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Home > Blogs > Springfield, Ohio High School Sports > Archives > 2009 > January
January 2009
Witt’s Nowicki a warrior ‘in the athletic vernacular’
The Tigers pulled to within one at 74-73 on a 3-pointer by Nowicki. After Nick Russo made a tough jumper as the shot clock expired to make it 76-73, Nowicki made a layup to bring Wittenberg back within one. Hiram went on to win 79-75.
Brown praised Nowicki’s effort, especially on defense. He guarded Chris Roberts, who came into the game averaging 18.1 points per game, and held him to no points in the first half.
“He played so very hard today,” Brown said. “He was having to take on some physical and sometimes illegal screening action and he never backed down. I’m just amazed that he could hit that big three because of how tired he had to be. In the athletic vernacular, Dave was just a real warrior today.”
Brown said the Tigers will focus on improvement over the next few weeks to gear up for the NCAC tournament - which he believes in wide-open.
“(My) hat’s off to Hiram and (my) hat’s off to our guys,” Brown said. “We were the ones that came up just a little bit short today.”
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Live updates from Tippecanoe-Kenton Ridge girls basketball game
9:22: The Red Devils win 57-48.
9:17: Dowd added an old-fashioned 3-point play to make it 56-48.
9:15: The Cougars got within five, but two free throws by Dowd makes it 53-46 with 1:54 to play.
9:12: The team’s traded buckets and Swartz nailed two free throws to make it 49-44 with 2:38 to play.
9:09: House makes a runner to pull KR back to within four, but Dowd nailed a 3-pointer to make it 47-40 with 4:07 to play.
9:06: A jumper by Lindsey Fenwick brings KR to within four, but Abby Dowd made two free throws to put Tipp back up 6.
9:03: All of a sudden, we’ve got a ballgame. A putback by House brings KR to within six at 42-36 with 5:44 remaining. The Cougars’ full-court pressure is giving Tipp fits.
9:01: After a basket by Lindsey Fenwick and two free throws each by Alicia Ware and Saira House, KR has pulled to within eight at 42-34 with six minutes to go.
8:57: After three quarters, Tippecanoe leads 42-28. The Cougars outscored Tipp 6-2 in the last two minutes to pull within 12 points.
8:50: Berning added two more buckets and Leah Schiller nailed a running jumper to extend the Red Devils’ lead to 38-22 with about two minutes left in the quarter.
8:45: Cassie Berning has four points to start the quarter to give Tipp a 32-16 advantage with 5:30 to go in the third.
8:35: At halftime, Tippecanoe leads 28-12. Breanna Stucke has 12 points and Cassie Berning has nine points for the Red Devils.
The Red Devils are playing vintage Tippecanoe basketball. They’re taking care of the basketball and forcing KR into bad shots. The Cougars will have to put together several stops on defense, and make better decisions with the basketball to climb back into the game.
8:25: Tippecanoe leads 23-10 with three minutes remaining until halftime. Berning scored on another offensive rebound, and Stucke followed with her second 3-pointer. Tipp held KR scoreless for nearly four minutes until Swartz’ layup at the 3:24 mark.
8:20: A layup by Cassie Berning, followed by four straight points by Breanna Stucke have pushed Tipp’s lead to 18-8.
Both teams are turning the ball over, and the Cougars are having a tough time making shots.
8:16: After one quarter, Tippecanoe leads 12-6. The Red Devils are playing without Christina Pentaudi, who tore her ACL against Shawnee a week ago. Pentaudi played a big role in the Red Devils first victory over the Cougars, especially on defense where she guarded House for most of the game.
8:13: Saira House just made a running jumper in transition and was fouled. Tippecanoe leads 12-6 with 1:18 to go. House has four points, more than she scored in the entire first game.
8:10: With 2:26 remaining, Tippecanoe leads 12-4. KR is struggling just to hit the rim on offense, and are getting outrebounded by the Red Devils.
8:05: The Red Devils lead 7-2 with five minutes remaining in the first quarter. Breanna Stucke has five points for Tippecanoe.
7:55: We’re just a few minutes away from tipoff here at Kenton Ridge High School. The gym is packed.
