54 - Baltic Rips Killbuck 67-58 (3-4-54)

 

The Baltic Eagle's Senior Forward Tom Ott pumps a shot towards the basket, while the Killbuck Bucks' center Bob Hunter tries to stop the shot.  Junior Forward Fritz Syler (11) and 6-3 Junior Center Errol Jacobs (right) of the Eagles move in on the play.


DOVER - The Baltic Eagles (5-1) (21-4) came up with a 3-man offensive attack to whisk by the Killbuck Bucks (14-10) in the opener.  Senior forward Tom Ott and Junior forward Fritz Syler each had 21 points with 6-3 Junior center Errol Jacobs collecting a total of 17 as the trio accounted for 59 of the Eagles' total output.  It was all Jacobs in the opening quarter as the lanky lad threw in 5 field goals to pace Baltic to a 14-7 advantage.  Ott took up the whip in the 2nd frame and swished 12 points as the Eagles hiked its advantage despite a rally by the Bucks.

The county Consolation Division Champions led 33-21 at the halftime rest period, but the Killbuck crew came back fast in the 3rd stanza and with forward Dean Schonauer, center Bob Hunter and guard Bob Allison setting the pace, as the Bucks moved to within 4 points, 48-44 at the close of the period.  Syler and Junior forward Jim Wallace brought Baltic back into firm possession of the whip in the early part of the 4th period as the Eagles flew to a 9-point advantage 53-44 and moved on in the State Tournament prelims.

Schonauer tallied 18 markers to lead Killbuck in its bid to move on to the tourney with Allison getting 15 and Hunter bagging 13.  Head Coach Bill Bauman of Killbuck and Head Coach Tom Bellville of Baltic, both of whom came up this way in the last year from Fairfield County, were rival coaches in the County League there.

On Wednesday night the Millersburg Knights (10-12) got by the Glenmont Indians (16-8) 76-72 and the Dennison St. Mary Blue Waves (16-4) knocked-off the Dennison Railroaders (6-15) 63-50.

BALTIC EAGLES - 67

Tom Ott F 9-3-21
Jim Wallace F 2-1-5
Fritz Syler F 7-7-21
Errol Jacobs C 8-1-17
Larry Stein F 0-0-0
Andy Hoffman G 0-1-1
Wayne Everhart G 1-0-2

KILLBUCK BUCKS - 58

Orr F 2-1-5
Dean Schonauer F 8-2-18
Aradt F 0-0-0
Landon F 3-0-6
Bob Hunter 6-1-13
Schafer G 0-1-1
Bob Allison G 6-3-15
Tidball G 0-0-0


Friday, March 5, 1954
Art Cicconetti, Sports Editor
The Daily Reporter
Dover, Ohio

NOTE:  On Tuesday, March 2nd,  the press showed the Strasburg Tigers in 5th place with the Tuscarawas Broncos getting 14 votes, the Port Washington Purple Riders 9 votes and the Baltic Eagles getting 7.

54 - Right Down The Line

RIGHT DOWN THE LINE
With Art Cicconetti, Sports Editor
Tuesday, March 2, 1954
The Daily Reporter
Dover, Ohio


AT THE BOTTOM OF THE BALLOT for the Associated Press All-Ohio Baskeball selections were 2 questions.  One asked..."Do you like basketball as it is played today?...and the other queried..."What changes would you suggest be made?"  To the 1st question we answered a flat "Yes."  The 2nd question was of course answered "None."

The reason for this, even though we think the the one-and-one foul rule should be repealed, is that we believe basketball should be left alone for a few years in order that players, fans and officials can become accustomed to the game without worrying about what changes are going on today.  An incident in the Strasburg Tigers-Port Washington Purple Riders game recently could have caused a lot of confusion had it occurred later in the game.  As it was, many fans left the gym still believing that referee Paul Whyte just had a lapse of memory and forgot what he had called.

