Unlocking the Archive: Chillicothe loses controversial heartbreaker to Newark in 1969

Chillicothe Gazette
·2 min read

Cavaliers lose heartbreaker.

That was the headline at the top of the page of the sports section on Jan. 25, 1969.

The Cavaliers were facing the Wildcats of Newark at Hatton Memorial Gym that Friday night in what would be a 47-46 loss that wasn't without some controversy.

According to the article Jim Leasure, sports editor, 6-foot-6 center Greg Jurcisin took a shot from the side of the basket with 11 seconds left to put Chillicothe up 46-45.

Chillicothe's Jim Johnson (30) with the ball during the game against Newark. The Newark Wildcats came from behind to beat the Chillicothe Cavaliers 47-46 at Hatton Memorial Gym on Jan. 24, 1969.
Chillicothe's Jim Johnson (30) with the ball during the game against Newark. The Newark Wildcats came from behind to beat the Chillicothe Cavaliers 47-46 at Hatton Memorial Gym on Jan. 24, 1969.

The Wildcats started to return the ball to their end of the court, but called for a time-out with five seconds left. The throw-in went to f-foot-11 guard John Snow who took the last-second shot to win the game.

This is where the controversy comes in.

The Newark Wildcats came from behind to beat the Chillicothe Cavaliers 47-46 at Hatton Memorial Gym on Jan. 24, 1969. It was reported in the Gazette that some spectators claimed the buzzer sounded before the winning shot but there was so much noise from the crows that neither official could hear the buzzer.
The Newark Wildcats came from behind to beat the Chillicothe Cavaliers 47-46 at Hatton Memorial Gym on Jan. 24, 1969. It was reported in the Gazette that some spectators claimed the buzzer sounded before the winning shot but there was so much noise from the crows that neither official could hear the buzzer.

Per the article, some spectators claimed the buzzer went off before Snow was in position for the shot, but there was no much noise in the gym that neither official - Harry Weinbrecht nor George Heller -- could hear the buzzer.

The Cavaliers were down by six points going into the fourth quarter. Two minutes went by without either team scoring. At the six-minute mark guard Jack Berno missed a foul shot and two seconds later Snow made his third field goal for the first points of the quarter.

Chillicothe's Greg Jurcisin (40) takes the jump from Newark's Dennis Odle at the start of the fourth quarter. In the picture are Newark's John Snow (21), Chillicothe's Jim Johnson (30) and Newark's Brice Kibler (55). The Newark Wildcats came from behind to beat the Chillicothe Cavaliers 47-46 at Hatton Memorial Gym on Jan. 24, 1969.
Chillicothe's Greg Jurcisin (40) takes the jump from Newark's Dennis Odle at the start of the fourth quarter. In the picture are Newark's John Snow (21), Chillicothe's Jim Johnson (30) and Newark's Brice Kibler (55). The Newark Wildcats came from behind to beat the Chillicothe Cavaliers 47-46 at Hatton Memorial Gym on Jan. 24, 1969.

Chillicothe's 6-foot-4 forward Jim Johnson brought the Cavaliers within three points with three minutes left. On the throw-in, Berno stole the ball and went in for a layup but he was called for traveling.

Newark's Jerry Carter his a free throw to make it 44-40 Wildcats. With two minutes less, Johnson cut the lead to 44-42. Newark's Jon Daniels would make the first shot of a one-and-one to make it 45-42. Johnson would then make both of his free throws after a foul to make it the one-point game at 45-44.

Johnson would finish the game with 20 points to lead the team, with Jurcisin having 16.

This article originally appeared on Lancaster Eagle-Gazette: Unlocking the Archive: Chillicothe loses heartbreaker to Newark in 1969