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.
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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.
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It was Midvale's inability to crack Port Washington's tight zone and the Riders' stalling tactics on offense that kept the score down.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Although he was pressed the entire game, Sherrell led both teams with 14 points while Weber was high for the losers with 13 markers.
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As a result of its history, Midvale has a 5-1 record in league play while Port Washington has notched one and dropped six.
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Midvale won the reserve tilt 42-32.
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MIDVALE 27**********************************PORT WASHINGTON 26
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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
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Wednesday, January 14, 1950
The Daily Reporter
Dover, Ohio
Jimmy Russell
Reporter Sports Correspondent