Coming up too late to do anything about the situation is Senior Guard Neil Potts (5) of the Dundee Bulldogs, as Junior center Ken (Bobo) Haueter of the Bolivar Cardinals fires at the basket in last night's nightcap. But the Bulldogs bounced up to smack down the Cardinals 69-66 as Potts and his teammates hit the hoop in fine fashion. At Left is Junior Wayne Ruof (6) of the Red Birds who is partially obscuring the Pup's Senior Center Don (Deadeye) Levengood from view. (The Daily Reporter Photo by McKee)
DOVER - WHO WILL BE NEXT? That was the question being asked by followers of Tuscarawas County Class B Basketball today. It came up after mild upsets were sprung by the Sugarcreek-Shanesville Pirates, Mineral City Tigers and Dundee Bulldogs as the 34th County Tournament got underway at Dover's Memorial Hall last night.
The Pirates receiving a big lift from a surprise package in the person of Merle Clum, spanked the Stone Creek Golden Panthers 76-66; the Tigers staved off a Tuscarawas Broncos rally to lasso the Broncos 57-53 and the Bulldogs, with Senior center Don Levengood in the starring role, clipped the Bolivar Cardinals 69-66. All three winning clubs had lost close decisions to their tournament opening rivals during the regular season, but turned the tables as an indication that anything can happen on "Heartbreak highway."
Mineral City and Dundee had extra reason to celebrate. The Tigers' win was its 1st in tournament battling since 1949 when the Cats whipped 2 foes, the Baltic Eagles and Sugarcreek-Shanesville Pirates. Dundee had not won in the tournament since 1953. The double-elimination meet will continue Thursday night when Stone Creek takes on Tusky in the 1st Consolation Bracket encounter at 7:30 and Baltic faces the Port Washington Purple Riders in a 1st round fray at 8:45.
On Friday night, Bolivar will meet the loser of the Baltic-Port Washington tussle at 6:30, the League Champion Strasburg Tigers goes against Sugarcreek-Shanesville at 7:45 and the Gnadenhutten Indians vies with Mineral City. at 9:00.
The nightcap; although, lacking somewhat in finesse, was the best battle of the evening. It was a sizzler at the outset and was still sizzling at the final buzzer. The Head Coach Jack Reese Dundee Bulldogs (1-0) (4-17) (32-51), in the final analysis, shot at a better clip and had the most prolific scorer in "Deadeye" Don Levengood, 6-4 pivot who came up with 34 points as he sparked them over the team which had taken their measure twice during the regular campaign.
The Bulldogs grabbed the brass ring for keeps with 2 minutes gone in the last canto, but to stave off the Bolivar Cardinals (0-1) (7-14) (48-47) to register their 4th victory. And the Pups had Levengood to thank. The Cardinals lagged by 8 points with 5:30 remaining, but Head Coach Ray Low's charges gave the Red White and Blue a scare before it was all over. A jumper by Bob Frame and steal and layup by Ruot made it 61-54 and after a rebou2nd basket by husky Senior Al Dildine of Dundee the Cards whittled it to 63-60 on a jumper by Junior guard John Geers, a set by Senior Bob Numbers and a layup by Geers. With 1:59 remaining, The Bulldogs' Levengood canned 2 gratis tries, but Geers hit again and again the spread was only 3 markers.
After the Pup's Potts missed at the free throw line the Red Birds's Don Mason made 2 and the score was 65-64 at 1:28. Levengood and Ruof traded jump shots before a jump ball was called. Dundee grabbed the leather Levengood was fouled and the lanky center cinched matters as he made 2 of them. The Cardinal and Gray had 2 tries at the hoop in the last 5 seconds, but neither made connections and the Cards, who had 3 more field goals than Dundee, went down to defeat.
The Bulldogs outgoaled 28-25, won it at the free throw line where the Pups converted 19 of 32. Bolivar made 10 of 17. The winners, hitting for 45 percent, rimmed their 25 aces in 55 attempts, while the Cardinals got 70 shots. Their 28 goals made their percentage mark read an even 40 percent.
DUNDEE BULLDOGS - 69
Squires 2-4-8
Bob Walter 1-8-10
Don Levengood 14-6-34
Al Dildine 7-1-15
Neil Potts 1-0-2
BOLIVAR CARDINALS - 66
Dave Wolf 5-4-24
Bob Frame 1-0-2
Ken (Bobo) Haueter 4-0-8
John Geers 7-2-16
Wayne Ruof 4-2-10
Roy Buchanan 0-0-0
Bob Numbers 5-0-10
Don Mason 2-2-6
DUNDEE 20-43-53-69
BOLIVAR 24-42-50-66
Wednesday, February 15, 1956
The Daily Reporter
Dover, Ohio
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