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Presidents Tackle 'Hillclimbers inSemifinalsBy JOHN SHORT Marion Star Sports EditorThe Harding High School cage squad wrapped up its planning for semifinal play in the state tournament Thursday and Coach Dan Baker pronounced his Prex-ies ready for action.The Presidents, boasting a proud 23-2 season record will meet Urbana's Hillclimbers in the second game of tonight’s card at Ohio State University's St. John Arena. The Hillclimbers of Coach Roger Brauer will carry an even more impressive record into the clash. The Hillclimbers have won 24 wliile chopping one. Their only loss came at the hands of Mount Vernon in a 65-57 upset. Urbana later reversed that decision with a 55-34 triumph.“WE’RE READY.” Raker said after his squad finished drillsThursday. The team was scheduled to leave Harding around-3:30 today after a giant pep rally by the student body. The public was invited to take part in the giant sendoff planned immediately after the rally in front of the Harding gym.The Prexy coach stuck to the same theme he has usedmighty Middletown 63-61 and came hack the next night to clip Chaminade 57-53 in the title clash. In the Middletown scrap, Paul Walker's top-rated Middies managed to tie the score at 25-all but never gained the lead. Against Chaminade, the Hillclimbers trailed through the first half and were behind 26-21 at the intermission. They grabbed the lead early in the third quarter and clung to it the rest of the way.The Hillclimbers are not a fast-m caking tcaiii as a nilt*. Tuey will take advantage of the chance to break but prefer to pl.?y control ball, waiting for the good shot.BAKER WILL GO with his usual starting crew. That will find Earl Hill and Dan Roseber-ry at forward, Russ Hamilton atLineups for TVHill (33) Hamilton (51) Rowley (45) all' Strauss (25)week He expects a rough battle Mcrchaatbut feels his squad can come out LewJs (9J)WLW-C (Channel 4) Harding Pos. UrbanaRose berry (35 ) f EvFistzer (44)f T. Shelpman (30)c Couts (42)g Evans (14)g Bills (12)with a victory.“We know they're a good solid ball club.” Baker repeated. He had three scouts assigned to the Hillclimbers when they clipped unbeaten Dayton Chaminade for the Cincinnati regional championship and the scouts insist the Urbana team “can be had.”Sparkplug of the Urbana attack is expected to be center Eddie Couts, a 6-3 senior veteran who has been the team’s scoring and rebounding leader. As a sophomore two years ago, Couts pumped in 16 points in a semifinal clash against East Tech which Urbana won 61-60. Tiie Hillclimbers were edged by Portsmouth in that year’s championship contest 50-44.Dave Evilsizer, 6-4 senior who weighs in at 225 pounds, will be at one forward position. He is the team’s second most effective rebounder and is considered to be a good shooter scouts.The other forward probably will be Ted Shelpman, a G-2 junior star. He alternates at the spot with Bob Reisinger, a 6-1 senior who usually sets out the opening tipoff.Robinson (41) Thomas (23) Pfeiffer (11) Ward (43) Brown (53)E. Shelpman (24) Reisinger (20)Fox (32) Corf man (40)Imel (10) Skillings (22) Downs (34)Game time—9:15 p.m.center and Alan Rowley and Jerry Strauss at the guards. Jack Lewis will be available for uselt;11% TT*t*V» T ......“I' n.ui *uwvnai »vready to move in one of the guard slots.“We know they’re tough,” Baker admitted. “But our kids think they can do it.” A win over Urbana would send the Presidents back into action Saturday at 8 p.m. against the winner of tonight's opening clash between Cleveland East Tech and Columbus East. The Columbus team carries a 23-1 record into the tournament while East Tech is unbeaten in 24 outings. Tickets for tonight's action have longu ta .been exhausted. The 1,250 allot-by the Prexy Harding w,as gou_bled up as rapidly as they weremode available.However, both games will be offered the public on television. Columbus' WLW-C (channel 4 will air the game, marking the first appearance ever of a Harding team on television. WHIO at Dayton and WEWS in Cleveland also will telecast the action.“We’re in an enviable position,” Baker pointed out. We're on display before the whole state and every other team in Ohio would like to be in our shoes. We hope to make the most of our chance.”Travel plans for the Presidents after the sendoff today still are indefinite but regardless of the outcome of tonight's game, the Prexy cagers will stay over to watch Saturday's championship clash.AT ONE GUARD spot will be Van Evans, 17-year-old freshman, who ranks as the second top scorer for the Hillclimbers. E^ans is a brother to Gail Evans, who was named Ohio's Class AA player of the year in 1961. The other guard probably will be Richard Bills, a 5-11 sophomore. He is not a huge scoring threat but can hit enough lo ignite or keep an Urbana rally goihg. Ho also is the team's No. 1 floor general.The Hillclimbers will carry a 65.5 scoring average into tonight's scrap while the defense has allowed an average of only 41.9. Harding goes in with a 61.8 offensive mark and has given up an average 47.5.Thacker GetsThe Urbana squad hit its stridelast weekend, when it clippedTilMVP Trophy4 x ___•.....**
Newspaper Details
Marion Star
Marion, Ohio, US
Fri, Mar 29, 1963
Page 9
Full Page
Clipped by
Akron S.
OH, USA 10 Dec 2016
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