Morgan County Democrat. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1886-1943, 1931-03-19

In what is classed as the most
thrilling comeback ever staged in q
basketball tournament, VI. d NJ. won
the cage CROWN OF the Class Il East
|, ern District tournament, held last
Friday and Saturday at Dennison,
when in the finals they defeated
Midyale by the score of 36-3l.
Thrilling as was the final battle
yet their opening game which was
with the powerful NewcomerstoWn
quintet, stood next in the tourney.
as a thriller, the score being 1928.
The other team that was swept to
defeat in the Big Reds onward
march to final victory was Caldwell.
Score 25-14.
The NewcomerstOwn team was
heralded as one of the outstanding
teams of the tournament The score
with NJ. e NJ at all times was eX-
ceedingly close. With but 80 sec
onds to play. NJ. e M. was leading.
1926. Milburn for Newcomerstown
made fielder, tying score 2S-2S.
In the remaining seconds Carder, M.
& MS center, came through with
two point counter, just as the gun
quarter. Newcomerstown led 4-3: at
the half the Big Reds were in the
lead. Oil, and at the finish of the
third quarter held the advantage,
11-9. 1t is noted that three differ
ent city papers reporting this game
differed as to NJ & NJ. outstanding
players. One gave it to Carder, an
other to Sims, and the other to
Steward. In fact it was evident that
there was SO little difference in the
playing of the entire quintet, that ir
would be extremely difficult to make
final decision as to the best one
Caldwell Easily Downed
In the game with Caldwell no
time were the locals in danger, al
though Caldwell was classed as one
of the best teams of the tourney.
The Big Reds were however a Bit
nervous when they learned that they
were to battle Caldwell, in the semi
finals, since Caldwell was one of the
few teams during the season that
defeated M. & NJ, and that on our
home floor The final score was
25-14
The comeback of the Big Reds
was the outstanding feature, not
only of the Eastern district tourna-
ment, but of the basketball district
tournaments of the state Their
opponents were the fashy Midvale
outfit, who had climbed easily to
the finals, first defeating Belle Val
ley 24-17; and in the semi-finals,
eliminating Senecaville by the de-
cisive score of 1919. Midyale is
located in Tuscarawas county, near
DennisOn, so that these boys were
right at home. Very soon after the
game started they sank three dou.
Bile deckers, before the Big ReGs
registered single point, and at the
end of the first quarter the locals
were trailing "a. The next period
saw but little difference in the play
ing OF the Big Reds. Midvale were
sure shots, their floor work was
splendid, and during the entire
game they never made but single
personal. Because of their speed,
the locals made many fouls, Midvale
making the most of them good-in
all seven. The half ended with Mid
vale leading by eight points-2O-12.
In the third period it looked like
the pride Of the Twin Cities would
have to be content with second
place, since wider and wider became
the margin between the two teams.
until at one time the locals were
trailing by Is points Time and
again as they took the ball down the
floor, and shot for the goal. thew
Just missed" While the audience
was ready to cOnceda Midva1o the
champions, M. & MS team was not
They kept their heads, played as
true and steady as If they were safe
~ leading. Toward the latter part
of this period. the Tuscarawas coun-
ty lads were halted. Steward began
to loop the net in his old time form.