been up there and this year is one of their best for the attempt.

Senior Ken  Huston's injury in the 2nd game of the season slowed down the Purple Riders somewhat, but they picked up fast and zipped up through the standings to finish in a 3rd -place tie with the Baltic Eagles.  The Tigers of Mineral City have been threatening all season and could reach a peak during the tournament.  Mineral City has all-around height and a pair of marksmen in Seniors, Gene Argento and Bill Crilley.  It should be an interesting tussle.

THE DUNDEE BULLDOGS might just come through with that 1st big upset.  The Tuscarawas Broncos handled the Bulldogs easily in their meeting a couple of weeks ago and the Broncos will no doubt throw up their familiar and effective press.  The Pups do have some rebound strength and should give the tall Tusky crew a good battle regardless of who comes through with the victory.

OVER IN STARK COUNTY, the Waynesburg Mohawks and East Sparta don't see action until Friday and Saturday respectively.  The fans will be watching the progress of these 2 teams and will be hoping for another meeting between the 2 Co-Champions.  If the 2 top teams do slide through the rest of the field and end up in the finals, that will really be a dog fight for the tourney title.  The Spartans have set their sights on a revenge win.

The Beach City Pirates, a team which showed improvement towards the end of the campaign, will get a crack at proving it has come a long way from the opening of the season when they tangle with the East Canton Hornets tonight.

54 - Strasburg Continues To Roll Along with 81-64 Triumph Over Midvale (2-16-54)

FAVORITES WIN.  The Strasburg Tigers' Senior Eldon (Zeke) Mullett (66) hooks a shot towards the basket, while Senior John Shetler (30) as well as Sophomore Jim Kuecher (33) of the Tigers await the rebound.

The 1954 Midvale Blue Devils.  FRONT:  Dave Martin - Ron Weaver - Frank Davis - Chuck Seldenwright - gary Haney - Ed Krocker and Don Marshall (Manager).  BACK:  Head Coach Bob Singerman - Dave Roseberry - Jim Swinderman - Dick Leggett - Wilber De Genova - Bob Zontini and Assistant Coach Ralph Hilliard.

Jerry (Goose) Von Kaenel is the Strasburg Tigers' All-League Center.  The 6-4 hook-shot specialist was chosen to the All-League Team by the circuit's coaches last year in his Sophomore season.  A spark-plub of the District Championship Team last season, Goose is only now beginning to hit his stride in the current campaign.  The big Junior is a consistant scorer in the undefeated Tigers' rampage this year.  Von Kaenel scored 14 points along with Senior John Shetler's 23 and Senior Eldon (Zeke) Mullett's 25 in downing the Midvale Blue Devils 81-64 at Memorial Hall in Dover last night.

Ron Weaver  is the Midvale Blue Devils' Junior pivotman.  The 6-1 Blue Devil center has been improving with each game this year after getting a berth on the starting quintet at the opening of the season.  Used as a substitute on last year's top club, Weaver turned in good performances and his development this season has stamped him as a dependable performer.  Ron contributed 4 points in this particular game.


DOVER - A capacity crowd saw the 3 favorites come through as expected last night as the Strasburg Tigers, Baltic Eagles and Dundee Bulldogs chalked up opening round wins in the 32nd Tuscarawas County Class B Basketball Tournament's first action.  The Tigers were tight during part of their tilt, but the undefeaed League Champs loosened up to clip the Midvale Blue Devils 81-64 and make it 21 straight triumphs without a setback.

The Eagles couldn't find the hoop in the opening stanza, but they began connecting in the 2nd frame and pulled away to win easily 66-37.  The Dundee Bulldogs had things pretty much their own way and Head Coach Rollie Plazt's charges came away with a 62-49 victory over the Stone Creek Golden Panthers.

The Bulldogs (1-0) (13-9) move right back into action tonight when they face the 2nd-seeded Tuscarawas Broncos (0-0) (15-2) at 8:45 with the Mineral City Tigers (0-0) (6-9) and Port Washington Purple Riders (0-0) (11-7) slated to tangle in the opening game at 7:30.

