58 - Gnaden Blasts St. Joseph 72-46 (2-25-58)

The Gnadenhutten Indians Senior 6-0 Guard Tom Roth scored 23 points in leading his team to a cozy 72-46 win over the Dover St. Joseph Ramblers during the 1st night of the Sectional Tournament contests.  Roth has a total of 60 points during Gnaden's tournament run for an average of 15.0 points per game.  (Photo...1958 Yearbook)

Tom Roth (77) of the Gnadenhutten Indians is caught here by The Daily Reporter Photographer Ralph McKee making the long stretch for a layup and 2 points in the Indians' 72-46 triumph over the Dover St. Joseph Ramblers in the opening game of the Class A Sectional Class A Tournament last night at Dover's Memorial Hall.  Senior Forward Eddie Joe Young (4) is defending for the Ramblers.

The 1958 Gnadenhutten Indians Cheerleaders.  Janice Biggs - Judith Parrish - Judith Gooding and Bonnie Struchen  (Photo...1958 Yearbook)



DOVER - Tuscarawas County's 2 parochial schools were eliminated from the Section Class A Basketball Tournament pictured in the opening games at Memorial Hall in Dover last night.  The Dover St. Joseph Ramblers bowed to the Gnadenhutten Indians 72-46 as the Dennison St. Mary Blue Wave was eliminated by a spine-tingling last-second 68-67 victory by the Berlin Black Panthers.

The 3rd game saw the Big Prairie-Lakeville Bulldogs defeat the Malvern Green Hornets 67-61.

For 2 quarters, the Dover St. Joseph Ramblers (4-10) gave the Gnadenhutten Indians (3-1) (6-2) (17-6), 2nd best team in the county, a whale of a battle.  But in the 3rd stanza the Indians began to hit with consistency and pulled away.  The Ramblers stayed in the running in the initial half despite the fact that the usual high-scoring Eddie Joe Young was held scoreless.  He got only 8 points in the 2nd half.

Both teams failed to hit the nets with consistency in the 1st quarter when Gnadenhutten pulled out in front 12-7.  In the 2nd frame Gnaden tallied 16 points and St. Joseph hit 15 to make the score 22-18 at halftime.  But the Tribesmen began to exhibit their usual topnotch brand of ball in the 3rd period when they almost outscored the Ramblers 2 to 1.  They hit for 19 points and limited the losers to 10 for a 47-32 lead.

The Scarlet and Gray of Gnaden then had its best quarter when it scored 25 points to the Rover's 14.   Leading the Gnadenhutten Indians was 6-0 Senior guard Tom Roth, who scored 10 field goals and 3 free throws for 23 points, while teammates 5-8 Senior forward Larry Clark and 6-1 Senior center Larry Gooding came through with 18 and 16 respectively.

With Young being stopped cold by the alert Tribe defenses, 5-6 Sophomore Forward John Ferchll  became the only Rambler to hit with consistency and keep the game from being a complete route.  He had 8 action shots and a single free throw for 17 points.

GNADEHHUTTEN INDIANS - 72

Ron Bradley 4-1-9
Larry Clark 7-4-18
Larry Gooding 6-4-16
Tom Roth 10-3-23
Ed Shull 2-0-4
Tom Frank 1-0-2

DOVER ST. JOSEPH RAMBLERS - 46

Eddie Joe Young 3-2-8
John Ferchill 8-1-17
Jerry Dolzine 4-0-8
Chuck Heid 2-3-7
Mike Leone 1-0-2
John Patterson 1-2-4

GNADENHUTTEN  12-28-47-72
ST. JOSEPH.............   7-22-32-46



Wednesday, February 26, 1958
The Daily Reporter
Dover, Ohio

58 - Sectional Tournament Begins

These are the lettermen of the Berlin Black Panthers who meet the Dennison St. Mary Blue Wave in the 3rd game of the Class A Sectional Tournament tonight at Memorial Hall.  They are:  Merle Mullett - Dale Wurthman - Mark Menuez and Ellis Mast.  (Photo...The Daily Reporter)

