51 - Strasburg Struggles To Beat Port 57-46 (2-14-51)

DOVER - Third-Year Head Coach Don Martin's Strasburg Tigers (1-0) (15-6) (79-20), one of the 3 County League Co-Champions, stared disaster in the face for 3 and one-half quarters as the Port Washington Purple Riders (0-1) (5-11) (15-41) midgets combined a switching defense and a ball control game to brilliant advantage.  Nearly a hopeless underdog, 5th-Year Head Coach Bray Toot's Purple Riders came out to lead the Tigers 11-9 at the end of the 1st quarter and had the score tied 24-24 at intermission.

With the crowd sensing a sensational upset, the Tigers were not able to shake the scrappy Colts in the 3rd stanza and held only a 37-36 lead going into the far turn.  With 3 minutes remaining and the Bengals throwing a desperate pressing defense at Port, the Strasburg forward Senior John Zeigler rimmed a field goal which gave Strasburg a 46-41 lead, its longest of the game.

The Tigers kept going and finally pulled the battle out of the fire, but not before the Purple Riders had given one of the best underdog performances of the meet.

Freshman forwards Ken Houston and Junior Delano Kees paced Port Washington with 12 points each, while Senior center Bill Jones turned in a defensive gem.  Strasburg was led by Seniors Dale Renner and Jim Reiger with 20 points apiece.  The Purple Riders lost John Hursey, Toot's No. 2 defensive man, in the 1st quarter with an ankle injury.  While in the battle, Hursey held Renner scoreless.

STRASBURG TIGERS - 57

John Zeigler 3-3-9
Rich Rentsch 0-0-0
Dale Renner 9-2-20
Jim Reiger 7-6-20
Dale Bayer 2-0-4
Bill Von Kaenel 1-2-4

PORT WASHINGTON PURPLE RIDERS - 46

Ken Houston 6-0-12
Delano Kees 6-0-12
Bob Couts 1-0-2
Bill Jones 4-1-9
Allen Corbett 4-1-9
John Hursey 0-0-0
Bob Gray 0-2-2


Thursday, February 15, 1951
Rex Ridenour, Sports Editor
The Daily Reporter
Dover, Ohio

51 - Right Down The Line

Wednesday, February 14, 1951
The Daily Reporter
Dover, Ohio


LORIS HOSTETLER, the Dundee Bulldogs' fine center, scored the 1st points in the 1st round of the 29th Annual Tuscarawas County Class B Basketball Tournament last night at Memorial Hall.  Just how many more points will be scored before firing ends the night of February 23rd is anybody's guess, but it is sure to be plenty.

BIGGEST SURPRISES in the opening round were registered by the Stone Creek Golden Panthers and the Sugarcreek-Shanesville Pirates.  Fourth-Year Head Coach Ken Newlon of Stone Creek, playing it smart and close to the belt, sent his Golden Panthers into last night's game with the Indians with orders to jam the Tribe center lane and shackle Senior Ron Kohl, the Indian ace.  The Panthers did just that for nearly 3 quarters before Junior Paul Brick and Senior Bob Blickensderfer found the range in the last half to upset the Cats' strategy somewhat.  Regardless, Stone Creek gave a very creditable showing and made the Warriors look less impressive than was expected.

Second-Year Head Coach Gerald Straley's Sugarcreek-Shanesville team seemed to run out of gas in the last half against the Tuscarawas Broncos after giving the Broncos a real scare in the 1st two frames.  Smooth-working Seniors John Lanzer and Dale Rehard carried the load for the Pirates; however, if not for the sensational set shooting by Senior Bill Tharp, the Ponies guard, the Corsairs would have scored the tournament's 1st upset.

STICKOUTS in the 1st round were Hostetler of Dundee, who topped all scorers with 25 points, Junior Roger Wigfield and Sophomore Ellsworth Tope of the Mineral City Tigers,  Brick and Blickensderfer of Gnaden, Sophomore Jerry Gasser and Junior Willis Ridenour of Stone Creek, Senior Jerry Rausch and Tharp of Tuscarawas and Lanzer and Rehard of Sugarcreek-Shanesville.

THE STRASBURG TIGERS, which tied for the County League lead with Tuscarawas and the Midvale Blue Devils, sees action tonight against the Port Washington Purple Riders, while the 3rd member  of the "Big 3," the Blue Devils, wait until Thursday night to open defense of its title against Gnadenhutten.  Officials Harold Johnson of Orrville and Max Kister of Shreve called good games last night.

