67 - Tuscarawas County Schools To End Cage League Setup

DOVER - Tuscarawas County's Class A Basketball League, in existence nearly a half century, will be dissolved in favor of establishing a tri-county basketball league.  It's hoped the new scholastic league will begin operation by the beginning of the 1967-68 basketball season.  If not then, definitely by the 1968-69 campaign.  Action came last night during a meeting of league officials in Tuscarawas High School.  Announcement was made this morning by Racey Morris, Garaway principal and league treasurer serving as spokesman for league president Neil Compton of Port Washington, who was unable to attend.

Morris stated the new league will be expanded to include Newcomerstown, Ridgewood and Hiland.  Each of those schools had a representative present last night.  Major consideration in taking the step, according to Morris, was the current uncertainty in the Indian Valley school district which embraces 4 county league members.  School officials, due to the twin defeats of a levy which would provide funds for construction of a central high school, are considering a 2-school district next year.  Morris stated because of that the new league at present will not seek additional teams.  If Indian Valley would go to the 2-school setup, he said, further expansion may be considered.

The Indian Valley merger of Midvale, Gnadenhutten, Tuscarawas and Port Washington is the latest of a series of consolidations which has trimmed the county league from 11 teams to the present 7.  Also in the loop are Strasburg, Tuscarawas Valley and Garaway, the latter 2 consolidations involving Baltic, Sugarcreek-Shanesville and Dundee, and Bolivar and Mineral City, respectively.  Dennison also was a memberinthe early 1920's.

Because Indian Valley involves 3 football-playing schools...Midvale, Gnadenhutten and Tuscarawas...its present situation also affected planning by Tuscarawas Valley Athletic Conference officials, also meeting last night at Tuscarawas.  Discussion centered on scheduling problems and another meeting was set for May.  Effective with the 1968 season the TVC loses Tuscarawas Valley, which is joining the Stark County Senate League.  Simultaneously, Newcomerstown gains full-fledged TVC status.  Other members are Strasburg, Garaway, Malvern and Ridgewood.


Wednesday, January 25, 1967
The Daily Reporter
Dover, Ohio

STANDINGS

1.  Strasburg Tigers 4-0 (14-0)
2.  Garaway Pirates 4-1 (13-1)
3.  Midvale Blue Devils 3-1 (10-6)
4.  Port Washington Purple Riders 1-3 (8-5)
5.  Tuscarawas Broncos 1-3 (7-6)
6.  Gnadenhutten Indians 1-3 (6-7)
7.  Tuscarawas Valley Trojans 1-4 (3-9)