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Black Cats SetFor Tiny MilanMuncie Early ChoiceTo Conquer ElkhartIn Finals' Opener.Celebration At Tech“Win or lose” in the state cagefinals at Indianapolis today, agiant welcome home celebrationis planned for the Gerstmeyer Black Cats when they return from the tourney Sunday.*Coach Howard Sharpe and his squad will be met by a city firetruck and motor cavalcade atHighland Lawn for a parade to the Tech gym, where a program will get underway at 1 o’clock.The public is welcome to attend in this city-wide recognition of agreat Gerstmeyer team.By Kurt Freudenthal.IINDIANAPOLIS, March 20.—lt;IP Indiana’s precious high school basketball crown was up for grabs today as four supremely confident and powerful clubs collided in the play-off round.Before 15,000 Butler fieldhouse j fans and a television and radio audience estimated in the millions, the three-game melodrama of the 44th annual Hoosier hardwood show rolled off.There was no “clear-cut” favorite as Muncie Central, champion of the North Central Conference, clashed with Elkhart of the EastN.I.H.S.C., and 1953 runner-up Terre Haute Gerstmeyer took on little Milan.Experts Pick Muncie.But the “experts” of the Indiana Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association, meeting on the eveof the grand finale, tabbed Muncie Central as the club to beat. The Bearcats received 24 votes, followed by Milan with 19. Elkhart collected 13 and Terre HauteGerstmeyer’s 1953 runners-up had the best ch^”°o for victory inthn eyes of eight.All* but Muncie start veteranoutfits. Milan, seeking only thefourth triumph for the small-town representatives and the first since 1915. starts five seniors. | ], going after its fifth J jstate title, a feat never before accomplished, starts three juniors up front and two sophomoreguards.Will Make History.But regardless who wins, it’ll : i be a history making session. For ]neither Gerstmeyer, Milan, nor Elkhart ever received the hardware at the end of the golden rainbow. Elkhart, in fact, gained the “fieldhouse four” for the first time, via the tough Lafayette semifinal route.Gerstmeyer’s Howard Sharpe, the real veteran of the four4coaches, has been in the business 14 years. He also is the oldest at 38. Marvin Wood, his afternoonrival, at 26 is only four years out of Butler University and only in his second year at Milan.Bill Milliner, at 35, has nine years coaching under his belt, the last six at Elkhart. Jay Mc-Creary, finally, is 36. in his thirdyear at Muncie and his fourth season in the prep coaching ranks. He also coached at De-Pauw and Indiana Universities.lt;i\1(1\All of them predicted victory, although Wood admitted pulling a switch. i (4I picked Logansport for the state, but I’ve switched horses inmid-stream,” he said.Both Sharpe and McCrearv indicated the “one-and-one” free-throw rule helped them.Asked if the rule won him any ball games, McCreary replied, “No, but it sure helped us winsome.”“We won our last two ball games because we were ahead atthe right time,” said Sharpe.
Newspaper Details
Terre Haute Tribune
Terre Haute, Indiana, US
Sat, Mar 20, 1954
Page 6
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
WV, USA 21 May 2020
Other Publications Near Terre Haute, Indiana
Western Register and Terre Haute Advertiser
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Terre Haute Tribune Star
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