PHOTO: Garaway And Hiland Stranglehold - Hiland's Bob Hochstetler (32) had a stranglehold on Garaway's Koran Zehnder in this action from last night's tourney battle. Nearby was Terry Hershberger, also of the Hawks. The Hawks almost hung the "horse collar" on the high scoring Pirate whiz. He ended last night's game with 14 points.*
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Seven straight victories -- and then Hiland! Fifteen more consecutive wins -- and who was it? None other than those pesky Hawks again. That's the story of the 1959-1960 basketball season for the fighting Garaway High Pirates. Last night the rivals met on the neutral Brilliant High floor in the "rubber" match of their season series which had seen each post victories on home courts. This one counted the most. A trip to next week's Regional Tournament at Canton's Memorial Fieldhouse in addition to the class "A" District Title, was at stake. For the game, more important than any played previously, Hiland was prepared. It defeated Garaway 58-45. Coach Jim Stull's Pirates never quit. In fact, this great Buc squad went down fighting. It was a big season, the best in the history of the consolidated combine and provided many revered moments for those who had followed the former forces of Sugarcreek-Shanesville and Dundee high schools. The Pirates didn't win all the championships, but then few seldom do. Their 22-2 record speaks as a momento to a fine basketball team.
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Last night, though, the Hiland Hawks were better. It was a great hour of triumph. Not since the 1948-1949 season has a Holmes County team advanced to the Regional Tournament. Walnut Creek, which was included in the Hiland consolidation along with Berlin, carried the banner that season. It advanced to the Regional finals where it lost to a great Waynesburg team. Waynesburg, oddly enough, was absorbed in another consolidation, Sandy Valley. "I'm dumbfounded," Hiland Coach Bob Schrock spoke in all sincerity following his team's lightning-like victory. "When I saw that 20-point lead I just couldn't believe it. We changed our offense some -- and we decided to go at it whole hog or none, and it worked out." "Attitude wise, on the basketball floor, as well as in the classroom, this is the best bunch I've ever worked with. I'm more proud of them for that than winning the game." Seldom has one team played as important a role in the season of another team, as did Hiland in Garaway's. The Pirates carved out 7 straight victories, before a trip to Hiland's gym stopped the streak 60-56, in an overtime. They later avenged that loss by defeating the Hawks 57-52 at Sugarcreek. This time the chips were on the table and the Hawks came through with a straight flush to win going away.
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Before most had settled down for an expected close score Garaway had tossed the ball away 6 times and the Hawks had turned opportunists by flying to a 10-0 lead in the first 4 minutes of play. Garaway (22-2), despite all its efforts, many which led only to frustration, never recovered. It cut the gap to 6 and 5 points several times -- but that was the closest it could come. Hiland (23-2) played it smart after racking up the early lead which resulted from its well-knit press. It began working for the close in shot. With Linus Miller turning in a dazzling display out front and Gene Gerber outfoxing the Pirates with his crashing drives from the side, the Hawks turned the game into a rout midway in the final quarter. At the time the Hawks began their binge Garaway was behind 44-36 and 4 minutes remained to play. When the clock hands hit the 1:05 mark Hiland was on top 56-36. "It just wasn't our night," Stull said. "I think they beat us all the way down the line. I have to give them credit, they were a better team than us tonight. There's really not much you can do when you can't get the ball in the basket. We certainly wish them all the luck in the world at Canton." Garaway's 2 great Senior stars, Charles Stingel and Koran Zehnder, made their bow in the game. Stingel led the Pirate scoring with 18 points and Zehnder, who found difficult in finding openings in the Hiland defense, made 12. Gerber set the scoring pace for Hiland with 24 markers and Miller connected for 20. Unofficial figures showed the Pirates ending with 36.6 percent of their field goals connecting as they netted 17 of 46. They made 11 of 17 from the foul line. Hiland's percentage, also unofficial, was nothing short of amazing. It made 22 of 38 field goals for 57.8 percent. It tossed in 14 of 21 free throws.
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As District king, Hiland replaces Midvale. The Blue Devils were spilled by Northwestern last year in their Regional Tournament opener at Canton. Last night Schrock was asked if, perhaps, his team had possibly been thinking of a try at Northwestern's Huskies as it ripped through the Garaway defenses. Northwestern, which led the Associated Press Class "A" poll this season, edged the Hawks 49-47 for their only other defeat. Schrock was quick to comment, "we don't try to think too far in advance. We just take these games one at a time." Be that as it may. But there is still the possibility the teams could meet at the Regional opener -- or still yet the finals. Northwestern, along with Lowellville and Frazeysburg or Hopewell, which play tonight at New Concord, will be competing in the meet slated to take place next Friday and Saturday nights. Drawings will be held tomorrow afternoon in the Holiday Inn Motel at Canton.
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HILAND HAWKS 58
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P. Miller - 0-0-0
Gene Gerber 8-8-24
Gary Mast 2-0-4
Bob Hochstetler 3-2-8
Hershberger 1-0-2
Linus Miller 8-4-20
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GARAWAY PIRATES 455
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Tom Andreas 2-0-4
Jim Gerber 2-0-4
Charles Stingel 8-2-18
Bob Raber 1-1-3
Koran Zehnder 3-6-12
Bud Yakley 1-1-3
Dannis 0-1-1
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Saturday, March 12, 1960
Norm Singleton, Sports Editor
The Daily Reporter
Dover, Ohio
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