Huston Leads Fast Finish As Port Ousts Pirates 60-50 (2-27-1954)

Ken Huston led the Port Washington Purple Riders (13-8) to another whirlwind finish and the Sugarcreek-Shanesville Pirates, who led all the way into the last period, were chased out of the tourney. Coach Bob Wise's Bucaneers racked up a quick 5-0 lead as Bill Ray swished two push shots and Bill Pfister connected on a foul try. That was Pfister's last point of the game and Ray didn't connect again until just before he left the game on personals with four minutes of the contest left to play. The Bucs led 15-11 at the close of the first period and were on top 30-22 at the halftime intermission as Jim Spahr took over the heavy scoring duties. Max Miller shoved the Bucs ahead 32-22 as Sugarcreek-Shanesville controlled the second-half tip-off, but Fred Welsch led a drive that brought the Riders to within three points 32-29. Miller and Spahr managed to keep the Pirates ahead the rest of the period and Sugarcreek-Shanesville was on top 39-37 at the far turn. That's when Ken Huston, who began to hit his stride in the third period, ignited the final push. The Purple Rider floor general meshed two quick baskets to give the Riders their first lead of the game 41-39 and after Miller canned a free toss for the Pirates, he chipped in four straight points and Larry Combs added two charity tosses as the Riders moved away 47-40. That was it. The Riders went into a semi-stall and stayed out in front with Ken Huston collecting seven more points before the game was over. The Port Washington spark-plug collected a total of 26 points to lead his mates while Spahr had 18 and Miller 17 for the Bucs.
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PORT WASHINGTON 60
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Paul Frank 3-4-10
Gary Dichler 0-0-0
Ken Huston 10-6-26
Larry Combs 3-7-13
Tom Jones 0-0-0
Fred Welsch 4-0-8
Jim Landon 1-1-3
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SUGARCREEK-SHANESVILLE 50
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Max Miller 4-9-17
Brown 2-0-4
Snyder 1-0-2
Gerber 1-0-2
Bill Ray 3-0-6
Jim Spahr 7-4-18
Bill Pfister 0-1-1
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Saturday, February 27, 1954
The Daily Reporter
Dover, Ohio