Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 53, Number 43, Decatur, Adams County, 21 February 1955 — Page 1

WE WISH MONROE SUCCESS IN THEIR INITIAL SECTIONAL TOURNAMENT ■ *> . b • KJ* * ’ DECATUR CITY OFFICIALS — , » ' . ■ ■ ■

Wednesday Marks Opener Os Sectional

Top sport attraction of every year in Adams county will open at 1:15 o'clock Wednesday afternoon at the new Adams Central gym at Monroe as the 1955 sectional tourney officially gets underway. First teams to make their appearance before what is certain to be a jam-packed gym will be the Berne Bears and the Hartford, Gorillas. - This first game is the tough spot in the tourney draw, as the winner must come right back at 8:15 o’clock Wednesday night to meet the Decatur Commodores, with the tourney opener victor forced to play four games to emerge as champion, A battle royal looms in the second sectional tilt. as the defending champion Monmouth Eagles tangle with the Decatur Yellow Jackets at 2:30 pan. Wednesday. The two lower-bracket games will be played Thursday night, with the Adams Central Greyhounds battling the Pleasant Mills Spartans, at 7 p.m. The Geneva Cardinals and the Jefferson Warriors will wind up play in the 8:15 p.m. nightcap. No games will be played Friday, with that day’s break devoted to sale of tickets to the fans of the four schools left in the running for the Saturday semi-final and final sessions. ——= 7 “ Semi-finals will be played Saturday afternoon, which the winners of the Wednesday night games meeting in the opener at 1 o'clock, followed at 2:15 p.m. by the Thursday night winners. The sectional championship will 8:15 p.m. Saturday. ■ Officials for all tourney games will be William Yohler and Earnest Baldwin, both of Muncie. John O. Reed, Adams Central principal and tourney manager, announced last week that Claren Neuenschwander, Berne teacher, will act as official scorer, and Leo Strahm, Adams Central teacher, will act as official timer. The Adams Central sectional winner will compete in the Fort Wayne regional tourney, to be held at the Allen county coliseum Saturday, March 5. ( The first regional game at 1 p.m. will match the Fort Wayne and Kendallville winners, followed at 2:15 p.m. by the Adams Central and Auburn winners. The regional final will be played at 8:15 p.m. This year's semi-final tourney has been shifted from the Fort Wayne coliseum to the new Elkhart gym as the coliseum will not be available because of the American Bowling congress. The semi-final will be held Saturday, March 12, with the Elkhart and Marion regional winners meeting at 1 p.m., followed by the Fort Wayne and Kokomo winners. The final tourney will be held at the Butler Fieldhouse in Indianapolis Saturday, March 19, with the Indianapolis and Bloomington winners meeting at 1 p.m., followed by the Lafayette and Elkhart .winners, toOrney on radio Radio station WGL, Fort - Wayne, with Len Davis at the mike, will broadcast the sectional tourney games, with the exception of the Wednesdays afternoon session, for which air time could not be cleared. The Wednesday night, Thuraday night and both Saturday Sessions will be aired on WGL, 1250 on the dial.

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

Entire Season Scores Listed For All Teams Results Os Entire Season Compiled Fpr Tournament Season scores for aH Adams county teams, including the county and holiday tourneys, for the 195455 season-, are as follows: MONMOUTH M 62, Hartford 39 M 59, Adams Centrals7 M 42, Lancaster Central .... 47 M 90, Commodores... 71 M 39, Huntington Catholic . 50 M 48, Hoagland 51 M 69, Rockcreek 41 M 58, Pleasant Mills6s M 48, Bryant4s M 79, Geneva 64 M 51, Union 44 M 60. Roll 61 M 55, Berne 56 M 84, Lancaster Central .... 61 M 47, Hoagland 41 M 74, Pleasant Milla 69 M 57, Adams Central 72 M 68, Harlan 48 County Tourney M 63, Pleasant Mills 47 M 63, Adams Centrals7 (Overtime) M 70, Commodores 49 — G 56, Adams Central 47 G 41, Petroleum 40 G 57, Montpelier 62 G 61, Yellow Jacketss9 G 67, Roanoke 55 G 63, Bryant9l G 69, Lancaster Central .... 53 G 62,Hartford 52 G 67, Berne 59 G 64, Monmouth 79 G 67, Pleasant Mills ...68 G 65, Poling 50 G 81, Jefferson4B G 61, Pennville 56 G 61, Commodores 75 G 75, Winchester 68 G 46, Albany-. «..... - -4? G 48, Ossian 46 County Tourney G 58, Hartford 47 G 59, Commodores ...-W* 75 COMMODORES C 67, Pleasant Millsß6 C 54, Monroeville 47 C 71, Monmouth9o C 52, Hoagland 55 C 72, Chester Center 73 (2 overtimes) C 39, Huntington Catholic 56 C 55, Adams Centrals 9 C 45, Harlan 53 C 77, Jefferson 34 C 70, Hartford ; 50 C 68, Anderson St Mary’s . 59 C 68, Willshire ...100 C 53, Marion Bennetts2 C 75, Geneva 61 C 58, Adams Centralsl C 67, Pleasant Mills 65 C 53, Anderson St. Mary’s . ,61 C Lancaster Central..... 52 County Tourney C 60, Berne -i..'-49 C 75, Geneva r 59 C 49, Monmouth 70 YELLOW JACKETS Y.J. 59, Geneva 61 Y.J. 38, Bluffton 37 Y.J. 47, Concordia ... 49 Y.J. 39, Berne64 Y.J. 36, Fort Wayne South . 55 Y.J. 45, Columbia City ...54 Y.J. 54, Fort Wayne C. C. .. 70 Y.J. 65, Elmhurst 55