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Live updates from Hiram-Wittenberg men’s basketball game
5:42: Hiram wins 79-75. The Terriers pressured the ball up the floor and the Tigers eventually got the ball to Kevin Murray, whose fadeaway jumper from the right side trickled off the rim. Ian Pfouts was fouled and made both free throws to seal the win.
5:39: Nowicki fouled Nick Russo with 19 seconds remaining. Russo missed the first shot, but nailed the second to make it 77-75. Hiram called a full timeout.
5:37: Nick Russo nailed a step-back jumper with 30 ticks left to put Hiram up three points, but David Nowicki made a layup with 23.5 seconds remaining to bring Wittenberg back to within a bucket. The Tigers called a timeout.
5:35: The Tigers forced a miss by Hiram’s Ian Pfouts and responded with a 3-pointer by David Nowicki with 54.6 seconds remaining to pull within one at 74-73.
5:32: Kevin Murray nailed a tough shot in the lane to pull the Tigers within two at 72-70. Chris Roberts followed a tough runner of his own to give Hiram a 74-70 lead.
5:29: A 3-pointer by David Nowicki and an old-fashioned 3-point play by Josh McKee has the Tigers back to within four points at 72-68 with 2:39 to go.
5:23: Tigers fought to within six points, but Deon Milton and Ian Pfouts each nailed long 3-pointers to give the Terriers a 70-58 lead with 5:14 remaining. The Tigers have called a full timeout.
5:18: A long 3-pointer and a layup by Chris Roberts pushed the Terriers lead back to eight points at 64-56.
5:12: The Terriers extended the lead to 59-52 with 10:34 to go after a layup by Chris Roberts and a layup by Babajide Eniola.
5:09: Kyle Peterson nailed a 3-pointer to bring the Tigers back to within one at 53-52 with 11:49 to go.
5:06: Back-to-back buckets by Michael Cooper pulled the Tigers to within one point at 50-49. Hiram called a timeout with 13:18 remaining.
5:04: Five minutes into the second half, Hiram leads 50-45. Tigers have tied the score twice, but have yet to take a lead this half.
4:45: At the half, Hiram leads 39-37. It’s still anybody’s ball game.
Andrew Wiegand has 13 points, including 3 3-pointers, and Ian Pfouts has 12 for Hiram.
Josh McKee has 9 points, all 3-pointers, while Clayton Black, Kevin Murray and Mark Snyder all had six points.
4:31: A layup by Mark Snyder tied the score at 33-all, but the Terriers Andrew Wiegand nailed a 3-pointer on the next possession to give Hiram a 36-33 lead.
4:25: At the 4:29 mark, Hiram leads 31-29. The Terriers are making tough shots that the Tigers just can’t seem to make. Ian Pfouts made a tough jumper, then nailed a 3-pointer to put Hiram up 31-22, but two free throws and a layup by Chris Sullivan and a 3-pointer by Kyle Peterson pulled Witt to within two at 31-29.
4:20: With 9:50 to in the first half, Hiram leads 21-17. McKee hit his third 3-pointer, and it came from North Limestone Street. It was well over NBA range.
The Tigers are getting decent looks at the hoop, but have missed several easy shots.
4:12: At the 13:52 mark of the first half, Hiram leads 14-13. Josh McKee has two 3-pointers for Wittenberg.
4:00 p.m.: We’ve just tipped off here at Pam Evans Smith Arena. By first impressions, Hiram looks very athletic. The score is 3-3 just two minutes into the first half.
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Cris Carter left out of Canton — again
Middletown native Cris Carter has been left out of the Hall of Fame for the second year in a row.
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Where are they now: Randy Ayers
North graduate and former Ohio State head coach Randy Ayers is in his second season as an assistant coach with the Washington Wizards. His son Ryan is a senior basketball player at Notre Dame.
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Noise of big match echoed in Taylor’s headgear
From JJHuddle.com:
David Taylor got his bell rung Saturday. And it wasn’t from an opponent. “When I got that turn it was so loud it was echoing in my headgear,” Taylor said. “It was crazy. You always dream of that match - not be cheesy - but that match in Vision Quest when those guys wrestle and everyone goes crazy. That’s the image you think of in your head. And that’s what it was.”
