It's not often that a team loses in the District Basketball Tournament finals and gets still another opportunity to move into Ohio basketball's "Sweet 16." But that situation will exist for the loser of tonight's Class "A" District cage contest between Midvale and Conotton Valley slated at 8 in Memorial Hall. The winner of the fracas automatically qualifies for next week's regional tournament in Canton's Memorial Fieldhouse. But the loser, who usually must call it quits after a loss at the District level, will get its second opportunity tomorrow night at 8 when it tangles with the runner-up from the Marietta District in Dennison High. It will also be bidding for a trip to the Canton Tourney. Colliding in the Marietta joust tonight are Mayaville (17-6) and Old Washington (21-0). The winner will advance to the Southeast Regional at Athens. The third Regional berth for the Eastern District came late in November when a reapportionment of the District was made. It was found that the Eastern was entitled to an additional team in Regional play. Rather than completely change Sectional and District tourneys already set up, the decison for a playoff for the third trip was made. Heretofore, the Northeast District had three Regional representatives. Tonight's fracas will pit two well-balanced scoring aggregations and the nod could go to either team. In a previous meeting January 27, Midvale (21-1) had to go to the foul line where it made 19 of 26, to edge Conotton Valley (17-7) 71-70. The Blue Devils have rolled past 15 straight foes since their lone season loss to Gnadenhutten early in the campaign and have all five starters averaging in double figures. Two Daily Reporter All-County choices help load the Devil point-making. Ron Breniser has scored 434, while Bill Housel has tallied 273. Tom Belknap with 281, Hanes Hairston with 261 and Tom Krocker 196 follow in that order. The latter didn't get into action until after the Christmas holidays because of a broken leg suffered in the last football game of the season. Lanty Smith, an All-Harrison County Tournament choice, loads Al Girone's undergraduate club with 345 points in 19 games. He missed four contests because of injuries and illness. Southpaw Sophomore Larry Dunlap is the second leading scorer with 258, while Jack Buckey, another Sophomore, has tallied 127. Doors are slated to open at 7. *
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Friday, March 6, 1959
The Daily Reporter
Dover, Ohio
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