These are the Big Prairie-Lakeville Bulldogs who copped Runner-up Honors in the recent Holmes County Tournament at Millersburg.  They will meet the Malvern Green Hornets, in the 2nd game of tonight's Class A Sectional Tournament at Dover's Memorial Hall.  FRONT:  Von Flinner - Glenn Cassidy and Wayne Dewitt.  BACK:  Dave Butler - Dave Miller land Ken Baurer.  (Photo...The Daily Reporter)



DOVER - Doors will open an hour before game time with admission being $1.00 for adults and 60 cents for students.  Also on top are a battle between the Big Prairie-Lakeville Bulldogs and the Malvern Green Hornets and Dennison St. Mary Blue Wave at 9:00.

Head Coach Joe La Scola's Dennison Ramblers enter the game with 4 wins in 13 games, 2nd poorest record in the county.  The Blue Wave is 2-16.  In the Gnadenhutten Indians the Ramblers will be meeting a team which has won 16 of 22 games and finished 2nd in the County League and Runner-up to the Midvale Blue Devils in the County Tournament.

But Dennison will be fighting all the way.  Leading them will be the high-scoring Eddie Joe Young, one of the top pointmakers in the county with an average of 20 per game.  He will be at one of the forward positions.  Coach La Scola probably will start Charlie, 6-2 Senior at center, John Patterson, 6-1 Junior at the other forward position and guards John Ferchill, 5-6 Sophomore and Jerry Dolzine, 5-10 Junior.  Walt Burtscher, 5-8 Sophomore, also is expected to see duty.

The Indians' mentor Head Coach Dick Scott will start guards Larry Clark and Ed Shull.  At center, will be Tom Roth with forwards Larry Gooding and Ron Bradley completing the 1st Five.  The Big Prairie-Lakeville Bulldogs, which is mentored by Head Coach Robert E. Lee, will take a record of 16-5 into tonight's fray against the Malvern Green Hornets.  During the season the Panthers finished in a tie with the Walnut Creek Cardinals for 2nd place in the Holmes County League on 7-3 records.  Big Prairie-Lakeville then was Runner-up to the Black Panthers of Berlin in the County Tournament, defeating the Glenmont Indians and the Cardinals of Walnut Creek before reaching the finals.

The Big Prairie-Lakeville Bulldogs faced only one Tuscarawas County quintet during the regular season dropping a 79-59 decision to the Stone Creek Golden Panthers.  Lee will start Sophomore center Dan Dye at 6-0, Senior Wayne DeWitt 5-11 and Junior Ken Baurer 5-9 at the forwards and Junior Dave Miller 5-8 and Senior Von Flinner 5-10 at the guards.  The Green Hornets of Malvern will not be a newcomer to courts in Tuscarawas County.  Over the regular season the Hornets, who are mentored by Head Coach Jack Street, met 5 county foes.

They dropped 2 decisions to Dennison St. Mary 64-55 and 59-46, while downing St. Joseph 65-43 and 56-39.  They also lost 76-57 to the Tuscarawas Broncos and 78-66 to Stone Creek and won over the Port Washington Purple Riders 65-54 and 74-47.  Starting for the Green Hornets, who have an overall record of 8 wins and 11 losses, will be Ron Romano 6-0 Senior at center, Tom Romano 6-0 Junior and Ron Whittington, 6-0 Senior at forwards.  Bill Currie 5-11 Senior and Bill Ferguson 5-10 Senior at the guard positions.  Sixth and 7th man will be Bill Laubacher 5-11 Senior and Dick Sarbach 6-2 Junior.

Berlin, which has been the toast of the Homes County League, has accumulated a record of 18 wins, including 2 tournament victories and only 4 defeats.  The Black Panthers won the League toga with a 9-1 mark.  They have met 3 Tuscarawas County teams and won 3 of 4 contests.  They downed the Garaway Pirates 61-55 and 61-59 and Dover St. Joseph 79-68 and bowed to the Baltic Eagles 77-72.

