Thursday, January 6, 2011

59 - Blue Devils In Sudden Death! 84-83 (3-2-59)




PHOTO: Midvale Blue Devils Senior - Tom Krocker
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Midvale's Blue Devils and Killbuck's Bucks got together for a "rock and roll session" Saturday night in Memorial Hall in the finale of Class "A" Sectional Tournament play. The Devils rolled to an 84-83 double overtime victory and the Bucks were rocked - learning that a team could emerge victorious by not scoring a goal in a "sudden-death" overtime period. W.E. Laws, tournament manager, announced prior to the second overtime period that the team making the first goal would be declared the winner. Neither team made a goal, but with 30 seconds remaining in the second overtime, Midvale's Hanes Hairston dropped in a free throw for what proved to be the victory margin. Killbuck then took over, and going by Laws comment, held on to the ball, hoping for a better chance in a "third overtime." It never came - for the clock ran out and the Devils were declared the victors under a District and State ruling which says that the team ahead at the end of the second overtime shall also be declared the winner - a fact which Laws neglected to mention. The capacity crowd then poured onto the floor with Killbuck protesting - in vain - the decision. In the excitement, the Bucks did not receive the game ball trophy which goes to the runner-up.
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A nip-and-tuck battle all the way, the lead changed hands a total of 14 times. The biggest lead was held by Midvale and it was only 10 points, piled up twice in the second period. Killbuck's biggest lead was six points in the opening stanza when it led 17-11. However, the Devils came battling back and went ahead 22-21 at the end of the period. At halftime, Midvale held a margin. Killbuck stormed back in the third period with five straight baskets to tie the game 47-47 with 4:15 left. The lead changed hands three more times before the Bucks finally went on top 59-57. The Bucks held the lead until midway in the final chapter when Midvale tied the count at 66-66. It was tied again at 71-71 and 73-73 before Tom Taylor dropped in two free throws for the Bucks. Tom Krocker pulled the Devils from seeming defeat with five seconds remaining when he connected on a jumper to tie the game. In the first overtime period, Midvale went ahead 82-77 before the Bucks put on a comeback drive of their own. They capped it with two seconds to go when Bob Arnold meshed a jump shot from the side. And then came the eventful "sudden death" finish.
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The win was Midvale's 14th straight in a 20-1 record. Killbuck finished with a 17-5 standing. The Blue Devils put on a balanced scoring show with all five starters, who went the distance, ending in double figures. Tom Krocker led the way with 23, while Bill Housel followed with 17, Tom Belknap and Hanes Hairston 15 apiece and Ron Breniser 14. High for the losers was Jerry Allison with 24, Tom Taylor added 18, B. Arnold 16 and Gary Croskey 13.
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MIDVALE BLUE DEVILS 84
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Ron Breniser 4-6-14
Tom Krocker 11-1-23
Bill Housel 7-3-17
Dave Belknap 6-3-15
Hanes Hairston 5-5-15
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KILLBUCK BUCKS 83
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B. Arnold 8-0-16
Bill Norris 3-2-8
Gary Croskey 5-3-13
Jerry Allison 10-4-24
Tom Taylor 7-4-18
McDowell 1-2-4
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Monday, March 2, 1959
The Daily Reporter
Dover, Ohio


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