IN THIS SITUATION, Junior center Jerry (Moose) Von Kaenel went in for a basket.  The goal was scored, but Von Kaenel was fouled after the ball had left his hands.  The 2 teams called time out and after the rest period, Von Kaenel attempted his free throw try and missed.  Port Washington players grabbed the ball and were on their way down the floor when the referees interceded and explained that Von Kaenel had another free throw try coming.  The Tiger center made this attempt whle the fans booed loudly, thinking Whyte didn't know what he was talking about.

Strasburg won by one point and we heard comments after the game that the referee's lapse of memory resulted in the defeat of the Purple Riders.  But Whyte called a one-and-one foul and not a shooting foul.  According to the rules interpretation this year, the man is no longer considered a shooter after the ball leaves his hand.  That means if he is fouled then it is a one-and-one.

FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS there has been something new each season.  It has been said that the game is increasingly moving over to favor the offense and since this is the department of the game that pleases the fans most, it is a logical conclusion.  If the rule makers would leave the game alone for several years and let the players and officials get used to the same situation, the game might settle down into a pattern instead of becoming faster almost every year.

There are many new ideas as to how the game could be improved.  We ran across one offered by Head Coach Ed Gottieb of the Philadelphia Warriors and thought perhaps it might be worth passing on.

GOTTLIEB SUGGESTS that the game be converted from 4 quarters to 12 two-minute innings.  Each team would have possession of the ball until the time limit expired, regardless of how many times it scored or whether it lost the ball out of bounds.  Under this plan, the visiting team would get 1st crack at possession just as a traveling baseball team geets "first bats."  The home team would have the ball in the last 2 minutes unless it was leading at that point.

Gottlieb admited it was a radical idea, but he based his argument for the plan on the idea that it would speed up the game and eliminate a lot of time wasted on jump balls and battles for possession.  Have you got any ideas on how the game can be improved?

54 - Eastern Ohio Sectional Basketball Tournament

DOVER - The Tuscarawas Broncos (18-2) and the Strasburg Tigers (24-1) were seeded for the Dover Eastern Ohio Sectional Basketball Tournament which gets underway at Memorial Hall on Wednesday and runs through Saturday night.  The Tigers picked the upper bracket and the number one spot which gives the Bengals a bye until Friday when they will meet the winner between the Glenmont Indians (16-7) and the Millersburg Knights (9-12) at 7:30.  The 2 Holmes County teams will open the meet.

The Broncos chose the number 10 spot in the lower bracket and will meet the Dover St. Joseph Ramblers (10-10) in the 2nd game Thursday night.  The Killbuck Bucks (14-9), the Holmes County champion, meets the Baltic Eagles (20-4) in the 1st game Thursday at 7:30.

The Dennison Railroaders (6-14) and the Dennison St. Mary Blue Waves (15-4) tangle Wednesday in the nightcap with the winner meeting the Dellroy Blue Jets (12-11), Carroll County Champions, Friday in the 2nd game.

The tournament is set up with 2 games slated for each night with the winners of the respective brackets moving on to the District Tournament at Brilliant the following week.

Admission to the tournament, managed by County Superintendent W.E. Laws, will be 75 cents for students.  No advance sale will be held and no seats are reserved.  Trophies will be presented to the 2 winners with the runner-ups  getting the tournament balls.


Monday, March 1, 1954
The Daily Reporter
Dover, Ohio

NOTE:  From RIGHT DOWN THE LINE With Art Cicconetti

The Dover St. Joseph Ramblers' drew one of the top Class B teams in the area in Tuscarawas and the Ramblers didn't have too much choice.  All of the brackets were filled by the time it came around for St. Joseph's representatives to pick their spot.  The only one left was Tusky.

The Strasburg Tigers got a reprieve when they got 1st crack.  The Tigers won't see action until Friday and Senior guard John Shetler, who is in Washington DC for a physical examination in connection with his asppointment to West Point, will be back at least by Friday.

There are probably some teams who should be here, but won't because of the county tournament hassles.  The big one missing is Big Prairie.  The Bulldogs were upset by the Killbuck Bucks for the Holmes county Crown Thursday night and then fell before the Glenmont Indians in their Consolation Division contest on Saturday.

