The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1959-03-13

Tourney Wars Hard
On Diocesan Quints

I'm gums
The 1859 State high school basketball tourna-
ments were tough on Diocesan teams as none won
more than three games. Thus, the Diocesan banner was
stored away at the earliest date in the past six years.
AS reported in last weeks issue of the Catholic
Times, nine quintets failed to get past the starting
gate by losing their opening games. Four teams won
one game each, two captured two victories while four
won three games.
Rosary, which had the best record among Do
cesar teams and the best record among all teams in
Franklin County, was expected TO 90 tar. In fact,
some faithful followers nursed hopes that Rosary
would 90 all the way. II Just didn't happen that way.
The Crusaders, winners of the Franklin County
League title, started out right and won three games
in the Franklin County tournament to capture that
crown.
Deraiing the Crusader express in Rosary's open
ing district battle was Licking Heights which had an
unimpressive record but whose players had sharp eyes
at the free throw line.
Another outstanding candidate for State honors
from the Diocese was Newark Catholic, which had all
but one player back from last years squad which
missed the State Class A title by three games.
The 1853 Green Wave squad was a pleasant sur
prise in that it was considered a year away from being
of true championship caliber. Yet the squad battled
all the way to the regional finals before being elimi-
mated.
However, an outsized undermined school, called
Green Camp, chilled all hopes that Newark Catholic
would equal last years performance. Again it was the
free throw that decided the contest and another Do
cesar favorite bit the dust.
While Rosary and Newark Catholic failed to live
up to expectations, three other Diocesan teams Jared
very well before being toppled.
The three were Columbus St. Mary, chiIIieothe
Central Catholic and GAINESVILLE Rosserans.
st. Mary'S Fighting Rams earned a district berth
with Rosary and promptly went on to sideline Pleasant
vile, a strong tournament team. The Rams, however
were unlucky enough to be pitted against the top
seeded cOIIad Darhy Township in the second round nf
district play.
Although playing on equal terms with Darby's
Trojans during the first half, St Mary couldn't con-
tinue the pace and became the Pickaway County
entry's 21st victim of the year.
Chillicothe Central Catholic finished Its regular
season with a 99 record and wasn't considered a real
threat in the Ross County tournament.
But the Panthers blasted their first opponent in
Impressive fashion and then turned in the upset Of the
year In that county by shading Paint Valley, which
had won the Ross County League title.
Catholic lost its third tournament game but won
the consolation game to win a Sectional berth at Pike
ton. Here, the Panthers ran out of gas and were side
lined.
Another surprise was provided by GAINESVILLE Rose
Grams which had an up-and-doWn season. The Bishops
started on the tourney trail with a 1O-7 record and
Immediately hooked up in two fierce battles which
they won.
The biggest victory was Roseerans' triumph over
GAINESVILLE, a perennial tournament tovghie and . team
which went all the way to the State Class "A semi
finals last year.
Fighting with great determination, the Bishops
shaded GAINESVILLE by three points and became the
first parochial team in that area to defeat the Blue
devils.
Superior height and rebounding spelled defeat for
Rosecrans when it met Cambridge in the Sectional
finals.
Looking back to past seasons, The Diocese has
been represented In q regional tournament In each
Of fhe last five years.
AS said earlier In this column, Newark st.
Francis carried the Diocesan banner in 1858. It was
the third time in four years that Coach Walt Reid
guided the Newark team into the %regionals. 81. Francis
also earned regional tourney berths in 1857 and 1855.
In 1856, Columbus st. Mary, under the shrewd
coaching eye of Ken Neville, was the toast of the
Diocese. That year, the Rams battled all the way to
the top before losing by a single point, 1911, to
Arcanum for the State Class B crown.
Coach Neville also guided 81. Mary to . regional
berth In 1855, the same year that Newark ST. Francis
also captured a regiona! slot. II was the first time
In Diocesan history that Two teams went 30 FAR in The
cage tournament. Both, however, lost opening games.
The year 1854 was a big one for the Diocese as
New Lexington ST. Aloysius, under Coach Bob Fowle,
went all the way to win the State Class B champion
ship.
In 1858 but in 1852, Auuinas battled into the Class
"A regional as a Cinderella Team"
Getting back to 1859, this will be the year when
Diocesan fans will be disinterested spectators as the
cage tournaments spin into their final weeks. Next
year, 1t may be a different story. Then again, it may
not.-LVF
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its first year at Notre Dame and Matz9er Rros.