Starting lineup for the Panthers will have Merle Mullett 6-2 Senior at center with Dale Woethman 5-9 Junior and Ellis Mast 5-8 Senior at the guards and Glenn Miller 5-11 Junior and Don Mast 6-0 Junior at the forwards.  Seeded Dennison St. Mary with a record 2nd only to the Midvale Blue Devils, will provide the opposition for Berlin.  The Wave has won 15 of 17 tilts.

Head Coach Paul Drotovick will have the big-scoring Jim Guida, at 6-0 at one of the forward positions and Dick Still at the other.  Ken Beamer and Gary Bradley will be the guards with Paul Smolak at center.

Tuesday, February 25, 1958
The Daily Reporter
Dover, Ohio

58 - Sectional Basketball Tournament

DOVER - The Dover St. Joseph Ramblers, with a 3-14 record, will tangle with the Gnadenhutten Indians (16-6), Runner-up in the Class A Tournament, tomorrow night at 8:30 in the opening game of the Class A Sectional at Memorial Hall here.  Seeded at drawings, held at Helmkamp's Restaurant yesterday, were the Midvale Blue Devils, Tournament Champions, who have a record of 19-2 and the Dennison St. Mary Blue Wave, which ended its season on Saturday night with a 15-2 mark.

In the 2nd Tuesday game, the Big Prairie-Lakeville Bulldogs (16-6) will collide with the Malvern Green Hornets (8-11) at 7:45, while the Berlin Black Panthers (18-4) will go against the Blue Wave. at 9:00.  Thursday night the Dennison Railroaders (2-16) battles the Millersburg Knights (10-7) at 7:30, while in the nightcap at 8:45 the Blue Devils of Midvale will play the winner of the Ramblers-Indians game.

Winner between the Bulldogs of Big Prairie-Lakeville and Green Hornets will meet the victor of the Black Panthers-Blue Wave contest for one of the District berths at Brilliant.  The other District berth will be decided on Saturday night.

Head Coach Pete Hilliard of Midvale and Head Coach Paul Drolovick of the Blue Wave drew for brackets, with Hilliard winning the draw and choosing the lower bracket and a bye.  Drotovick went into the upper and game No. 3 on the 1st night.  Big Prairie-Lakeville, which drew next, shied away from the Midvale bracket and selected game No. 3.  Malvern was next and it elected to go against the Holmes County entry.

Dennison and Millersburg were next in that order with the Railroaders going into game No. 4 on Thursday night and the Knights choosing to provide the opposition.  The St. Joseph coach, Joe La Scola, and Gnaden mentor Dick Scott had Nos. 6 and 7 and had no choice but to pair off in the opening game of the Midvale bracket.

Admission for the games will be $1.00 for adults and 60 cents for students.  There will be no advance sale of tickets and doors will open an hour before game time.



Monday, February 24, 1958
The Daily Reporter
Dover, Ohio

58 - Midvale 1958 Tuscarawas County Tournament Champions 67-60 (2-22-58)

The Midvale Blue Devils Head Coach Ralph "Pete" Hillard was chosen "Coach Of The Year" for 1958.  (Photo...The Daily Reporter)

The Championship Midvale Blue Devils Sophomore Guard Ron Breniser lead the Blue Devils to a 67-60 victory over the Gnadenhutten Indians in the Tuscarawas County Class A Basketball Tournament.  Breniser has a total of 31 points in the tournament at this point for an average of 10.3 markers per game.  (Photo...1958 Yearbook)

The Blue Devils of Midvale which had already won the League Championship, added The Daily Reporter's County Tournament Trophy to their previously-loaded trophy case.  Caught whooping it up in the dressing room following the game by The Daily Reporter Photographer Ralph McKee are:  FRONT:  Head Coach Pete Hilliard - Dave Belknap - Ron Breniser - Bill Housel - Russ Hobart and Tom Krocker.  BACK:  Ron Kaderly - Dale Stansbury - Jim Clark - Jim Hobart - Vince De Noi - Dick Housel and John Everett.  (Photo...The Daily Reporter)