54 - Tusky Wins 32nd Annual County Tournament 64-60 (2-27-54)

Head Coach Chuck Lorenz and his son are surrounded by the jubilant Tuscarawas Broncos Basketball Team as the Broncos whooped it up in the locker room Saturday night after claiming the 32nd Annual Tuscarawas County Class B Basketball Championship.

The Strasburg Tigers are glum after they suffered their 1st defeat in 24 games and dropped the counties tournament title to the Tuscarawas Broncos.


DOVER - It was a 19-year wait between championships, but the Tuscarawas Broncos' 64-60 victory over the previously undefeated Strasburg Tigers was worth the wait to the jubilant horsemen, their coaches and followers.  Not since 1935 had Tusky reigned as Champions of the annual basketball festival.  Tuscarawas defeated the Bolivar Cardinals that year, but they lost in the finals to Strasburg in 1937, the Gnadenhutten Indians in 1942 and the Sugarcreek-Shanesville Pirates in 1934.

Tuscarawas advanced to the Sectional Tournament on 5 other occasions by winning the Consolation Division Crown, but the big one had eluded the Blue And White until Saturday night when Head Coach Chuck Lorenz's charges came up with the biggest upset of the season in snapping the 24-game winning streak compiled by the Tigers of Strasburg.  The Broncos led throughout the entire game except at the very outset when Junior forward Jerry Haswell deadlocked the count at 2-2 with a push shot from the side and again in the 3rd quarter's opening minute .  It was Haswell again who deadlocked the score at 34-34 and 36-36 with 2 more field goals, both netted from the corner.

A combination of control basketball and a defense that was moved in tight under the boards payed off for Tusky, who played inspired ball all the way.

The Baltic Eagles trailed the Port Washington Purple Riders through most of the 1st half, took the edge just before the intermission and then soared away to a big lead in the 3rd stanza to win the Consolation Division Title going away 72-56.  The Purple Riders were seeking their 1st berth in the Sectional Tournament, but it didn't seem to be in the cards for the Riders to come through after nearly upsetting the Tigers Thursday night and then coming from behind to oust the Sugarcreek-Shanesville Pirates on Friday night.

Another full house was on hand to witness the battles between the League's 4 top teams.  The 1st game served only as an appetizer with the Championship clash affording the fans one of the best contests ever staged in the tournament.  It was close throughout and the verdict could have gone either way right up to the last minute; although, the Strasburg Tigers (3-1) (24-1) (88-24) whose chances were dealt a severe blow when Haswell left the floor with 5 personal fouls and still 2 minutes left in the game.  The Tuscarawas Broncos (3-0) (18-2) (45-40) took control of the game right at the outset and the Broncos set the pace.  An unwavering accuracy from the field gave the new champions the chance they wanted and they began to control the ball, shooting only when an opening showed.

Backboard control so important in the contest, went to the Colts in that opening quarter with Junior forward Terry Deems, Senior center Larry Myers and Senior forward Harry Thompson bunching underneath to out grab Junior center Jerry (Goose) Von Kaenel and Senior forward Elden (Zeke) Mullett of the Tigers.  Head Coach Don Martin sent his charges into a combination man-for-man and zone defense in the 2nd frame and the Bengals began to chip at the 7-point deficit staring at them after Tuscarawas had assumed a 19-12 lead at the close of the opening period.

Thompson, Deems and Senior Ralph Vesco, whose driving shots were the flying sparks that kept Tusky in the drivers seat, led the Broncos in the 2nd stanza while all of the Bengals contributed to their surge and the squads left the floor at halftime with the Colts leading 34-32.  Haswell's clutch performance kept the League Champion Strasburg team in the running in the 3rd stanza as the Junior All-League performer connected from the corners and sides to account for 9 of the Tigers 15 points.  His performance was offset; however, by Vesco's continued drive and the offensive pickup of Deems and Larry Myers under the basket.

Larry Myers got 6 points, Deems had 4 and Vesco totaled 9 as Tuscarawas jumped back up to a 55-47 lead at the far turn.  Once again it was Haswell who carried Strasburg back into the thick of it as he turned on the heat and connected for 3 push shots from the side.  Senior guard Fred Peters swished a long set shot with 2:45 left to make the score 57-50 in favor of Tusky and it looked as though the Tigers were roaring back.