It was a 2nd-frame bombardment by the Strasburg Tigers (1-0) (22-0) (86-23), acting as sparkplugs that started off the quarter.  Seniors, John Shetler and Eldon (Zeke) Mullett, then gave the Tigers a big cushion which absorbed some of their letdown in the 2nd half.  Head Coach Don Martin's Bengals pulled away to a 20-15 lead over the Midvale Blue Devils (0-1) (7-13) (58-28) just at the end of the opening period and then, with Shetler and Mullett leading the way, ripped 30 points through the nets in the 2nd quarter and led the Blue Devils 50-30 at halftime intermission.

Many of the fans left at this point and weren't around to see the Blue Devils' crew catch fire and come up within 11 points midway in the 3rd stanza with everyone on the team hitting.  Strasburg stayed ahead by 14 and 15 markers much of the rest of the way as the 2 teams battled on equal terms down the stretch.  Control of the boards gave the Tigers their initial jump and lanky Jerry (Goose) Von Kaenel started the ball rolling.

Goose picked up 3 quick personal fouls; however, and sat out most of the 2nd period after he and Zeke had led the 1st-quarter push.  Shetler came in to pair up with Mullett and the 2 tallied 20 points between them and kept control of the boards to put the Bengals far out front.  The Diablos' Senior Dave Martin kept meshing the nets from outside the Strasburg zone to keep his mates in the ball game in the 1st two periods.  Bob Zontini, Wil De Genova and Ed Krocker began hitting in the 3rd quarter and Midvale came close, but could never close the gap.

Martin ended up with 22 points for the Blue Devils, while Mullett had 25 and Shetler 23 to lead the Tigers of Strasburg.

STRASBURG TIGERS - 81

Jerry Haswell F 4-3-11
Grimm F 0-0-0
Eldon (Zeke) Mullett F 10-5-25
Jim Kuecher F 0-0-0
Jerry (Goose) Von Kaenel C 5-4-14
Gale Huffman G 2-0-4
Fred Peters G 2-0-4
Lewis Frees G 0-0-0
John Shetler G 9-5-23
Gene Hensel G 0-0-0

MIDVALE BLUE DEVILS - 64

Dave Martin F 8-6-22
Jim Swinderman F 1-1-3
Eddie Krocker F 3-2-8
Gary Haney F 0-1-1
Ron Weaver C 2-0-4
Frank Davis C 1-2-4
Arnold Zontini G 4-1-9
Wil De Genova G 4-2-10
Roseberry G 1-1-3
Rich Leggett G 0-0-0


Wednesday, February 17, 1954
Art Cicconetti, Sports Editor
The Daily Reporter
Dover, Ohio

54 - Eagles Bury The Cardinals 66-37 in Bird Fight (2-16-54)

Wayne Everhart (12) of the Baltic Eagles dribbles through mid-court on a fast break with Bob Numbers (4) and Roy Burfield (12) of the Bolivar Cardinals move in an attempt to check the drive. (Photo by Ralph McKee of The Daily Reporter)

The 1954 Baltic Eagles.  FRONT:  Fritz Syler - Jim Wallace - Larry Stein - Errol Jacobs and Tom Ott.  BACK:  Head Coach Tom Bellville - Jim Uher - Wayne Everhart - Andy Huffman - Glen Reidenbach and Cecil Barkey (Manager).

Junior Errol Jacobs of the Baltic Eagles scored 13 points along side Senior Tom Ott who scored 14 points to defeat the Bolivar Cardinals 66-37 last night.  Errol, a 6-3 lad, is a veteran of last year's successful combination and saw some varsity action as a Freshman and Sophomore   Jacobs is one of the top Eagle scorers for the team this year from his pivot position.

Senior Roy Burfield veteran Bolivar forward is 5-10 and saw only sparing action last season, but stepped into a starting role at the outset of the current campaign.  Not a high scorer, but Roy has the talent to contribute heavily to the success of the Eagle team.

