41 - Warsaw Sends Gnaden Home 34-33 (3-13-41)

DOVER - The Gnadenhutten Indians (5-2) one of the last Tuscarawas County representatives, fell by the wayside as the Eastern Ohio Class B District Basketball Tournament opened its final 3 day session at the Dennison High School Gymnasium last night.  Gnaden, one of 2 county teams in the Class B Division, fell before the giant Warsaw Eagles from Coshocton County 34-33, after a rally failed in a heart-breaking final period.

If last night's Gnaden-Warsaw game is any basis for thought-provoking the B entries, the Midvale Blue Devils have a good chance to take the Philo Electrics crew which lost to the Warsaw Eagles last week.  The Blue Devils will be defending a District crown won just last year.

The crowd saw the Indians, Consolation Champions in their county tournament in Dover, fall down almost completely in the shooting department for 3 periods and then crack back at the big Warsaw team in the final quarter only to have the timer's gun end a rally which seemed certain to win.

Gnadenhutten was ahead 6-3 at the end of the 1st quarter after playing smooth ball, but Warsaw stepped out in the 2nd period and took a 15-13 lead before grabbing everything in sight in the 3rd stanza to go far ahead 32-19.  The Eagles started to stall at the beginning of the final period and that was almost its downfall, the Indians surging forward to out-score the bigger team by 14-2 in a frantic rush to beat the gun.

Junior forward John Metzger, Gnaden's outstanding player last night and Senior forward Dale Crites, each scored 2 field goals, while center Ralph Long, forward Don Miller and little forward Bill Lockett each made one in the final quarter.  Crites dropping the last one as the gun sounded.  Warsaw, attempting to stall all the way, was held to 2 free throw shots and failed to score from action in the final stanza.

Metzger's 9 points were was for high for Gnadenhutten, while Crites, who was "off" at shooting, made 7 markers and the tiny Lockette counted 6 points.  Forward Francis Buxton scored 13 points for the Warsaw Eagles, while center Marvin Davis, 6-foot 6 inch center, was held to 8 by Metzger.  The Indians lost Ken Kohl on personals and a check of the box score reveals Warsaw won on free throw shots, sinking 14 of 19.  The Indians made 7 of their 9 attempts.

WARSAW EAGLES - 34

Marvin Rogers F 2-3-7
Francis Buxton F 4-5-13
Marvin Davis C 2-4-8
Williams G 2-1-5
Bull Buxton G 0-1-1

GNADENHUTTEN INDIANS - 33

Dallas Crites F 2-3-7
John Metzger F 4-1-9
Ralph Long C 2-0-4
Ken Kohl G 1-1-3
Bill Schreiner G 0-0-0
Gene huebner C 1-0-2
Don Miller F 1-0-2
Lockett F 2-2-6
Al Gailbraith G 0-0-0


Friday, March 14, 1941
John Stratton, Sports Writer
The Daily Reporter
Dover, Ohio

NOTES:  The Twinsburg High School Basketball Team coached by Paul M. Roby, former Strasburg Tigers and Midvale Blue Devils coach, was eliminated from the Kent District Tournament last night by Rittman of Waynes County which took a 32-26 nod over the Burgers.  Head Coach Roby's team won runner-up honors in the Summit County Tournament.

John Harmond of Sugarcreek is one of a big group of baseball lettermen called for spring diamond practice at Heidelberg College.  He is a pitcher.

41 - Eastern Ohio Class B District Basketball Tournament

DENNISON - The work of the Tuscarawas County 2 Class B entrants in the Eastern Ohio District Basketball Tournament finals at Dennison this week have their work well cut out for them and it will take a prodigious performance if either of them is to come through with the District Title and a trip to the State finals at Columbus the following week-end.

The Midvale Blue Devils (5-0) and Gnadenhutten Indians (5-1), the 2 county teams, were paired off with the Warsaw Eagles and Philo Electrics at the Class B drawings held at Dennison by Tournament Manager Harold Meyer last night.  Gnaden was paired with the giant Warsaw combination from Coshocton County and Midvale drew Philo from Muskingum County.  Gnaden and Warsaw play Thursday night at 7:30PM and Midvale and Philo play on Friday night at 7:30PM.  The winners of the 2 games will play for the District Title Saturday afternoon at 2:30PM.