The Broncos resorted to ball control once again; however, with the Bengals battling for possession, Haswell, who had gone through almost 3 quarters without a personasl foul, picked up 4 in the 1st six minutes of the final canto.  The Colts climbed up to a 62-57 lead by cashing in on free throw shots and Deems drove all the way in for a layup that made it 64-57 with 1:45 left to play.  Larry Myers left the game on personal fouls 10 seconds later and the Cats fought back to make the score 64-60 at the 1:20 mark.

Tuscarawas controlled the ball much of the rest of the game, while Strasburg lost 2 valuable chances to deadlock the score in the last minute.  Vesco had 21 for the Broncos with Deems getting 14, Thompson 12 and Myers 10.  Haswell's 12 field goals and 2 free throws totaled 26 for the Tigers, while Goose added 13.

TUSCARAWAS BRONCOS - 64

Terry Deems F 6-2-14
Harry Thompson F 5-2-12
Larry Myers C 3-4-10
Dave Myers C 0-0-0
Jim Henry G 1-3-5
Ralph Vesco G 10-1-21
Rich Davis G 0-2-2

STRASBURG TIGERS - 60

Jerry Haswell F 12-2-26
Eldon (Zeke) Mullett F 1-4-6
Jerry (Goose) Von Kaenel C 3-7-13
Fred Peters G 3-1-7
John Shetler G 3-2-8
Gale Huffman G 0-0-0


Monday, March 1, 1954
Art Cicconetti, Sports Editor
The Daily Reporter
Dover, Ohio

54 - Baltic Wins 20th Consolation Division Championship 60-50 (2-27-54)

DOVER - The Port Washington Purple Riders (2-2) (13-9) (21-51) gave it a good try, but the Purple Riders fell sharply in the 3rd stanza when the Baltic Eagles (4-1) (20-4) (30-48) raced to a commanding lead.  Junior forward Paul Frank and little Senior guard Fred Welsch lifted the Riders to a 17-9 first quarter lead and kept them in the drivers' seat through most of the 2nd frame as Senior guard Wayne Everhart, Senior forward Tom Ott and Senior guard Andy Hoffman carried the Eagles back into the picture and gave the Birds a 31-29 edge just at halftime.

Senior forward Ken Huston began connecting for Port Washington in the 3rd period, but his 8 points had only 3 more added to it, while Baltic, paced by 6-3 Junior Errol Jacobs, was red hot and the Flyers grabbed a 53-40 lead going into the final canto.

Port rallied at the outset of the closing quarter with 6-2 Senior center Larry Combs and Huston cutting the edge to 54-46, but Junior forward Jim Wallace slipped underneath the basket to score 3 quick field goals for the Eagles and the heat was off.

Jacobs paced Baltic with 19 points, Ott had 16 and Wallace 12, while Huston had 18 and Frank 14 for the fading Purple Riders.

BALTIC EAGLES - 60

Tom Ott F 7-2-16
Fritz Syler F 2-3-7
Jim Wallace F 5-2-12
Errol Jacobs C 7-5-19
Wayne Everhart G 4-1-9
Andy Hoffman G 1-6-8

PORT WASHINGTON PURPLE RIDERS - 50

Paul Frank F 4-6-14
Gary Dichler F 0-0-0
Ken Huston F 5-8-18
Vernon Glazer F 0-0-0
Peters F 1-0-2
Larry Combs C 3-1-7
Tom Jones C 1-1-3
Fred Welsch G 4-1-9
Jim Landon G 1-1-3
Weaver G 0-0-0


Monday, March 1, 1954
Art Cicconetti, Sports Editor
The Daily Reporter
Dover, Ohio

NOTE:  This was the actual Consolation Division Trophy that was awarded every year from 1934 to 1967.

S. TOOMEY COMPANY

Play-offs for a Tuscarawas County Consolation Division winner in the Annual Class B Basketball Tournament were inaugurated in 1934.  We of the S. Toomery Company have found great pleasure in donating the winners trophy for this event every year since that time.

