59 - Inside Sports

Wednesday, March 18, 1959
Don Wagner, Sports Editor
The Daily Times
New Philadelphia, Ohio

ONE LAST GLANCE over our shoulder at the past basketball season reveals many thrilling moments on the hardwood.  It was another great season, during which for one of the few occasions in history we had teams among both the Class A and Class AA "Sweet 16."  It was a year of both gladness and tears.  It had all the components of a typical basketball campaign.

NEW PHILADELPHIA AND MIDVALE provided us with perhaps the most illustrious end in some years as both advanced to Regional Tournament play before meeting their match.  And, in great sportsmanship, most of the county supported the teams to the end.  Next year perhaps we will have 2 different teams to root on.  It will then be up to those shining fans of this season to root their neighbors onward.

During the course of the season we saw the Midvale Blue Devils wrap up both the County and Tournament Crowns over a fine field, while the Tuscarawas Valley Trojans finished up in 2nd in both categories.  The unofficial County Class "AA" Crown perhaps goes to the Dover Tornadoes for its holding a 4-1 record against the New Philadelphia Quakers and Uhrichsville Tigers.  The Quakers, although defeating the Tornadoes in the big one in tournament play, holds only a 3-2 overall mark, having lost twice in regular season to the Crimsons.  The Tigers had a 2-4 county AA mark, having lost twice to both up-county teams, while whipping the Newcomerstown Trojans on 2 occasions.

SEVERAL NEW RECORDS were established during the season:  Ron Bradley of the Gnadenhutten Indians came up with the best output of the campaign in the county as he tallied 44 points against the Augusta Blue Devils in what is believed to be a school record.  Merle Clum and Dave Massarelli both hit 35 points to top AA play in one game.  Meanwhile, other top individual performances during the 1958-59 season saw Gary Caviness hit 38 points for the Tuscarawas Broncos, John Rice hit 37 points for the Baltic Eagles and Larry Yakley scored 32 for the Garaway Pirates.  Each is believed to be a school record; although, we hope to double check them with county coaches before next season rolls around.

Teamwise, the Pirates, in only its 2nd year of operation following the Consolation of Sugarcreek-Shanesville and Dundee, topped the county with 100 points registered against the Millersburg Spartans in January.  This is definitely a record for that new school.  Otherwise, most of the school records stood.  Merle Clum, 6-5 Quaker center wrapped up the Class AA Scoring Crown this year with 443 in regular season and 566, including tournament play.  Ron Bradley was the Class A Champion of the Hoop this season with 484 markers and 517 total.  New Philadelphia's 99 points against the Carrollton Warriors in February was the top offensive among the AA schools.

BUT, things were not all rosy.  The Trojans of Newcomerstown went through its 1st winless season...19 games...in recent history, while the Dennison Railroaders, Dover St. Joseph Ramblers and Port Washington Purple Riders all mustered only 3 victories each during the campaign.  Both the Railroaders and Purple Riders will; however, have their entire teams back next year.  Records still standing and at least safe for another year include:  The Class AA team mark of 100 points held by the Quakers and set in 1956; the Class A team mark of 123 points set by the Dundee Bulldogs in 1956; the individual county record of 52 points set by Elmer Harris of the Mineral City Tigers in 1929 for Class A and the 49 points registered in AA ranks by Pete Hewitt of Newcomerstown in 1951.

NEXT YEAR?  Well, the County League could be as close as it has been in years, thanks to many returning veterans, while it appears that all 4 Class AA schools will be hard hit by graduation this spring.  In the A ranks, the Blue Devils of Midvale, the Stone Creek Golden Panthers and Trojans of Tusky Valley appear to be the teams that will lose the largest amount of experience when the sheepskins are handed out in May and June.

FAREWELL, dear roundball.  Now, back to our basketball widows...

NOTE 1:  CLASS "A" 1959 STATE TOURNAMENT

After the Northwestern Huskies took out the Midvale Blue Devils 73-57 on the 13th of March, the Huskies were dropped by the Edgerton Bulldogs 58-51 on the 20th of March and then the Bulldogs eked out a 57-53 win over the Lywood-Jacksontown Trojans for the STATE CHAMPIONSHIP on the 21st of March.

NOTE 2:  DEEMS HONORED

Terry Deems, 6-4 Senior of Willenberg College and former Tuscarawas High School Ace was among those honored on the UPI small college All-American Team.  Deems received Honorable Mention.  On the 1st Team were:

Dick Barnett of Tennessee State
Ed Smallwood of Evansville (Indiana) College
Paul Wilcox of Davis (West Virginia)
Jackie Morelandof Louisiana Tech
Chuck Curtis of Pacific Lutheran (Washington)

NOTE  3:  ALL-OHIO

Two Tuscarawas County cagers, as well as a Harrison County lad copped the United Press International Honors in grabbing a large number of votes; although, not enough for the top 3 teams.

SPECIAL MENTION

Lanty Smith - Conotton Valley Rockets
Tom Krocker - Midvale Blue Devils
Ron Bradley - Gnadenhutten Indians

NOTE 4:  OHIO STATE CLASS A CHAMPIONS THROUGHOUT THE YEARS

1923 - Plattsburg (24-1)
1924 - Bellpoint (32-0)
1925 - Bellpoint (34-1)
1926 - Oberlin Falcons (18-5)
1927 - Kent State Statesmen (22-0)
1928 - Marshall (28-40)
1929 - Akron St. Mary's (21-3)
1930 - Lancaster St. Mary's (24-4)
1931 - Austintown Fitch. (29-3)
1932 - Castalia Margaretta Polar Bears (24-1)
1933 - Lawrenceville (28-1)
1934 - Waterloo Wonders (29-0)
1935 - Waterloo Wonders (32-3)
1936 - Sandusky St. Mary Panthers (20-2)
1937 - Upper Arlington (22-1)
1938 - Canal Fulton Indians (25-1)
1939 - North Canton Vikings (23-4)
1940 - New Carlisle Arrows (29-1)
1941 - Glenford (30-2)
1942 - Somerset (26-6)
1943 - Yorkville Ductillites (32-6)
1944 - Akron Eilet Orangemen (22-3)
1945 - Dayton Northridge Polar Bears (28-1)
1946 - Farmer (32-1)
1947 - Columbiana Clippers (25-1)
1948 - Eaton Golden Eagles (23-2)
1949 - Delphos St. John Blue Jays (30-2)
1950 - Miller City Wildcats (29-0)
1951 - Grand Rapids (29-2)
1952 - Lockland Wayne (28-4)
1953 - Mariemont Warriors (26-2)
1954 - New Lexington St. Aloysius Blue Knights (24-4)
1955 - Lockland Wayne (26-1)
1956 - Arcanum Trojans (27-1)
1957 - Ayersville (29-1)
1958 - Northwestern Huskies (29-0)
1959 - Edgerton Bulldogs (26-3)