The journal. (Caldwell, Ohio) 1934-1961, 1949-01-06
SH0R rs
BY LONG

HE hGDSkb1ANS SII q NIlS'll~C W
see what they can do against one
Of the cyrrent contenders for the
MuskipEum Valley league title,
when they entertain the willy
Little Muskies of New Concord
on Friday night. The Muskies,
who have dropped only one game
out of eight Ga 36-32 loss to the
Philo Electrics) are the only
league team the Redskins didn't
meet in the first half. Incidental
ly, fans, this is one of CaldWellS
only two home games in January,
so better turn out if you want
20 see basketball as played by
what is generally considered to
be the smarteSt team IN the
league. Many fans, remembering
last years humiliating 6235
slaughter by the Muskies, are
anxiously awaiting to see if this
seasons Redskins can put the ball
in play and work against close
guarding -for-man defense.
SUMMERFIELD, -undefeated IN
Noble county league play, and
with a 1921 loss to Caldwell as
the only blemish on their season
record, have tough foe Schcd-
uled for Tuesday, January 10, at
home. The Golden Gophers roll
out the welcome mat for Woods
fields high loring Indians, pres
emily conceded to be the strong
est high school quint in THIS sec
ton. A return game is set for
February | away After winning
eight straight games by lOp-sided
margins, Woodsfield was knocked
off by Yorkville 55-46 in the fl
nails of an invitational tourney at
that place last week, although de-
feating Yorkville in a regular
game earlier in the season.
CENTRAL OHIO LEAGUE, one
of the oldest in the state and
composed of teams like Cam
bridge, Marietta, and GAINESVILLE,
pulled a surprise move last week
by splitting into two divisions be
ginning next year. The move
came about when the four small
schools, Cambridge, Dover Mari
eta, and Coshocton, held a meet
ing and decided to withdraw
from the league because their
size and enrolment prevented
them from competing on equal
terms with the four larger
schools, GAINESVILLE, Newark, Ian
caster and Chillicothe. The latter
four schools have had a near
monopoly on championships over
a long period of years. A special
meeting of all schools brought
about the change into two diVi-
sionS with a winner crowned in
each division. In basketball, the
smaller schools play each other
twice, but play the larger schools
only once in league standings In
football, the smaller schools will
meet each other, plus two of the
larger schools each year. No pro
vision was made for a play off
game between division winners.
A SIMILAR SETUP for the Mus
kingum valley league has been
advocated in this column from
time to time during the past four
years, and now that the COL has
made the move perhaps the MVL
will take some action since they
pattern their league after the
Central Ohio style The Musking-
UNI valley league has expanded
rapidly from five teams to the
present nine Dresdea comes in
next year, and for two years
GAINESVILLE St. Thomas was a
member. The Irish, hOpelesSly
outclassed in football, were CO.
champs in basketball and are still
eligible to rejOin. Our division
changes, however would not be
based on size so much as distance
and geographical location, since
the two smaller schools, Caldwell
and Glouster, are the farthest
apart.
DIVIDED MAINLY according tC
location would put Glouster, New
Lex, CrooksVille, ROSeVille and
Philo into the western division
while the eastern half WoulC
countain Caldwell, New Concord
McConnelsville, Dresden, and St
Thomas. (ByeSVille if the latter
refused to jOin.) This Woulc
place one class A school in each
division, New Lex and McCon.
nelsville, as we'll as one small
school, Caldwell and GouStcr. II
the matter of strength on such ;
division, the western division
would have the edge in football
winning l3 titles or co-titles, t
seven for the eastern. This is due
lately to CrooksVille and New
Lex winning the crown sever
times. In basketball, however
championships are l6 for thu
eastern division and eight for thu
western since New Concord ha
come through seven times.
SCHEDULING could be on