40 - Midvale Takes-Out Buffton 43-33 (3-14-40)

Midvale Blue Devils #13 Forward Frank Morrison again won game honors with 15 points (7 field goals and a free throw) leading his team to a 43-33 and a rather difficult victory over the Bluffton Pirates.  Morrison has accumulated 101 points during the Blue Devils tournament run and is averaging 11.2 points a game.


COLUMBUS - The Midvale Blue Devils (9-0) (25-3) got a "bad" game out of its system here yesterday afternoon, but still had enough power and scoring punch to eliminate the Bluffton Pirates from the STATE Class B Basketball Tournament.  The final score was 43-33.  As a result of their victory the Blue Devils play the highly touted Smithfield Sentinels combination at the State Fairground Collseum this afternoon at 2PM.  The Sentinels, in its opening game yesterday afternoon, turned back Germantown, a scrappy going-to-town quintet, but was hard pressed from the start of the game until the finish and the final outcome was kept in doubt until the last 12 seconds of play.  That score was 28-25.

Frank Morrison and #9 forward Jerry Young each caged a pair of action shots in the 1st period to pace Midvale's scoring.  A 12-5 lead was taken in the 1st quarter and from there it was all Midvale.  Morrison repeated his 1st period performance in the 2nd and set the pace as the Blue Devils scored 9 points.  Bluffton also scored 9 in that quarter.

Midvale pulled far away from their opponents in the early part of the 3rd period and soon piled up a 28-14 lead, but Bluffton rallied and cut it to 28-21 before the Devils again found the hoop and added 6 points to their tally to lead 34-21 at the start of the 4th stanza.  Midvale began having trouble with shots in the late part of the 3rd period and the difficult held over into the final chucker with the Pirates taking advantage of the lull to pull up to 35-29.

The Blue Devils then pulled away to 38, but the Pirates came back with 3 points to trail 41-32 at the start of the final 3 minutes.  The final Midvale score was a sucker shot scored by Young after he stole the ball from a Bluffton dribbler in mid-court which came with the crack of the timer's gun.  The referees called 17 personal fouls on Midvale and 16 on Bluffton.  The Helwickmen were given 20 free throws and scored on 11, while the Pirates tallied 13 of 19 alloted their players.  No. 4 guard Warren Leggett of Midvale and forward Beidler and guard Burkholder of Bluffton were banished from the game on fouls.

With only forwards Frank Morrison and Jerry Young playing the brand of ball that carried them through the Eastern Ohio District and qualified them for the tourney here, 7th-year Head Coach M.R. Helwick's Blue Devils never had an easy time with the Pirates and outscored them in 2 periods and tied them in one.  In the final Bluffton staged a later rally, but fell short.

MIDVALE BLUE DEVILS - 43

Frank Morrison F 7-1-15
Jerry Young F 4-5-13
Adrian Ford C 2-1-5
Bob Baldwin G 1-0-2
Warren Leggett G 2-4-8
Lew Daltau G 0-0-0
Vic Paris G 0-0-0
Dan Johnson G 0-0-0

BLUFFTON PIRATES - 33

Beidler F 2-3-7
Gratz F 2-1-5
Cooney C 2-2-6
Fisher G 3-5-11
Burkholder G 1-2-4
Howe G 0-0-0
Herman G 0-0-0


Friday, March 15, 1940
Clyde Shaffer, Sports Writer
The Daily Reporter
Dover, Ohio

40 - Midvale Blue Devils Class B District Champions (3-9-40)

The story of a scholastic basketball tournament is plainly written in the faces of the group above.  Captains and coaches of the winning Midvale Blue Devils and losing West Lafayette Generals cagers who played for the Eastern Ohio District title Saturday afternoon at Dennison High School gymnasium where the Blue Devils slammed the Generals in the Championship game 56-30.  Photo shows Head Coach Paul Scheetz and Co-Captain Chalmer Tedlie of West Lafayette and Captain Bob Baldwin of Midvale, Co-Captain Francis Thomas of Lafayette and Head Coach M.R. Helwick of Midvale.