Senior Jon Lash, 6-0 Bolivar player, was a substitute last year.  Jon has performed creditably for the Cardinals this season in a forward post.  He ranks 2nd in the scoring column for the Red Birds.


DOVER - The Bolivar Cardinals (0-1) (1-18) (47-44) appeared headed for an upset in the opening quarter when the Baltic Eagles (1-0) (17-3) (28-47) couldn't find the range.  The Cardinals took an 11-8 lead, but that was the last time they held the edge.  The Red Birds began to connect in the 2nd frame with its height telling on the rebounding.  Senior Tom Ott, Junior Errol Jacobs and Junior Fritz Syler combined to lead Baltic to a 22-point splurge, while the Cards managed to get but 2 points, both on free throws.

That was it.  Bolivar was crippled by the loss of Senior Bob Cramer early in the 3rd stanza and Junior Jack Renner in the last part of the same period and the Eagles rolled at their own pace.  Cramer collected 4 personal fouls early in the 2nd quarter and sat out much of the 1st part of the game.  He wasn't around long in the 3rd frame before he drew the 5th personal.

Head Coach Tom Bellville of Baltic tried all sorts of combinations after his team had taken the big lead with 11 of the 12 players breaking into the game getting into the scoring column.  Ott was high with 14 points, while Jacobs had 13.  Senior Roy Burfield topped Bolivar with 10 points.

BATLIC EAGLES - 66

Tom Ott F 6-2-14
Fritz Syler F 3-2-8
Jim Wallace F 2-2-6
Larry Stein F 0-3-3
Jim Uher F 1-0-2
Errol Jacobs C 6-1-13
Paul Armbrust C 0-0-0
Wayne Everhart G 2-2-6
Andy Hoffman G 2-4-8
George Regula G 1-0-2
Glen Reidenbach G 1-0-2
Don Kaser G 1-0-2

BOLIVAR CARDINALS - 37

Jon Lash F 1-3-5
Bob Sisson F 1-0-2
Frank Ferren F 0-0-0
Jack Mason F2-1-5
Jack Renner F 2-3-7
Bob Cramer C 2-0-4
Bob Numbers G 2-0-4
Roy Burfield G 3-4-10
Don Mason G 0-0-0


Tuesday, February 16, 1954
Art Cicconnitti, Sports Editor
The Daily Reporter
Dover, Ohio

54 - Dundee Pups Cage The Panthers 62-49 (2-16-54)

Dick Slemmer, 6-1 Senior, of the Dundee Bulldogs scored 21 points in downing the Stone Creek Golden Panthers 62-49 in the 1st game of the 32nd Tuscarawas County Class B Basketball Tournament last night at Memorial Hall.  Dick, a veteran of last year's campaign, saw the Bulldog quintet have a losing season and has been one of the big reasons for the Dundee comeback.  A top rebounder, Slemmer is also the leading scorer for the Pups.  He has passed the 300 point plateau.

The 1954 Dundee Bulldogs.  FRONT:  Wille Slemmer (Manager) - Dick Slemmer - Larry Landis - Duane Burrell - Dale Hostetler and Don Levengood.  BACK:  Nelson Landis (Manager) - Gary Slemmer - Bob Baker - Duane Immel - Bob Walter - Jim Baker and Head Coach Roland Platz.

During last night's action, Sophomore Don Levengood of Dunee positions himself for a possible rebound against the Stone Creek Golden Panthers.


DOVER - The Dundee Bulldogs (1-0) (13-9) (31-47) didn't come up with any real fireworks, but the Bulldogs coasted to victory with a 2nd-half superiority over the Stone Creek Golden Panthers (0-1) (11-10) (23-39).  Head Coach Platz's quintet took the lead early in the opening quarter chiefly on the back of Dick Slemmer's scoring punch...13-9.  In the 2nd frame, neither team could hit consistently and the Golden Panthers were hit hard when Junior Bill Jones drew his 4th personal foul and was forced to sit out much of the period...24-15.
In the 3rd stanza, Ron Deibel kept the Panthers within striking distance.  The red headed Freshman continued to lead the attack with some help at the charity line from Sophomore Floyd Patrick...49-28.  Stone Creek's chances were lessened when Jones was chased with his 5th peronal early in the 4th canto and Deibel and Patrick couldn't get the score whittled down.