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On this date in area sports history …
Nine years ago today, Jan. 31, 2000, South grad Ajamu Gaines scored 50 points in a game for Charleston. Gaines (above with his family last year in Charleston) was the NCAA Division II Player of the Year that season. Complete story on the jump.
Published Feb. 1, 2000
GAINES GUNS IN CAREER-HIGH 50
SALEM, W.Va. — There was no stopping Ajamu Gaines Monday night.
The South grad fired in a career-high 50 points as Charleston handed Salem-Teikyo its first loss of the season, 105-92, to move into a virtual tie for first place in the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
The 5-foot-91/2 senior guard hit 14 of 29 shots from the floor — including 9 of 14 three-pointers — and 13 of 15 free throws while playing 341/2 of the 40 minutes.
Gaines, who is being scouted by NBA teams, also had four rebounds and four assists while committing seven turnovers.
Charleston, coached by another South product, Jayson Gee, improved to 17-2 overall and 8-1 in the WVIAC. Salem-Teikyo is 16-1 and 9-1.
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Weather messing with Witt training room
The snow and ice is not only messing with the area sports schedules, it’s having a trickle-down effect (literally) at Wittenberg’s HPER Center.
Multiple leaks in the roof forced physical plant workers to rig a tarp system in the training room. The water drops into the tarp and then runs into a funnel.
Head trainer Ellen Crosbie was spotted wearing a clear plastic rain poncho as she attended to athletes on Friday, Jan. 30.
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Weather postponing games on Jan. 30
Another day of bad weather is forcing area basketball games to be postponed.
The Tippecanoe at Shawnee boys basketball game has been rescheduled for Feb. 16th.
The Urbana at Greenon boys game has been rescheduled for Feb. 11th.
The Benjamin Logan at Northwestern boys game will be played on Feb. 14th. JV will start at 2 p.m. with varsity start scheduled for 3:30.
The Kenton Ridge at Stebbins boys game has been postponed for Feb. 17th.
The Mechanicsburg at Greeneview boys game has been postponed with no reschedule date announced.
The West Liberty-Salem at Southeastern game has been rescheduled for Feb. 14 with JV starting at Noon and varsity beginning at approximately 1:30.
The Bellefontaine at Tecumseh boys game has been rescheduled for Feb. 10th.
The Cedarville at Triad boys game has been rescheduled for Feb. 4th.
The Northeastern at Catholic Central game has been rescheduled for Feb. 7. They’ll have 5-game day starting with girls JV at 1:30 p.m., followed by girls varsity at 3. Freshman boys will start at 4:45, with JV at 6 and varsity boys at 7:30 p.m.
The Greenon at Kenton Ridge girls game postponed yesterday has been rescheduled for Feb 4th.
The Mechanicsburg at Catholic Central girls game postponed yesterday has been rescheduled for Feb. 16th.
The Beavercreek at Springfield boys game is still on as scheduled, according to Springfield AD Mark Stoll.
The Graham at Indian Lake boys game will be played as scheduled, according to coach Brook Cupps. The Graham wrestling team will also host a dual match with Lowell, Mich. this evening.
Check back here for more updates throughout the day.
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Where are they now: Dan Hipsher
Dan Hipsher coached the Wittenberg men’s basketball team for four season from 1989-93, winning four North Coast Athletic Conference championships. He followed the 13-season tenure of Larry Hunter and preceded current head coach Bill Brown.
Hipsher is in his second season as an assistant coach to Stan Heath at the University of South Florida. The Bulls are 7-12 this season.
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Wooster, OWU, Hiram stay in front of Witt
Wooster and Hiram are 8-1 in the NCAC. Ohio Wesleyan is 7-2. Wittenberg is 6-3.
Highlights from around the NCAC on Thursday on the jump.
From the Daily Record in Wooster:
WOOSTER — Any Div. III college basketball team would gladly welcome a 6-foot-7 recruit who can play. When that guy is also the best outside shooter on the team, as is the case with Wooster freshman Justin Hallowell, now that’s something https://mt.coxnewsweb.com/shared-cgi/mt/mt.cgi?_mode=view&type=entry&blog_id=18003pretty special.
