Lookout, Athens Win Middle, Small School Titles
Graham, Young Lead Trojans Past Fairview, 55-50
HUNTINGTON (AP) – Hard-pressed Athens overcame a cold shooting spell in the first half to bounce Fairview, 55-50, Saturday in the championship game of the State Class A High School Basketball Tournament.
The outcome gave the Trojans a record-breaking third small school basketball title.
It was some neat outside shooting by Roger Graham that led Athens out of the wilderness. The Trojans couldn’t buy a basket in the opening 16 minutes of the proceedings, hitting on only seven of 36 floor shots.
But with Graham finding the range for 12 of his 16 points in the second half, the Trojans overcame a 10-point third-period deficit to finally wrest the lead from the northern entry.
It was big Tex Young who gave the Trojans the go-ahead bucket at 46-44 with 5:10 to play.
Athens made 13 of 27 floor shots in the second half, for a game total of 20 for 63 as against 17 of 52 for Fairview.
Young, 6-8 ¾ center, grabbed 16 rebounds – the same number compiled by the whole Fairview team – and scored 18 points for game honors in both departments.
Frank Alvis, the hero of Athens’ victory over Ansted yesterday, didn’t make a field goal until midway in the third period despite numerous tries. He hit on only three of 18 shots as compared to 11 for 15 against Ansted. But Alvis, a clever ball-handler and dribbler, practically dribbled the Trojans into the title in the closing moments today.
His team was holding onto a slender 52-50 lead with 1:26 left when Alvis started his dribbling stint.
Before the 27 seconds had elapsed, he was awarded four foul shots. He made three of these to wind up with 12 points.
Fairview’s Indians were paced by husky Dwight Conway who is built like a tank. The 6-1, 230-pound senior, cashed in on six of 13 floor shots and 10 of 10 free throws for 22 points – tops in the game.
The only other Fairview player in the double figures was Fielding Yost with 13 markers. Yost was sidelined much of the third period with four personals on him.
Fairview Coach Ray Hedrick declared that “the fouls hurt us and so did that height.”
Athens Coach Perry Hill jubilantly said that “Alvis finally started hitting and driving, and the boys got steamed up the second half. We just couldn’t hit the first half.”
Alvis, Young Picked On All-Tourney Team
HUNTINGTON (AP) – Runner-up Fairview placed three men on the Class A all-tournament team chosen Saturday by sports writers and sportscasters covering the annual State High School Basketball Tournament.
Champion Athens and former champion Ansted were represented by two players, and Piedmont by one, Joe Taylor.
Fairview selections were Fielding Yost and the brothers John and Dwight Conway. Athens’ Frank Alvis and Warren Young and Ansted’s Larry Miller and Robert Fox were the other picks on the eight-man all-star team.
Fairview won the best cheering award, and Joanne Parrish o Fairview was named best individual cheerleader.
Source: Transcribed from the Beckley Post-Herald and Raleigh Register, Beckley, West Virginia, Sunday Morning, March 22, 1959, page 11