The Golden Panthers came within 11 points, but no closer.  Deibel tallied 19 and Patrick got 14 points for the Panthers with Slemmer leading all scorers with 21 for Dundee.

DUNDEE BULLDOGS - 62

Dick Slemmer F 5-11-21
Larry Landis F 0-0-0
Bob Walter F 0-0-0
Dale Hostetler F 3-3-9
Don Levengood C 4-2-10
Bob Baker G 4-4-12
Duane Immel G 5-0-10

STONE CREEK GOLDEN PANTHERS - 49

Bill Jones F 3-2-8
Floyd Patrick F 2-10-14
Mel McAfee F 0-0-0
Reuben Lorenz F 0-1-1
Don Poland C 0-1-1
Ron Deibel G 9-1-19
Stan Phillippi G 2-2-6


Wednesday, February 17, 1954
Art Cicconetti, Sports Editor
The Daily Reporter
Dover, Ohio

54 - Memorial Hall Turns On The Lights

DUANE IMMEL of the Dundee Bulldogs is their main play-maker in their meeting with the Stone Creek Golden Panthers tonight.  The 5-4 Senior was a letterman last year and has stepped into a starting role to help boost the fortunes of the Bulldogs in the current season.  Duane is approaching 100 points for Dundee in their 12-9 record piled up this year and is considered one of the top ball handlers on the team.

FLOYD PATRICK, 5-9 Senior, of the Stone Creek Golden Panthers (11-9) is ready to hit the floor running  tonight against the Dundee Bulldogs.  Floyd made the jump from the Reserve Team to a starting berth after most of the Golden Panthers' Reserve Varsity strength was lost by graduation and is also approaching 100 points for the Panthers.  The Stone Creek guard has been a good defensive man as well as a good board man for the squad.


DOVER - The Strasburg Tigers, Baltic Eagles and Dundee Bulldogs take over the favorites role as the 32nd Tuscarawas County Class B Basketball Tournament gets underway in Memorial Hall starting at 6:30 today.  The undefeated Strasburg Tigers (21-0) are slated to meet the Midvale Blue Devils (7-12) in the nightcap of the triple-header.  Head Coach Don Martin's crew dropped the Blue Devils twice during the regular season by margins of 63-45 and 78-57.

The Baltic Eagles (16-3) tangles with the Bolivar Cardinals (1-17) in the middle contest on the opening night program and the Eagles assume their favorites' toga by virtue of an 87-43 conquest of the Cardinals during the regular season.  In the 1st contest of the evening, the 2 most evenly matched teams on the first-night slate, the Stone Creek Golden Panthers (11-9) and Dundee Bulldogs (12-9), are expected to stage one of the traditional tourney-opening battles.

The Bulldogs who bowed to the Golden Panthers 74-59 in the early stages of the campaign, rate the edge because of their performances in whipping the Waynesburg Mohawks Saturday night .  The Panthers; although, it still has plenty of scoring punch, will be minus the main cog used in defeating the Eagles with Jim Lorenz out of the lineup.

The doors to Memorial Hall will open at 6PM.  There are no Reserved seating.  Admission to the games is 75 cents for adults and 30 cents for students.  The officials for the opening night will be Paul Whyte, Allen Viegel and Howard Knutsen.  Each official will work 2 games.


Tuesday, February 16, 1954
The Daily Reporter
Dover, Ohio

NOTE:  The talented Strasburg Tigers (21-0) now holds down the 4th position on the Top Ten Associated Press Class B Basketball polls with 99 points.  The Tuscarawas Broncos (15-2) managed 23 votes, the Baltic Eagles (16-3) 11 votes and the Port Washington Purple Riders (11-7) picked up 6 votes as tournament time begins.