Philo lost 2 games during the season, both to McConnellsville.  In the tournaments, New Concord eliminated McConnellsville and Philo eliminated New Concord.  Hughes, a 6-footer, is the team's leading scorer.  Ray Osbourne is the Head Coach.  Warsaw, which is coached by Russ Thomas, was the Director of the Chester Hill team which played at Dennison last season, defeated Philo in the finals of the South Sectional Tournament last Saturday night.

During the season Warsaw lost one game, a 44-40 nod to Keene of Coshocton County on the Keene floor.  The team averages a good 6 feet and is headed in the height department, by Marvin Davis, a Junior, who towers 6'6".  Marvin Rogers, 6-footer, is high scorer, Francis and Bull Buxton, both 6-footers, roundout the squad.

Admission for the Class B final Saturday afternoon will be 40 cents.


Tuesday, March 11, 1941
The Daily Reporter
Dover, Ohio

41 - Gnaden Takes-Out Berlin 44-40 (3-8-41)

Gnadenhutten Indians Junior Forward John Metzger collared the nets for 15 points (7 field goals and a free throw), while leading the Indians to a 44-40 tight win over the Berlin Blue Jays in a Saturday night's Sectional Tournament contest.  Metzger has 48 points and an average of 8.0 points a game in tournament play.


DOVER - Coming through with flying colors Saturday night before a packed house at Memorial Hall, the Midvale Blue Devils and Gnadenhutten Indians won the Class B Sectional qualifying games and this week will be the county's only represenatives at the District A and B finals at Dennison.  Midvale, extending its great end-of-the-season drive which carried Head Coach Pete Wolfe's cagers to a 2nd straight County Championship, the Blue Devils upset the strong Dennison Railroaders 30-28 in the last 3 minutes of a hectic contest, while the Indians, County Consolation winners, outdistanced a snappy Berlin Blue Jay five from Holmes County 44-40.

The Blue Devils will be defending District Champions and will again be out to make the Columbus trip for the State finals.  Last year they won their opening game at Columbus, but were eliminated in the 2nd contest.  Because Dover, New Philadelphia, Uhrichsville and Newcomerstown, the county's 4 representatives in the Class A Sectional Tournament at Dennison last week were eliminated, county fans must pin their hopes on either Midvale or Gnadenhutten to come through for a title.

A record crowd of 1,233, largest ever to attend a Sectional Tournament, was present Saturday night according to Tournament Manager Dick Roberts who said that $428.90 was taken in at the gate.  Last year's gate receipts on the final night was $308.20.

Missing entirely in the Gnadenhutten Indians (5-1) and the Berlin Blue Jays game was the hot rivalry and the 2 clubs played smooth ball, the Indians hitting on their shots, while forward Orus Weaver and guard Dean Hummel, fast Blue Jays scorers, couldn't quite keep up.  Gnaden took a 13-8 lead at the 1st quarter of play and was still ahead 22-17 at the half and by 31-23 at the 3rd period.  Berlin tried desperately all the way, but the Blue Jays were too small to take the under-the-basket play away from the taller Indians.

In defeating Berlin, the Indians completely wrecked the Holmes County chances of a District Title.  Gnaden Friday night dropped the Walnut Creek Cardinals from Holmes County 45-35.  The uncanny pivot shooting of Weaver, Blue Jay star scorer, was the feature of the game and honors winner, as he poured 19 points through the nets, while Hummel, who left the game on personals in the 4th stanza, made 10 points despite an off night in shooting.  Junior forward John Metzger's 15 points was high for the Red Men, while Senior forward Dallas Crites came through with 10 markers.

GNADENHUTTEN INDIANS - 44

Dallas Crites F 4-2-10
John Metzger F 7-1-15
Ralph Long C 3-0-6
Ken Kohl G 1-0-2
Bill Schreiner G 3-1-7
Don Miller F 1-2-4

BERLIN BLUE JAYS - 40

Orus Weaver F 9-1-19
Scfhnell F 1-1-3
R. Miller C 2-2-6
Dean Hummell G 5-0-10
J. Miller G 0-2-2
O. Miller F 0-0-0
J. Miller G 0-0-0


Monday, March 10, 1941
John Stratton, Sports Writer
The Daily Reporter
Dover, Ohio

41 - Midvale Prevails Over Dennison 30-28 (3-8-41)

Midvale Blue Devils forward Adrian Ford won game honors scoring 13 points (2 field goals and 9 free throws) while leading the Blue Devils to a 30-28 win over the Dennison Railroaders.  Ford has amassed 56 points during tournament play and owns an average of 11.2 points per game.


