Wapakoneta Daily News
MARCH 18, 1973
■ Hopes for the advent of spring were erased yesterday as local and area residents awoke to find their greening lawns laden with a steady falling, late winter snow, the worst of the season. Totaling an estimated four to six inches… the unrelenting snowfall, coupled with high velocity winds, stifled the day’s normal activities.
■ I-75 motorists, among whom were St. Joe fans on their way to Bowling Green, were stranded in highway ditches and on exit ramps. Many of those who braved the unexpected weather conditions, inching their way to BGSU for the Mansfield-st.
■ Peter game, arrived late. Game time was delayed one hour and fifteen minutes due to the late arrival of the St. Joe basketball players, who were making the trip in separate cars. The accumulated snow prevented many game-goers from returning home Saturday night. The basketball team stayed overnight in rooms at the Union, on the Bowling Green State University campus, while the cheerleaders were put up for the night at a sorority house.
■ Probably the last to arrive for the St. Joe game were Ted Schnell, 207 E. Mechanic street, and his passengers, Frank Elchert, 110 Cherry Lane, Craig Brown, 501 S. Rauthland, and Ted’s son, Kevin. The Schnell car, northbound on I-75, was struck in the rear by a station wagon about 10 miles south of Bowling Green. After the driver and passengers got out of the auto, the car was again struck by a semi, which was also headed north, demolishing the Wapak car. No one was injured, in the accident.
■ The four arrived at the game as it was nearing the end, getting a ride. According to Frank Elchert, they were forced to split up to find rides home with Wapakoneta drivers. Elchert mentioned he rode with Charlie Martin.
■ The Keltner Sunoco Service Station received 300 calls from distressed motorists. The station was able to answer 125-150 of those calls, working all night Saturday and Sunday morning. Approximately16 local families opened their homes to about 75 travelers from as far away as Ontario, Canada, and as close as Rockford.
■ “This was it. Today we put it altogether.”-ron Barbo, coach of the Mansfield St. Peter Spartans
■ Barbo had just finished witnessing one of the finest performances by a pair of high school basketball teams anyone could possibly wish to see. That contest was the one between his own Spartans and the Wapakoneta St. Joseph Knights, headed by Joe Madden. Mansfield had just accomplished what 25 previous squads had attempted and failed…. and they did it in a decisive manner, scoring more points-100-than any other opponent of St. Joe for the entire campaign. St. Joseph’s first setback was a surprising 100-85 defeat at the hands of Mansfield.
■ “They did everything right,” commented Joe Madden. “Our press didn’t seem to phase them, and they were smart enough to set up an offense after they had beaten it.” Of his own team Coach Madden noted, “We played good defense and offense all the way. You just can’t beat a team that hits around 70 percent.”
■ St. Joseph also had a good day from the field, as they connected 35 of an attempted 75 attempted buckets, for an ample 47 percent. The Knights were also adequate from the gratis line, as 15 of 24 St. Joe free throw attempts fell through the hoops for a percent of 69.
■ The entire game was relatively even except for about 4:08 of the second quarter, when the Spartans amassed their margin, never again to trail in the contest.
■ Despite the loss, St. Joseph’s offensive performance was one of their best of the season, spearheaded by Rick Heinl’s 27 markers, 21 of which came in the second half.
Said Coach Madden, “Heinl always plays good when the going gets tough. Everybody played their guts out tonight.”
■ Charlie Street also turned in a fine game, as he meshed 20 digits. Ted Hemleben also scored in tin figures with 14, as Dan Drexler and Bob Fahncke contributed nine a piece. Ron Drexler added four and Bill Dabbelt, two.
■ Thus the Knights of St. Joe ended their most productive campaign ever, with an excellent 25-1 record.