Gnadenhutten Are Champions Of The Class A Sectional Tournament 78-71 (3-3-58)

PHOTO: Gnadenhutten High School - Home of the Gnadenhutten Indians.

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The Gnadenhutten Indians are the lone Tuscarawas County team still in tourney play. The Indians sidelined the Millersburg Spartans with a 78-71 victory in the finals of the Class A Sectional Saturday night at Memorial Hall. In drawings held yesterday at Brilliant, which alternates with Dover as the site for the district meet, the Indians drew Powhattan of Belmont County and one of the winners of the St. Clairsville Sectional. They will play Wednesday night at 8:45PM. The other local Sectional winner, Big Prairie-Lakeville of Holmes County, will tangle with Dillonvale of Jefferson County in the 7:00PM opener. Powhattan gained the district berth with a 74-72 victory over Conotton Valley Friday night, while Dillonvale topped Springfield Township 60-50 for the Brilliant trip. The Brilliant winners will collide for the district title and the coveted berth in the regional playoffs at Canton at 8:00PM Saturday night. Coach Dick Scott's Indians had to fight off a full court press in the fourth quarter to salvage the victory over Millersburg and the district trip. The Spartans of Coach Joe Banks, down in the final period with a deficit of 11 points, went into the full court defense with five minutes remaining. The strategy forced Gnadenhutten to stall up to the final moments. First quarter action saw the Spartans open strong and jump to a lead of 6-3, before the Indians got out their hatchets. They went ahead 7-6 with five minutes remaining in the period as Ed Shull arched a setter from the outside. From that point Gnadenhutten stayed in the lead for the remainder of the contest, although being tied twice in the remaining minutes of the opening frame. The Tribe spurted for two fielders and a foul to close the period with a 23-15 lead. In the next two periods the Spartans fought valiantly, but could ot match the well-balanced attack of the Tribe which had five starters in double figures. Until the waning moments of the contest the closest Millersburg could cut the Gnaden margin was six points with two minutes to be placed in the second stanza. Millersburg outgoaled the Indians 29-28, but lost at its foul line. The Spartans hit 13 times from there , while the Indians cashed 22, most of which came in the final period when Millersburg players fouled to gain possession of the ball. Pacing the Tribe was all-countians Larry Clark and Ron Bradley. Clark collected eight goals and seven fouls for 23 points, while Bradley tallied eight times from the field for 16. The well-balanced attack was rounded out by Shull's 14, Tom Roth's 12 and Larry Gooding's 11. Millersburg was led by Gary High, who notched 21 points on 10 floor shots and one foul from his guard post. Jim Shonk added 14, Karl Crandall 12 and Paul McCormick 10.

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GNADENHUTTEN INDIANS 78

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Ron Bradley 8-0-16

Larry Clark 8-7-23

Larry Gooding 4-3-11

Tom Roth 5-2-12

Ed Shull 2-10-14

Alvin Cappel 1-0-2

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MILLERSBURG SPARTANS 71

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Rottman 1-6-8

Jim Shonk 7-0-14

Karl Crandall 5-2-12

Paul McCormick 3-4-10

Gary High 10-1-21

Money 3-0-6

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Monday, March 3, 1958

The Daily Reporter

Dover, Ohio