50 - Midvale Nips Sugarcreek-Shanesville 51-49 (2-22-50)

Senior Glen Zimmerman, great Sugarcreek-Shanesville Pirates forward (4), goes into the air in a field goal attempt against the Midvale Blue Devils in the tournament semi-finals last night.  The Blue Devils forged a 51-49 decision after one of the most bitter battles in tournament history.  Junior Carl Pissocra (9), Midvale guard, is standing by as Zimmerman makes his bid to put the Corsairs out in front in the 4th canto.


DOVER - The Sugarcreek-Shanesville Pirates (2-1) (17-5) (54-31), a sharp, fast, well-balanced club, ruled a slight favorite over the Midvale Blue Devils (2-0) (15-7) (49-24) at game time.  The Pirates made a tremendous effort, but it wasn't their night.  A field goal by Junior forward Harry Rennicker in the final 20 seconds broke a 49-49 deadlock and ended a glittering opportunity which had beckoned the Corsairs when they launched a sizzling rally near the close of the 4th canto.

From the opening whistle the fans sat tense and expectant in their seats and they were not disappointed.  Sugarcreek-Shanesville moved swiftly to the offensive.  With their great shot artist, Zimmerman hitting from mid-court, the Pirates swept to a 9-3 lead early in the initial quarter.  With Senior center Wayne Schrock, guard Ike Hostetler, probably the tournament's outstanding floor man and Junior guard John Lanzer joining the attack, the Corsairs unleashed a passing game which baffled the Blue Devils for the entire 1st half and had them on the short end of a 27-22 score going into the 3rd stanza.

Only the set shooting of Senior guard George Wilson kept the Champions from falling completely off the pace.  Wilson, cutting down the center, banged in 3 field goals in the 2nd period alone.  That 1st half had cost the Bucs; however, as Hostetler drew 4 fouls in the 1st quarter as he ranged through the Midvale zone defense to unbalance the Diablos threat, 6-4 Senior center Bob Sherrell.

First-Year Head Coach Gerald Straley benched Hostetler in the 2nd period and the spark-plug of the Sugarcreek-Shanesville attack did not return to action until the 4th canto.  The methodical Blue Devils switched to a man-to-man defense in the 3rd stanza and held the Pirates to 9 points, while scoring 20 to take a 42-36 lead.

A field goal by Junior guard Carl Pissocra knotted the count at 32-32 midway in the period and a free throw by Pissocra put the Devils out in front for the 1st time in the game.  In a classic 4th quarter which saw Sherrell leave the game via the foul route, the Corsairs overhauled the Diablos, mostly through the efforts of Hostetler.

Early in the period, Senior forwards Kay Ford and Rudy Ruffini put the Champions ahead 45-36, but Zimmerman made it 45-39 with a set shot and a free throw.  Junior forward Harry Rennicker hit from the field to make it 47-39 at the automatic timeout.  Three consecutive missed free throw shots earlier in the quarter hurt the Buccaneers chances, but Zimmerman made it 47-40 with a charity toss and Hostetler banged in 5 points on 2 field goals and a free throw toss to bring the Bucs within 2 points of Midvale 47-45.  Senior guard Glenn Miller scored again from the free throw line and with the stands going wild, sent Sugarcreek-Shanesville into a 48-47 lead with a layup shot.

Wilson returned the lead to Midvale with a set shot, but Glenn Miller netted his 2nd free throw to tie it up.  The Blue Devils swung down under their basket and Rennicker grabbed his own rebound after missing a shot to score the deciding field goal.

Each team tallied 15 points from the free throw lane and Rennicker's last ditch field goal proved to be the winning margin.  Pissocra tallied 15 points for Midvale, Sherrell 13; although, Hostetler and Schrock of the Pirates turned in a sound defensive performance against the Blue Devil ace and Wilson tossed in 10 markers.  Zimmerman paced the Corsairs with 14 points, Hostetler meshed 11 and Schrock hit for 10.