SOME OF THE UNSUNG tournament figures will be timers R.M. Virtue of Gnadenhutten, J.F. Zack of Midvale, P.O. Cochran of Bolivar, Jerry Baird of Port Washington and M.R. Helwick of Strasburg.  Also on the unsung list of men who see that the show goes on are scorers Clarence Troyer of Baltic, Harry Gintz, R.C. Rehard, R.W. Stover and William Lewis and public address system manager Harold Everett of Tuscarawas.

51 - Tusky Dumps Sugarcreek-Shanesville 55-43 (2-13-51)

Tuesday night at Memorial Hall in the Sugarcreek-Shanesville Pirates and Tuscarawas Broncos battle in the Class B Tournament.  Senior Dan Hostetler (dark jersey) of the Pirates and Senior Bob McPeek (11) of the Broncos loses the ball as they scramble for it on the floor.  Senior Don Limbacher (69) of the Pirates and Senior Jerry Rausch (7), Senior Russ (Ike) Walton (6) and Senior Bill Tharp (3) all from Tuscarawas watched the action.  Tusky won 55-43.

Tuscarawas Broncos 1951 Cheerleaders:  Senior Peggy Clerici, Sophomore Joyce Moore, Sophomore Shirley Kerns and Junior Elaine Ault.



DOVER - It was a rough night for 2 of the favorites in the opening round of the 29th Annual Tuscarawas County Class B Basketball Tournament at Memorial Hall Tuesday night.  The Tuscarawas Broncos, Gnadenhutten Indians and the Dundee Bulldogs, the favorites, all notched victories before 1,000 fans, but were forced to battle all the way before subdueing determined bids by the Sugarcreek-Shanesville Pirates and Stone Creek Golden Panthers.

Tonight in the 2nd round at Memorial Hall, the Strasburg Tigers collides with the Port Washington Purple Riders at 7:30PM and the Baltic Eagles meet the Dundee Bulldogs at 8:45PM.  After fighting off a brilliant 1st half attack by Head Coach Gerald Straley's Sugarcreek-Shanesville team last night, Tuscarawas  prevailed in the 2nd half to win 55-43.  The Broncos will not see action again until Saturday night when they collide with the Bolivar Cardinals.

Gnadenhutten was extended to the limit to stave off a surprisingly strong Stone Creek quintet 56-49.  The Indians meet the Midvale Blue Devils on Thursday night in the winner's bracket.  Dundee had little difficult in turning back the Mineral City Tigers 60-37 for the Tigers' 23rd consecutive loss.

The Sugarcreek-Shanesville Pirates (0-1) (11-9) (54-33), relying on the offensive power of John Lanzer and Dale Rehard and the defensive protection offered by an efficient sliding zone defense, led the Tuscarawas Broncos (1-0) (12-7) (35-35) 14-13 at the close of the 1st quarter and had the favored Broncos, one of the 3 County League Co-Champions, tied at 23-23 at intermission.  With Lanzer staging a brilliant rebounding performance and Rehard working the ball smoothly through the Broncos defense, the Bucs appeared on the road to the tourney's 1st upset.

The Pirates' zone barrier held high-scoring Jerry Rausch to a pair of field goals in that 1st half, but did not; altogether, contain the offensive punch of Bill Tharp whose set shooting was a stickout feature of the 1st round.  Tharp tallied 14 points in that 1st half to keep the Ponies on even terms with the Bucs.  In the 2nd half, the Corsairs' offense faltered before a Tusky pressing defense and Rausch, suddenly finding the range over the zone barrier, broke the game wide open with his jump shot.  The Broncos ace tallied 5 field goals in this 3rd stanza, while Lanzer, who had netted a like number in the 2nd frame, could collect but one field goal shot.  As a result of his lapse on the part of the Pirate defense, the Colts held a 39-29 third period lead and kept going in the 4th canto.

Lanzer scored 18 points for the Buccaneers, while Rehard was netting 12 markers.  Tharp tallied 22 points to lead all scorers and Rausch dropped in 16 with Bob McPeek swishing 13 all for the Broncos.  A rare event occurred as all players on the court were Seniors.  During the regular season Tuscarawas had edged Sugarcreek-Shanesville 49-47.