We are proud to be a part of a community that produces such consistently fine basketball teams year after year.  Despite the keenness of competition in local Class B basketball, the play has always been outstanding for fairness and clean sportsmanship.  We congratulate the players, coaches and above all the fans for their wonderful enthusiastic support of the Class B teams.

54 - Port Ambushes Sugarcreek-Shanesville 60-50 (2-26-54)

Senior Larry Combs is a 6-2 stretcher Center for the Port Washington Purple Riders.  Larry came off the bench which he occupied mush of the time last year and has made a big contribution to the Purple Riders offense.  Against the Sugarcreek-Shanesville Pirates last night he threw in 13 points in a must-win situation for the Riders.  Port upended the Pirates 60-50 at Memorial Hall.

Senior Fred Welsch is a 5-9 scrappy Guard for the Port Washington Purple Riders.  Fred has been a mainstay of the Purple Riders' starting combination and has been a consistent performer for Port in the county tournament.  His overall season total in the scoring column is 178 points in 21 games thus far and in the tournament he has tallied 25 markers in 3 games.  He tossed in 8 points last night against the Pirates.

DOVER - The Tuscarawas County Class B Basketball Tournament, now in its 32nd renewal, has reached the end of the trail and who should be scrambling for the honors but the top teams according to the League's regular season standings.  As if by some pre-arranged plan, the Tuscarawas Broncos and Strasburg Tigers will meet again in the game county fans have been waiting for since the two battled earlier in the season with the Tigers winning handily.

The 2 titans of the League will clash for the Championship Crown in the feature game of the evening with the Port Washington Purple Riders and Baltic Eagles, who deadlocked for the 3rd place finish in the regular season, tangling in the preliminary for the Consolation Division title.  The Tigers and Broncos have already clinched berths in the Class B Sectional to be held here next week along with the Killbuck Bucks, Dennison Railroaders, Dover St. Joseph Ramblers, Dennison St. Mary Blue Waves and the Millersburg Knights.  The winner of the Baltic-Port tussle will be the 3rd representative from the county League.

The Eagles nipped the Midvale Blue Devils 73-70 in the 1st Consolation Division game at Memorial Hall last night, while the Purple Riders pulled away in lthe final quarter after trailing most of the way to oust the Pirates from the tournament 60-50.  The Bengals have won the tournament championship 13 times since its inaugural in 1923.  Undefeated Strasburg will face a team that will be seeking Tusky's 1st tournament title since 1935. That was the Broncos only championship in the annual festival.

The Purple Riders will be out to annex the 1st trophy in the school's history.  Port has never moved past the county tournament, while the Eagles were runner-up twice in 1938 and in 1952.

Senior forward Ken Huston led the Port Washington Purple Riders (2-1) (13-8) (21-50) to another whirlwind finish and the Sugarcreek-Shanesville Pirates (2-2) (57-40), who led all the way into the last canto, were chased out of the tournament.  Head Coach Bob Wise's Buccaneers racked up a quick 5-0 lead as Senior center Bill Ray swished 2 push shots and Junior guard Bill Pfister connected on a free throw try.  That was Pfister's last point of the game and Ray didn't connect again until just before he left the game on personal fouls with 4 minutes of the contest left to play.

The Pirates led 15-11 at the close of the 1st quarter and were on top 30-23 at halftime intermission as Senior guard Jim Spahr took over the heavy scoring duties.  Senior forward Max Miller shoved the Bucs ahead 32-22 as the Corsairs controlled the 2nd half tip-off, but Senior guard Fred Welsch led a drive that brought the Purple Riders to within 3 points 32-29.  Miller and Spahr managed to keep Sugarcreek-Shanesville ahead the rest of the period and the Pirates were on top 39-37 at the far turn.  That's when Huston, who began to hit his stride in the 3rd stanza, ignited the final push.

The Riders floor general meshed 2 quick baskets to give Port Washington their 1st lead of the game at 41-39 and after Miller canned a free throw toss for the Corsairs , he chipped in 4 straight points and Senior center Larry Combs added 2 charity tosses as the Purple Riders moved away.  The Riders' spark plug collected a total of 26 points for the night while leading his companeros, while Spahr had 18 and Miller 17 for Sugarcreek-Shanesville.