MIDVALE BLUE DEVILS - 51

Harry Rennicker F 2-0-4
Rudy Ruffini F 1-2-4
Kay Ford F 1-3-5
Bob Sherrell C 6-1-13
Carl Pissocra G 4-7-15
Darrel Davis G 0-0-0
George Wilson G 4-2-10

SUGARCREEK-SHANESVILLE PIRATES - 49

Glen Zimmerman F 4-6-14
Jim Knox F 0-1-1
Wayne Schrock C 4-2-10
Ike Hostetler G 4-3-11
K.R. Miller G 0-1-1
Glenn Miller G 2-2-6
John Lanzer G 3-0-6


Thrusday, February 23, 1950
Rex Ridenour, Sports Editor
The Daily Reporter
Dover, Ohio

50 - Tusky Blows-Away Mineral City 76-43 (2-22-50)

Bill Tharp of the Tuscarawas Broncos launched a shot which resulted in 2 points last night at Memorial Hall in the Consolation Division quarter finals against the Mineral City Tigers.  The Bengals in the photo are Roger Wigfield (20), Larry Ewing (25), Ben McNutt (28) and Paul Ley (21).  Tuscarawas won 76-43.  The Broncos will collide with the Stone Creek Golden Panthers in the Consolation Division semi-finals tonight.

The Head Coach for the 1950 Mineral City Tigers is L. R. (Rich) Bonvechio who graduated from Muskingum College with a B.A. in Education.  This is Bonvechio's first year with the Bengals.


DOVER - Paced by Junior center Jerry Rausch of the Tuscarawas Broncos (2-1) (34-34) romped easily over the Mineral City Tigers (0-2) (1-21) (12-41) 76-43 at Memorial Hall in a Consolation Division game last night.

The Broncos galloped to a 13-point 17-4 lead in the 1st quarter.  The Colts never let up in the 2nd quarter as their offense racked up 16 more points and the Tigers managed 9 markers and the score showed 33-13...Tusky.  The 22 points posted in the 3rd stanza locked up the game for Tuscarawas even though Mineral City's offense came alive with 15 markers...Tuscarawas 55-28.  Both teams unloaded the Reserves from the bench mirroring the 3rd quarter...Tusky with 21 points and the Tigers with 15 points in a losing cause, closed out the 4th canto.

Rausch of Tuscarawas led all scoring with 21 points as forward John Kohler picked up 13 and Junior forward Bob McPeek  dropped in 12 markers.  Mineral City was led by Sophomore guard Roger Wigfield with 12 points and Senior forward Dale Adams meshed 11.

This game eliminates Mineral City from the tournament.  The Tigers met Tuscarawas once during the season dropping that game 66-36.

TUSCARAWAS BRONCOS - 76

Doyle Roth F 4-1-9
Tom Schumacher F 0-0-0
John Kohler F 6-1-13
Dick Kerns F 4-1-9
Jerry Rausch C 10-1-21
Joe Donohue C 1-0-2
Bob McPeek G 5-2-12
Martin Vesco G 1-0-2
Bill Tharp G 3-2-8
Ron Ault G 0-0-0

MINERAL CITY TIGERS - 43

Dale Adams F 5-1-11
Paul Ley F 2-2-4
Ayers F 2-0-4
Larry Ewing C 3-1-7
Lorin Schroyer C 0-0-0
Roger Wigfield G 5-2-12
Bob McKnutt G 0-1-1
Sam Boyd G 1-0-2
Elmer Tope G 0-0-0


Thursday, February 23, 1950
Rex Ridenour, Sports Editor
The Daily Reporter
Dover, Ohio

50 - Right Down The Line

Tuesday, February 21, 1950
Dover, Ohio


THE BLUE CHIPS go down for a quartet of Tuscarawas County Basketball Teams at Memorial Hall Wednesday night.  The Sugarcreek-Shanesville Pirates, Bolivar Cardinals, Stone Creek Golden Panthers and Midvale Blue Devils will be shooting for a berth in the finals.

In our books, the Pirates and Golden Panthers hold a slight edge in as interesting a semi-final card as has been presented in a county tournament here for years.  Head Coach Gerald Straley has his Corsairs moving again.  They have looked like the "team to beat" so far in this tournament.

Their Wednesday battle with the defending Champion Blue Devils should be a classic one.  During the regular season, the Champs and Sugarcreek-Shanesville broke even, the Bucs winning on their home floor and the Devils copping the decision at Midvale.  This battle on a neutral floor is the payoff round.  The Pirates must halt 6-4 Senior center Bob Sherrell or outscore him.  Junior guard Carl Piassocra, Diablo guard will also cause the Corsairs trouble.

This will not; however, add up to enough to stop Sugarcreek-Shanesville if they continue to set the same torrid pace they have in their 1st 2 games against the Dundee Bulldogs and Tuscarawas Broncos.  For smooth passing, ball handling and marksmanship, the Pirates have not, so far, been equaled in the tournament.

If Midvale should win Wednesday, they will become the favorites to win the meet in the Friday finals with the lower bracket winner.

