The 1919 Stivers Basketball Team never lost a game, winning 14 games in the regular season and 6 games in the State of Ohio Tourney in Delaware, Ohio. It was the Tigers’ second State Championship in 4 years. Coach Marquardt’s team was led by Fred Sifford and brothers, Harry and Harvey Schwab.
1919 Season Recap
Player roster – Harry Schwab (Captain), Harvey Schwab, Sam Ward, Fred Sifford, Bill Manchester, Mak Matusoff, Jake Matusoff
Coaches – Willard Marquardt, Earl Brandenburg
Regular Season Scores –
- Stivers 77 vs. Tipp City 17
- Stivers 35 vs. Alumni 28
- Stivers 48 vs. Middletown 14
- Stivers 93 vs. Sidney 8
- Stivers 31 vs. Lima 6
- Stivers 40 vs. Norwood 16
- Stivers 20 vs. Steele 10
- Stivers 55 vs. Oxford McGuffey 4
- Stivers 18 vs. Hamilton 15
- Stivers 62 vs. Col. North 5
- Stivers 31 vs. Piqua 25
- Stivers 23 vs. Athens 10
- Stivers 30 vs. Marietta 25
- Stivers 39 vs. Col. Commercial 13
State Tournament Results –
- Stivers 23 vs. Grove City 5 Delaware, Ohio
- Stivers 25 vs. Lancaster 10
- Stivers 20 vs. Portsmouth 17
- Stivers 29 vs. Cambridge 12
- Stivers 22 vs. Marietta 13
- Stivers 25 vs. Cleveland East Tech 22
All- State: Fred Sifford (1st Team), Harry Schwab, Harvey Schwab (2nd Team)
The State Championship win over Cleveland East Tech has gone down in history as one for the books. The Tigers went into the game with only 7 players. Three players, Harvey Schwab, Sam Ward, and Mak Matusoff fouled out and Stivers had to play the last eight minutes with only 4 players on the court.
Playing a zone defense and shooting from the outside, Stivers outscored East Tech 6 to 3 in those 8 minutes. Substitute Jake Matusoff scored 4 of the 6 from long range, one field goal was reportedly from mid-court.