Holmes County's best was one basket better than Tuscarawas County's No. 2 team last night in a real Class "A" Sectional Basketball Tournament thriller in Memorial Hall. Hiland's high-flying Hawks flew into District tournament play at 0:03 of the final period when Gene Gerber let loose with a jump shot that gave his team an edge over Tuscarawas Valley's Trojans. In qualifying for the Dover District trip, the Hawks join Brilliant and Conotton Valley victors in the Brilliant Sectional tourney. The winner of tonight's Midvale-Killbuck game will complete the field. Drawings for the event, scheduled March 2-3-6 will be held tomorrow at 5:30PM in Helmkamp's Restaurant.*
Tuscarawas Valley never led after the first period when it grabbed a 15-13 advantage in its battle with the Holmes County kingpins, but it put on a comeback performance in the final stanza which almost resulted in victory. Hiland displayed a potent outside shooting attack and it eventually was responsible for the victory. Gerber, a 6-0 Junior veteran canned the winning bucket from the left side of the Memorial Hall woods. It followed a one minute battle which saw the Hawks go into a stall, playing for the last shot, after the Trojans had tied the game at 53-53. The Hawks had one other scoring opportunity in the final seconds when Stan Gerber missed a jumper from in close with 7 seconds remaining. A jump ball was called following his shot and the Hawks controlled the tip. Gerber got the ball at midcourt and dribbled to the left side and shot. It swished cleanly through the cords. The close final period action overshadowed the overall poor play by both teams. Both had numerous bad passes and many easy shots went astray. On several occasions Tusky Valley had the opportunity to drive in for easy baskets, but passed up the chance for outside shots which, for the most part, fell wide of the mark. This can be best exemplified by the so-so shooting. Tusky Valley meshed only 20 of 66 for 30.3 percent, while adding 13 of 24 free throws. Hiland made good on 22 of 63 goal tries for 34.9 percent and converted 11 of 18 from the charity stripe. Then too, Tusky Valley's Ben Price, who was named the county's most valuable player at the recent county tournament, had his worst offensive night of the campaign. It was the first time he had scored less than 11 points this year. The Trojan Senior, who ended with eight points, was benched with four fouls with three minutes to go in the second period. He returned to action in the final chapter to give the Trojans a big boost in their comeback bid. He finished the overall season with 460 points. Little Ron Lake, only a Sophomore was the go-getter in the Trojan attack and came through with several crucial buckets. He ended with 14 points. Clarence Cantrill, another Senior, paved the way to the Trojans' 15-12 first-period lead when he hit for eight points. He ended with 15. Stan Yoder was the big man for the Hawks with 20 points, while guard Dale Wurthman tallied 16 and Gene Gerber 13. After taking the first quarter lead, Tusky Valley fell behind at the outset of the second when the Hawks scored six straight points. At halftime it was 27-23. Tusky Valley stayed within striking distance in the third period as both teams hit a cold spell. Hiland was on top 41-34. The Trojans then began their last period drive. They narrowed the count to two points with six minutes left and then tied it at 45-45 and 47-47 with three minutes left. With one minute remaining they knotted the count at 52-53 and then Hiland went into its bid for the final shot. Hiland will carry a 20-2 mark into District play, while Tusky Valley ended with a 20-3 overall record.
*
*
HILAND HAWKS 55
*
Gene Gerber 4-5-13
Glen Miller 0-0-0
Stan Gerber 3-0-6
Bob Miller 0-0-0
Bob Weaver 0-0-0
Dale Wurthman 7-2-16
Stan Yoder 8-4-20
Hechstetier 0-0-0
*
*
TUSKY VALLEY TROJANS 53
*
Ben Price 4-0-8
Roy Buchanan 2-5-9
Clarence Cantrill 7-1-15
Jim Studer 2-1-5
Chuck Locker 1-0-2
Ron Lake 4-6-14
Jerry Pullins 0-0-0
*
*
*
Saturday, February 28, 1959
Norm Singleton, Sports Editor
The Daily Reporter
Dover, Ohio
No comments:
Post a Comment