The Runner-Up Gnadenhutten Indians, winner of last year's County Class A Tournament, finished 2nd this year.  FRONT:  Larry Clark - Ron Bradley - Larry Gooding and Ed Shull.  BACK:  Steve Hamilton - Al Cappel - Paul Gooding - Tom Frank - Raymond Rank - Ron Clark and Bill Horsfall.  (Photo...The Daily Reporter)

The Midvale Blue Devils' Cheerleaders had plenty to cheer about when their Blue Devils copped the Tournament Crown on Saturday night.  They did such a good job over the season that they were awarded the Schwartz Trophy for being the best yell leaders in the event.  They are:  Bonnie Hobart - Mary Varally - Patsy Mazzy - Captain Louis Clerici - Linda Carlisle and Judy Dupier.  (Photo...The Daily Reporter)



DOVER - They re-arranged the trophy case at Midvale High School this morning, adding to wit:

(1)  The Daily Reporter Trophy emblematic of the 36th Annual County Tournament Championship, 8th for the Blue Devils.

(2)  The 1957-58 County Class A League Trophy which won 8 loop victories without a loss.

(3)  A trophy for the Best Cheerleading Team appearing at the tournament.

Three individuals of the school also received trophies following Saturday night's 67-60 conquest of the Gnadenhutten Indians at Dover's Memorial Hall.

Pete Hilliard was chosen as the County League "Coach of the Year" because of his club's success with only one returning Senior from last year's State semi-finalists.  He is President of the County Coaches Association.  Russ Hobart and Tom Krocker were honored with individual trophies as members of The Daily Reporter's All-League Team chosen by the coaches.  All the Blue Devils also were presented miniature gold basketballs by Supt. W.E. Laws, Tournament Manager, during the awards ceremony.

The Presentations also included the "Most Valuable Player" (of the season) Trophy which went to the Stone Creek Golden Panthers' Rod Reinhart, who averaged 23.5 points per game and will  be Valedictorian of his graduating class.

The Gnadenhutten Indians have the League and Tournament Runner-Up trophies for its case and each Indian received a miniature silver ball Saturday night.  In addition, Larry Clark and Ron Bradley have trophies as All-League performers.  The other 6 on that select squad, who also were honored on Sasturday night, were Charles Stinger of the Garaway Pirates, Ben Price of the Tuscarawas Valley Trojans, Chuck Burris of the Strasburg Tigers, Gary Caviness of the Tuscarawas Broncos, Ron Huprich of the Baltic Eagles and Reinhart.

The pre-tournament favorites, the Midvale Blue Devils (3-0) (8-0) (19-2) didn't have an easy night as they rolled to their 17th straight triumph against the Gnadenhutten Indians (2-1) (6-2) (16-6).  A 4th quarter surge by the defending Champions had to be stopped before the Blue Devils could wrap up the title.  Heat of the battle was so intense that 2 spectators fainted and 6-2 Senior center Russ Hobart had to leave the game with about 2 minutes remaining after he was knocked unconscious in a collision with teammate 5-10 Junior forward Tom Belknap.  Two Indian cagers also had to sit down during the awards ceremony.

Gnadenhutten led 4-0 early in the playoff, but Midvale quickly forged to the front and stayed there the remaining distance, before ahead by 12 points on 3 different occasions.  Sophomore 5-11 guard Ron Breniser, a corner jump shot artist, paced the Diablos with 21 points, while Hobart had 16 and 5-10 Junior Tom Krocker 14.  Senior 5-8 center Larry Clark sparked Gnaden with 18 points, with 6-1 Senior forward Larry Gooding having 16 and 6-0 Senior guard Tom Roth gathered 11.  Midvale clocked on 25 of 60 field goals for 41.7 percent and the Tribesmen cashed in 23 of 79 for 29.1 percent.  The Devils meshed 17 of 25 free throws and the Scarlet and Gray of Gnaden 14 of 23.

