65 - The Class A Time Machine 1964

DOVER - In Basketball -  Strasburg and Midvale emerged as the basketball powerhouses of the county, with Stone Creek's Panthers amazing fans with their brand of play.  The Tigers, possessing rare talent throughout the team, swept over foes with reckless abandon until they ran into an enraged band of Pirates at Garaway.  But, they quickly recovered from that disaster and went on unbeaten until a tall and powerful Mogadore quintet upset the state tournament-bound applecart 62-54.  Still, a 22-2 slate isn't bad in any league.  Stone Creek surprised nearly everyone by coming up with a 14-9 mark, advancing to Sectional Tournament finals, the best in the school's history.  It was the 1st winning mark since 1958-59.  John Peters, sharpeyed Strasburg Tiger, scorched the nets for 518 markers and won the County League point derby with an average of 23.7 per engagement.  He also received honorable mention on the Prep All-American squad, took an All-District berth and was mentioned for All-State laurels.  He scored 1,117 points during his Tiger days.

In Baseball - Midvale brought the county glory in baseball, just missing a berth in Regional Tournament action.  The Blue Devils, committing numerous errors, fell 5-1 to perennial powerhouse Powhatan which won its 6th consecutive District title.  Additional honor came to the county when Don Ickes of Midvale and Bruce Kohl of Gnadenhutten were named to the East All-Star squad and Gnadenhutten Coach Ted Martin was selected to help direct the aggregation.

In Coaching - Although they didn't make the headlines as often as in 1963, coaching changes never-the-less took a good share of the spotlight.  Changes included Glenn Bower leaving Denison St. Mary's to return to Garaway, replacing Glenn Snyder who went to Bluffton College.  Rich Polczynski took over at Baltic for Superintendent  Stanley Berkman.  George Thomas moved up from Assistant at Port Washington to replace Don Durham who went to Green Township and Charles Etling coming from Cadiz took over the Tuscarawas Broncos basketball team as well as lightening the load of Tuscarawas football Coach Dick Ronald.


Thursday, December 31, 1964
The Daily Reporter
Dover, Ohio