59 - Tuscarawas County Class "A" Basketball League (1-17-59)

Midvale's once-beaten Blue Devils have taken the driver's seat in their pursuit for a second successive schoolboy basketball championship in the Tuscarawas County Class "A" League. The Blue Devils, whose triumph in last year's league race snapped a 5-year rule by the Strasburg Tigers, traveled another mile nearer their destination last night by upending Gnadenhutten 70-63 in a battle of the unbeaten. In avenging an earlier 78-76 non-league loss to Gnadenhutten, the Pete Hilliard-coached Midvale club chalked up its sixth straight loop victory and snapped a 6-game loop winning streak for the Indians. It was Midvale's 12th success in 13 games overall, while Gnadenhutten is now 10-3 for the campaign. The Indians had won their last seven games. Standing in Midvale's path to the championship are Strasburg and Port Washington. The Blue Devils play host to Strasburg next Friday night and then entertain Port in the season finale February 6. Neither foe has any league record to speak of, but both proved troublesome in previous non-league competition. Midvale scored a 66-65 victory at Strasburg December 9 and won a 61-51 verdict at Port Washington October 30. Gnadenhutten must avenge an earlier 74-50 setback at the hands of Tuscarawas Valley when the two meet next Friday night in order to carry any hope of recapturing the league lead - or championship. Gnadenhutten closes its league slate in the contest. On the other hand, Tusky Valley, beaten only by Midvale last week in loop play, has to repeat its earlier triumph over the Indians to retain any visions of title grandeur. And the Trojans must also down Tuscarawas and Baltic in future league games - and hope that Midvale loses at least once - in order to gain at least a title share. The Trojans kept their ambitions alive last night by scoring a 66-55 victory over Stone Creek. Garaway and Baltic took victories in the other loop tussles, the former pinning a 71-57 setback on Strasburg and the latter took an 86-79 triumph over Tuscarawas. Port Washington was idle in loop warfare last night.
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LEAGUE STANDINGS
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1. Midvale Blue Devils 6-0
2. Gnadenhutten Indians 6-1
3. Tuscarawas Valley Trojans 4-1
4. Baltic Eagles 3-3
5. Garaway Pirates 3-3
6. Stone Creek Panthers 2-4
7. Tuscarawas Broncos 1-4
8. Strasburg Tigers 1-5
9. Port Washington Purple Riders 0-5
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Saturday, January 17, 1959
The Daily Reporter
Dover, Ohio