Right Down The Line (3-22-54)

Strasburg, Tuscarawas, Baltic, and Port Washington deserve to be called back for more bows as these four teams could well be ranked in the top reaches of the state's Class B ranks. Baltic certainly need apologize to no one for the Eagles lost but five games in 25 starts. Coach Tom Bellville's team was beaten twice by Tuscarawas and Strasburg and once by Port Washington. The Eagle carried Strasburg to the limit before bowing in the last quarter each time and they came back to defeat Port Washington decisively after dropping a 3-point decision to the Purple Riders late in the regular season.
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COACH Bray Toot's Riders ended the season with what looks like a mediocre 13-9 record. A closer glance reveals the fact that the Riders came on with a rush at the end of the season to gain a third-place tie with Baltic. Four straight defeats after opening with a win caused the Port record to fall. The Riders revenged three of those setbacks and nearly got the fourth when they dropped a 61-60 verdict to Strasburg in the County tourney semi-finals. Port also dropped two games each to Tusky and Strasburg, the District finalists. One loss was to Baltic and the other four were to Gnaden, Midvale, Stone Creek, and Sugarcreek-Shanesville, a team the Riders defeated in the county meet. Sugarcreek-Shanesville beat West Lafayette, whose only other loss was to Philo in the sectional meet at Zanesville. Dundee clipped Waynesburg, co-champions in Stark County. Mineral City also moved back up in the limelight during the season.
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STRASBURG'S record, 26-2, is one of the top in the state. The Tigers lost only to Tuscasrawas and claimed one of the three victories over the District champs. Elden Mullett, John Shetler and Fred Peters, all regulars, and Gail Huffman and Lewis Frees, will be lost by graduation. The Tigers will have a good nucleus for next year's team; however, with Jerry Von Kaenel and Jerry Haswell, both of whom won honorable mention on the United Press All-Ohio, back for their fourth season. Tuscarawas' record is the best, percentage wise, that the school has ever had and that first District championship adds even more lustre to the 22-3 mark. The Broncos were due for an under-par performance and it came in the regionals. They still are one of the best 16 in the state according to the tourney and that's getting up there. The Broncos also lost top-grade material in Larry Myers, Jim Henry, Ralph Vesco, who also earned an honorable mention berth on the UP all-star team, and Harry Thompson, all regulars. Jerry Briggs and Don Decker two reserve guards will also graduate.
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Monday, March 22, 1954
Art Cicconetti
Sports Editor
The Daily Reporter
Dover, Ohio