DENNISON - Gnadenhutten (12-7) will have to be credited with one of the greatest comebacks the county tournament has seen in some years. The Tribe fell victim to some red hot foul shooting by Midvale (12-8) in the first half. The Blue Devils hit 10 of 10 in the opening period and 16 of their first 17 free throw attempts to gain what had all the aspects of being a lead that the Indians never would overcome. Behind 14-8 at the first stop and 32-16 at halftime the Tribe put on a superb effort in the third period, while Midvale had trouble finding the range against a strong Gnadenhutten defense. The Tribe outscored Midvale 16-2 at the outset of the third period to pull within 2 points, 34-32. Midvale found the range again at 1:35 to go ahead by 2 points and led 40-36 going into the final quarter. But Ron Sakola's crew was far from finished. Midvale's Bob Byers hit a goal to open the final quarter. Gnaden then proceeded to score 11 straight points before calling time with 4:56 remaining. On the other hand Midvale wasn't throwing in the towel. Behind 52-48 with 3:38 to play the Blue Devils proceeded to the count at 52-52 when Warren Leggett's jump shot was ruled good by officials when a Gnaden player swished his hand through the nets at the same moment the shot hit the hoop. The score was then tied 54-54. Gnaden took a 2-point lead with 2-minutes to play, at 56-54 when Bill Blickensderfer connected on a jumper. Neil Beans' jump shot tied the game 56-56. Ray Rank missed an opportunity to ice the decision for the tribe when he failed on a foul shot attempt after being charged by the Devils' Warren Leggett. In the overtime Bob Ervin hit 2 free throws and Carl Dichler a jump shot to give the Indians a 60-56 lead. Midvale narrowed the count twice to one point in the extra period, but couldn't go all the way. Blickensderfer's 16 points was high for the Indians. Brad Kaiser connected for 13 and Dichler and Ervin 13 apiece. Beans and Leggett led Midvale with 17 and 16, respectively. Midvale meshed 19 of 60 goal tries for just under 33 percent. It added 23 foul shots in 33 attempts. Gnaden made 18 of 59 for 30.6 percent and 26 of 32 foul shots.
GNADENHUTTEN INDIANS - 62
Ray Rank 0-2-2
Carl Dichler 4-2-10
Bill Blickensderfer 5-6-16
John Weaver 2-2-6
Bob Ervin 3-4-10
Brad Kaiser 3-7-13
Dave Struchen 1-3-5
MIDVALE BLUE DEVILS - 61
Warren Leggett 4-8-16
Rick Belknap 0-0-0
Neal Beans 5-7-17
Bob Byers 4-1-9
Jim Tidrick 3-0-6
Walt Weaver 1-3-5
Mike Page 2-2-6
Gary DeMattio 0-2-2
Monday, February 20, 1961
The Daily Reporter
Dover, Ohio
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