PORT WASHINGTON PURPLE RIDERS - 60

Paul Frank F 3-4-10
Gary Dichler F 0-0-0
Ken Huston F 10-6-26
Larry Combs C 3-7-13
Tom Jones G 0-0-0
Fred Welsch G 4-0-8
Jim Landon G 1-1-3

SUGARCREEK-SHANESVILLE PIRATES - 50

Max Miller F 4-9-17
Ted Brown F 2-0-4
Paul Snyder F 1-0-2
Keith Gerber F 1-0-2
Bill Ray C 3-0-6
Jim Spahr G 7-4-18
Bill Pfister G 0-1-1


Saturday, February 27, 1954
Art Cicconetti, Sports Editor
The Daily Reporter
Dover, Ohio

54 - Baltic Outlasts Midvale 73-70 (2-26-54)

Senior Forward Dave Martin is an Ace Veteran of the Midvale Blue Devils Basketball Team.  Dave is 6-foot and has been the backbone of the Blue Devil Squad this year.  He was a regular with last year's team which won the County League Tournament and tied the Tuscarawas Broncos for 2nd place in the League Standings at 8-2.  Martin leads all scoring for the Diablos, but was limited to 8 points in the loss against the Baltic Eagles 73-70.

Senior Forward Ed Krocker scored 17 points last night for the Midvale Blue Devils.  Ed was a member of last year's team.  Krocker made the leap to the starting 5 this year and has been one of the top men in scoring for the Blue Devils.


DOVER - The Baltic Eagles (3-1) (19-4) (30-48) gained its berth in the Consolation Division finals by outlasting the Midvale Blue Devils (2-2) (9-14) (60-29) in a hectic and ragged contest that produced some sparkling offensive play, but seemed to lack defensive prowess on the part of both quintets.  The tussle was a crowd pleaser from start to finish as the 2 clubs staged a fast break from the barrier in the opening quarter which ended in a 24-24 deadlock.

Senior forward Tom Ott's 13-point spree kept the Eagles in the contest in that opening period with Senior forward Ed Krocker meshing 11 for the Blue Devils as the 2 teams raced up and down the court in a scrambled free-for-all.  The pace slowed somewhat in the 2nd frame with the Diablos on top most of the way, but the Birds moved out in front 38-36 at intermission as Ott popped in 2 quick fielders.

Little Senior guard Wil Di Genova, whose showing during the tournament tagged him as one of the best scrappers in the circuit, was the whole show for Midvale in the last half as he drove  in, twisted in midair and usually came up with 2 points or a free throw chance.  Di Gennova's drive kept the Blue Devils in the game after Baltic soared to a 48-38 lead at the outset of the 3rd stanza and remained in command the rest of the way.

The Eagles were on top 58-52 at the far turn.  The Diablos moved to within one point 65-64, at one stage in the final canto, but the Birds pulled away with Ott, Junior forward Fritz Syler and Junior forward Jim Wallace carrying the attack.  Ott's total of 31 points set a new high for the tournament and his teammate Syler got 11.  Di Genova collected 21 for Midvale with Krocker getting 17 before fouling out in the final stanza, and Junior center Ron Weaver hit for 11 markers of his own.

BALTIC EAGLES - 73

Tom Ott F 12-7-31
Fritz Syler F 3-5-11
Jim Wallace F 3-3-9
Errol Jacobs C 3-3-9
Wayne Everhart G 3-0-6
Andy Hoffman G 1-5-7

MIDVALE BLUE DEVILS - 70

Frank Davis F 0-0-0
Dave Martin F 3-2-8
Larry Swinderman F 1-0-2
Ed Krocker F 7-3-17
Ron Weaver C 4-3-11
Bob Zontini G 2-1-5
Roseberry G 1-0-2
Di Genova G 6-9-21
Rich Leggett G 2-0-4


Saturday, February 27, 1954
Art Cicconetti, Sports Editor
The Daily Reporter
Dover, Ohio