The 1st quarter ended with the Blue and Gold of Midvale on top 17-14 and each club scored 14 points in the 2nd frame which ended 31-28.  The Champions then outpointed the runner-up 21-12 in the 3rd stanza for a 52-40 margin.  The Gnadenhutten Indians, which bowed twice to the Midvale Blue Devils during the regular season, started to whittle the margin early in the final canto.  With the count 56-50 the Diablos, which took only 9 action shots in the period, tallied 5 straight points.  But, Head Coach Dick Scott's Indians fought back, outscoring the Devils 10 to 3 to narrow the gap to 64-60 with 1:40 to go.  Then came the Hobart-Belknap collision and after the game resumed the Blue and Gold notched 3 more points, while holding the Tribesmen scoreless to ice the verdict.

MIDVALE BLUE DEVILS - 67

Dave Belknap 2-5-9
Russ Hobart 4-6-14
Tom Krocker 7-0-14
Bill Housel 4-1-9
Ron Breniser 8-5-21
Jim Clark 0-0-0

GNADENHUTTEN INDIANS - 60

Ed Shull 2-2-6
Ron Bradley 3-1-7
Larry Clark 8-2-18
Larry Gooding 6-4-16
Tom Roth 4-3-11
Al Cappel 0-2-2

MIDVALE  17-31-52-67
GNADEN   14-28-40-60


Monday, February 24, 1958
The Daily Reporter
Dover, Ohio

58 - The 1958 Championship Game Rundown

DOVER - Already assured of berths in next week's Sectional Tournament at Dover's Memorial Hall, the Gnadenhutten Indians and Midvale Blue Devils collide for the County Tournament Championship tonight at 8:00.  Doors will open at 7:00.  And for the 1st time since 1934 there will be no Consolation Division game because there were only 9 teams in this year's tournament.

The Daily Reporter Trophy will go to tonight's winner.  Other awards also are scheduled.  Drawing of position for the Sectional Tournament, which opens Tuesday night, will be held on Sunday at 5:30 at Helmkamp's Restaurant under supervision of Supt. W.E. Laws, Tournament Manager.  Results of tonight's game will help determine the seeded teams.

Other quintets in the Sectional will be the Dover St. Joseph Ramblers, Dennison St. Mary Blue Wave, Dennison Railroaders, Millersburg Knights, Berlin Panthers and Big Prairie-Lakeville Bulldogs of Holmes County and Malvern Green Hornets, which beat the Augusta Blue Devils 64-30 in last night's Carroll County Tournament final.  The Holmes County Tournament ends tonight at Millersburg.  The Midvale Blue Devils are a slight favorite in tonight's fray because it defeated the Gnadenhutten Indians twice during the regular campaign, winning 63-53 on the Indians' court and 82-73 on the Diablo floor.

The 2 rivals have recorded 2 tournament wins to date.  The Blue Devils eliminated the Port Washington Purple Riders 71-42 and then turned back the Garaway Pirates 69-68 on Thursday night.  The Indians ousted the Tuscarawas Broncos 63-59 and the Stone Creek Golden Panthers 72-47.  Head Coach Pete Hilliard, in his 4th year, is expected to start 6-2 Senior Russ Hobart at center, 6-2 Junior Bill Housel and 5-11 Sophomore Ron Breniser at the forwards and 5-10 Juniors Tom Krocker and Dave Belknap at the guard posts.

The Tribesmen mentor and Head Coach Dick Scott, also in his 4th year, probably will have 6-1 Senior Larry Gooding at center, 5-11 Junior Ron Bradley and 6-0 Senior Tom Roth at the forwards and 5-8 Senior Larry Clark and 5-8 Senior Ed Shull are the guards.

