It was a 19-year wait between championships, but Tuscarawas' 64-60 victory over the previously undefeated Strasburg Tigers was worth the wait to the Broncos, their coaches and followers. Not since 1935 had Tuscarawas reigned as champtions of the annual basketball festival. The Broncos defeated Bolivar that year, but they lost in the finals to Strasburg in 1937, Gnadenhutten in 1942 and Sugarcreek-Shanesville in 1934. Tusky advanced to the sectional on five other occasions by winning the consolation crown, but the big one had eluded the Blue and White until Saturday night when Coach Chuck Lorent's charges came up with the biggest upset of the season in snapping the 23-game winning streak compiled by Strasburg. The Broncos led throughout the entire game except at the very outset when Jerry Haswell deadlocked the count at 2-2 with a push shot from the side and again in the third quarter's opening minute. It was Haswell again who deadlocked the score at 34-34 and 36-36 with two 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 the Broncos, who played inspired ball all the way.*
BALTIC trailed Port Washington through most of the first half, took the edge just before the intermission, and then soared away to a big lead in the third period to win the consolation title going away 72-56. The Purple Riders were seeking their first berth in the sectional meet, but it didn't seem to be in the cards for the Riders to come through after nearly upsetting Strasburg Thursday night and then coming from behind to oust Sugarcreek-Shanesville on Friday.
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Monday, March 1, 1954
Art Cicconetti
Sports Editor
The Daily Reporter
Dover, Ohio
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