Y.J. 59, Huntington» 55 Y.J, 61, Auburn 62 Y.J. 52, Van Wert 35 Y.J. 51, Kendallvilleso Y.J. 33. Bluffton 47 Y.J. 60, Angola 61 Y.J. 50, New Haven6B Y.J. 59, Portland 54 Y.J. 60, Fort Wayne Central 81 Y.J. 59, Garrett 65 Holiday Tourney Y.J. 40, Central Catholic 63 Y.J. 47, Elmhurst 49 (Consolation) HARTFORD H 39, Monmouth 62 H 51. Pleasant Mills 76 H 45, Rockcreek 52 H 42, Bryant 53 H 49, Adams Central 84 H 30, Berne69 H 48, Jefferson 46 H 60, Petroleum (overtime) 53 IT 52, Geneva 62 H 50, Commodores 70 H 59, Montpelier7o H 42, Pennville 65 H 48, Jefferson 50 H 50, Adams Centrals 9 H 53, Jackson 45 H 48, Chester Center 57 H 51. Roll 55 H 54. Poling 42 County Tourney H 47. Geneva 58 BERNE B 4, Pleasant Mills 5 B 65, Dunkirk 48 B 68, New Haven (overtime) 65 B 49. Portland 48 B 55. Concordia 48 B 69, Hartford 30 B 64, Yellow Jackets ... 39 B 75. Pennville 37 B 78, Lancaster Central .... 40 B 59, Geneva .... 67 B 65, Warrenss B 53. Leo 44 B 50, Angola 36 B 56, Monmouth 55 B 59, Ossian 36 B 51, Bluffton (overtime) .. 53 B 52, Montpelier 44 B 41. Redkey 50 County Tourney B 49, Commodores ADAMS CENTRAL A.C. 47, Geneva 56 A.C. 57, Monmouth 59 (Continued on Page Fourteen)

Sectional Tournament Schedule WEDNESDAY 2:30 P. M. Monmouth *_ Yellow Jackets J SATORDA¥ _ 1 ” p M \'* * * ► WEDNESDAY 8:15 P. M.l . Cnmmntlnrae » Saturday night \ WEDNESDAY 1:15 P. I _’ \ 8:15 P.M. | I I ® Berne [ ___J ! I Hartford • J THURSDAY 7:00 P. M- * Adams Central . j ~ (. Pleasant Mills | SA “ Y 2:15 PM f : ' I M*A- * . , \ . THURSDAY 8:15 P. M.> I Geneva I Jefferson Officials: William Yohler and Earnest Baldwin _. . ■ 1 . J - •• -—- - - > - . . • ... • X - ■ ■' ' '■ - 7 -- ■ --- ... * ——y

Decatur, Indiana, Monday, February 21, 1955.