Saturday, February 22, 1958
The Daily Reporter
Dover, Ohio

58 - 1957-58 All-League Team

DOVER - Youth, height, scoring ability, versatility, good team spirit and sportsmanship.  Those attributes, usually found only in a "Dream" basketball team, highlight The Daily Reporter's 1957-58 County Class A All-League Squad.

The 10-member team is comprised of 5 Seniors, 3 Juniors and 2 Sophomores.  Each will receive a Daily Reporter Trophy at the conclusion of tonight's Tournament Championship game.  Polled by The Reporter, coaches of the League made 10 nominations each.  The All-Star Squad then was chosen by them from a list of 20 nominees who compiled the most points in the 1st poll.

The Midvale Blue Devils's League Champions and the Gnadenhutten Indians, which placed 2nd in the loop, garnered 2 berths apiece on the team.  The Blue Devils placed Russ Hobart and Tom Krocker, while the Indians' members are Larry Clark and Ron Bradley.  The other 6 are Rod Reinhart of the Stone Creek Golden Panthers, Ben Price of the Tuscarawas Valley Trojans, Chuck Burris of the Strasburg Tigers, Gary Caviness of the Tuscarawas Broncos, Chuck Stingel of the Garaway Pirates and Ron Huprich of the Baltic Eagles.

Reinhart and Price, who were unanimous choices of the coaches and Burris are the only 3 who were on the 1956-57 All-League Squad.  The All-League Team averages 6 feet in height and the 10 players amassed 3,184 points for an average of 17.1 markers apiece.

Reinhart, who gained an Honorable Mention in his Sophomore year, Hobart, Burris, Clark and Huprich are the Seniors.  Clark and Huprich received Honorable Mention a year ago.  Price, Krocker and Bradley are the Juniors with Stingel and Caviness being the Sophomores.

PLAYER  SCHOOL  CLASS  HEIGHT  POINTS  GAMES  AVERAGE

Chuck Burris  (Strasburg Tigers)  Senior  6-1  315  18  17.5
Larry Clark  (Gnadenhutten Indians)  Senior  5-9  311  20  15.5
Russ Hobart  (Midvale Blue Devils)  Senior  6-2  310  17  18.2
Ron Huprich  (Baltic Eagles)  Senior  5-7  312  20  15.6
Rod Reinhart (Stone Creek Golden Panthers)  Senior  5-10  470  20  23.5
Ron Bradley  (Gnadenhutten Indians)  Junior  5-10  340  20  17.0
Tom Krocker  (Midvale Blue Devils)  Junior  5-10  309  18  17.1
Ben Price (Tuscarawas Valley Trojans)  Junior  6-3  241  14  17.2
Gary Caviness  (Tuscarawas Broncos)  Sophomore  5-11  306  16  19.1
Chuck Stingel  (Garaway Pirates)  Sophomore  6-0  270  20  13.5

REINHART was the leading scorer in the county circuit this season when he tallied 470 points in 20 games for an average of 23.5, while leading the Stone Creek Golden Panthers to a 3rd place tie with the Tuscarawas Valley Trojans.  Reinhart has been described by coaches as "a very good shooter."  At 5-10 he is a pack of dynamite.  In addition to his athletic abilities, Reinhart ranks 1st in his class from the standpoint of grades.

PRICE, the tallest man of the team at 6-3, is one of the leading rebounders in the county and has scored 241 points in 14 games for an average of 17.2.  At the beginning of the season he missed 2 contests because of a recurring football injury.

Hobart and Krocker, who were 2 of the mainstays on the Midvale Blue Devils Team which went to the State semi-finals last year, form a formidable duo for the Blue Devils.

HOBART, 6-2, is a rugged rebounder and the big man of the Blue Devil squad.  He has the 3rd highest average of the county cagers with 18.2 accumulated on 310 points in 17 games.  He missed one mid-season game because of an ice-skating injury.

KROCKER, 5-10, was termed by one county coach as the best all-around player he has seen this year.  He is a good shot, one of the better ball handlers in the county and has gained a reputation for being a real hustler.

