Serena 55, Malta 50

Bruce Hoxsey led Serena with 20 points, Larry Jansen added 10, Jerry Allen nine. Jim Stoddard paced Malta with a game-high 21 points, Gary Franzen chipped in 12.

The Mustangs led 31-29 at halftime, but after an even third quarter the Huskers out-scored Malta 17-10 in the fourth to advance.

Paw Paw 68, Somonauk 60

Steve Schlesinger poured in 31 points for Paw Paw. Scott Torman added 16 for the Bulldogs, Gary Safranek scored 12. Eric Hansen was tops for Somonauk with 19 points, sophomore Robin Voss popped in 16, Steve Strangeland had 10.

Somonauk led 17-14 after one quarter and extended that lead to 31-26 at halftime. Paw Paw cut into the lead in the third, but trailed by four heading to the fourth, they then took the lead for good midway through the period and never looked back.

Waterman 76, Leland 71 

Waterman, who hit 51-percent from the floor in the game, was led by Ed Bowman's 25 points, Milo Isaacson had 21 and Bill Wilson 20. Bruce Brown led Leland with 24 points, Mike Skinner scored 20 and Dave Elder added 12.

The Wolverines led 19-12 after one period and 32-28 at the intermission, then held on for the victory.

Earlville 66, Hinckley-Big Rock 64

Earlville's Gary Stockley hit a 30-footer at the buzzer to give his team the victory over Hinckley-Big Rock.

Jim Sutton led the Red Raiders with 20 points, Bruce Bauer had 15 and Stockley 13. The Royals were paced by Rich McCrea with 12 points, Jeff Finley 11 and Dan Phillips 11.

Newark 58, Serena 42

Newark led 25-18 at halftime and then used a 8-0 run early in the third quarter to help them advance to the title game.

Doug Knudson and Dave Thompson led the Norsemen with 17 points each, Fred Skelton had 12,. Jim Olson was tops for Serena with 13 points, Bruce Hoxsey had eight.

Shabbona 56, Paw Paw 50

SEMIFINALS

Newark 85, Waterman 45

Newark ran out to a 43-14 lead at halftime and rolled from there.

Dave Thompson led the Norsemen with 20 points, Doug Knudson had 18 and Fred Skelton added 16. Ed Bowman paced Waterman with 19.

Shabbona 56, Earlville 50

Shabbona won a close battle with Earlville to move into the title game. The Indians had just won an overtime battle against the Red Raiders just prior to the tournament.

The game was tied at halftime, then Shabbona slipped ahead after the third quarter and then held of a Earlville come back attempt.

Scott Krahenbuhl led the winners with 18 points, Jim Bridgewater and Rod Fultz added 10 each. Earlville was led by Francis Yabsley's 14 points, Bruce Bauer chipped in 12.

THIRD PLACE

Earlville 59, Waterman 54

Earlville won the battle for third place by defeating Waterman 59-54 in a back-and-forth contest. Bruce Bauer paced the Red Raiders with 21 points, Francis Yabsley netted 15.

CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

Newark 64, Shabbona 49

Newark, along with Malta, entered the LTC in 1968 with the departure of Sandwich and Plano. The Norsemen made the most of their first season by winning the tournament with a 64-49 triumph over undefeated regular-season champ Shabbona at Hinckley.

Both teams entered the tournament with 5-0 loop records, but Shabbona beat Newark the following Friday to wrap up the season title.

Head coach Harold Bennett, who had won two titles with Earlville (1955 and 1956), saw his club hold the Indians to an icy 35-percent shooting clip, while hitting a sizzling 56 percent of their own shots. Newark led 28-22 at halftime and a 16-9 third quarter advantage wrapped up the golden trophy.

Junior Dave Thompson led Newark with 24 points on 12-of-16 shooting, while Fred Skelton and Doug Knudson added 14 points each.

Championship Game Box Score 

NEWARK (64) – Skelton 6-11 2-3 14, Knudson 6-15 2-6 14, Thompson 12-16 0-3 24, Carlson 1-2 4-6 6, McDowell 3-5 0-0 6, Anderson 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 28-50 8-18 64.

SHABBONA (49) – Oleson 1-9 0-0 2, Fultz 8-19 1-1 17, Richardson 1-3 0-0 2, Bridgewater 1-7 1-3 3, Krahenbuhl 5-9 2-3 12, O'Kane 1-3 0-0, Schou 4-10 3-3 11, Craig 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 21-60 7-10 49.

Newark      11  17  16  20 – 64

Shabbona   13  9    9  18 – 49

Total fouls (fouled out) – Newark 8 (none), Shabbona 14 (Fultz).

 

1968 Little Ten Conference Standings

                          W    L

Shabbona                  9    0

Newark                    8    1

Leland                    6    3

Earlville                 6    3

Hinckley-Big Rock         5    4

Serena                    4    5

Somonauk                  3    6

Waterman                  3    6

Malta                     1    8

Paw Paw                   0    9