2nd Annual
North Central District "A"
Boys Basketball Tournament
1959

Champ

ionship

Okan

ogan

Score

: 56-52

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Chelan 53, Eastmont 43
Game 1. (Loser out)
At Okanogan, WA

Both Eastmont and Chelan were high for their crucial preliminary.  For both sides the teams the tide came in and went out frequently during the battle.
In the end, it was the all-around performance of Chelan's Robert Croy that spelled the difference. He dropped 10-of-11 free throws and scored 18 points.
Controlling rebounds and with Croy hitting nicely, the Goats rambled away to a 15-6 early lead and commanded, 15-10, at the end of the first period.
Then the Wildcats staged their comeback. Judd Hamilton came in off the bench to give Eastmont some rebounding strength, Dale Conley and Derral Foreman began penetrating Chelan's defense on drives.
Near the halftime intermission Eastmont finally caught up and Dave Berquist's free throw put the Wildcats in a 26-25 lead.
Some sharp-shooting by Berquist got Eastmont out to a five-point lead early in the second half, but then Chelan's Marvin Stocker went wild.  He staged a 12-point scoring spree that pulled his club into a 42-37 lead midway in the final quarter.
By then Berquist had fouled out for Eastmont, Bill Bull, who had played his usual fine floor game, also dropped out on fouls with two-and-a-half minutes left.  Four seconds later, Hamilton was out, too.
Chelan broke it open then and Croy added some frosting to the cake by getting loose for two solo lay-ins in the last 12 seconds.
Croy led all scorers with 18 while Conley topped Eastmont with 16.

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Okanogan 56, Ephrata 52
Game 2. (Championship, winner to state)
At Okanogan, WA

For the third straight year the Okanogan Bulldogs are headed to the state basketball tournament.  The Bulldogs dispatched of a tough Ephrata Tiger squad, 56-52, in Friday's North Central District 6 Basketball Championship.
Okanogan was the site of this year's district tournament in Okanogan's brand new gymnasium.  The gym was given the unofficial name of "The House that Easley Built." A larger gym was needed due the overflowing crowds that came to see Okanogan's basketball wonder.
With only seconds remaining in the third period, Ephrata was on top, 37-36.  Dale Easley canned one before the period ended, so that Okanogan clung to third period lead, 38-37.
Early in the fourth quarter Okanogan pulled out to a 49-42 lead, thanks to five free throws.  But again, Ephrata came rallying back.  With two minutes left, Okanogan had a 51-50 edge.  A go-ahead rally by Ephrata was nipped as Greg Fragner swiped a pass.  When Okanogan got into forecourt, Forsberg committed his fifth personal foul. Bruce Wilson dropped the free throw for Okanogan.
Ephrata returned on the attack, got one unsuccessful shot and there was a held ball. On the tip, Okanogan's steady little guard Ken Lewis got it and drove all the way for the lay-in.  Bob Wickwire next dropped two free throws to make it 54-52 and less than a half minute remaining. Okanogan moved into forecourt through an aggressive full court Tiger press.
Instead of freezing, Fragner went for the crusher. He drove into a corner, pivoted and put up shot.  It rattled through and, with only 19 seconds left, Ephrata's hopes were vanished.
Easley's 26 points were high for the game.  Three Tigers got into double figures: Wickwire 17, Steve Foresberg 12, and Jay Eslick 12.
While Ephrata was hitting 41 percent of its field goal attempts, Okanogan was getting 39 percent.  Ephrata dropped 12-of-17 free throws.  Okanogan got 8-of-17.

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Ephrata 82, Chelan 43
Game 3. (Winner to state, loser out)
At Okanogan, WA

Ephrata impressively shot its way into the state A tournament.
Chelan was able to keep fairly close during the first quarter that ended 16-10 but Ephrata bombarded the net mercilessly in the second period to take a halftime lead of 46-19.
The 30-point scoring spree in the second period was led by Steve Foresberg's 14 points.  He canned 24 for the evening to lead the scoring for both teams.
Ephrata was able to score almost at will in the final three frames after Chelan zone fell apart.  The Goat's man-to-man defense in the second half was little more effective.
Deloy West posted 13 for the Tigers and Jay Eslick hit for 12.  Nine men joined in the scoring parade for each club.
The Tiger bench was cleared with five minutes remaining, but the Tigers still poured in 24 points in that final outing.
Bob Croy tossed in nine to lead the Goat's effort.  Marv Stocker battled valiantly under the basket and picked up seven points.