60 - Strasburg Upsets Midvale 59-53 (2-20-60)

PHOTO: Strasburg Tigers - Sondra Bauman (left) and Linda Mills were "caretakers" for "Leroy," new Strasburg High School mascot when the 5-foot tiger was introduced last night during the County Class "A" League Tournament at Dennison. Leroy (that's coach
Warren Binder's middle name) turned out to be a good luck charm for the Tigers, who came through with a 59-53 victory over Midvale. The mascot was recently purchased by a group of students while "shopping" at Akron. In other games last night, Tuscarawas Valley dropped Port Washington 82-71 and Baltic defeated Stone Creek 64-49.

PHOTO: Strasburg Tigers and Midvale Blue Devils - Ron Breniser (11) (Midvale) appeared to be singing the "blues" when stopped by Daily Reporter cameraman Ralph McKee as Strasburg's Don Grove (22) stole the ball from his hands. If he was he had a right to. A usual 20 point per game man, he couldn't find the hoop and ended with only 14. No 20 is Neil Beans, also of Midvale.

*

*

Midvale didn't score its first points of the final quarter until 2:01 was left to play. There in lies the story of a quick end to the Blue Devils' 1960 tournament play. At the same time Strasburg took the situation in hand to revenge for one of its 11 losses this season. The Tigers, who defeated Midvale 52-50 in their first meeting, lost a 64-60 overtime decision to the Blue Devils January 29. Behind 46-41 at the end of the third period, Coach Warren Binder's team moved into a permanent lead with 5:35 remaining, going ahead 47-46. It increased the lead to 55-46 before Ron Leggett broke the scoring ice for Midvale with a jump shot. But it was too late for the Blue Devils. Strasburg added 6 points, all it needed to insure the victory. It marks the first time in 6 years that Midvale will not be in the sectional tournament field. The former champs had not lost their first game in the county event in 17 years. In 1942 they lost 48-21 to
Gnadenhutten in their opener. In the first half Strasburg made numerous turnovers, too numerous to think it might be on top when the final seconds had ticked away. It led 14-11 at the end of the first period, but Midvale moved to a 29-23 margin at halftime despite its ice cold shootingperformance. Ron Breniser, the Devils' All-County performer, never thawed. He scored 14 points, but wasn't hitting. He missed 10 of 14 foul line tries. Frank Wallick, Strasburg's fine center, took things into his own hands in the third quarter, scoring 11 of the Tigers' 18 points. He ended with game laurels at 25. Teammate Bill Seese scored 13, while Leggett and Neil
Beans of the Blue Devils tallied 12 and 10, respectively. Strasburg enjoyed a fairly successful shooting night, making 24 of 61 field attepts, a 39.3 percentage. It meshed 11 of 22 free throws. Midvale was way off that mark. Only 20 of 67 went true to the mark, resulting in a 29.9 percentage. It made 13 of 25 charity tosses.

*

*

STRASBURG TIGERS 59

*

Bill Seese 5-3-13

Dale Liggett 2-4-8

Frank Wallick 11-3-25

Jim Clymer 2-0-4

Don Grove 3-1-7

Tom Jones 1-0-2

*

*

MIDVALE BLUE DEVILS 53

*

Ron Breniser 5-4-14

Ron Daderly 3-1-7

Neil Beans 4-2-10

Warren Leggett 4-4-12

Rober Swinderman 3-2-8

Mike Page 1-0-2

*

*

*

Saturday, February 20, 1960

The Daily Reporter

Dover, Ohio