Hallowell continued his torrid rookie season from beyond the 3-point line by knocking down 5-of-7 treys en route to a game-high 21 points, sparking a 93-76 rout of visiting Allegheny at Timken Gym Thursday night.
From the Delaware Gazette:
The Battling Bishops were just warming up on a cold wintry night …
Ohio Wesleyan turned a three-point halftime lead into a 75-63 North Coast Athletic Conference victory over Oberlin Thursday night at Branch Rickey Arena.
From Hiram’s Web site:
HIRAM, OHIO — Sophomore guard Chris Roberts (Cleveland/Kennedy) scored a game-high 24 points as the Hiram College men’s basketball team extended its winning streak to four games with a 66-55 win against Kenyon College tonight (Thursday, Jan. 29) in a North Coast Athletic Conference game at Price Gymnasium.
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On this date in area sports history …
Eighty-four years ago on this date, Jan. 30, 1925, Brooks Lawrence was born in Springfield. Lawrence, who died in 2000, played seven seasons in the big leagues with the Cardinals and Reds. He is a member of the Reds Hall of Fame.
On the jump, a News-Sun story on Lawrence.
Published April 28, 2000
SPRINGFIELD BASEBALL GREAT DIES.
BROOKS LAWRENCE CALLED AN ALL-AROUND ATHLETE
By Greg Billing, News-Sun Sports Writer
While most friends remember Brooks Lawrence for his ability to excel on the playing field, perhaps no one knows it better than former Springfield High School football teammate Jim Pinkerton.
“I’d have been first-string quarterback if it hadn’t been for Brooksie,” Pinkerton said with a laugh, referring to Lawrence’s size and talent. “He was a great guy.”
Lawrence, 75, died Thursday. The Springfield resident who went on to a seven-year career as a pitcher in the major leagues had been battling cancer. Family members could not be reached for comment.
“He was a nice guy and a hell of an athlete,” said Tom Conway, 75, who graduated from Springfield High with Lawrence in 1943.
“There was no question about (Lawrence becoming a success),” Conway added. “He was the best athlete in town. He could run, he could pitch, he could throw, he could play football, basketball, run track.”
Lawrence, Springfield High’s first black quarterback, spent two seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals (1954-55) and five with the Cincinnati Reds (1956-60). He retired with a 69-62 record and a 4.24 earned-run average. Lawrence’s best season came in 1956 when he opened with 13 straight wins for the Reds and made the National League All-Star team. He finished 19-10 with a 3.99 ERA that season.
“He was worthy of everything he did,” Pinkerton said of Lawrence, who often battled racism during his career. “I think he handled himself well and he was a gentleman.”
Don Rinker of Meek’s Sporting Goods in Springfield remembers Lawrence as someone willing to give back to the sport he loved to play. Rinker cited an incident when Lawrence was coaching the Wilmington College baseball team.
“He traded me a bat (Ken) Griffey Sr. had used in a game for three wood ones for his college team to use,” said Rinker. “He’s a good friend of (Joe) Nuxhall and the Griffeys.”
“He used to come in here all the time when major-leaguers had to buy their own stuff,” the 72-year-old Rinker added. “He had a pretty good career.”
Rinker, a 1947 Springfield High graduate, recalls the day Lawrence was called up from his AAA Columbus team in 1954.
“I was at his front door the day he was called up to St. Louis,” Rinker said. “My boss had heard and he told me to go over there. He was pitching for Columbus at that time and he said, `I don’t know why, they knocked me out in the first inning today.’ ”
If Lawrence had any doubts, they soon were erased. His major-league debut was on June 24, 1954, and he promptly went 15-6 with a 3.74 ERA for the Cardinals. A bleeding ulcer weakened him for the following season, when he went 3-8 with a 6.56 ERA. Lawrence was traded to the Reds during the off-season.
“He was a fine athlete,” Conway said. “He was really a friendly guy. I wish he hadn’t had this problem.
“I last saw him four months ago. I invited him to come to a coaches group. He said he would and then said he was on all that oxygen so he couldn’t come.”
After his retirement from baseball, Lawrence — a member of both the Reds and Ohio baseball halls of fame — worked 10 years at International Harvester in Springfield. He then spent 10 years in the Reds’ front office, the team’s first significant front-office minority hire, handling scouting, minor-league player development, radio and television work and season-ticket sales.