TUSCARAWAS BRONCOS - 55

Russ Ike Walton 0-0-0
Dick Kerns 0-0-0
Jerry Rausch 7-2-16
Martin Vesco 2-0-4
Bill Tharp 10-2-22
Bob McPeek 6-1-13

SUGARCREEK-SHANESVILLE PIRATES - 43

John Lanzer 8-2-18
Voris Stingel 1-0-2
Dale Rehard 4-4-12
Dan Hostetler 2-1-5
Don Limbacher 1-0-2
K.R. Miller 2-0-4


Wednesday, February 14, 1951
Rex Ridenour, Sports Editor
The Daily Reporter
Dover, Ohio

51 - Gnaden Dispatches Stone Creek 56-49 (2-13-15)

Junior Willis Ridenour of the Stone Creek Golden Panthers releases a shot at the basket as his Golden Panthers make a determined bid to upset the Gnadenhutten Indians in the night's 2nd game.  Grouped around the Panther guard are Senior Ron Kohl (11), Junior Jerry (Ted) Martin (3) and Senior Bob Blickensderfer (9) of Gnaden.  The Tribe defeated the Panthers 56-49 only after turning back several serious threats by 4th-Year Head Coach Ken Newlon's basketballers.  Gnadenhutten will meet the defending Champions Midvale Blue Devils on Thursday night.

The Gnadenhutten Indians 1951 cheerleaders:  Senior Sue Roche, Senior Melba Brick and Sophomore Carole Schreiner.


DOVER - The 29th Annual Tuscarawas County Class B Basketball Tournament came up with a thriller in the 2nd game of the night between the Gnadenhutten Indians (1-0) (14-8) (44-37) and the Stone Creek Golden Panthers (0-1) (6-19) (16-35) as the Indians held-off the Golden Panthers by a score of 56-49.

The teams played on even terms in the 1st quarter with the Indians grabbing the edge at the 1st stop 12-11.  First-Year Head Coach Fritz Jacobs' Gnaden cagers could not forge a secure lead over Head Coach Ken Newlon's Golden Ones until near the end of the 1st half when the Tribe, on the basis of marksmanship by Senior Bob (Blick) Blickensderfer, Senior Ron Kohl and Junior Paul Brick, went out in front 34-24.  Even then, with Freshman Jim Lorenz, Junior Willis Ridenour and Sophomore Jerry Gasser spearheading the Panther attack, the Warriors were forced to stave off repeated Creeker threats.

Gnadenhutten maintained their lead in the 3rd stanza still leading 46-39.  Both teams scored 10 points in the final canto securing the Indian victory.  In their contest during the season, Gnaden slammed Stone Creek 75-43.  Blickensderfer lead the Indians with 12 points, with Kohl and Brick dropping in 11 markers each.  The Panthers' Gasser led all scorers with 20 points and his teammates Ridenour and Lorenz had 11 and 10 markers respectively.

GNADENHUTTEN INDIANS - 56

Bob Wilbarger 1-0-2
Bob Blickensderfer 6-0-12
Gary Struchen 2-0-4
Ron Kohl 4-3-11
Howard Weston 4-0-8
Ted Martin 2-4-8
Paul Brick 5-1-11
Leonard Porter 0-0-0

STONE CREEK GOLDEN PANTHERS - 49

Jim Lorenz 4-2-10
Jerry Billman 2-0-4
Jerry Gasser 6-8-20
Miller 0-0-0
Paul Reid 2-0-4
Willis Ridenour G 5-1-11


Wednesday, February 14, 1951
The Daily Reporter
Dover, Ohio

51 - Dundee Rips Winless Mineral City 60-37 (2-13-51)

The Dundee Bulldogs, listed as one of the tournament's dark horses, handed the winless Mineral City Tigers a sound 60-37 defeat in the opening round of the County Tournament.  In this photo, players of the Tigers, Sophomore Frank Price (26) and Freshman Bob Souers (23), as well as unidentified Bulldog team members,  watches a shot bouncing around on the rim of the basket.  Dundee, a challenger all season in the League race, tackles the hot Baltic Eagles tonight in the feature game of the 2nd round.

The Mineral City Tigers 1951 Cheerleaders:  Senior Norma Jean Brinkman, Freshman Janet Davidson, Senior Doris Farnsworth and Freshman Charlene Steinbaugh.


DOVER - New Head Coach Ike Wiseman's Dundee Bulldogs (1-0) (12-9) (23-42), rolled over the winless Mineral City Tigers (0-1) (0-23) (12-42), without too much trouble 60-37 at Memorial Hall in the 29th Annual Tuscarawas County Class B Baskketball Tournament.

Dundee jumped  to a 16-7 margin over the Tigers in the very 1st quarter of play and expanded their lead to 12 points by intermission 27-15.  In the 3rd stanza, the Bulldogs iced the game by increasing the lead to 24 markers 49-25.  The Dundee Reserves maintained the lead in the final canto closing out the contest.