Midvale Blue Devils #13 Forward Frank Morrison claimed game honors tearing the nets up for 17 points (8 field goals and a free throw) in leading the Blue Devils to a 56-30 thumping of the West Lafayette Generals in the District Championship contest.  Morrison has totaled 86 points in 8 games for an average of 10.8 points per game.


DENNISON - The Midvale Blue Devils (8-0) (24-3) became the successor to the Dennison Railroaders as the District's Class B Champion with a 56-30 victory over the West Lafayette Generals before 509 fans Saturday afternoon.  In the final Saturday afternoon joust with West Lafayette, Midvale had everything its own way, scoring a high of 17 points in the 3rd quarter.

With #5 center Adrian Ford, Frank Morrison and #9 forward Jerry Young, sharing the scoring honors and Captain Bob Baldwin leading the floor attack, the Blue Devils of 7th-year Head Coach M.R. Helwick trampled over Head Coach Paul Scheetz's Generals from the outset, outscoring them 15-4, 10-9, 17-12 and 14-5 in the 4 quarters to hold advantages of 15-4, 25-13 and 42-25 at the period ends.  Morrison copped individual honors with 17 points, nosing out Young who had 16 and Ford who had 14.  Forward Chalmer Tedlie, classy West Lafayette lad, was high for his team with 9 points and an excellent game over the floor.

Referees Raymond Scherrer of Coshocton and A.B. Long of Newark chalked up 32 personal fouls in the Class B game.  Midvale lost Ford and #6 Lew Daltau, a substitute center, while West Lafayette's Tedlie and guard Thomas were chased to the showers by the officials.  Tournament officiating was praised highly by coaches and fans alike and many were of the opinion that Long and Scfherrer turned in an even better performance than they did a year ago.

MIDVALE BLUE DEVILS - 56

Frank Morrison F 8-1-17
Jerry Young F 6-4-16
Adrian Ford C 6-2-14
Bob Baldwin G 0-1-1
Warren Leggett G 3-1-7
Lew Dallau C 0-0-0
Vic Paris G 0-1-1
Dan Johnson G 0-0-0
Al Turrin C 0-0-0
Bill Holmes F 0-0-0

WEST LAFAYETTE GENERALS - 30

Cabot F 1-0-2
Chalmer Tedlie F 3-3-9
Fleming C 1-3-5
Geese G-C 1-4-6
Francis Thomas G 1-4-6
Van Dusen F 0-0-0
Wyler G 1-0-2
Botini F 0-0-0
Selders G 0-0-0


Monday, March 11, 1940
Clyde Shaffer, Sports Writer
The Daily Reporter
Dover, Ohio

THE DAILY REPORTER DISTRICT TOURNAMENT ALL-STAR TEAMS

1ST TEAM

FORWARD - Frank Morrison (Midvale Blue Devils)
FORWARD - Bud Harris (Chesterhill Presidents)
CENTER - Adrian Ford (Midvale Blue Devils)
GUARD - Bob Baldwin (Midvale Blue Devils)
GUARD - Geese (West Lafayette Generals)

2ND TEAM

FORWARD - Chalmer Tedlie (West Lafayette Generals)
FORWARD - Jerry Young (Midvale Blue Devils)
CENTER - Fred Yenny (Strasburg Tigers)
GUARD - Francis Thomas (West Lafayette Generals)
GUARD - Warren Leggett (Midvale Blue Devils)

HONORABLE MENTIONI

FORWARD - Cabot (West Lafayette Generals)
FORWARD - Walter Hanner (Strasburg Tigers)
CENTER - Whitecre (Chesterhill Presidents)
GUARD - Davis (Chesterhill Presidents)
GUARD - (No 2nd guard named or newspaper misprint)

