Port Washington Purple Riders Win First Ever Championship Title 61-45 (2-27-56)

Photo: CONSOLATION TROPHY - Displaying the consolation winners' trophy are three members of the Port Washington team which provided the school with its first award in the 34 years of the county tournament. It was the first Gnaden-Port tourney game ever. The trio is composed of Bob Welsch (left), Tom Jones and Ed Bates, the latter a member of the all-county team. The trophy was given by City Auto of New Philadelphia.
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Gnadenhutten (20-4) had topped the Port Washigton (15-7) outfit in two thrillers during the regular season, but Saturday night there was no stopping the rampaging Riders. Toot's team, featuring a three-pronged attack in Ed Bates, Tom Jones, and Nick Frank, barreled ahead early in the third period and rolled home as the Indians fouled repeatedly in attempting to stop the bigger, determined forces. Actually, the Riders made only two more field goals than Dick Scott's club, but Port made 15 free throws, while Gnaden converted only three of 15. On the other hand Port could have enjoyed a bigger edge if it had been more successful at the charity stripe. The Riders missed 15 others.
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FRANK HAS 17
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Nick Frank, who teamed with Tom Jones in bossing the backboards, wound up with 17 points for game honors, while Tom Jones canned 12 and the bespectacled Ed Bates counted 15. Only Eldon Miller scored in double digits for the Tribe. Port Washington and Gnaden fought on even terms in the opening session, but Port took a 23-22 half time advantage before starting to pour it on. The Riders led 46-28 at the end of three quarters and simply went through the motions the last eight minutes. It was the last schoolboy tussle for Gnaden Seniors Glen Hines and Lloyd Porter, who experienced some nightmarish luck on their shooting. Glen Hines ended with 359 points and Lloyd Porter with 330.
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PORT WASHINGTON PURPLE RIDERS 61
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Tom Jones 6-0-12
Ed Bates 7-1-15
Nick Frank 6-5-17
Denver Glazer 1-0-2
Bill McConnell 2-2-6
Jim Emler 0-1-1
Bob Welsch 1-6-8
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GNADENHUTTEN INDIANS 45
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Glen Hines 2-1-5
Lloyd Porter 2-0-4
Tom Roth 3-1-7
Larry Clark 4-0-8
Eldon Miller 5-0-10
Larry Biggs 1-0-2
Jim Meek 4-1-9
Ed Shull 0-0-0
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Monday, February 27, 1956
The Daily Reporter
Dover, Ohio