64 - Stone Creek Finally Whips Port Washington 40-25 (11-15-63)

PHOTO:  Port Washington's Jim Bates (53) and Stone Creek's Verle (Curly) Endlich open the 1963-64 basketball season for Tuscarawas County with a jump at the center of the court Friday night.  Waiting for the ball are Purple Riders Leonard Cameron (41), Steve Bender (45) and Ken Gay (35) and Panthers Dick McPherson (22) and Vic Turner (42).

PHOTO:  I WANT IT! - Port Washington's Jim Bates (front) and Stone Creek's Verle (Curly) Endlich battle for possession in game Friday night.  Stone Creek won 40-25.

PHOTO:  WRESTLING? - No, this is basketball and StoneCreek's VicTurner is boxed in by Port Washington's Bob Casteel (left), Jim Bates (center) and Ken Gay (35) as all fight  for a loose ball.

STONE CREEK - The Stone Creek Panthers (1-0) made the coaching debut of Charles Huggins a success here Friday night when they turned back Port Washington (0-1) 40-25 in opening the 1963-64 basketball action in Tuscarawas County.  The victory was the first for Stone Creek over Port Washington since 1958-59 when the Panthers copped both decisions.  The Purple Riders had won 8 straight since then, including 57-47 and 53-47 nods a year ago.  The Panthers crawled to a 7-4 1st quarter lead and were in front by only 7 points, 19-12, at intermission.  But, a tight defense which limited the Don Durham-coached Purple Riders to just 8 points in the 3rd period and 9 in the 4th enabled the Panthers to emerge victorious.  John Flinner led the victory with 7 field goals for 14 points.  He had able help from Vic Turner and Dick McPherson who got 7 and Jim Sherley who potted 6.  Scoring honors for the night; however, went to Purple Rider Ken Gay who burned the nets for 16 markers.  He was the only Port cager in double figures.  Verle (Curly) Endlich pulled down 11 rebounds for the Panthers who hit on 16 of 54 shots for 29 percent.  The Purple riders canned only 9 of 43 for 21 percent.  A large crowd saw the skirmish.  In the Reserve game, Stone Creek (1-0) layed out Port Washington (0-1).  Score not reported.

STONE CREEK PANTHERS - 40

Vic Turner 2-3-7
Dick McPherson 2-3-7
Verle Endlich 2-0-4
John Flinner 7-0-14
Gail Mizer 0-2-2
Jim Wherley 3-0-6

PORT WASHINGTON PURPLE RIDERS - 25

Bob Casteel 0-0-0
Steve Bender 2-0-4
Jim Bates 0-2-2
Ken Gay 6-4-16
Leonard Cameron 1-0-2
Roger Lewis 0-1-1


Saturday, November 16, 1963
The Daily Reporter
Dover, Ohio

STANDINGS

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