62 - Baltic Edges Newcomerstown 57-56 (12-27-61)

PHOTO:  Newcomerstown's Butch Williams (22) fires away from the foul circle leaping above the out-stretched hands of Baltic's Jack Miller (24).  Larry Kaser of Baltic is in  the background.  Baltic edged Newcomerstown 57-56.

NEWCOMERSTOWN - Jack Miller's successful foul shot with just 15 seconds left on the clock provided the winning margin for Baltic's Eagles, but it hardly climaxed the game.  For, with but 6 seconds remaining, Loarry Kaser fouled  Ernie Art after a shot attempt and the Trojan stepped to the foul line to shoot a one-and-one.  His first effort hit the rim and bounded off and Baltic (5-4) captured a hard-earned victory.  The lead changed hands 9 times and the score was tied on 11 occasions as the Eagles and Trojans battled it out in the nightcap.  Never more than 7 points separated the teams and most of the time it was just a basket.  After a nip and tuck first period, in which Newcomerstown finally came out on  top 19-17, the Trojans gained a 4-point edge, 34-30, by halftime.  With Art, Gary Gunn and Butch Williams all scoring heavily in the  first half, the Trojans seemed to be on the way toward their second victory.  But Baltic came back in a hurry to take a 40-37 lead.  The Eagles increased their margin to 49-42 just before the end of the third frame, but Newcomerstown tied it up at 52-52 with 4:40 remaining on a basket by Gunn.  Kaser dropped in a pair of fouls and Jack Miller followed with a fielder to send Baltic ahead 56-52, but Art hit to cut the margin to 56-54 with 1:40 left.  With exactly a minute to go, Art connected again, this time on a jumper from the corner to tie the game.  With 28 seconds left, Dick Gerber fouled Gunn, but the Trojan guard missed.  Baltic came down with the rebound after a wild Newcomerstown shot and Charlie Collins ran into Miller on a screen to account for the winning  point.  Willis Mullet paced Baltic with 17 points, and Miller had 15 and Gerber 13.  Gunn and Williams had 16 each for the Trojans, but it was Art, who came off the bench to net 16 points, that hurt Baltic.  Baltic made 24 of 66 action shots for 36 percent, while Newcomerstown hit 45 percent, 21 of 47.

BALTIC EAGLES - 57

Willis Mullet 8-1-17
Jack Miller 6-3-15
Dale Lautenschleger 1-0-2
Dick Gerber 6-1-13
Brad Kaser 2-4-8
Stein 1-0-2

NEWCOMERSTOWN TROJANS - 56

Grimm 0-1-1
John Berg 0-1-1
Ernie Art 7-2-16
Collins 1-2-4
Gary Gunn 7-3-17
Butch Williams 6-5-17


Thursday, December 28, 1961
The Daily Reporter
Dover, Ohio

STANDINGS

1.  Midvale Blue Devils 3-0 (7-1)
2.  Gnadenhutten Indians 2-1 (6-2)
3.  Baltic Eagles 2-1 (5-4)
4.  Tuscarawas Broncos 2-1 (2-5)
5.  Garaway Pirates 1-1 (6-3)
6.  Strasburg Tigers 1-1 (4-4)
7.  Stone Creek Panthers 1-2 (2-6)
8.  Tuscarawas Valley Trojans 0-2 (0-5)
9.  Port Washington Purple Riders 0-3 (3-6)