It appears that the Strasburg Tigers (above) wanted this game more than the Midvale Blue Devils as the Tigers dropped the Blue Devils 59-53 at Dennison last night. Individuals on the team are FRONT: Jim Clymer - Jim Davis - Frank Wallick - Bill Seese - Dale Liggett and Head Coach Warren Binder. BACK: Tom Jones - Ron Deibel - Walt Krantz - Chuck Duff - Paul Fishel - Don Grove and Larry Wallick. (PHOTO...The Daily Reporter, Dover, Ohio)
The disappointed Midvale Blue Devils Team are FRONT: Roger Swinderman - Ron Kaderly - Neil Beans - Warren Leggett and Ron Breniser. BACK: Manager Jim Biefeski - Jim Tidrick - Walt Weaver - Dick Belknap - Mike Page - Gary De Mattio - Bob Byers and Head Coach Ralph (Pete) Hilliard. The Blue Devils are the defending Champions of 1959. (PHOTO...The Daily Reporter, Dover, Ohio)
A life-sized Tiger purchased this week by the Strasburg Tigers may have played its role in its upset of the defending Champion Midvale Blue Devils 59-53. The $100.00 "stuffed" Tiger is escorted on the scene at Dennison by Seniors Sonnie Bauman and Linda Mills. Students raised the money for its purchase. (PHOTO...The Daily Times, New Philadelphia, Ohio)
Odd expressions center on the most precious thing in a basketball game: The Ball. The 4 lads were caught by the camera during the last and 3rd game of the evening at Dennison last night in the opening round of the 38th Annual County Class A Basketball Tournament. They are Bill Seese (52) and Dale Liggett (44) of the Strasburg Tigers, Ron Kaderly (14) of the Midvale Blue Devils and Frank Wallick (54) of Tigers, which copped a 59-53 decision to dump the Blue Devils. (PHOTO...The Daily Times, New Philadelphia, Ohio)
Ron Breniser (11) of the Midvale Blue Devils appeared to be singing the "blues" when stopped by The Daily Reporter cameraman Ralph McKee as the Strasburg Tigers Don Grove (22) stole the ball from his hands. If he was he had a right to. A usual 20 point per game man, he couldn't find the hoop and ended with only 14 markers. No 20 is Neil Beans, also of the Blue Devils. (PHOTO...The Daily Reporter, Dover Ohio)
DENNISON - A scorching individual effort, the fall of the 1959 Tournament Champions and plenty of exciting basketball ushered the 38th Annual Tuscarawas County Class A Basketball Tournament into the ledgers last night. Some 1,200 fans at the spacious Dennison Auditorium-Gymnasium witnessed the Baltic Eagles having little trouble in advancing with a 64-49 triumph over the Stone Creek Golden Panthers. The Tuscarawas Valley Trojans battle off a stubborn and determined Port Washington Purple Riders aggregation 82-71 and the Midvale Blue Devils lost a 14-point lead and fell before the spirited Strasburg Tigers 59-53.
But, all was not in who won or lost as fans were still buzzing today about the net-swishing antics of the Purple Riders' Jim Bender who hit for 37 points, including 20 in one quarter. A superb effort indeed. Tonight's action will feature 2 quarter-final games, featuring the Tuscarawas Broncos (10-8) against the Eagles of Baltic (14-7) in the opening 7:30 contest and the Garaway Pirates (17-1) clashing with the Gnadenhutten Indians (11-9) in the 8:45 nightcap. The Tusky-Baltic winner is slated to meet TV, while the Garaway-Gnaden victor meets Strasburg next Friday night in semi-final tilts.
The towering Strasburg Tigers (1-0) (4-4) (8-11) overcame a big 14-point deficit in gaining the nod over the smaller, but fast stepping Midvale Blue Devils (0-1) (6-2) (11-8). And, they did it in grand fashion with a string of 15 straight points at the tail of the 3rd stanza and 1st part of the 4th canto. Trailing the Blue Devils 39-25 early in the 3rd period the Tigers turned the tables on the Devils and crept within 5 at 46-41 as the frame came to an end.
After hitting 3 points in the closing seconds of the quarter, the Bengals of Head Coach Warren Binder then put together 12 more points in succession to overpower the Blue and Gold and go in front 53-46. That was the ball game! In those 1st six minutes of the 4th, the Orange and Black failed from the field 12 straight times, with many of the shots going in-and-then-out again. Meanwhile, the Strasburg Tigers canned 3 of 8 flings, plus 6 from the free throw line.
Thus, for the 1st time in 6 years, the Midvale Blue Devils will not be in the field for the Sectional Tournament. The 1958 and 1959 Tournament Champions also had not been eliminated in their 1st game in the county event for 17 years. In 1942 the Blue Devils were ousted in their initial start by the Gnadenhutten Indians 48-21. But things are bright for next year for the Devils with 3 starters are returning. The Tigers made good on 24 of 66 action flings for 36 percent, while the Diablos hit on 20 of 68 for 29 percent. By quarters, the Bengals made 6 of 14, 4 of 16, 8 of 20 and 6 of 16. The Blue and Gold hit 4 of 22, 6 of 14, 7 of 19 and 3 of 13.
Frank Wallick, 6-4 Senior and 3 inches taller than anyone the Midvale Blue Devils had in the lineup, made his size count for the Strasburg Tigers, getting 25 important points. Most of them came on either rebounding shots or tip-ins as he towered over the defenders. Bill Seese, 6-2 was the only other Tiger in double figures, canning 13 markers. Three Blue Devil players collected 12 points each as Ron Breniser, Neal Beans and Warren Leggett shared laurels. Breniser, guarded by Wallick, went into the game with a 21-point average, but found the sledding tough, especially at the foul line where he made only 4 of 13. He nevertheless was an important man for the Diablos of Head Coach Pete Hilliard on the boards, along with Ron Kaderly. But, both boys stand under 6-feet, while the Bengals sported 4 men in the starting array over the fathom mark.
In the torrd 1st half, the lead changed hands no less than 6 times, 4 of which came in the 1st period. The Orange and Black took a 14-11 lead into the 2nd quarter, but the Devils came back to surge in front 17-16 and then 2619 and finally 29-23 at the long intermission. With all 5 men hitting the nets and making 5 of the 6 attempts from the field to open the 3rd period, the Blue and Gold boomed in front 39-25. Rebound and corner shots by Sophomore Beans spear-headed the surge. Then, with 4:50 minutes left in the 3rd, the tide changed as Wallick hit for 11 points to spark the Strasburg Tigers to within 5 at the last stop and then victory.
STRASBURG TIGERS - 59
Bill Seese 5-3-13
Dale Liggett 2-4-8
Frank Wallick 11-3-25
Jim Clymer 2-0-4
Don Grove 3-1-7
Tom Jones 1-0-2
MIDVALE BLUE DEVILS - 53
Ron Breniser 5-4-14
Ron Kaderly 3-1-7
Neil Beans 4-2-10
Warren Leggett 4-4-12
Roger Swinderman 3-2-8
Mike Page 1-0-2
STRASBURG 14-23-41-59
MIDVALE.......11-20-46-53
Saturday, February 20, 1960
Don Wagner, Sports Editor
The Daily Times
New Philadelphia, Ohio
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