Lawrence was a member of the inaugural class of the Springfield High School Athletic Hall of Fame, which was inducted in 1998. He lettered in football, basketball and track and also played baseball. The summer baseball league for high school players — the Lawrence-Haddix League — bears his name along with that of former professional pitcher Harvey Haddix.
“He was a great guy and lot of people don’t know he was a great football player, too,” said former Springfield football teammate Jack Tuttle, 76. “When you get to be the age Brooks and I are, you get to expect the good Lord will take you somewhere along the line.”
Arrangements are pending at the Robert C. Henry Funeral Home in Springfield.
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Live updates from Wabash-Wittenberg men’s hoop game
9:01: Wittenberg wins 75-64. Michael Cooper’s steal and dunk with 10 seconds remaining put an emphatic exclamation point on the victory.
Kevin Murray had 18 points, Josh McKee had 15 and Alex Brandt added 14 for Wittenberg.
8:31: Wittenberg leads 45-38 with 11:13 remaining in the game. Ben Burkett’s 3-point play and a layup by Dominique Thomas helped the Little Giants pull to within nine. Ben Burkett added two more free throws to bring the lead to within seven.
Murray’s third 3-pointer was the 100th trey of his career.
8:08: Wittenberg leads 37-22 at halftime.The Little Giants pulled to within four at 20-16 with nine minutes remaining, but Tigers outscored Wabash 17-6, including three 3-pointers by Murray, the rest of the half. Murray and McKee have combined for five 3-pointers.
7:41: Wittenberg leads 9-3 to start the game. They held Wabash scoreless until 14:18 to go in the first half.
7:30: Tipoff just seconds away. Obviously, the crowd is sparse due to the snowstorm.
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More games postponed today due to weather
For the third day in a row, the inclement weather is making area athletic directors work a lot harder.
The Springfield at Beavercreek girls basketball game rescheduled for today, Jan. 29, has been postponed again. It has been rescheduled for Monday, Feb. 9th.
The West Liberty-Salem at Southeastern girls game has been rescheduled for Monday, Feb. 2.
The Greeneview at Triad girls game has been rescheduled for Monday, Feb. 2.
The Northwestern at Stebbins game has been rescheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 3.
The Urbana at Bellefontaine girls game has been postponed and no reschedule date has been announced.
The Greenon at Kenton Ridge girls game has been postponed and no reschedule date has been announced.
The Graham at Tecumseh girls game has been postponed and no reschedule date has been announced.
The Wittenberg men’s basketball game with Wabash rescheduled for tonight at 7:30 p.m. will be played.
The Benjamin Logan at Shawnee girls game is still on for tonight as scheduled, according to Shawnee athletic director Bob Price.
Check back here for more updates throughout the day.
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Ohio boys basketball team ends 66-game skid
From the Youngstown Vindicator
NORTH JACKSON — Two years ago, the Jackson-Milton High boys basketball team watched as a disgruntled group of seniors quit on their teammates at midseason, starting a downward spiral that resulted in a 66-game losing streak on the court and plenty of ridicule off it.
In the midst of this, second-year head coach Adam Underhill — an assistant coach on that team two years ago — was left with the unenviable task of keeping hope alive.
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Where are they now: Larry Hunter
Former Wittenberg men’s basketball coach Larry Hunter is in his fourth season as head coach at Western Carolina University. Hunter has won more than 500 games in his career. His Catamounts are 9-9 this season.
Hunter won a national title at Wittenberg in his first season, 1977, and coached the Tigers through 1989.
Story on Hunter’s hiring at WCU.
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On this date in area sports history …
Eleven years ago on this date, Jan. 29, 1998, Southeastern senior Amy Martin officially signed to play basketball and volleyball at Cedarville University. Complete story on the jump.
Published Jan. 30, 1998
MARTIN SIGNS, BUT DOESN’T SETTLE, FOR CEDARVILLE.
By Chris Freeman, News-Sun Sports Editor
CEDARVILLE — Amy Martin may already be a prize recruit for Cedarville College in two sports, one of the players you can build a volleyball or basketball team around.
But don’t think for a second the 6-foot senior at Southeastern settled for Cedarville.