1940 MIDVALE BLUE DEVILS TOTAL RECORD TO THIS POINT

Midvale 30 - Alumni 23 (1-0)
Midvale 30 - Bolivar 22 (2-0)
Midvale 23 - Tusky 19 (3-0)
Midvale 21 - Gnaden 15 (4-0)
Strasburg 22 - Midvale 20 (4-1)
Midvale 26 - Sugarcreek-Shanesville 20 (5-1)
Midvale 27 - Gnaden 25 (6-1)
Midvale 46 - Port 23 (7-1)
Midvale 39 - Baltic 30 (8-1)
Dennison 18 - Midvale 17 (8-2)
Midvale 45 - Dundee 27 (9-2)
Midvale 30 - Strasburg 21 (10-2)
Midvale 55 - Mineral City 24 (11-2)
Midvale 24 - Sherrodsville 20 (12-2)
Bolivar 17 - Midvale 13 (12-3)
Midvale 41 - West Lafayette 29 (13-3)
Midvale 56 - Stone Creek 16 (14-3)
Midvale 55 - Delroy 34 (15-3)
Midvale 38 - Tusky 36 (16-3)

COUNTY TOURNAMENT

Midvale 60 - Port 23 (17-3)
Midvale 50 - Dundee 22 (18-3)
Midvale 29 - Tusky 25 (19-3)
Midvale 28 - Strasburg 26 (County Champions) (20-3)

SECTIONIAL TOURNAMENT

Midvale 33 - Millersburg 23 (21-3)
Midvale 26 - Berlin 24 (Qualifies For District Championship) (22-3)

DISTRICT TOURNAMENT

Midvale 39 - Chesterhill 34 (23-3)
Midvale 56 - West Lafayette 30 (District Champions) (24-3)

40 - Midvale Defeats Classy Chesterhill 39-34 (3-8-40)

Midvale Blue Devils #5 Center Adrian Ford shares game honors with Chesterhill Presidents' forward Bud Harris scoring 14 points each.  Ford led his team to a close 39-34 victory over the Presidents ripping the cords for 5 field goals and 4 free throws.  Ford has totaled 45 points in the tournaments for an average of 7.5 points a game.


DENNISON - In defeating the Chesterhill Presidents in the Class B semi-final of the District Tournament, 7th-year Head Coach M.R. Helwig's Midvale Blue Devils (7-0) (23-3) eliminated one of the classiest Class B conbinations ever to show on the Dennison boards.  Sparked by Bud Harris, a rangy forward who averaged 23 points a game during a season in which the Hillmen lost but one game, the Morgan County cagers stepped out in front in the opening period, remained there until the final seconds of the half when the Blue Devils knotted the count at 19-all.

Midvale pulled out ahead 3 times in the 3rd quarter before they could make it stick.  They led 21-19, were tied at 21, led 23-21, were tied at 23 and then forged ahead, finishing the quarter with a 2-pointer and a 27-25 edge.  The Presidents made its challenge halfway through the final period and pulled up to 33-32 and 35-34, but the Blue Devils, with an inspired surge, pushed ahead, the final points coming from a side shot fired by #4 guard Warren Leggett in the last second of play.

The floor work of Midvale's #7 guard Captain Bob Baldwin and #13 forward Frank Morrison played big parts in their success, but the laurels go to Adrian Ford, who led an under-the-basket fight at both ends of the floor that was directly responsible for the Midvale triumph.  In the end Ford was rewarded with 14 points which enable him to share scoring honors with Chesterhill's Bud Harris.  Harris canned 7 field goals.

Despite the viciousness with which both teams...playing "for keeps"...fought, the referees assessed only 20 fouls, 11 against Midvale and 9 against Chesterhill.  The winners scored on 7 of 11 free throws and the Hillmen on 6 of 16.  No one was banished.