54 - Tuscarawas County Class B Basketball League All-Stars

The coaches All-County selections are as following, starting with top center and working around clockwise:  Jerry Haswell (Strasburg) - Jerry (Goose) Von Kaenel (Strasburg) - Ken Huston (Port Washington) - Bob Cramer (Bolivar) - Bill Ray (Sugarcreek-Shanesville) - Tom Ott (Baltic) - Errol Jacobs (Baltic) - Ralph Vesco (Gnadenhutten) - Carl Gilmore (Gnadenhutten) and Jim Lorenz (Stone Creek).

DOVER - The 1954 All-County League Basketball Team picked by the 11 coaches in the League, will undoubtedly go down as one of the best combinations ever chosen.  There are plenty of good players to choose from in this year's League and the 10 chosen, combine just about every good basketball quality a team can be expected to possess.

The squad has height, speed, rebound ability, defensive ability and plenty of scoring punch.  The top 10 totaled more than 3,000 points among them in the regular season.  The Strasburg Tigers and Baltic Eagles each had 2 men in the top ten selections, while the Bengals of Head Coach Don Martin also had a man on the Honorable Mention quintet.

Jerry (Goose) Von Kaenel, 6-4 Junior, was the top vote getter in the poll.  Goose is a repeat choice from last year's "Dream Team" as is teammate Jerry Haswell, 6-1 Junior.  Close behind Von Kaenel in the voting was the Stone Creek Golden Panther's Jim Lorenz, 5-11.5 Senior who became ineligible because of age on January 27th.

Both Goose and Lorenz each polled 3 first place votes in the balloting.  Lorenz is also a repeat selection on the All-Star Squad.  Ken Huston, 5-11 Senior, from the Port Washington Purple Riders and last year's most valuable player, was 3rd in the voting.  Haswell was 4th and the Gnadenhutten Indian's Carl Gilmore, 5-11 Senior who is the county's leading point-maker, was in the number 5 spot.

The remainder of the top ten was led by Bill Ray of the Sugarcreek-Shanesville Pirates, 6-1 Senior, was given 2 first place votes.  The Eagle's Tom Ott and Errol Jacobs, Bob Cramer of the Bolivar Cardinals and Ralph Vesco of the Tuscarawas Broncos rounded out the team.  The Midvale Blue Devils were the only team which failed to place a member on the 1954 All-Star Squad.  Dundee had Dick Slemmer and the Mineral City Tigers had Gene Argento, both in the Honorable Mention list.

Harry Thompson, Broncos Senior who made the Honor Team as a Junior last season, barely missed out this year and was on the Honorable Mention list along with Larry Myers, also of the Broncos.  The Top Ten players chosen will each get a small individual trophy from The Daily Reporter with their name inscribed on it.

ALL-STAR TEAM

Jerry (Goose) Von Kaenel (6-4 Junior) Strasburg Tigers
Jim Lorenz (5-11 Senior) Stone Creek Golden Panthers
Ken Huston (5-11 Senior) Port Washington Purple Riders
Jerry Haswell Jr. (6-1 Junior) Strasburg Tigers
Carl Gilmore (5-11 Senior) Gnadenhutten Indians
Bill Ray (6-1 Senior) Sugarcreek-Shanesville Pirates
Tom Ott (6-2 Senior) Baltic Eagles
Bob Cramer (6-2 Senior) Bolivar Cardinals
Ralph Vesco (5-11 Senior) Tuscarawas Broncos
Errol Jacobs (6-3 Junior) Baltic Eagles

HONORABLE MENTION

Harry Thompson (6-1 Senior) Tuscarawas Broncos
Gene Argento (6-0 Senior) Mineral City Tigers
Dick Slemmer (6-1 Senior) Dundee Bulldogs
Larry Myers (6-2 Senior) Tuscarawas Broncos
John Shetler (6-1 Senior) Strasburg Tigers


Monday, February 15, 1954
The Daily Reporter
Dover, Ohio


NOTE:  At the beginning of the season the following were picked to win the League Championship according to The Daily Reporter:

1.  Strasburg Tigers
2.  Sugarcreek-Shanesville Pirates
3.  Tuscarawas Broncos
4.  Stone Creek Golden Panthers
5.  Midvale Blue Devils
6.  Baltic Eagles
7.  Dundee Bulldogs
8.  Mineral City Tigers
9.  Port Washington Purple Riders
10. Bolivar Cardinals
11. Gnadenhutten Indians

54 - The 32nd Tuscarawas County Class B Basketball Tournament

DOVER - The regular basketball season is over for all but 2 of the Tuscarawas County Class B basketball teams.  The Strasburg Tigers and Dundee Bulldogs wind up their season tonight in home contests.  Next week in Memorial Hall starts the big festival that can lead up the long and exciting road to the top of the heap or end along the highway somewhere in defeat.

The cheering, the tense moments and all the color that go along with the basketball tournaments will be here once again.  This will be the top event in scholastic sports for the next 6 weeks until the Class A and Class B Champions are crowned in the Cleveland Arena.

One of the thrills in the tournament comes from watching an underdog team rise up and knock off the favorite.  It's happened every year since tournaments began.  In fact, it started way back when David took his little slingshot and kayoed Goliath.  The underdogs are always backed to the hilt, but especially at tournament time when there are plenty of nonpartisan fans around, this is even more in evidence and the team which is picked to lose may catch fire and ride into the victory column on the cloud built by encouraging cheers from the crowd.

The County Class B Tournament has become a part of each community's life since it started back in 1923.  When tournament time arrives the crowd collects early and each cheering section picks a spot, the banner goes up and the yelling starts, long before the first 2 teams trot onto the floor for the warm-ups.  There are only 4 of the 11 teams in the County League which has never won a Tournament Championship.  Of these, 3 have lost out in the final game, while the 4th, the Port Washington Purple Riders hasn't even won the Consolation Title as yet.

This could be the year for the Riders to catch fire and sweep into the limelight.  The Stone Creek Golden Panthers turned the trick a couple of years back.  This could be the year for the Mineral City Tigers which lost out in the finals in 1949.  The Tigers claimed the Consolation Title the 1st year that the meet was turned into a double elimination affair back in 1933.  The Dundee Bulldogs were runner-up twice.  In 1928 the Bulldogs lost out to Strasburg in the finals and in 1941, the Midvale Blue Devils turned the Pups back.  Dundee came up with the Consolation Championship in 1951.

The Baltic Eagles, one of the strongest teams in the circuit, had a crack at the title in 1929, but lost out to the Sugarcreek-Shanesville Pirates.  In 1952 the Eagles had another chance, but lost out to the Cinderella Stone Creek Champions.

The Strasburg Tigers, the current favorite, has won the Championship more times than any other teamin the League.  The Tigers won the 1st tournament back in 1923 under Head Coach Sam Watkins.  The Bengals won again, but in 1927and 1928.  Strasburg under Head Coach Paul Roby won 3 straight years in 1932,1933 and 1934.  It was 1939 before the Tigers won again, but the Bengals were Champions 4 years straight from 1944 through 1947 for the longest streak in the history of the meet.  Head Coach Don Martin saw his charges win the tournament in 1951.  That was Strasburg's 13th tournament title.  The Tigers have finished as runner-up once and won 4 Consolation Titles.

The Midvale Blue Devils didn't win a clear tourney title until 1931, but the Blue Devils have won 5 since that time and are the current defending Champions.  The Diablos finshed in the runner-up spot 6 times and claimed 3 Consolation victories.  The Sugarcreek-Shanesville Pirates were Champions 4 times and runner-up 5 occasions a Consolation winner twice.  The Bolivar Cardinals were the kingpin twice and runner-up 5 times, while winning a Consolation Division Title once.

The Gnadenhutten Indians were twice Champions, runner-up 3 times and Consolation Division kings twice.  The Tuscarawas Broncos were winner once, runner-up 3 times and Consolation Champions 5 times.  That's the score up to now, but when the teams start scrambling next week, the favorites will have to work just as hard in each game for anyone of the underdogs could assume the role of David and reenact the old Biblical tale.