Martin officially signed with Cedarville Thursday evening, about an hour before her Southeastern basketball team went out and beat Cedarville High. She will spend her next four years playing exactly where she wants, even if it isn’t the biggest school she could attend.
That’s right, the Division IV All-Ohio star in volleyball has had recruiting letters pass her hands from Division I schools, mainly mid-level progams like Miami University and Ohio University. But those schools were never in the running for Martin.
She wanted to go to a Christian college. That was the most important factor in her decision. And when you consider the lone Division I Christian college in the country, Liberty University, is more than eight hours away from home by car — too far for Martin’s liking — you begin to see where her sights were set.
“I like the small atmosphere, but there aren’t many large Christian colleges,” said Martin, flanked by college and high school coaches as well as her family at the signing Thursday.
There was another major factor — the ability to play two sports. Martin has played volleyball and basketball each of her four years at Southeastern and wanted to continue the trend in college. At Division I colleges, that only happens in the rarest of cases.
“A lot of schools want you to be a one-sport athlete,” Martin said, “especially at the bigger schools.”
So she looked back at the school her father, Kirk, went to. Cedarville offered her the religious background she wanted, a solid academic program and the ability to play two sports.
In the end, the NAIA school also came up with enough money.
“I’ve been banking on the possibility of Amy coming here for almost 18 months,” said Cedarville volleyball coach Teresa Clark. “This is very, very big in my eyes. She’s one of our highest recruits, financially, and we’ve put a big part of our budgets on her.”
Finally, there was the spiritual aspect. Scoff as you might — and I’ve done the same reading stories like this before — this may have been the biggest point of all.
Think back some years ago when Reggie White was on his free-agent tour, looking for a new NFL team. When he decided on Green Bay, he said that God told him to go there. The decision led White to a pair of Super Bowls, and during one of his Super Bowl press conferences this year, he made a point of criticizing people who thought his statement about God was a self-serving one.
Martin said Thursday she knew Cedarville is where God wanted her to be. Clark said the decision was a matter of prayer on the part of Martin, her family and the school. Basketball coach Kathy Freese said if they felt God wanted her elsewhere, they would not have signed her.
Plenty is made about recruiting these days. Money is the biggest factor. Fame is the biggest factor. Starting as a freshman is the biggest factor.
Amy Martin got a good deal of money to play for Cedarville. In all likelihood, she will step in and start for the volleyball team and, possibly, the basketball team as well.
That’s not why she chose to attend Cedarville. She followed her heart. And when you do that, you can never settle for anything.
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For your reading enjoyment: Super Bowl edition
Here are some Super Bowl-related stories I’ve enjoyed this week:
Cards’ Darnell Dockett says he forgives his mother’s murderer.
Dan Pompei says Kurt Warner should be a Hall of Famer.
Cards’ Anquan Boldin and Steelers’ Santonio Holmes proud natives of Muck City.
Todd Haley used to be a Steelers ball boy in the Steel Curtain era.
One writer’s take on why Warner is more reliable than Peyton Manning. Warner is the NFL’s Mr. Congeniality.
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Wittenberg, Springfield girls game postponed
The Springfield at Beavercreek girls basketball game has been postponed until tomorrow, Thursday, Jan. 29.
Both the Wittenberg men’s and women’s game scheduled for today were also postponed. The men’s basketball game against Wabash will be played on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. The women’s game at Denison is also set for Thursday at 6 p.m.
The Wittenberg men’s game against Translyvania scheduled for Friday, Jan. 30 has been canceled.
The Piqua at Springfield game postponed yesterday has been rescheduled for Feb. 21.
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Leech’s feat stirs memories for WVC commissioner
West Virgnia Conference commissioner Will Prewitt just happened to be there when Glenville State College senior Tryvan Leech, a North grad, went off for 52 points in a game last week.
Leech’s performance reminded him of another Springfield, Ohio basketball star: Ajamu Gaines.
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Where are they now: Jayson Gee
South graduate Jayson Gee, Clark County Mr. Basketball in 1984, is in his third season as associate head coach with the Cleveland State University men’s basketball team. The Vikings are 13-8 this season.