DOVER - Slated as a classic battle between 2 bitter rivals, the Midvale Blue Devils (5-0) and the Dennison Railroaders game was just that.  The Blue Devils with their forwards carrying the day, came through to win in the final 3 minutes of the hotly-contested ball game which had fans so aroused that a near riot resulted when the final gun cracked.

Midvale started the 1st quarter by grabbing a 7-3 lead, but faltered in the 2nd and the Railroaders started to click offensively, tying the count at 14-14 at halftime.  When the Blue Devils lost their shooting eye completely in the 3rd period...being held to only 3 free throws and without a field goal...the Railroaders scored 5 points to take a 19-17 lead.

Forward Cal "Tod" Hostetler dropped in a bucket to start the 4th stanza and tie the count, but guard Parks scored a basket for Dennison before Adrian Ford came through with a free toss.  Then forward Arkie Williamson scored a basket to give the Railroaders a 23-20 lead.  Adrian and guard Dale Ford each scored field goals for Midvale and the Blue Devils led 24-23, but it was short-lived as guards John Aldergate scoring a bucket and Morgan a free throw to gave Dennison a 26-24 advantage.

Only 3 minlutes were left when Adrian Ford scored 2 free throws for Midvale to tie the count, but center Herb Risley scored a basket for Dennison which took a 28-26 lead.  Hostetler's field goal tied the score and Adrian Ford scored 2 more consecutive free throws to give the Blue Devils the edge.  Parks of Dennison dropped in the tying field goal shortly before the final buzzer, but traveled in doing so.  As the game ended Aldergate started for the Dennison dressing room with the ball, which was Midvale's prize for winning and only quick intervention by officials and police stopped a riot.  Referees Jim Morgan and Lowell Lamb jumped into the fray to take the ball from Aldergate and  as fans swarmed onto the floor, police quieted the outbreak.  Lamb's shirt was torn in the disturbence.

A check of the summary shows the Railroaders, who earlier this season defeated Midvale by 9 points, lost the game from the free throw line where they sank only 4 of 18 shots, while the Blue Devils were scoring 12 of 21.  The Railroaders made 12 field goals, while the Blue Devils scored only 9.  Dennison was assessed 16 personals with forward Steve Wanosik leaving the game in the last period, while Midvale was charged with 15, but lost no players.

Midvale's Adrian Ford was high scorer of the game, while Jerry "Buzzy" Young hit the nets for 10 points.  Williamson, ace Railroaders scorer who piled up 29 points in his last game, was held to 8 mostly because the Blue Devils tight zone automatically took care of his fast breaks.  Risley also score 8 points for Dennison.

MIDVALE BLUE DEVILS - 30

Adrian
Ford F 2-9-13
Jerry "Buzzy" Young F 4-2-10
Al Turrin C 0-1-1
Cal "Tod" Hostetler G 2-0-4
Dale Ford G 1-0-2
John Downing C 0-0-0
Lloyd Swinderman C 0-0-0
Vic Paris F 0-0-0

DENNISON RAILROADERS - 28

Arkie Williamson F 3-2-8
Steve Wanosik F 0-0-0
Herb Risley C 4-0-8
Morgan G 2-1-5
Parks G 1-1-3
Aldergate G 2-0-4


Monday, March 10, 1941
John Stratton, Sports Writer
The Daily Reporter
Dover, Ohio

41 - Berlin Downs Dundee 41-32 (3-7-41)

DOVER - Three of the 4 Tuscarawas County Basketball Teams who entered the lists Thursday in the Sectional Class B Basketball Tournament at Memorial Hall will be in at the "kill" tonight when 2 teams are qualified for the District Class B Basketball Tournament finals at Dennison next week.  The Dennison Railroaders and Midvale Blue Devils gained tonight's session by victories Thursday and last night the Gnadenhutten Indians joined them by eliminating Walnut Creek of Holmes County 45-35.  The 4th team will be the Berlin Blue Jays, victors last night over the Dundee Bulldogs by a 41-32 score.

Only 642 persons paid admissions to see last night's 2 games which were closely contested despite the margin of the scores, as piled up in the final periods by the winning teams.  Present were 436 adults, 177 sutdents and the 29 members of the Gnaden Band, the total being slightly less than the 2 nights of last year.

The Berlin Blue Jays and the Dundee Bulldogs (2-2) game was close until the final 4 minutes, but was a scoring race between forward Orus Weaver and guard Dean Hummell of the Blue Jays and forwards Milton Fruchey and Junior "Buck" Machan of the Bulldogs, with Berlin taking the nod at the finish.

