The Midvale Blue Devils were treated to a tasty meal at Bonvechio's after copping a Co-Sectional Crown and a District berth on Saturday night. The team, cheerleaders, managers and school officials enjoyed a humble celebration following thie 84-83 double-overtime, sudden death triumph over the Killbuck Bucks. (PHOTO...The Daily Times By Bob Fisher)
NEW PHILADELPHIA - "I thought we had won. But I wasn't positively sure," Head Coach Pete Hilliard of the Midvale Blue Devils (4-0) (20-1) said Sunday upon being quizzed about his 84-83 double-overtime victory over the Killbuck Bucks (17-5) the night before. But, it was official, according to Tournament Manager W.E. Laws. Laws told the group present for the District Tournament drawings yesterday that "I'm sorry it did happen. I was only trying to explain to the fans about the overtime sudden death. But it seems I didn't explain it far enough."
He apparently didn't, as most everyone agreed today. But, the manager, who is also a member of the Eastern District Board, pointed out that all coaches are directed to study the rules covering tournament games before they play and should have understood the ruling on overtime games. The entire incident occurred in the 2nd overtime when the 2 teams were deadlocked at 83-all. Going into the extra period, which is called "sudden death," Laws told the fans that "the 1st team to score a bucket will be the winner." He really meant: the 1st team to score 2 points will be the winner and the game will end; or, whichever team is ahead at the end of the 3 minutes will be the winner.
The Bucks, after seeing the Blue Devils take a one-point lead in the sudden death canto, froze the ball to eat up the time on the clock and wait for another overtime. The Bucks of Killbuck did not shoot at the basket during the entire 2nd extra period. They apparently believed 2 points were necessary to win. Midvale was declared the victors under a District and State ruling which says that a team ahead at the end of the 2nd overtime shall also be declared the winner.
The capacity crowd then overflowed onto the playing area with the Elks protesting the decision. In the excitement of it all, the Killbuck Bucks did not receive the game ball which goes to the Runner-up and the fans wouldn't allow the Diablos to be honored with the trophy either. The game was a nip and tuck all the way and the lead changed hands a total of 14 times. The biggest lead, held by the Devils, was only 10 points in the 2nd frame.
The Bucks' biggest advantage was 6 points in the opening quarter when it led 17-11. However, the Blue and Gold came battling back and went ahead 22-21 at the end of the 1st period. At halftime the Midvale Blue Devils held a 43-35 margin. And then in the 3rd stanza the action really got hot as the lead changed hands 3 more times before the Bucks of Killbuck finally sat on top at 59-57 at the close.
The Elks held the lead until midway in the final chapter when the Blue Devils tied the count at 66-all. The Killbuck Bucks went ahead by 3 and once again Midvale fought back to knot the score. It was tied 71 and 73 before 6-2 Senior Tom Taylor dropped in 2 free throws for the Bucks. Senior 5-10 Tom Krocker pulled the Diablos out of seeming defeat with 5 seconds remaining when he connected on a jumper.
In the 1st overtime period the Devils went ahead and was on top by as much as 82-77 before the Bucks of Killbuck put on a comeback drive of their own. They capped it with 2 seconds to go when Bob Arnold meshed a jump shot from the side. And then the 3rd overtime ensued. Junior 6-3 Hanes Hairston, who was mobbed and given a free ride to the dressing room by the Blue and Gold followers after the game, made his free throw.
The Midvale Blue Devils put on a balanced scoring show with all 5 starters, who went the distance, ending in double figures. Krocker led the way with 21 points, while 6-3 Senior Bill Housel followed with 19, 5-9 Senior Dave Belknap 17 Hairston 13 and 5-11 Junior Ron Breniser ended with 14. High for the losers were 6-0 Junior Jerry Allison with 23. Taylor added 18, Arnold 16 and 5-7 Gary Croskey 14 markers.
The Blue Devils meshed 33 of 67 from the field for 49.2 percent, while Killbuck was successful on 24 of 84 tries for 40.5 percent. Midvale added 18 of 35 free throw tries and the Bucks 15 of 25.
MIDVALE BLUE DEVILS - 84
Tom Krocker 10-1-21
Ron Breniser 4-6-14
Bill Housel 8-3-19
Hanes Hairston 4-5-13
Dave Belknap 7-3-17
KILLBUCK BUCKS - 83
Jerry Allison 10-3-23
Roger McDowall 1-2-4
Tom Taylor 7-4-18
Gary Croskey 5-4-14
Bob Arnold 8-0-16
Norris 3-2-8
MIDVALE 22-43-57-75-83-84
KILLBUCK 21-35-59-75-83
Monday, March 2, 1959
The Daily Times
New Philadelphia, Ohio
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