Unbeaten Pirates In Bid For County Title (1-5-50)

Sugarcreek-Shanesville's Pirates (4-0) and the Midvale Blue Devils (3-1) will provide the County Basketball league feature Friday night when the two teams collide in a conference game on the Blue Devil court. The Bucs, striding toward a league title, are unbeaten in four league games while the Blue Devils, defending champions (1948-1949 season), have lost one while notching three victories. All teams, with the exception of Tuscarawas, see action Friday night as play is resumed after the long Christmas layoff.

*

Baltic (1-4) in league play travels to Stone Creek (3-2) for a conference battle with the high-scoring Panthers while Dundee (2-2) invades Bolivar (2-3).

*

Gnadenhutten (2-3) treks to Mineral City (1-4) and Port Washington (1-4) tackles Strasburg (2-2) on the Tigers court.

*

Not any of the games; however, command the attention the Pirate-Blue Devil engagement is getting this week. For the Pirates of Coach Gerald Straley it will be an opportunity to virtually clinch the title if they can successfully invade the Blue Devil lair. For Midvale, whose domination of the conference has been complete for the past two seasons (1947-1948 & 1948-1949), a victory would mean an opportunity to gain at least a tie for the crown.

*

Another test of strength which may shuffle the standings below the leaders will take place at Bolivar where Coach Warren Craigo's Cards tangle with the Dundee Bulldogs.

*

Stone Creek, standing high on the list as the new year opens, is not expected to have much trouble with Baltic nor are the Strasburg Tigers anticipating trouble from Port Washington.

*

Thursday, January 5, 1950

The Daily Reporter

Dover, Ohio

Blue Devils Win In Overtime 27-26 (1-14-50)

Bob Sherrell meshed a two-pointer and Ray Ford a foul shot to ice the triumph as the Midvale Bllue Devils, who last Friday night showed signs of regaining the form that led them to the regional tournament the last two years, were dealt a nearly fatal blow when they were forced to play an extra period to squeeze by the lowly Purple Riders of Port Washington.
*
With Midvale's key offensive weapon, Bob Sherrell having difficulty handling the ball inside the loser's quick shifting zone defense, the Blue Devils were kept on the jump all the way and seldom got set for a clean shot.
*
It was Midvale's inability to crack Port Washington's tight zone and the Riders' stalling tactics on offense that kept the score down.
*
With the loser's Bill Jones keeping Sherrell on the hop and pulling in many rebounds, the Port Washington Purple Riders forced the Blue Devils to play a slow deliberate game all the way.
*
Coach Bray Toot's hoopsters came out with fire in their eyes as they swarmed all over the court and set the over-confident Blue Devils back on their heels to forge a 7-3 lead at the initial pause.
*
Still setting the pace in the second quarter, the Riders were in front at the half 12-11 but Midvale outscored them 8-9 in the third to knot the score at 19-all.
*
In the last quarter the Riders fell off the pace and the Blue Devils held a scant 24-21 margin with only seconds remaining. But the loser's Harold Weber came back with two charity tosses to close the gap to 24-23 and Bob Jones followed with a single to tie the count at 24-24 at the finish of the regulation game.
*
Although he was pressed the entire game, Sherrell led both teams with 14 points while Weber was high for the losers with 13 markers.
*
As a result of its history, Midvale has a 5-1 record in league play while Port Washington has notched one and dropped six.
*
Midvale won the reserve tilt 42-32.
*
*
MIDVALE 27**********************************PORT WASHINGTON 26
*
*
Pissoera***1-2-*4***************************** Weber****3-7-13
Davis*****0-1-*1****************************** West*****0-0-*0
Ruffini****0-0-*0***************************** Corbett***0-0-*0
Sherrell***5-4-14***************************** B. Jones***2-1-*5
Wilson****0-1-*1***************************** W. Jones***2-1-*5
K.Ford****2-3-*7***************************** Frank*****1-1-*3
*
*
Wednesday, January 14, 1950
The Daily Reporter
Dover, Ohio
Jimmy Russell
Reporter Sports Correspondent

Strasburg Rips Purple Riders 79-30 (1-7-50)

Coach Don Martin's Strasburg Tigers had trouble getting started against Port Washington's Purple Riders and posted only a meager 8-3 lead at the close of the first period. However, with Norman Couts, Jim Huffman and Dale Renner hitting the nets regularly in the second quarter, the powerful Bengals came back with a 21-point surge and led the Riders 29-12 at the half. Couts, who fouled out late in the period meshed three fielders while Huffman and Renner each collected two.

*

With the Tiger man-to-man defense pressing Port Washington all over the court, Strasburg held the Riders practically helpless and ran away with the battle in the last half to notch the victory.

It was Strasburg's third decision in five starts in league warfare while the loss gave the invaders a 1-5 record.

*

Bob Frank of Port Washington was high for the losers with 12 markers. Strasburg's reserves smothered the Port Washington seconds 42-24.

*

STRASBERG 79 ******************************PORT WASHINGTON 30

*

Miller 4 - 1 - 9 ********************************Weber 3 - 1 - 7

Renner 4 - 5 - 13 ******************************West 0 - 1 - 1

Gepfert 0 - 5 - 5 ******************************Corbett 0 - 1 - 1

Bayer 2 - 0 - 4 ********************************B. Jones 3 - 1 - 7

Huffman 5 - 1 - 11 *****************************W. Jones 1 - 0 - 2

J. Mizer 2 - 0 - 4 ******************************Frank 2 - 8 - 12

Rieger 1 - 1 - 3

Couts 5 - 0 - 10

Froman 5 - 1 - 11

Jeandrevin 4 - 1 - 9

*

Saturday, January 7, 1950

The Daily Reporter

Dover, Ohio