Waterman Shoots Back on Top, Beats Paw Paw for Title

Waterman, who boasted a 7-0 record in loop play, was the favorite to win the 1954 Little Ten Conference Tournament title by most coaches, fans and media.  The Wolverines did just that as they defeated Leland in their opening game 73-65, and then slipped by Somonauk in the semifinals by a 54-53 score.  Finally, they raised the championship trophy at Earlville after a 64-56 victory over Paw Paw.

Paw Paw reached the title game via wins over Shabbona (61-52) and Earlville (74-70).

Earlville took third place honors with a 63-59 triumph over Somonauk.

  FIRST ROUND

PLANO 55, HINCKLEY 42

P: Ken Baker 19 points.

H: Stan Michaelson 18 points.

LELAND 51, SERENA 49

L: John Cox 14 points, Ken Jacobson 12 and Vern Morel 10.

S: Don Mundorff 19 points and Ken Blecker 15.

ROLLO 57, SANDWICH 46

R: Chuck Foster 22 points.

S: Harold Casner 14 points.

  SECOND ROUND

WATERMAN 73, LELAND 65

W: Chuck Johnson 18 points and Roger Baker 17.

L: Ken Jacobson 22 points and John Cox 21.

SOMONAUK 55, PLANO 43

S: Ray Cook 15 points and Gordon Jelm 14

P: Ken Seaton and Don Sorenson 10 points each.

EARLVILLE 64, ROLLO 53

E: Alan Smith 18 points and Gerald Tuftie 13.

R: Harold Svendsen 14 points and Chuck Foster 12.

PAW PAW 61, SHABBONA 52

P: Bob Klatt 18 points and Dean Eich 14.

S: Jack DeNert 28 points.

  SEMIFINALS

PAW PAW 74, EARLVILLE 70

P: Bob Klatt and Dean Eich 22 points each.

E: Bud Swayze 22 points.

WATERMAN 54, SOMONAUK 53

W: Chuck Johnson 20 points.

S: Ray Cook 16 points.

  THIRD PLACE GAME

EARLVILLE 63, SOMONAUK 59

E: Bud Swayze 24 points.

S: Gordon Jelm 23 points.

  CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

WATERMAN 64, PAW PAW 56

W: Chuck Johnson 22 points and Ken Peterson 18.

P: Bob Klatt 16 points.

These Players were picked Most Valuable (Sorce: DeKalb Chronicle)

Stan Michaelson (Hinckley); Jim Jacobson (Leland); Dean Eich (Paw Paw); Chuck Foster (Rollo); Dean Anderson (Sandwich); Gene Hickey (Shabbona); Ray Cook (Somonauk); Chuck Johnson (Waterman).

Regular Season

Following the LTC Tournament the quest for the regular season title heated up.  Here is a quick run down of those final weeks of the chase for number one.

Waterman (8-0) was an 88-70 winner over Paw Paw (3-3).  The Wolverines trailed 18-10 after one quarter at Paw Paw.  The visitors stormed back with a 28-19 second quarter run and never looked back. Ken Patterson led the winners with 23 points, Lloyd Peterson and Chuck Johnson added 18 each.

Somonauk (6-1) defeated Shabbona (2-5) by the score of 63-56 at Shabbona.  The Bobcats jumped out to a 17-8 lead at the end of one period, and then held off a late Indian charge.  Gordon Jelm led Somonauk with 26 points, Ray Cook netted 17.

Earlville (5-2) fell to Serena (4-2) 64-59 at Earlville.  Serena led 32-30 at halftime, and then outscored the Red Raiders 20-12 in the third frame.  An Earlville fourth quarter rally fell short.  Don Mundorff scored 28 points to lead the Huskers.  Bud Swayze had 22 for EHS.

Leland (4-3) won over Sandwich (1-6) y the count of 48-44.

Rollo (3-4) was victorious over Hinckley (1-6) 55-45

Plano was idle.

Somonauk (7-1) had an easy 84-41 over Plano (1-7).  The visiting Bobcats led 35-17 at halftime, and put things away with a 28-6 third quarter push.  Jelm led SHS with 25 points, while Cook had 20.

Earlville (6-2) earned a 72-64 win over host Shabbona (2-6).  The Red Raiders led 35-27 at intermission and 57-43 after three periods.  Swayze and Bob Malley each had 15 points for the winners.  Shabbona’s Gene Hickey had a game-high 27 points in the losing cause.

Waterman was idle.

Serena 57, Hinckley 55

Paw Paw 75, Sandwich 60

Rollo 65, Leland 53

Somonauk (8-1) defeated Earlville (6-3) by a 55-49 score.  The Bobcats won the game at the free-throw line, hitting 17 to Earlville’s nine, thus knocking the Red Raiders out of title contention.  Cook led Somonauk with 21 points, Gordon Jelm added 15.  Bud Swayze paced EHS with 19 points, Gerald Tuftie chipped in 13.

Waterman (9-0) beat host Sandwich (1-9) 70-59, to clinch at least a share of the regular season title.  The Wolverines blitzed the Indians with a 21-4 first quarter and was never threatened.  Chuck Johnson scored a game-high 31 points for WHS.

Serena 58, Rollo 44.

Paw Paw 77, Earlville 76.

Waterman (10-0) defeated Serena (6-4) handily by a 55-36 count.  The visiting Wolverines ran out to a 26-15 first half lead to help them win over the Huskers and capture the LTC regular season crown.  Ken Peterson led Waterman with 22 points, Chuck Johnson added 12.  Don Mundorff paced Serena with 15 points.

Somonauk (9-1) rolled past Paw Paw (6-4) with a 73-53 victory.  The Bobcats wrapped up second place by crushing the Bulldogs.  Ray Cook led SHS with 20 points, Jelm head 14.

Rollo 70, Sandwich 52

Leland 50, Hinckley 40

Shabbona 86, Plano 66

Shabbona’s Gene Hickey wrapped up the LTC individual scoring title with 34 points against Plano to end with 226 points, edging Waterman’s Chuck Johnson, who finished with 213.

1954 Little Ten Conference Standings

                        W     L

Waterman     10     0

Somonauk      9     1

Paw Paw       6     4

Earlville     6     4

Leland        6     4

Serena        6     4

Rollo         5     5

Shabbona      3     7

Plano         2     8

Sandwich      1     9

Hinckley      1     9