STONE CREEK, twice victorious over Bolivar during the regular season, hold the favorite's role Wednesday night against the Cardinals in the lower bracket semi-finals.  Head Coach Warren Craigo's Red Birds; however, will not go down without a battle and could easily upset the Panthers as they did the Strasburg Tigers.  Bolivar has been a "tournament team" for the past 2 seasons, but was never greater than last week in the surprising victory over Strasburg 53-50.

The Golden Panthers; however, has come up with its best team in years and will be hard to deny a berth in the finals; although, the team was not impressive last week.  Both of these semi-final games promise a lot of torrid action.  The session will be witnessed by what may be a record crowd for county tournament history.

50 - Bolivar Slays Mineral City 69-52 (2-18-50)

The 1950 Bolivar Cardinals Basketball Team.  Second-Year Head Coach Warren Craigo's Cardinals knocked off the Mighty Strasburg Tigers on opening night by a score of 53-50 and dropped the Bengals into the Consolation Division Tournament.  FRONT:  John Ewing - Ed Grossenbacher - Maurice Llundenberger and Bob Burkhart.  BACK:  Delvin  Houck - Wayne Kromine - Bill Willard and Carl McFeeders.

The 1950 Mineral City Tigers Basketball Team mentored by First-Year Head Coach L.R. (Rich) Bonvechio are making their 1st appearance in the tournament.  FRONT:  Chuck. Carling (Manager) - Elmer Tope - Roger Wigfield Paul Ley - Dale Adams - Larry Ewing - Sam Boyd - Ben McNutt and Bob Sours (Manager).  BACK:  Head Coach L.R. (Rich) Bonvechio - Franklin Price - Tom Finley - Lorin Shroyer - Perry Kastor - Jack Ayers and Jim Lindsey,


DOVER - The Sugarcreek-Shanesville Pirates and Midvale Blue Devils, as well as the Bolivar Cardinals and Stone Creek Golden Panthers were marking time today for their semi-final battles in the Tuscarawas County Class B Basketball Tournament at Memorial Hall Wednesday night.

Head Coach Warren Craigo's Bolivar Cardinals gained a berth in the lower bracket semi-finals by whipping a scrappy Mineral City Tigers club 69-52 Saturday night, while Head Coach Ken Newlon's Golden Panthers defeated the Gnadenhutten Indians 63-61 on Thursday night.  In other 4th round games at Memorial Hall Saturday night, the Port Washington Purple Riders were knocked from competition by the Tuscarawas Broncos in a bitterly fought Consolation Division contest 49-46 and the Dundee Bulldogs ended it's bid by dropping a one-sided 64-26 decision to the aroused Strasburg Tigers.

Strasburg had been upset in the 1st round by Bolivar and the Tigers gave an indication on Saturday night that they are going to make a strong bid to secure a berth in the Sectional Tournament by dominating the Consolation Division of the county meet.

Three teams, the winner, runner-up and Consolation Division winner, will enter the Dover Sectional in March at Memorial Hall.  County play will end at Memorial Hall Friday night when the finals in both the Consolation Division and Championship fights will be held.

The Bolivar Cardinals (2-0) (11-12) (44-36), not quite up to the form exhibited in upsetting the Strasburg Tigers, had difficulty with the stubborn Mineral City Tigers (0-1) (12-40) 69-52 in the Tigers' 1st tournament appearance for over 3 quarters, but tallied 10 points in the last 3 minutes to forge a comfortable margin.

After the Cardinals had raced to a 17-7 lead midway in the 1st quarter, the Tigers rallied and kept hammering away at the Red Birds lead.  The Cards led 19-10 at the close of the 1st period, 27-19 at halftime and 47-34 going into the last quarter.  A basket by Senior center Larry Ewing cut the Bolivar lead to 59-52 at the automatic timeout, but successive field goals by Juniors forward Junior Geers, guard Bob Burkhart and forward Bill Willard put the game out of reach in the closing minutes.

Mineral City made 20 of 27 free throws.  The battle developed into a scoring duel between Bolivar's fine 6-3 center Senior Maurice Lundenberger and Mineral City's great little forward, Senior Dale Adams.  Lundenberger poured 29 points through the nets for a new tournament mark this year, while Adams netted 27 for the Tigers.  Most of Lundenberger's points came in the 1st and 3rd quarters, while Adams meshed his in the last half.  Willard and Burkhart also hit double figures in scoring with 12 and 10 points, respectively for Bolivar.

The 2 teams met twice during the season with Bolivar winning both games 70-28 and 51-37.  Mineral City will collide with the Tuscarawas Broncos on Wednesday night in the quarter-finals of the Consolation Division fight.