Next week's action  is just the start.  There'll be the Class B Sectional Division here in Dover and the Class A Sectional at Cambridge.  Following this, there will probably be county teams in the Class B District meet at Brilliant and perhaps a team in the Class A District in Martins Ferry.  From there on in it's anybody's guess.  Tournament time is here again!


Saturday, February 13, 1954
Art Cicconetti, Sports Editor
The Daily Reporter
Dover, Ohio

The 1954 Tuscarawas County Basketball League Champion Strasburg Tigers.  FRONT:  Head Coach Don Martin - Manager Clyde Yackey and Assistant Coach Bob Haas.  BACK:  Jerry (Goose) Von Kaenel - Eldon Mullett (Zeke) Mullett - John (West Point) Shetler - Jerry Haswell - Jim Kuecher - Jim Weber - Tom Grimm - Gail Huffman - Fred Peters - Gene Hensel and Lewis Frees.

TUSCARAWAS COUNTY CLASS B BASKETBALL LEAGUE (1953-54)

1.  Strasburg Tigers (Don Martin-6) 10-0 1.000 (16th Title)
2.  Tuscarawas Broncos (Chuck Lorenz-4) 9-1 .900
3.  Baltic Eagles (Tom Bellville-1) 7-3 .700
4.  Port Washington Purple Riders (Bray Toot-8) 7-3 .700
5.  Sugarcreek-Shanesville Pirates (Bob Wise-2) 5-5 .500
6.  Stone Creek Golden Panthers (Ken Newlon-7) 4-6 .400
7.  Dundee Bulldogs (Rollie Platz-1) 4-6 .400
8.  Mineral City Tigers (Bob Penrod-1) 3-7 .300
9.  Gnadenhutten Indians (Fritz Jacobs-4) 3-7 .300
10. Midvale Blue Devils (Bob Singerman-2) 2-8 .200
11. Bolivar Cardinals (Andrew Steve-1) 1-9 .100

TUSCARAWAS COUNTY CLASS B BASKETBALL SEASON (1953-54)

1.  Strasburg Tigers 20-0 .1.000
2.  Tuscarawas Broncos 15-2 .882
3.  Baltic Eagles 16-3 .842
4.  Port Washington Purple Riders 11-7 .611
5.  Sugarcreek-Shanesville Pirates (not reported)
6.  Stone Creek Golden Panthers 11-9 550
7.  Dundee Bulldogs 11-9 .550
8.  Gnadenhutten Indians 11-11 .500
9.  Mineral City Tigers 6-9 .400
10. Midvale Blue Devils 7-12 .368
11. Bolivar Cardinals 1-17 .056

NOTE:  APPOINTED TO WEST POINT

John Shetler, 17, son of Mr. and Mrs. Blaine Shetler of RD 1, Bolivar and a star athlete for Strasburg High, today was appointed to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York, by US Congress member  Frank Bow of this 16th District.  The congressman also appointed Jack Ehrhart, son of Mr. and Mrs. David C (Ted) Ehrhart of 760 Ray Avenue N.W. New Philadelphia, as an alternate to Robert Burns of Alliance, appointee to the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland.  Shetler has been a football, basketball, baseball and track star for Strasburg and has maintained a 3.5 scholastic average.  His father is a millwright at the Timken plant in Canton.

NOTE:  THE DAVE GARROWAY SHOW CHANNEL 4 NBC AIRS STRASBURG TIGERS

The #4 Class B Strasburg Tigers undefeated basketball team was saluted on the Dave Garroway television show this morning (2-8-54).  The program is on a nationwide hookup on Channel 4, NBC.  The picture of the squad was flashed on the screen during the news broadcast on Garroway's show and the names of Head Coach Don Martin and Assistant Coach Bob Haas were mentioned as the Tigers were congratulated for their record.  The picture and information was sent in to the Garroway show by a Strasburg fan.