Dundee took a 9-8 lead at the 1st quarter, but the fast shooting of Weaver and Hummell sent the Holmes County Champions into a 19-14 lead at the half and they maintained a 26-23 lead at the end of the 3rd period.  Fruchey got hot in the early stages of the 4th stanza and sank 3 field goals to give the Bulldogs a 29-28 lead, but Hummell and Weaver stepped into the breach and it was all over with Dundee winding up 9 points behind.

The Bulldogs lost Fruchey, Machan and guard Paul Jones in the final quarter of play, while not a single Blue Jays cager went out on personal fouls.  Referees Jim Morgan of New Philadelphia and Lowell Lamb of Alliance assessed 15 fouls against Dundee and only 8 against Berlin in the game.  The fast-breaking of the Blue Birds against the slowly forming Bulldogs zone defense in the final period proved the margin of victory for Berlin.

Hummell was high scorer for Berlin, piling up 16 points on 7 field goals, most of which were from way out and 2 free throws, while teammate Weaver, specializing on a hook shot, accounted for 15 markers.

Fruchey, hitting his usual stride with few shots wasted, dropped in 8 classy field goals and a free toss to take scoring honors with 17 points on 8 field goals and a free throw.  Machan added another 11 points for Dundee.  Only other players to score for the Bulldogs were guards Senior Vic Smith, who dropped in a free throw and Ralph Ogg, who accounted for a field goal.

BERLIN BLUE JAYS - 41

Orus Weaver F 6-3-15
O. Miller F 0-2-2
R. Miller C 0-2-2
Dean Hummell G 7-2-16
J. Miller G 1-1-3
Schnett F 1-1-3

DUNDEE BULLDOGS - 32

Milton Fruchey F 8-1-17
Junior "Buck" Machan F 4-3-11
Don Weber C 0-1-1
Paul Jones G 0-0-0
Vic Smith G 0-1-1
John Zaugg G 0-0-0
Jerry Bussinger G 0-0-0
Ralph Ogg G 1-0-2
Paul Laubacher F 0-0-0


Saturday, March 8, 1941
John Stratton, Sports Writer
The Daily Reporter
Dover, Ohio

SATURDAY MARCH 8, 1941 SCHEDULE

Dennison vs Midvale 8PM
Gnaden vs Berlin 9PM

41 - Gnaden Handles Walnut Creek 45-35 (3-7-41)

Walnut Creek Cardinals 1940-41 Basketball Team.  Front:  Howard Schrock - Dick Hamsher - Junior Mast - Ed Hershberger - Glen Immel and Ralph Miller.  Back:  Head Coach Sundheimer - Bob Schrock - Wayne Gerber - Dorren Hershberger - Virgil Troyer - Harry Gerber and Manager Dick Gerber.

The Gnadenhutten Indians Senior Forward Dallas Crites led the team to victory dropping in 12 points (6 field goals) in beating back the Walnut Creek Cardinals 45-35.  Crites has a total of 45 points in tournament play averaging 7.6 points per game.


DOVER - The Walnut Creek Cardinals, rated on a par with the Berlin Jay Hawks, was behind 8-7 at the 1st period of the game, but they snapped out of it in the 2nd period to snatch a 22-19 lead at intermission.  But that was the last the Creekers saw of the lead until late in the 3rd period when they took a 30-29 advantage which was erased when Senior forward Dallas Crites dropped in a field goal to give the Gnadenhutten Indians a 31-30 lead at the period end.

The Cardinals' forward Ed Hershberger knotted the count at the start of the final period, but Crites scored a free throw and Walnut Creek's guard Junior Mast duplicated it to tie the count again before Gnaden started edging away and scored 13 more points, while the Holmes County team was getting only 3.  Final determination of the game was on bankboard play with the Gnadenhutten club taking the edge there despite the fact that they lost Crites and Junior guard Bill Schreiner in the final stanza.  Walnut Creek lost a player...Hershberger.

Crites was high scorer for the Indians, while center Ralph Long collected another 10 points.  Hershberger led the Cardinals with 3 field goals and 7 free throws for 13 points and game honors in a losing cause, while center Dick Hamsher added 9 markers.