BOLIVAR CARDINALS - 69

Ed Grossenbacher F 2-1-5
Bill Willard F 5-2-12
Junior Geers F 2-1-5
Maurice Lundenberger C 13-3-29
Carl McFeeders G 3-2-8
Bob Burkhart G 5-0-10

MINERAL CITY TIGERS - 52

Dale Adams F 9-9-27
Lorin Schroyer F 1-0-2
Sam Boyd F 0-0-0
Larry Ewing C 2-4-8
Roger Wigfield G 2-2-6
Elmer Tope G 1-2-4
Paul Ley G 1-3-5


Monday, February 20, 1950
The Daily Reporter
Dover, Ohio

50 - Strasburg Mauls Dundee 64-28 (2-18-50)

STRASBURG SPOTLIGHT - One of 2nd-Year Head Coach Don Martin's Strasburg Tigers stars this year is Senior Dick Froman, a high scoring guard.  He scored 10 points in the game against the Dundee Bulldogs to raise his tournament total to 24 points for an 8-point average per game.


DOVER - Head Coach Don Martin's Strasburg Tigers (2-1) (17-5) (76-20) completely outclassed the Dundee Bulldogs (1-2) (22-42) as they destroyed the Bulldogs 64-26 in a Consolation Division game. Coach Martin used 12 men in the rout, but it was the offensive punch provided by Senior forward Tom Miller who started the Dogs on the road to defeat.

Miller pumped in 4 field goals in the 1st period alone and Senior guard Dick Froman netted 2 as the Tigers broke out in front in the opening minutes of the battle closing out the 1st quarter 15-6.  The second period mirrored the 1st quarter with the Corsairs increasing their lead to 16 points by halftime...Strasburg 30-14. The Tigers continued their onslaught as the offense picked up another 21 points, while Dundee could only manage 7 points in the 3rd stanza...Strasburg 51-21.  The Reserve teams slugged it out in the 4th canto.

The Bulldogs' fast-breaking attack was slowed down by the Strasburg defense and the 2 Bulldog aces, Sophomores center Loris Hostetler and Louis Hostetler, were unable to find the range from out front.

Miller's 18 points paced both teams and his teammate, Froman was rimming 10 markers for the Bengals. Loris Hostetler meshed 8 points to lead Dundee.

STRASBURG TIGERS - 64

Tom Miller F 9-0-18
Dale Renner F 0-0-0
Don Gepfert F 1-1-3
Norman Couts F 2-3-7
John Mizer C 1-1-3
Dick Froman G 4-2-10
Jim Huffman C 2-3-7
John Jeandrevin G 0-3-3
Jim Rieger G 1-1-3
John Reiger G 4-0-8
John Zeigler G 1-0-2
Dale Bayer G 0-0-0

DUNDEE BULLDOGS - 28

Stan Immel F 1-3-5
George Sliffe F 0-0-0
Merlyn Immel F 1-0-2
Wayne Flynn F 0-1-1
Loris Hostetler C 3-2-8
Ken Jones C 0-0-0
Don Bauders C 0-0-0
Weldon Flynn G 2-1-5
Dick Kate G 0-0-0
Louis Hostetler G 0-1-1
Curt Beamer G 0-0-0
Dean Landis G 0-0-0


Monday, February 20, 1950
The Daily Reporter
Dover, Ohio

50 - Tusky Sweats-Out Victory Over Port 49-46 (2-19-50)

Tuscarawas Broncos Junior Guard Bill Tharp meshed 14 points against the Port Washington Purple Riders.  Tharp has scored 33 markers in tournament play for an average of 16.5 points per game.

DOVER - The Tuscarawas Broncos (1-1) (33-34) had a lot of trouble with 4th-Year Head Coach Bray Toot's Port Washington Purple Riders (1-2) (15-40) on Saturday night, but prevailed in the last 3 minutes on field goals by Juniors guard Bill Tharp and forward Bob McPeek and a free throw shot by guard Jerry Rausch to win a close one 49-46.

The contest was close all the way as the Broncos held a 16-9 1st quarter lead.  The 2nd period showed the Purple Riders' offense score 15 points, while Tusky continued to hit the nets for another 11 points at halftime...Broncos 27-24.  Port Washington outscore Tuscarawas in the 3rd stanza 10 to 7 with the score tied 34-34.  The 4th period was like most of the game to this point and the Purple Riders even tied the score at 44-44 until Tharp, McPeek and Rausch put the game in their pocket.