MIDVALE BLUE DEVILS - 39

Frank Morrison F 3-2-8
Jerry Young F 5-0-10
Adrian Ford C 5-4-14
Bob Baldwin G-C 0-1-1
Warren Leggett G 3-0-6
Lew Dallau F 0-0-0

CHESTERHILL PRESIDENTS - 33

Bud Harris F 7-0-14
Workman F 0-1-1
Whitecre C 5-3-13
Davis G 1-1-3
Long G 0-0-0
Faires F 0-0-0
Wallace F 1-1-3


Saturday, March 9, 1940
Clyde Shaffer, Sports Writer
The Daily Reporter
Dover, Ohio

40 - Strasburg Falls To West Lafayette 26-23 (3-7-40)

Strasburg Tigers #8 Senior Center Fred Yenny cops game honors scoring 13 points (5 Field goals and 3 free throws) in a losing cause against the West Lafayette Generals.  The Tigers fell 26-23 in a District Tournament contest.  Yenny has totaled 70 points, averaging 11.7 markers per game in tournament play.


DENNISON - The Strasburg Tigers (4-2) might well lay its defeat to a long-run of hard luck with its shooting...shot after shot dipping in, rolling around and then falling off the hoop...and the loss of Fred Yenny, high-scoring center on personal fouls in the final period. 

The Tigers, with all its tough luck shooting, managed to keep on even terms with the West Lafayette Generals of Head Coach Paul Scheetz, former Baltic High School mentor, until Yenny was chased on 4 personal fouls when the 4th period was only 2 minutes old.  The score was tied at 20-all then.  But, robbed of Yenny's scoring plus great floor and rebound work, the Tiger Machine fell behind in the race for the wire 26-23.

With Yenny setting the pace Strasburg gained an 8-6 lead in the 1st quarter, coming from the short end of a 6-3 count to forge ahead in the late minutes.  They were limited to 2 points, a fielder by Yenny, in the 2nd period and the Generals forged ahead to command a one-point 11-10 edge at intermission.  Strasburg tied the count at 13, fell behind 15-13 and then tied it again before West Lafayette eased to the fore on a long looping field goal and a free throw by their guard... Thomas.  The Burgers came back with a pair of free throws to bring the count to 18-17 in Lafayette's favor at the close of the stanza.

The Scheetzmen rammed up to a 20-17 advantage and then the Tigers struck back and tied the score, but the break didn't last and an instant later Yenny The Sparkplug went to the showers, carrying with him the hopes of the valliant Tigers of 1st-year Head Coach Sam Andrews.  West Lafayette pulled ahead 22-20, 24-20 then 24-22, 25-22 and 25-23 before the wrap-up with center Wyler plopping a free throw for the final point when only 20 seconds remained.

In the last minute or 2 Strasburg twice elected to take possession of the ball in preference to free throws.  Fred Yenny of Strasburg hit the hoops for 13 points, while Thomas had 9 points and forward Tedlie with 8 were high for the Generals.  The Tigers lost only Yenny on fouls, while Lafayette lost center Fleming and Thomas.

WEST LAFAYETTE GENERALS - 26

Cabot F 1-1-3
Tedlie F 3-2-8
Fleming C 0-0-0
Geese G 2-0-4
Thomas G 4-1-9
Wyler C 1-0-2
Van Dusen F 0-0-0

STRASBURG TIGERS - 23

Walter Hanner F 2-1-5
Bill Shutt F 0-2-2
Fred Yenny C 5-3-13
Ed Smith G 1-1-3
Pete Welsch G 0-0-0
Bill Schenk G 0-0-0
Gene Gordon F 0-0-0
Earl Lingler C 0-0-0


Friday, March 8, 1940
Clyde Shaffer, Sports Writer
The Daily Reporter
Dover, Ohio

40 - Strasburg Prevails Against Malvern 30-25 (3-2-40)

Strasburg Tigers #11 Sophomore Forward Walter Hanner who won game honors scoring 11 points (4 field goals and 3 free throws) while leading his team to victory over the Malvern Green Hornets 30-25.  Hanner has accumulated 36 total points in the tournaments and is averaging 7.2 points a game.