BURRIS was the 2nd leading rebounder of the Strasburg team and the highest scorer.  Standing 6-0, he hit the nets for 318 points in 18 games for an average of 17.5.

Bradley and Clark form the rugged Gnadenhutten combination.

CLARK is the 6th highest scorer in the county.  He has bombarded hoops for 311 points in 20 games for a 15.5 average, having scored in double figures in every game except one.  One coach cited Clark as an outstanding defensive player.

BRADLEY, who along with Krocker are the only 2 bespectacled members of the All-Star squad, has an average of 17.0 having scored 340 points in 20 contests.  He is a fine ball handler and boasts a hard-to-stop corner jump shot.

CAVINESS is 5-11 and in 16 Tuscarawas Broncos contests scored 306 points for an average of 19.1.  In recent games he was handicapped by a leg injury which cut down his scoring total.

STINGEL of Garaway used a jump and hook shot in totaling 270 points in 20 games for an average of 13.5.  He is one of the 6-footers on the team and on his own Garaway squad is the leading rebounder and top scorer.  Over the season he has had a free throw shooting percentage of 68 percent.

HUPRICH is last, but far from least.  At 5-7 he is the smallest man on the All-League Squad, but he made up for his lack of height at Baltic with a lot of hustle.  A good defensive player, he also scored 312 points in 20 games for an average of 15.6.  Ron also was an excellent ball handler.

Players receiving Honorable Mention were:  Bill Slemmer and Koran Zehnder of the Garaway Pirates, Tom Roth of the Gnadenhutten Indians, Tom Belknap of the Midvale Blue Devils, Ron Phillips of the Port Washington Purple Riders, Dick Robinson and Tom Vesco of the Tuscarawas Broncos and Wayne Ruof of the Tuscarawas Valley Trojans.



Saturday, February 22, 1958
Norman Singleton, Sports Editor
The Daily Reporter
Dover, Ohio

58 - Gnaden Rocks Stone Creek 72-47 (2-20-58)

Senior Forward Harold Baker of the Stone Creek Golden Panthers was caught by The Daily Reporter Photographer Ralph McKee as he made a tournament jump shot last night while being surrounded by a tribe of Gnadenhutten Indians.  To the right is Junior Forward Harold Lahmers (7) of the Golden Panthers and Senior Forward Larry Gooding (66) of the Indians, while to the left of Baker is Junior Forward Ron Bradley (22) and Senior Guard Ed Shull (11) also of the Tribesmen.  Gnaden won handily 72-47.

The 1958 Gnadenhutten Indians Cheerleaders.  Janice Biggs - Judy Parris - Judy Gooding and Bonnier Struchen.  (Photo...Souvenir Booklet)

The 1958 Stone Creek Golden Panthers Basketball Team.  FRONT:  Ball-Boy Jim Hisrich - Rod Reinhart - Harold Lahmers - Harold Baker - Dan Wherley - Jim McAfee and Manager Don Sauser.  BACK:  Head Coach Ed McGlumphy - Terry Sauser - Bob Wills - Earl Flinner - Larry Stephon - Dick Hanks - Merle Degan and Assistant Coach Jon Best.  (Photo...Souvenir Booklet)

The 1958 Stone Creek Golden Panthers Cheerleaders.  Jean Mizer - Ruby Flinner - Kaye Phillippi and Linda Sauser.  (Photo...Souvenir Booklet)



DOVER - Playing before 1,850 howling fans, the Midvale Blue Devils edged the Garaway Pirates 69-68 and the Gnadenhutten Indians trounced the Stone Creek Golden Panthers 72-57 in the semi-finals of the Class A Basketball Tournament last night at Dover's Memorial Hall to gain berths in next week's Class A Sectional Tournament here.  They also will meet for the Tournament Title on Saturday night at 8:00 with The Daily Reporter Trophy going to the winner.

