COLUMBUS - The long victory march of the Strasburg Tigers (8-1), Class B Basketball Champions of Eastern Ohio, was halted here last night by the Lancaster St. Mary's Saints which decisioned the Tigers 28-20 before some 4,000 spectators. Strasburg can charge its loss directly to lack of an even chance to control the tip-off. The Tigers played the floor on even terms with the Lancaster club, but were kept at a decided disadvantage by Lancaster's continual possession of the ball at the tip-off.
With some 4,000 fans cheering them on, the Tigers took a 3-2 lead early in lthe 1st period and held it through the late minutes of the second quarter. There they lost it and trailed the remainder of the game. The 1st period ended 7-5 Strasburg, but in the period it was 10-8 in Lancaster's favor and the Green shirted boys were ahead 20-13 as the final period opened. A desperate rally on the part of Strasburg failed in the final stanza. Forward Sullivan of Lancaster opened the scoring with a long shot for 2 points. Tiger senior guard and Captain Bill Jones missed 1 of 2 free throws and then sophomore George Denzer, Strasburg center, dribbled under the basket for a sucker shot to put the Tuscarawas County Champions in front. With the count 3-2, Junior forward John "Johnny" Studer slipped under the bucket for a sucker and then sank 2 foul tosses to drive the score to 7-2 in Strasburg's favor. In the late minutes of the quarter guard Blair of Lancaster shot a field goal and Sullivan dumped in a free throw.
Strasburg counted only 1 point in the entire 2nd period...a foul shot by Junior guard Elwyn Rieger. The little guard also missed 2 of the free throw chances offered him. Jones also missed a free throw. Lancaster counted 5 points, baskets by Blair and guard Thesing and a free throw by forward Fey. The superior height of the Lancaster team began to exact its greatest toll in the 3rd period when they maneuvered block after block to score 5 buckets on passes from the pivot man. Strasburg counted 5 points. Forward Abbott, an uncanny shot and star of the Lancaster team, opened the period with a bucket. Denzer dribbled under the bucket to score for Strasburg. Then Sullivan repeated Abbott's trick. Studer dropped a free throw cleanly through the netings before center Red Sheridan and Sullivan scored 3 in rapid succession, the latter getting two. With the score 20-11, Studer closed the quarter with a basket for Strasburg.
Strasburg threw its usual caution to the wind for the 4th period and kept the game skimming along at a lightning pace. After Abbott scored from a field goal, Denzer and Reiger counted fouls. Sophomore forward Bill Haas, who became a 4th period hero, dropped the 1st of 2 menacing shots through the hoop. Abbott sank a foul and then Haas took his 2nd bucket, but the points were offset by Abbott's falling into a "sleeper." Red Sheridan blasted one in from the pivot and Studer made good on 1 of 2 free throws as the game ended. The Tigers played their usual cool, slow and deliberate game, never becoming excited, despite the tremendous crowd. Their play quickly won the sympathly of the stands and the spectators rooted for them continuously. John Studer led the Tigers in scoring with 8 points counted on 2 field goals and 4 free throws. He was the 2nd highest scorer to Sullivan of Lancaster, who gathered 9 points with 4 field goals and 1 free throw. Bill Haas of Strasburg had 4 points on 2 baskets and George Denzer, Orange and Black center, had 5, scored on 2 field goals and a foul shot.
Denzer's performance was one of the best he has given this season. Although his stature robbed him of an even chance within the center circle, he gave the highly touted Red Sheridan a full evening. Studer's floor play was also outstanding, but the Lancaster team was fully armed for him and kept him covered like a manhole. Haas gave the crowd its biggest thrill of the game in a bid to start an unstoppable rally when he dumped in 2 buckets in the 4th period. Both Reiger and Jones at guards gave good accounts of themselves.
LANCASTER ST. MARY'S SAINTS - 28
Abbott 3-1-7
Fey 0-1-1
Sullivan 4-1-9
Daughtery 0-0-0
Red Sheridan 2-1-5
P. Sheridan 0-0-0
Blair 2-0-4
Thesing 1-0-2
STRASBURG TIGERS - 20
John Studer 2-4-8
Bill Haas 2-0-4
George Denzer 2-1-5
Elwyn Rieger 0-2-2
Bill Jones 0-1-1
Saturday, March 18, 1933
The Daily Reporter
Dover, Ohio
OTHER SCORES
Henrietta 35 - Conventry 25
Delphos 32 - Celina Catholic 21
NOTE: Dover won the Class A State Basketball Championship on Saturday, March 18, 1933 taking down Marietta 34-23. Members of the team were: Head Coach Herman Rearick, Manager Swinderman, Humrighousen, Goettge, Boyd, Seibert, Braun, Andreas, Keiker, Klar, Davis and Don Godfrey.
