59 - It's Midvale vs TV In The Finals!

NEW PHILADELPHIA - The long surmised meeting of the defending kings of Tuscarawas County and this season's runners-up in League play will climax the 37th Annual Tuscarawas County Class A Basketball Tournament event tonight at 8:00.  The winningest teams in the area will both be putting long and illustrious streaks on the line as they do battle for the coveted Class A Championship.  The Midvale Blue Devils and Tuscarawas Valley Trojans will put identical records of 18-1 in the showdown this evening at Dover's Memorial Hall following their victories last night.

The Blue Devils will be seeking its 13th straight triumph in the battle of decision, while the Trojans will be eyeing revenge for their only setback as well as their 11th in a row.  As both gained Sectional Tournament berths for next week's affair booked for Dover, the Diablos turned the tide late in the 3rd stanza against the Gnadenhutten Indians 69-52, while the Spartans put down a stubborn Garaway Pirates quintet 57-54.

Although defeating Tusky Valley 81-56 in a January regular season contest, the Devils are expected to have plenty of trouble with the sharpshooters aggregation from up Bolivar way.  Regardless of tonight's outcome, the two will move on to the next tournament which will include the Hiland Hawks and the Killbuck Bucks of Holmes County, Dennison St. Mary Blue Waves and Malvern Green Hornets or Augusta Blue Devils.  The drawing will be held on Sunday at Dover.

One of the most coveted county awards made among the schoolboy ranks will cap the 37th Annual County Tournament tonight when the Most Valuable Player Award is unveiled.  This award, plus several others, will follow the final game at Dover's Memorial Hall.  The cager named will mark the 8th since 1952 to be picked as the most outstanding performer.  The decision is being made by a vote of the 9 county system coaches with the winner being that player who received the most votes in the balloting for the All-County 10-man team, which will also be revealed.

As in the post 7 years, The Daily Times will again bestow the honor by presenting the trophy.  That performer being chosen will be listed on the roll that includes some of the finest cagers ever to don a county uniform.

Of the 7 recipients since the award's inception by The Daily Times, 4 of the youngsters have either played or are currently active in college ball.  Only one former choice is married.  Past winners were:

1952 - Dick Tollotti of the Midvale Blue Devils, who later played for Kent State is now enrolled at Ohio State, majoring in dentistry.

1953 - Ken Huston of the Port Washington Purple Riders is currently serving with the US Army in Germany.

1954 - James Lorens of the Stone Creek Golden Panthers is still in the immediate area and active in Church League Ball.  He served in the US Army after he was graduated.

1955 - Terry Deems of the Tuscarawas Broncos is currently performing with Wittenberg College.  As a Senior for the Lutherans, Deems is averaging 21 points per game and running 2nd in the Ohio Conference.  Last season the 6-4 lad was voted the Most Valuable Player in his conference.

1956 - Jim Kuecher of the Strasburg Tigers, the only married former winner of the MVP Award, is living near Columbia, south of Strasburg and active in Independent Basketball.

1957 - Eldon Miller of the Gnadenhutten Indians is a teammate of Deems at Wittenberg.  Only a Sophomore, he has gained a starting berth and is expected to reap many headlines before his career is over.

1958 - Rod Reinhart, the 2nd Stone Creek Golden Panther player to be chosen for MVP Honors, is presently at West Virginia Weseleyan as a Freshman.  From reports, he is doing a great job for the college Frosh cagers, playing out of Buchanan, West Virginia.

1959 - We will know about 10:00PM tonight!


Saturday, February 21, 1959
Don Wagner, Sports Editor
The Daily Times
New Philadelphia, Ohio