Geared by the sharpshooting of Junior Loris Hostetler, whose 25 points led all scorers for the night.  His teammate Junior Merlyn Immel also finished in double-figures with 10 markers.  Sophomore Ellsworth Tope and Junior Roger Wigfield led Mineral City with 15 and 14 points respectively in a losing cause.

Dundee rocked Mineral City 60-26 in their only appearance together during the season..

DUNDEE BULLDOGS - 60

Dick Kate 2-0-4
Weldon Flynn 0-0-0
Dale Hostetler 2-0-4
Louis Hostetler 3-3-9
George Sliffe 1-0-2
Loris Hostetler 12-1-25
Rich Fruchey 0-1-1
Curt Beamer 1-3-5
Merllyn Immel 5-0-10

MINERAL CITY TIGERS - 37

Roger Wigfield 5-4-14
Bob McNutt 1-0-2
Lorin Shroyer 1-0-2
Jack Ayers 1-0-2
Bob Souers 1-0-2
Ellsworth Tope 7-1-15
Frank Price 0-0-0


Wednesday, February 14, 1951
The Daily Reporter
Dover, Ohio

51 - Right Down The Line

Wednesday, January 25, 1951
Dover, Ohio


THE WALNUT CREEK CARDINALS lost a varsity basketballer and gained another one, all in the same week.  Richard "Ike" Hostetler's decision to move to Walnut Creek may prove to be the difference between success or failure for the Cardinals who have been ranked this year as a top contender in the Eastern Division.  The Sugarcreek-Shanesville Pirates' loss is Walnut Creek's gain.  With Ted Horrisberger out of the lineup with a badly sprained ankle and on the sidelines for perhaps one month, the Red Birds will be able to use Hostetler's services.  The residence in Walnut Creek and being a family man now, this is a prime consideration.

A telegram from Commissioner H.W. Emswiler of the Ohio High School Athletic Association gave Head Coach John Ridley of the Cards the green light to use Ike.  Key to the whole transfer situation seems to be that Hostetler made the change "of his own accord and has established legal residence in Walnut Creek without undue influence."  With the former Pirate star, who is a Senior in the lineup, the Cardinals will be even more formidable than before.  Hostetler's Pirate Head Coach Gerald Straley, contacted this morning, said he did not know of his star's intention to transfer until he didn't show up for practice on Monday.

"He didn't talk to me about it," Straley said.  Hostetler's case is unusual in that he is a married student.  Whereever he decided to move would be a permanent residence for the ex-Buc star; although, Emsweler, in a conversation with Ridley, said that the fact that he was married did not influence his (Emsweler's decision.

NOTE:  IKE HOSTETLER IS NOW A WALNUT CREEK CAGER

Richard (Ike) Hostetler, an All-County basketball star with the Sugarcreek-Shanesville Pirates for the past 2 years, has transferred to Walnut Creek High School and will see action with the Cardinals on Friday night, it was announced today by Head Coach John Ridley of the Creekers.  hostetler,, whose blazing play nearly gave the Pirates a Tuscarawas County title last year and who has been a mainstay on the Corsair squad this season, was declared eligible Tuesday by Commissioner H.W. Emswiler of the Ohio High School Athletic Association.

In answer to a query from Coach Ridley of the Cardinals, Emswiler sent a telegram reading:  "Hostetler will be eligible for immediate competition with Walnut Creek High School since he has established permanent residence in that village.  He is eligible provided there was no undue influence."  Speaking of the "undue" influence clause, Ridley said he did not know Hostetler was even considering coming to Walnut Creek until Monday.  The Cardinal Coach said he understood Hostetler moved to Walnut Creek because he found a more suitable residence.  Hostetler was married last summer.

The former Pirate star, who is near the 6-foot mark, will bolster the Red Birds who now have a 13-game winning streak and are contenders for District Honors this year.  Walnut Creek meets the Big Prairie Bulldogs Friday night and Hostetler will see action in that game, Ridley said today.

