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
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