Since 1929 the Blue Devils have been in the Championship finals 15 times, including this year's tourney and has won 7 titles, the last in 1956.  It has been a Consolation Division winner 4 times, including last year when it went on to capture the Regional Crown at Canton and advanced to Columbus.  The Indians, the defending Champions, has been a finalists 7 times since 1927 and emerged the victor on 4 occasions.  It also has 2 Consolation Division Trophies.

The Diablos, who defeated the Pirates 71-66 on their own floor during the regular season, were pushed to the limit again last night and had to stage a final quarter spree to rack up the victory.  Gnaden whipped the Golden Panthers 57-51 and 64-41 in the regular season and had no trouble in making it 3 straight last night.

In stopping Senior forward Rod Reinhart of the Stone Creek Golden Panthers (1-1) (5-3) (13-9), the county's leading scorer, the Gnadenhutten Indians (2-0) (6-2) (16-5) also put an end to any ideas the Golden Panthers may have harbored of playing in the county finals as they did last year.  The Indians limited the Panthers' ace to 3 field goals and one free throw for 7 points.  He had averaged 23.5 points during the season.

Head Coach Dick Scott's Tribesmen were aided by a hot night from the field when they fired the nets for 46.6 percent as they scored 28 times in 61 attempts.  Stone Creek wasn't far behind, notching 38 percent as they scored 39 times, while taking only 49 shots.  From the free throw line both teams were a little off when Gnaden had 16 of their 28 shots connect for 37.1 percent, while the Cats meshed 17 in 30 tries or a percentage mark of 56.7.

The Scarlet and Gray of Gnadenhutten piled up a lead of 10 in the 1st period alone before the Gold and Blue of Stone Creek found the range for 6 points to cut the gap to 10-6.  But with Senior center Larry Clark scoring 10 points the Gnadenhutten Indians led 16-11 at the end of the 1st quarter.  The Stone Creek Golden Panthers; however, stayed in the contest in the 2nd frame when it hit for 16 points to the Indians' 14 to cut the lead to 37-30 at halftime.  Reinhart hit on his 1st action shot at 2:05 in this quarter and added one free throw toss for 3 of his 7 markers.

The Golden Panthers, in the 3rd stanza, was as cold as the temperatures of the great outdoors the last few days, being able to score but 6 points.  At the same time Gnadenhutten  was all but wrapping up the contest when it made 18 points.  Score at the end of the period stood at 48-33.  And from that point Gnaden had very little trouble in dropping Head Coach Ed McGlumphy's quintet to the also-ran list.  Fourth canto action saw the Tribesmen pound the nettings for 24 points, while Stone Creek hit for 14.

Pacing the Scarlet and Gray, which now has a record of 16-5, was Clark who hit for 11 fielders and 4 charity tosses for 26 points.  Also scoring in double figures for the Gnadenhutten Indians were Senior forward Tom Roth with 18 and Senior forward Larry Gooding who had 15.  The Panthers, which ends the season with a 13-9 record, was paced by Senior center Harold Baker, who had 5 field goals and 4 free throws for 14 points.  Teammate Junior guard Jim McAfee added 13.

GNADENHUTTEN INDIANS - 72

Larry Gooding 4-7-15
Ron Bradley 4-1-9
Tom Roth 7-2-16
Larry Clark 11-4-26
Ed Shull 1-0-2
Tom Frank 1-0-2
Al Cappel 0-2-2
Steve Hamilton 0-0-0
Paul Gooding 0-0-0
Bill Horsfall 0-0-0

STONE CREEK GOLDEN PANTHERS - 47

Rod Reinhart 3-1-7
Harold Baker 5-4-14
Harold Lahmers 0-1-1
Earl Flinner 0-1-1
Jim McAfee 4-5-13
Dan Wherley 2-2-6
Gail Sauser 1-1-3
Bob Wills 0-2-2
Larry Lorenz 0-0-0
Larry Stephon 0-0-0

GNADENHUTTEN  16-30-48-72
STONE CREEK  ......11-27-33-47



Friday, February 21, 1958
Norman Singleton, Sports Editor
The Daily Reporter
Dover, Ohio