Midvale Staves Off Rally 71-69 (2-22-56)

Photo: SITTING IT OUT - Port Washington's Ed Bates and Midvale's Larry Swinderman may be getting a little dirty, but their object was a loose basketball. At left are Bob Welsch (in white jersey) of Port and Dick Leggett (3) of Midvale, while at the right is Nick Frank of the Riders, who yielded to the Blue Devils.



What a finish Midvale and Port Washington staged! About four minutes remained and the Middies led by 10. But, the Riders weren't ready to call it a night and rallied desparately only to have the door slammed in their face. The score was 69-62 with 2:15 left. In 30 seconds it was down to two points at 69-67 as Denver Glazer goaled and the flashy Ed Bates pulled a 3-point trick on a rebound goal and subsequent foul conversion. The joint was jumpin' as Midvale went into a stall. Ed Bates fouled John Beans with 29 seconds to go. Beans made one of two. Port got the rebound, moved upcourt and Ed Bates rammed in a jumper with 17 seconds left. Again the
Blue Devils coached by Pete Hillard switched to the deep freeze. With five seconds remaining Port fouled Beans intentionally and again Beans made the first shot. Midvale grabbed the rebound and had a berth in the finals as the clock ran out before the Riders had a chance to do anything about matters. If it hadn't been for the scrappy Beans and Larry Swinderman the sawed-off forward who seemingly has springs in his legs, Port might be the championship foe for Strasburg. Dandy Dick Leggett and slight-built John Columbo kept the Blue going the first half with Swinderman and Beans taking over the controls in the last two periods. On the other hand the Riders might have been thumped severely if Ed Bates and lantern-jawed Nick Frank hadn't been on the beam. The latter, who wound up with 20 points, three less than Ed Bates, was sensational on the backboards.
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THRILLING ACTION
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Midvale led 18-12 at the end of the first period during which the score was tied three times. Port was in the van twice, but after a 10-10 deadlock the Blue and Gold moved out on eight straight points - coming via an underhanded layup by Beans, two fouls and a jumper by Leggett and a fast break basket by Columbo. At 4:17 in the second chapter the Purple forged ahead 25-24 on a set by Bob Welsch. After Gary Haney made two charity flips and husky Tom Jones goaled for Port the score was tied again as the latter made a foul and Leggett a push shot. Columbo's drive-in put Midvale in front again and the Blue Led 39-33 at the half. A layup by sub Jim Emler knotted the count at 41-all early in the third canto and it was tied twice more before a jumper by Bill McConnell sent Port ahead 46-45. But Swinderman hit on a set and Midvale was in front to stay. Going into the final period the Middies had a 57-51 advantage. The difference was the first period, because veteran Bray Toot's lads matched the Blue Devils in the middle quarters and outscored them in the last. Both teams shot 37 percent. Midvale 28 goals in 75 shots and Port 24 in 64. Leggett, who can pump them home from any angle, pirtched in 24 markers for game honors. He had one more than Ed Bates who made 23, while Nick Frank canned 20.
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MIDVALE BLUE DEVILS 71
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Larry Swinderman 6-0-12
John Columbo 7-1-15
Charles Seldenright 1-0-2
John Beans 5-4-14
Dick Leggett 9-6-24
Gary Haney 0-4-4
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PORT WASHINGTON PURPLE RIDERS 69
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Ed Bates 8-7-23
Bob Welsch 1-4-6
Tom Jones 3-1-7
Nick Frank 6-8-20
Denver Glazer 2-0-4
Jerry Hannahs 0-0-0
Bill McConnell 2-0-4
Jim Emler 2-1-5
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Wednesday, February 22, 1956
The Daily Reporter
Dover, Ohio