Tharp and forward John Kohler meshed 14 and 11 points to lead Tusky, while Port had 3 players in double-figures...Junior center Bill Jones had 14 points and Seniors forward Hal Weber scored 12 and guard Bob Frank finished with 11 points.

TUSCARAWAS BRONCOS - 49

John Kohler F 4-3-11
Doyle Roth F 1-2-4
Bob McPeek F 3-1-7
Chuck Shaw C 2-1-5
Martin Vesco C 0-0-0
Bill Tharp G 6-2-14
Jerry Rausch G 2-4-8

PORT WASHINGTON PURPLE RIDERS - 46

Hal Weber F 4-4-12
Hal West 1-2-4
Allen Corbett F 1-0-2
Bill Jones C 6-2-14
Bob Frank G 4-3-11
Bob Jones G 1-1-3
Jim Gallion G 0-0-0


Monday, February 20, 1950
The Daily Reporter
Dover, Ohio

50 - Sugarcreek-Shanesville Tops Tusky 69-62 (2-17-50)

Fast action featured the Sugarcreek-Shanesville Pirates and Tuscarawas Broncos battle in the county tournament at Memorial Hall Friday night when the Corsairs tripped up the Vaqueros 69-62.  Jim Knox (69), Pirate forward, winds up on the floor with a Bronco player after being fouled in a field goal attempt.  Other Mustangs in the picture include Bill Tharp (3), Jerry Rausch (7) and Jim Kohler (4).

The 1950 Sugarcreek-Shanesville Pirates who will now tangle with the Dundee Bulldogs Wednesday night at 7:45PM in the 1st round of the Class B Tournament at Memorial Hall.  BACK:  K. B. Miller - John Lanzer - Ike Hostetler - Wayne Schrock - Dale Rehard and Monroe Yoder.  FRONT:  Glen Zimmerman - Jim Knox - Glenn Miller and Dan Hostetler.

The 1950 Sugarcreek-Shanesville Pirates Cheerleaders stir enthusiasm in the Corsair stands with cheers.  They are not identified.


DOVER - The Sugarcreek-Shanesville Pirates (2-0) (17-4) (54-30), sharpshooters all, had all they could handle Friday night at memorial Hall where they dropped the seeded Tuscarawas Broncos (0-1) (32-34) 69-62 before over 1,500 fans.

The Gnadenhutten Indians and Baltic Eagles were eliminated from further play after the Tigers of Head Coach Don Martin trimmed the Indians 68-52 and the Dundee Bulldogs crushed the Eagles 68-26.

With the exception of Senior forward Glen Zimmerman, who turned in a hot shooting exhibition from mid-court, Head Coach Ray Clever's stubborn Broncos held the Pirates in check and were leading 11-8 at one point in the 1st quarter before the blond-haired set shot artist rimmed 3 consecutive field goals to put the Buccanneers in front where they stayed to the finish.

Leading 19-13 at the close of the initial quarter, Sugarcreek-Shanesville, paced by Senior forward Jim Knox, Zimmerman, Senior center Wayne Schrock and Ike Hostetler, raced to a 37-25 lead at the half and built up their margin to 54-42 as the 3rd stanza ended.  In the final canto it was Sophomore guard Bill Tharp and Junior forward Jerry Rausch who combined to keep the Mustangs within striking distance, but the winners' crew packed too much punch for the spirited Tusky cagers to handle.

Hostetler, who has paced the Buccanneers all season, was thoroughly shackled by Tuscarawas' defensive tactics around the charity circle and netted but 3 field goals and 6 free throw shots.  Zimmerman captured the evening's scoring laurels by meshing 26 points, while his mates Knox, Schrock and Hosstetler tallied 15, 12 and 12 markers, respectively.  Forward John Kohler, with 20 points, Tharp with 19 and Rausch, with 12 paced the losers.

Tusky tailed 27 field goals and 8 free throws, while Sugarcreek-Shanesville rimmed 28 field goals and 13 free throws.

SUGARCREEK-SHANESVILLE PIRATES - 69

Jim Knox F 7-1-15
Glen Zimmerman F 11-4-26
Wayne Schrock C 5-2-12
Ike Hostetler G 3-6-12
Glen Miller G 1-0-2
John Lanzer G 1-0-2

TUSCARAWAS BRONCOS - 62

Bob McPeek F 1-1-3
Doyle Roth F 1-0-2
John Kohler F 8-4-20
Chuck Shaw C 2-2-6
Bill Tharp G 9-1-119
Jerry Rausch F 6-0-12


Saturday, February 18, 1950
Ray Stull, Sports Writer
The Daily Reporter
Dover, Ohio