Members of Morgan High School basketball squad are, from left, second row, Curt Finney, Tim Bucher, Jon Cooros, Greg Birky and Marvin Grieger; and from left, rear, Coach Paul Bauer, Bill Snider, Dale Hardesty, Jerry Blum, Ernie Lodics, Ed Wellsand and managers Kyle Fleming and Rod Peters. Cheerleaders, from left, front, are Doreen Brust, Julie Jacobs, Mary Kloss and Julie Jones.
This story, written by V-M Sports Editor Chuck Zulich, originally appeared on page 13 of The Vidette-Messenger from January 28, 1974.
The Morgan Township High School Cherokees are champions of the 1974 Porter County tournament.
Coach Paul Bauer's Cherokees defeated the Hebron Hawks, 76-66, Saturday night in the new VHS gym in the finals of the 51st annual PCC tournament to capture their first championship since 1964 and the fourth in the history of the school.
As in the semifinal victory over the Kouts Mustangs, the Cherokees were forced to come up with another big rally to down the Hawks from Hebron.
Going into the last eight minutes of play the Cherokees trailed the Hawks by five points at 54-49. Ed Wellsand opened the last period with a field goal and Bill Snider hit from the corner and the Cherokees trailed by one point. Rex Werner scored for Hebron, but Jon Cooros flipped in a 25-footer and the score was 56-55. Hebron called time with the clock showing 5:23.
With their fans going wild, Morgan took the lead on another basket by Cooros. Mike Rust, Hawk reserve, and Wellsand traded baskets and then Werner and Grieger. Morgan took a three-point lead on a rebound shot by Ernie Lodics.
Mark Stokke cut the Morgan lead to just one point at the two-minute mark when he calmly sank two free throws. With 1:15 left, Wellsand scored for the Cherokees but Larry Cooley retaliated for the Hawks.
With 49 seconds left, Snider was fouled as he attempted a rebound shot. Bill made both free throws. With 37 shots showing, Chapman was fouled by Lodics and Mike made both shots to make the score 67-66 Morgan.
On the toss in, Brian Bell fouled Marvin Grieger. The Morgan forward made the first but missed the second. The missed shot was tied up. Morgan got the tip and found Wellsand all alone under the basket. Ed scored to make the scoreboard read, 70-
66. The clock showed six seconds left. The wild toss in went to Snider who tallied an unmolested goal at the gun.
The first quarter of the game was a scoring duel between Stokke and Snider as the Hawks outscored the Cherokees, 19-16. Stokke had five baskets for Hebron and Snider had nine points for Morgan on four field goals and one free throw.
Both teams displayed balanced scoring in the second quarter as the Hawks outscored the Cherokees, 20-18, to take a 39-34 lead into the dressing room. Wellsand and Grieger each had five points for Morgan in the quarter and Snider added four. Bell topped Hebron with five but Stokke and Chapman each added four.
The third quarter was a 15-15 defensive stand-off. Chapman, Bell, and Werner each had six points for Hebron and Wellsand led Hebron with five.
Wellsand, a junior, had an outstanding game for Morgan. He tallied 22 points on 9 of 13 from the field (7 for 9 in the second Half) and four of five from the line. Snider, only a sophomore, tallied 19 points on eight baskets and three free throws.
Stokke led Hebron in scoring with 18 points. Chapman had 14 and Werner 12. From the field, Morgan was 21 for 65 and Hebron, 27 for 60.
With the victory, the Cherokees also claimed the Porter County Keg.
Award Program
Rodney Kurzhal, Washington Township High School's outstanding senior basketball player, was presented the coveted M. E. Dinsmoore award Saturday night at the conclusion of the 51st annual Porter County basketball tournament.
The award was presented to the student-athlete by Lonnie Steele, principal of Morgan Township High School. Selection was made by an impartial committee.
Cheering section award was earned by the Boone Grove cheering section. Citation was presented to the Wolves cheerleaders by Paul Rommelmann, Kouts High principal.
Other awards were: runner-up trophy to Hebron by Calvin Willis, Porter County superintendent of schools; tourney champion trophy to Morgan by
W. Beau Christian, Boone Grove principal; The Vidette-Messenger traveling trophy to Morgan by Chuck Zulich, V-M sports editor; and silver basketballs to champion team and coach by Donald Broughton, Hebron principal.