DOVER - Winning by slight margins, just enough to carry them through to the District Class B Tournament finals at Dennison this week-end, the Midvale Blue Devils and Strasburg Tigers won the qualifying round games of the Sectional Tournament at Memorial Hall Saturday night by eliminating the Berlin Blue Jays and Malvern Green Hornets.

Both county teams, Midvale, the Tournament Champions and Strasburg, runner-up, were unimpressive in their victories and could just as easily have been on the short end.  Midvale won over Berlin 28-24 and Strasburg toppled Malvern 30-25 after stiff fights and both winners were forced to stall in the last period to keep from being upset.

The Strasburg Tigers (4-1) was hard-pressed to win over the Malvern Green Hornets when the Carroll County team staged a fast attack after going without a point in the 1st period.  The Tigers led 8-0 at the completion of the 1st quarter, but the Green Hornets found the basket and Strasburg was leading by only 14-9 at the half and then 22-17 at the 3rd period.

Midway in the 4th and final stanza Malvern swept through the befuddled Tiger defense to cut the Strasburg advantage to 27-25, but #5 Junior guard Bill Schenk's field goal and the fact that Strasburg chose to take possession of the ball instead of shooting 5 free throws in the last few minutes, kept Malvern at bay.  Strasburg's #4 Senior guard Ed Smith dropped in a fielder in the last seconds to ice the game.

Hanner led the Tiger scoring with 11 points, while Rohrer, a Hornet guard, was high for his team with 10 markers.  Strasburg's #7 Senior forward Bill Shutt and #9 Sophomore guard Pete Welsch were ejected and forward Jim Ebner, center Jackson and forward Chiurco went out on fouls for Malvern.  The Carroll County team also lost Csuti when he was knocked unconscious as he fell to the floor in the final period.  The Tigers actually won the game on free throws, dumping in 10 of 17, while the Green Hornets were able to score only 5 of 17.  Both teams scored even from the field.

Officiating in the final games was severely criticized by spectators and coaches, particularly when double fouls were assessed and when a multiple foul was assessed upon a Berlin player for fighting too strenuously for the ball.  Attendance at the final night totaled 872 paid customers, according to Tournament Manager O.C.Lemmon who said figures for the 3 nights would compare favorable with last year's tourney.

STRASBURG TIGERS - 30

Walter Hanner F 4-3-11
Bill Shutt F 2-1-5
Fred Yenny C 1-1-3
Ed Smith G 2-1-5
Pete Welsch G 1-3-5
Gene Gordon F 0-0-0
Bill Schenk G 0-1-1

BERLIN GREEN HORNETS - 25

DePalmo F 1-2-4
Jim Ebner F 0-0-0
Jackson C 2-1-5
Casale G 0-0-0
Rohrer G 5-0-10
Csuti F 0-1-1
Chuirio F 1-0-2
John Ebner C 0-0-0
Nigro G 0-0-0
Sutton G 1-1-3


Monday, March 4, 1940
John Stratton, Sports Writer
The Daily Reporter
Dover, Ohio

40 - Midvale Escapes Berlin 28-24 (3-2-40)

DOVER - The Midvale Blue Devils (6-0) (22-3) had little trouble with the Berlin Blue Jays during the 1st quarter of their game and took a 10-5 lead, but in the 2nd period the Berlin passing attack, the best seen in tournament play so far, started clicking and Midvale's lead was cut to 13-11 at the half.  The Blue Devils were leading once 21-13 in the 3rd stanza, but the Blue Jay attack opened again and at the end of the quarter mark had the margin trimmed to 22-17.

Berlin cut that to 22-19 with a quick basket before Midvale scored another 2-pointer and then guard Dean Hummel and forward Orus Weaver, Berlin's big stars, each dumped in field goals to cut Midvale's lead to 24-23 with only 4 minutes remaining.  Number 13 forward Frank Morrison and #4 guard Warren Leggett made field goals for Midvale in the last few minutes, while Weaver scored Berlin's only remaining point on a free throw.  The Blue Jays missed several sucker shots which would have evened up the game.