GREETINGS from the Decatur Daily Democrat to the players, coaches, school officials and fans of Adams county on the eve of the sectional tourney. THE 1955 SECTIONAL will be held at the new Adams Central gym at Monroe, opening Wednesday afternoon. This year’s sectional most certainly appears to be the most wide open in the tourney’s long history. ASSIGNMENT of the sectional to Adams Central in itself is a precedent. It will be the first time a sectional has ever been held in the county any place except in Decatur. The meet has been held in this city every year since 1940, when the tourney was assigned here following completion of the new high school. For many years previously, the Adams county teams were split, with the Decatur Yellow Jackets and Monmouth Eagles assigned to the Fort Wayne sectional, and the other county teams competing in the Bluffton sectional. BASED ON THE more or less topsy-turvy results of seasonal and county tourney games, the 1955 tourney very definitely is set in a crazy-quilt pattern. Most observers, both those highly prejudiced fans and the non-partisan followers of the game, rule out only the Hartford Gorillas and the Jefferson Warriors as potential champions. But LOOK OUT for those upsets! IT’S THIS WRITER’S humble (and confused) opinion that any one of the either seven teams can come through to the title. It certainly appears that any of those seven which is UP, and stays UP, for the necessary three (or four) games, can come away Saturday night with the whole ball of wax. BASKETBAWL has been making a stab at guessing the outcome of sectional games since the 1940 tourney. This includes not only the final game, but each of the other seven contests along the rocky tournament trail. Our average is mighty poor, but there is always the chance that lightning mtght strike and we will hit another perfect pick some year. The fans, however, seem to get quite a boot out of second-guesskig the guesser, so here goes. HERNE-HARTFORD — The Bears have the best season-long record in the county, the Gorillas the poorest, so there is little choice here except BERNE. MONMOUTH-YELLOW JACKETS—CouId be one of the best games of the entire sectional. The Eagles will have an advantage in height with that big boy Norb Witte, have a better season record, and are the champions. It’s a vote for MONMOUTH. ~ BERNE-COMMODORES—These teams met in the county tourney, with the Commodores racking up a decisive victory. However, Jerry Voglewede’s loss may hurt the Commodores more than Tom Ehrsam’s (jvill hurt the Bears. A nod to BERNE. (Continued on Page Thirteen)

Ist Sectional To Be Held At Adams Central Two-Bracket Plan Again In Use For Sectional Tourney The 1955 sectional tourney, in which the nine Adams county high school teams compete, will be held at the new Adams Central gym at Monroe for the first time, opening Wednesday afternoon. And for the fourth consecutive year, this sectional meet, held since 1940 at the Decatur gym until this year, will again operate under the two-bracket plan. This setup is particularly designed to provide an opportunity for more fans to see their favorite team in action during the sectional. Under the two-bracket plan, practically all of the tickets for the Wednesday afternoon and night sessions will go to the fans of the five schools in that upper bracket. And likewise, for the Thursday night bracket, practically all of the tickets will go to the fans of the four teams drawn in the lower bracket. - • Fans of the four teams left In the running after Wednesday and Thursday session! will receive the bulk of the tickets for the Saturday night final. Distribution of tickets for the Saturday sessions will be determined immediately after the Thursday night games. No games will be played Friday to permit distribution 6T tickets to the four schools still in the tourney. Previous Winnere The Monmouth 'Eagles will be after their third consecutive sectional championship this week, having won the first sectional in the school’s history in 1953 and repeating last year. Only team to have won more than two titles in a row is the Decatur Yellow Jackets, champions for four years In a row. starting in 1949. The Berne Bears are the only other two-time winners, copping the crown in 1945 and 1946. Four teams which have yet to win their first sectional are Adams Central, Decatur Catholic, Geneva and Jefferson. Winners of the 15 sectionals immediately prior to this year, and scores of those final games, are as fellows: 9140—Pleasant Mills 39; Kirkland 21. ■■ ~ 1941— Decatur Yellow Jackets 34, Pleasant Mills 32. 1942 — Pleasant Mills 31, Decatur Yellow Jackets 18. (Continued on Page Sixteen)

PHONE fOR SCORES For fans unable to attend the Adams Central sectional tourney, the Decatur Daily Democrat will provide the latest scores. A special telephone has been installed at the gym and the score will be called directly to this office at the end of each quarter. For Wedneeday afternoon games, dial the regular phone number, 3-2121. For all other sessions, dial 3-2171, the apeclal news recorder service of the Democrat and the Citizens Telephone Co. Operators at the office will be Misses Pauline Lobslger and Karen Striker. — w 11 Seniors On Nine Teams In Local Tourney Monmouth Loses One Tourney Player Through Graduation Only 27 players of the 108 certified for the Adams Central sectional tourney this week are members of the senior class, indicating some mighty tough ball clubs are in the making for the next basketball season. Os the nine county teams, the Monmouth Eagles, sectional champions for the past two years, will fare the best along graduation lines. The Eagles lose only one member of the 1955 sectional squad. The Decatur Commodores, Berne Bears and Hartford Gorillas lose only two each; the Adams Central Greyhounds will lose three; the Jefferson Warriors tour; and the Decatur Yellow Jackets, Geneva Cardinals and Pleasant Mills Spartans five each. , A number of key players will be lost among these 27 seniors, however. Geneva will lose the county’s leading scorer for the season, Jerry, Tester along with all other members of the Cardinals’ starting five. The Yellow Jackets will lose tour of their five starters; Adams Central three; Pleasant Mills three; Hartford, Berne, Commodores and Jefferson two each. The list of seniors an the nine tourney squads: Adams Central • — Rod Beer, John Rowdon, Dick Rumple. Berne — John Kirchhofer, Ben Sprunger. Decatur Commodores — Chuck Voglewede, Walt Mowery. Decatur Yellow Jackets — Dave Halterman, Ron Vetter, John Nelreiter, Fred McDougal, Bill Han(Continued on Page Sixteen)

