PHOTO: Midvale's Blue Devils will be seeking their second Regional Crown in three seasons tomorrow night when they clash with the Northwestern Huskies. Coached by Pete Hilliard, the Blue Devils have rolled to impressive records the past two seasons, with this year's roark standing at 22-1. Two years ago they were regarded as the "Cinderella" team in the Canton tourney. Present squad members include (reading as you would write an "M") Ron Kaderly, Leonard DeMattio, Ron Breniser, Bill Housel, Hanes Hairston, Tom Krocker, Dave Belknap, Jim Clark and Vince DeNoi.*
Northwestern's defending Ohio class "A" Champion Huskies have been installed as favorites to win honors in the Regional Basketball Tournament which starts Friday night in Canton's Memorial Fieldhouse, but they'll have a big obstacle in their semi-final tournament appearance. The opposition will be put up by a well-balanced band of Midvale Blue Devils who have designs on the State Championship themselves. It sould be a humdinger. The Huskies have taken 23 wins in 25 starts in their drive toward a second straight title, while Midvale enters tomorrow night's 7PM clash with a 22-1 record, including the last 16 victories in a row. The Wayne County quintet lost only to Class "AA" Rittman 57-45 during the regular season, but the Huskies also hold victories over the same clubs. They beat Waynedale 71-66 in regular-season play and polished off Rittman 86-57 in the sectional final at Ashland. The Huskies' other wins came against Big Prairie 82-41, Savannah 87-40, Shreve 64-31 and 59-49, Smithville 69-49 and 70-45, Orrville 66-44, Hiland 63-59, Dalton 89-65 and 76-42, Plymouth 90-53, Loudonville 93-76, Norwayne 76-44 and 81-48, Hayesville 84-49 and Doylestown 82-51 and 95-64. They trimmed Shreve 77-46 in County Tournament play, Jeromesville 74-58 and Rittman in Sectional warfare, and Geneva Spencer 50-43 and United Local 79-44 in District play last week at Canton. Geneva Spencer was third ranked in the state in the final Associated Press poll and United Local was seventh. Northwestern led the field.
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Last year the Huskies rolled to 28 straight wins in copping the State Crown on the strength of a well-balanced squad. This year the Wayne Countians are again balanced, but have depended largely on the efforts of two regular returnees from last year's squad. The two - center Dean Chance and guard Boze Johnson - have been the mainstays. Chance, a 6-3 Senior, has averaged 27.5 points per game and has been averaging close to 20 rebounds per game. Although Chance shines on the hardwoods it is doubtful he will ever wear the uniform of a college team. he possesses a blazing fastball and is being sought by practically every team in the majors. Johnson, a 5-8 Senior, sports an 18-5 average and is the leader in the fast-breaking offfense used by Coach Dan Baker. Teaming at the forward slots for the Huskies will be Dave Fuhrman (6-2) and Russ Gortner (6-0). At the other guard will be Dwight Wasson, a 5-10 Junior and the team's top playmaker.
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In preparation for the big game, the Blue Devils have been practicing on Garaway High's court this week. The Garaway floor, although not as long as the Fieldhouse's court, is a lot longer than the Memorial Hall floor, where they have played all tourney contests to date. Garaway also has glass backboards.
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Thursday, March 12, 1959
The Daily Reporter
Dover, Ohio
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