DOVER - The Tuscarawas Broncos (22-2) will make their debut in the Youngstown Class B Regional Tournament on Friday night as the slight favorite to defeat the Columbiana's highly regarded Clippers (19-5). Head Coach Chuck Lorenz's crew drew the favorite's toga by virtue of its 2 victories over the Strasburg talented Tigers (26-2) in contests which were packed with pressure from start to finish.
The deliberate brand of ball employed by the Blue and White upset the Tigers' smooth balance on 2 occasions and the Broncos will undoubtedly employ their control tactics against the fast-breaking Clippers Friday night. Coach Lorenz and his charges were given a routing sendoff at noon today as they left the school bound for Youngstown, where they will get their 1st look at the tournament floor this evening when they go through their final polishing drills from 5 to 7 o'clock.
The town's fire truck and the high school marching band led the way out of town following a big pep rally at the school. Tusky was to go to the Ohio Hotel in Youngstown when they will make their headquarters until after Saturday night's finals. Lorenz announced his charges were in tip-top condition and an excellent frame of mind for their clash with Columbiana.
Tickets for the contest are on sale at the Tuscarawas High School until 9:00 tonight and until noon tomorrow. Adult admission to the meet has been set at $1.00, while student tariff is 75 cents. The doors to the Youngstown South Fieldhouse will open at 6:00 with the 1st game ready to get underway at 7:30 between the undefeated Vienna Flyers (30-0) and the Copley Indians (23-0).
Columbiana's pressing defensive tactics and fast break maneuvers were credited with the victory over the Northwestern Huskies last Friday night. The Wayne County Champions, whose only previous loss of the season was a 48-34 setback at the hands of the Strasburg Tigers. The Huskies led for most of the 1st two quarters before faltering to the Columbiana combination in the 3rd stanza and losing out 65-49. Tuscarawas' under-the-board combination of 6-2 Junior Terry Deems, 6-2 Senior Larry (Doofy) Myers and 6-1 Senior Harry Thompson, is expected to give the Broncos enough height to offset any combination used by the Clippers.
Guards, 5-11 Ralph Vesco and 5-10 Jim Henry, may surrender a slight edge in the speed department, but the 2 Seniors along with Junior 5-6 Dick Davis are capable of driving through Columbiana's tough press. Coach Lorenz has been drilling his charges steadily on the press employed by Columbiana and the Broncos may unveil a press of their own in an effort to slow down the fast-breaking of the Clippers.
Tusky's schedule may be under that of Columbiana as far as the caliber of opponents is concerned, but Tuscarawas' average of 69.9 points per contest is still impressive, while the 53 average compiled by opponents is the highest of the 4 teams in the meet. The key to success or failure could lie in the ability of the Blue and White to penetrate the press. The Broncos' 3 big boys will offset any edge held by Columbiana's 6-5 center Homer Gilchrist or John Patchem, 6-1 forward.
Columbiana's 3 front men who execute the press, 5-8 John Case, 5-9 Ray Burkhart and 5-9 Hub Keylor have impressed tournament observers as being the key to Columbiana's success thus far.
Thursday, March 18, 1954
The Daily Reporter
Dover, Ohio
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