SECTION TWO

Eligible Men Certified For Tourney Play 12 Men Certified Limit; Only 10 To Play In Sectional Each of the nine Adams county schools entered In the Adams Central sectional is permitted to certify 12 players. However, only 10 men are eligible to play, with the others scratched before the team’s opening game of the tourney. The team rosters, showing the year of each player in school, his height and weight, follow: MONMOUTH Name Yr. Ht. WL Fuhrman Sr. 6-1 168 Brown Jr. 5-11 175 Fuelling Jr. 5-9 179 Keuneke . Jr. 5-9 152 Schnepf Jr. 5-11 155 Macke ... Jr. 5-6 160 Witte Jr. 6-5 200 Worthman Jr. 5-9 155 J. Myers So. 5-11 175 Bittner So. 5-9 155 Hildebrand .... So. 5-9 150 W. Myers Fr. 5-5 100 ADAMS CENTRAL Name ~ Yr. Ht. Wt Beer Sr. 6-0% 160 ißowdoh-Sr. 5-7 145 Rumple Sr. 6-0% 172 Baumgartner ... Jr. 5-9 165 Dick .Jr. 5-10 170 Hoffman Jr. 6-2 170 Mitchel it. 6-0% 185 Sprunger -Jr. 5-6 140 Corson So. 5-6% 160 Smith •So. 5-10 145 Steiner So. 5-10 155 McMillen Fr. 5-11 150 BERNE-FRENCH Name Yr. HL - WL ‘ Egly .. Jr. 5-10 147 Bern. Lehman Jr. 5-11 168 Hendricks Jr. 6-2 160 KirchhoferSr. 6-0% 155 Sprunger Sr. 5 5-11% 155 Ehrsam ....Jr. 5-9 155 Nussbaum Jr. 5-10 170 Lloyd Jr. 5-8% 155 Bert. Lehman .. Jr. 5-11 155 Flueckiger Jr. 6-1% 175 GENEVA Name Yr. Ht. Wt. Campbell Sr. 5-11 170 Haines Sr. 5-10 175 Long Sr. 5-9% 158 Mathys Sr. 5-10% 165 Tester Sr. 5-10 153 Burke Jr. 5-9 151 <2 Call Jr. 5-11 161 Parr Jr. 5-9% 154 Stahly Jr. 5-11% 159 Craig So. 5-9 161 Hunt So. 6-1 168 Nevil So. 6-1 173 YELLOW JACKETS Name Yr. HL WL Halterman Sr. 5-10 145 Kelly So. 5-11 158 Vetter ....1.... Sr. 5-9 152 Nelreiter Sr. 6-2 185 McDougalSr. 5-8 135 Hancher Sr. 6 164 Baxter So. 5-9 140 Moses Fr. 5-8 139 Strickler Jr. 5-7 140 Werst Jr. 6-1 175 Banks Fr. 5-11 165 HARTFORD Name Yr. Ht. WL C. Stahly... Sr. 5-7% 155 Hirschy Sr. 5-10 150 Miller Jr. 6-4 170 D. Stahly So. 5-6 135 Biberstein ....<2 So. 5-5 135 Grogg ... So. 5-6 135 L. G. Dubach So. 5-8 100 L. L. Dubach — So. 5-6 * 130 Moser Fr -/'i Moeschberger — Fr. 5J>% 135 . " " 1 ' ' -S-. PLEASANT MILLS Name Yr. HL WL Byer Sr. 5-9 156 D. Wolfe Sr. 5-11 161 Frey Sr. 5-8% 169 Light Jr. 5-9% 136 J. Williamson .. So. 5-7% 145 Matching ...— Jr. 6-9% 145 SpeakmanJr. 5-11% 185 Bowen Sr. 5-11 200 G. Williamson .. Jr. 5-6% 128 Butler Sr. 5-8 170 (Continued on Face Sixteen)