Midvale scored 10 field goals and only 8 of 20 free throws, while Berlin counted 8 fielders and 8 of 14 foul shots.  Forward Hostetler and center R. Miller went out for the Blue Jays in the last half and Morrison of Midvale was ejected in the last period as officials called 14 personals on the winners and 13 on the losers.

Morrison of Midvale and Weaver of Berlin were tied for scoring honors with 11 points apiece, with Hummel, clever Blue Jay guard, potted 10 markers.

MIDVALE BLUE DEVILS - 28

Frank Morrison F 4-3-11
Jerry Young  F 2-3-8
Adrian Ford C 2-2-6
Bob Baldwin G 0-0-0
Warren Leggett G 1-0-2
Lew Daltau C 1-0-2
Dan Johnson G 0-0-0
Al Turrin G 0-0-0

BERLIN BLUE JAYS - 24

Orus Weaver F 4-3-11
Hostetler F 0-1-1
R. Miller C 0-0-0
G. Miller G 0-2-2
Owen Hummel G 4-2-10
J. Miller F 0-0-0


Monday, March 4, 1940
John Stratton, Sports Writer
The Daily Reporter
Dover, Ohio

40 - Strasburg In 4th Period Win Over Walnut Creek 33-21 (3-1-40)

Midvale Blue Devils #8 Senior Center Fred Yenny picks up game honors in scoring 9 points in leading the Blue Devils to a 33-21 Sectional win over the Walnet Creek Cardinals.  Yenny has a total of 49 points in tournament play and is averging 12.25 points per game.


DOVER - With 2 of the 4 Tuscarawas County teams still in the race and redhot favorites to cop qualifying games tonight, the Class B Sectional Basketball Tournament at Memorial Hall ended its 1st round of play last night with the Strasburg Tigers (3-1) defeating the Walnut Creek Cardinals, Holmes County Champions, to the tune of 33-21 and the Malvern Green Hornets of Carroll County eliminating a scrappy Dover St. Joseph Ramblers team 27-21 in a last half rally.

The largest 2nd night crowd in the history of the tournament, according to Manager D.C. Lemmon, last night watched the Walnut Creekers stage a gallant fight with the Tigers in the 1st 3 quarters before Strasburg turned on a 15-point splurge in the last stanza to win going away.  The 1st 3 periods were filled with defensive manevers as Walnut Creek took a 6-4 lead at the 1st quarter and Strasburg snatched it away by halftime to take a 10-9 nod.

Again in the 1st few minutes of the 3rd period the Cardinals tied the count at 11-all, but Strasburg found its shooting eye and went on to take an 18-13 lead and kept the net hot by icing the game with action shots in the final period.

Poor shooting hampered the Walnut Creek attack, Head Coach Ralph Sundheimer's team missing many action shots and dropping in only 7 of 17 free throws, while Strasburg made 3 out of 5.  Personal fouls failed to take its toll of a single player on either team with the Tigers being assessed 14 penalties, while the Creekers set some sort of a record for tournament play by having only 4 called on them during the entire contest.

Fred Yenny of Strasburg led all scoring with 9 points, while E. Hershberger of Walnut Creek was right behind him...canning 8 points.

STRASBURG TIGERS - 33

Walter Hanner F 1-1-3
Bill Shutt F 2-0-4
Fred Yenny C 4-1-9
Ed Smith G 3-0-6
Pete Welsch G 3-1-7
Bill Schenk G 0-0-0
Earl Lingler G 0-0-0
Clyde Denzer F 0-0-0
Gene Gordon C 2-0-4
Jim Welsch G 0-0-0

WALNUT CREEK CARDINALS - 21

E. Hershberger F 2-4-8
Schrock F 2-0-4
R. Hamsher 0-1-1
Mast G 1-1-3
D. Hamsher G 1-1-3
R. Miller G 0-0-0
Hecker F 1-0-2


Saturday, March 2, 1940
John Stratton, Sports Writer
The Daily Reporter
Dover, Ohio