GNADENHUTTEN INDIANS - 45

Dallas Crites F 6-0-12
John Metzger F 3-2-8
Ralph Long C 5-0-10
Ken Kohl G 3-0-6
Bill Schreiner G 0-0-0
Don Miller G 3-3-9
Bill Lockette F 0-0-0

WALNUT CREEK CARDINALS - 35

Ed Hershberger F 3-7-13
Howard Schrock F 2-2-6
Dick Hamsher C 4-1-9
Junior Mast G 2-2-6
Glen Immel G 0-0-0
Ralph Miller G 0-0-0
Bob Schrock 0-1-1


Saturday, March 8, 1941
John Stratton, Sports Writer
The Daily Reporter
Dover, Ohio

41 - Midvale Slams Malvern 55-24 (3-6-41)

Midvale Blue Devils Fordward Jerry "Buzzy" Young earned game honors by hitting the nets for 15 points (7 field goals and a free throw) and leading the Blue Devils to victory by running over the Malvern Green Hornets 55-24 in the first contest of the Eastern Ohio Northern Sectional Tournament.  Young has totaled 41 points in tournament play and owns a 10.3 points per game average.


DOVER - Tuscarawas County was assured of at least one representative in the Eastern Ohio District Class B finals at Dennison next week after the Dennison Railroaders and the Midvale Blue Devils came through with smashing victories in their first Sectional Tournament games at Memorial Hall last night.  Dennison with Arkie Williamson setting a new tournament scoring record by twisting 29 points through the hoop, drubbing the Millersburg Knights 56-29, while the red hot Midvale club rushed the Malvern Green Hornets of Carroll County home with a sweeping 55-24 victory.

Both Dennison and Midvale by their walkaways last night proved that the meeting of the 2 clubs Saturday night will be a natural.  The Blue Devils are the defending District Tournament Champions.  Only method of measuring the strength of the 2 schools is by Dennison's 28-19 victory at Midvale early this year, but even that doesn't mean much for the Blue Devils were strengthened at the semester by the addition of forward Adrian Ford and have also been coming along rapidly under the direction of Head Coach Pete Wolfe.

Showing more polish every time they appear on the Memorial Hall floor, the Midvale Blue Devils (4-0) hit a new high against the weak Malvern club, Carroll County Champions, as they won much as they pleased.  Passing flawlessly and experiencing one of those exceptionally "hot" nights at shooting the Blue Devils had power to burn as they rode over the Green Hornets scoring at will.  Midvale grabbed a 15-7 lead at the 1st quarter, increased it to 24-9 at the half and then hit full stride in the 3rd, taking a 43-18 advantage as Coach Wolfe sent his substitutes from the bench into the game.

Forward Jerry "Buzzy" Young led Midvale's scoring with 15 points, while forward Cal "Tod" Hostetler, clever ballhandler, was next with 10 markers and guard Adrian Ford followed that with 8 points.  Malvern was led by their talented center, Rohrer, who downed 12 points.  Free throw shooting of both teams was off, as the Blue Devils collected only 5 of 19 heaves and the Green Hornets connected on but 8 of 23.

The Malvern band was the only one present at the game, but had little to play for; although, 5 drum majorettes gave a nice demonstration of baton twirling at intermission.  Jim Morgan of New Philadelphia and Lowell Lamb of Alliance refereed both games.

MIDVALE BLUE DEVILS - 55

Jerry "Buzzy" Young F 7-1-15
Cal "Tod" Hostetler F 5-0-10
Adrian Ford G 2-4-8
Al Turrin C 3-0-6
Dale Ford G 2-0-4
Vic Paris G 2-0-4
Glen Booth G 0-0-0
John Downing C 1-0-2
Lloyd Swinderman F 1-0-2
Vic Cusano G 2-0-4

MALVERN GREEN HORNETS - 24

DePalma F 0-0-0
Richardson F 0-2-2
Rohrer G 5-2-12
Jackson C 1-2-4
Laubacher G 0-0-0
Ebner G 1-2-4
Angloni G 0-0-0
Sutton G 1-0-2
Montella C 0-0-0
Hutchison F 0-0-0


Friday, March 7, 1941
John Stratton, Sports Writer
The Daily Reporter
Dover, Ohio

SECTIONAL THURSDAY 3-6-41 RESULTS

Dennison 56 - Millersburg 29
Midvale 55 - Malvern 24

SECTIONAL FRIDAY 3-7-41 SCHEDULE

Walnut Creek vs Gnaden 7PM
Berlin vs Dundee 8PM

SECTIONAL SATURDAY 3-8-41 SCHEDULE

Dennison vs Midvale 8PM
WINNER Walnut Creek-Gnaden vs WINNER Berlin-Dundee 9PM