THE 29TH ANNUAL TUSCARAWAS COUNTY CLASS B BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT

TUSCARAWAS COUNT CLASS B BASKETBALL LEAGUE (1950-51)

1.  Midvale Blue Devils (Chuck Stocker-1) 8-2 .800 (5th Title-4th Straight)
2.  Strasburg Tigers (Don Martin-3) 8-2 .800 (14th Title)
3.  Tuscarawas Broncos (Chuck Lorenz-1) 8-2 .800 (1st Title)
4.  Sugarcreek-Shanesville Pirates* (Gerald Straley-2) 6-3 .667
5.  Baltic Eagles (Doyle Shumaker-2?) 6-4 .600
6.  Dundee Bulldogs (Ike Wiseman-1) 6-4 .600
7.  Gnadenhutten Indians (Fritz Jacobs-1) 6-4 .600
8.  Bolivar Cardinals (Warren Craigo-3) 3-7 .300
9.  Port Washington Purple Riders* (Bray Toot-5) 2-7 .222
10. Stone Creek Golden Panthers (Ken Newlon-4) 1-9 .100
11. Mineral City Tigers (Al Prazniak-1) 0-10 .000

TUSCARAWAS COUNTY CLASS B BASKETBALL SEASON (1950-51)

1.  Midvale Blue Devils 16-4 .800
2.  Baltic Eagles 18-5 .722
3.  Strasburg Tigers 14-6 .700
4.  Gnadenhutten Indians 13-8 .619
5.  Tuscarawas Broncos 11-7 .611
6.  Sugarcreek-Shanesville Pirates 11-8 .580
7.  Dundee Bulldogs 11-9 .550
8.  Port Washington Purple Riders 5-10 .333
9.  Bolivar Cardinals 5-14 .263
10. Stone Creek Golden Panthers 6-18 .250
11. Mineral City Tigers 0-22 .000

50 - Yorkville Slays Strasburg 52-42 (3-11-15)

The Strasburg Tigers, Eastern District Class B Basketball Tournament runner-up to the Champion Yorkville Ductillites.  Yorkville defeated the Tigers 52-42 Saturday night in the finals at Steubenville.  FRONT:  Jim Huffman - Head Coach Don Martin - Tom Miller - John Reiger (with trophy) - Dick Froman and John Mizer.  BACK:  Don Gepfert - Dale Bayer - John Zeigler - Norman Couts - Jim Reiger - Dale Renner and John Jeandrevin.


STEUBENVILLE - The Strasburg Tigers (7-2) (22-6) were gazing back today on a very successful basketball season despite the fact that they were handed a 52-42 defeat last Saturday night by the Yorkville Ductillites (24-4) in the Eastern District Class B finals in Steubenville.

Yorkville, conquerors of the Midvale Blue Devils, the defending Champions, will meet Norton on Thursday night at 9PM in the Northeastern Regional Class B Tournament at Youngstown.  Geneva and Lowellville, the other 2 regionalists, collide at 7:30PM on Thursday with the 2 winners clashing Saturday night for the right to represent the region at the State Tournament in Columbus.

Saturday's defeat was only the 6th in 28 starts for Head Coach Don Martin's Tigers this season.  Strasburg reached their peak last week in upsetting the unbeaten Scio Panthers 66-59, but could not regain their brilliant form against Yorkville's smooth Ductillites.

For 2 quarters, the Tigers, missing badly, managed to stay on the heels of the Ducks, but in the 3rd period, Yorkville pulled away to a 40-28 lead and the Bengals could never quite catch up.  The Ductillites led 10-8 and 21-17 in the 1st half.

Strasburg made one last bid for victory midway in the 4th canto and trimmed the Yorkville margin to 40-34, but failed to stay on pace as the Yorks, sparked by 6-2 forward Dick Lewis, 6-0 forward Al Gaudio and center 6-3 Don Fior, all poured in the necessary points for the victory.  Throughout the entire battle, Strasburg's marksmen, guard John Reiger, center Jim Huffman, forward Tom Miller, forward Norman Couts, guard Dick Froman and forward Don Gepfer, all Seniors, were way off the form they displayed against Scio.  Against this type of hard-luck shooting, the fast-breaking Ducks overwhelmed the Bengals.

Yorkville's Gaudio lead all scoring with 17 points, while his teammates, Lewis grabbed 13 markers and Lou Fior got 10.  Gepfert was the only Strasburg player to hit double-figures getting 11 points.

YORKVILLE DUCTILLITES - 52

Dick Lewis F 6-1-13
Atsatis F 1-0-2
Al Gaudio F 7-3-17
Lou Fior C 4-2-10
Orban G 3-2-8
Artie Rungo G 1-0-2

STRASBURG TIGERS - 42

Tom Miller F 3-3-9
Norman Couts F 2-2-6
Don Gepfert F 4-3-11
Jim Huffman C 1-3-5
John Mizer G 0-0-0
John Reiger G 1-2-4
Dick Froman G 3-1-7


Monday, March 13, 1950
The Daily Reporter
Dover, Ohio

NOTE:  THE YORKVILLE DUCTILLITES

Yorkville (24-5) was slammed in the Regional Tournament by Norton (26-1) 67-46.