Update on Gee from University of Charleston, his alma mater.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: College Basketball, College Men's Basketball, South High School, Where Are They Now
Cedarville men tops in NAIA, but not the NCCAA
The Cedarville University men’s basketball team is No. 1 in the NAIA Division II, but they’re not No. 1 in the NCCAA — they’re No. 2.
The No. 1 spot belongs to an 11-6 team — Colorado Christian University.
The women’s squad, who won the NCCAA National Championship last season, is also No. 2 in the poll. Campbellsville (Ky.) University is No. 1.
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GWOC to hold National Signing Day event
The Greater Western Ohio Conference has announced that the following athletes will attend its National Signing Day event at the Wayne Booster Center on Wednesday, Feb. 4. Their colleges of choice are in parentheses:
Jeremy Johnson, Springfield (Buffalo); Austin Moore, Springfield (Miami of Ohio); Javon Marshall, Wayne (Vanderbilt); Erique Geiger, Wayne (Bowling Green); Anthony Pyle, Wayne (Air Force Academy); Danny Gress, Northmont (Kent State); C.J. Barnett, Northmont (Ohio State) Mark Mays, Northmont (Bowling Green); Adam Replogle, Centerville (Indiana); Jake Feldmeyer, Centerville (Illinois).
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: College Football, Greater Western Ohio Conference, High School Football, Springfield High School
On this date in area sports history …
Sixteen years ago on this date, Jan. 28, 1993, the News-Sun published a story about the North-South boys basketball rivarly. Complete story on the jump.
THIS SEQUEL MAY LIVE UP TO BILLING
INTENSITY IS HIGH FOR CITY REMATCH OF NORTH VS. SOUTH.
By Kim Byrum - Sports Writer
For 34 years Springfield’s annual high school showcase - North vs. South - has been a rivalry stuffed with Dick Vitale-like hype - a one-time shot at territorial supremacy, BAY-bee.
Few local traditionalists approved of a second Western Ohio League match-up in the same year. Sequels, after all, rarely live up to their advance billing.
But thanks to a new double round-robin format, tonight’s 8 o’clock standoff (WIZE-AM) between the Panthers, 11-2, and the Wildcats, 11-3, at sold-out North has all the ingredients of a box office smash.
“I get all hyped up without that stuff, though. I could be playing Mother Mercy, Sisters of the Blind and I'd get hyped,'' chuckled South Coach Larry Ham. “To me, it's all basketball - it's competing, playing the game. I mean, I get butterflies in practice.''
Understandably then, tonight’s atmosphere fits the first-year coach just fine. His unusual brand of high-decibel, sideline emotion has proven contagious, rejuvenating a South team that seemed to have grown accustomed to going through the motions.
“I’m as loud when we’re up 30 points as when we’re five or six down - people don’t understand that,” Ham added, still laughing. “I know they think, `What’s he hollering about?’ but I love the game.”
North and South not only carry the county’s two best records, but along with Xenia, 12-2, they’re knotted in a three-way tie for the WOL lead at 7-2.
The Wildcats have recovered impressively after marks of 10-13, 6-15 and 4-17 over the past three years. Similarly, after sharing last year’s league title with Wayne, the Panthers are off to one of their best starts in recent history, rebounding from a string of unimpressive records: 7-15, 5-16, 10-13 and 14-8 over the past four seasons.
“It’s kind of an unusual feeling (the second time around),” revealed North Coach Eddie Ford. “I was just talking to (senior) Jabbar (Threats) about it the other day. We decided we’d rather (have played) a game Tuesday because we wouldn’t have (had) all week to think about it. We get antsy about it. Our kids just want to go out and play.”
North downed South, 81-73, in the first round. Meanwhile, the Wildcats handed Xenia its only league defeat, 84-69, and have a home date with the Buccaneers remaining.
The Wildcats boast five players averaging 10 to 15 points per game: senior post Trent Fambro, junior wing Dee Miller, junior guard Chris Wallace, junior post Mike Lawson and freshman guard John Carson.
Although Carson’s 15-point average appears modest, he’s throwing in a whopping 23.8 since moving into a starting role seven games ago at the Portsmouth Tournament.
“Once John got the butterflies and the bad game (against North) out he’s been fine,” Ham said. “He had to experience what a pressure situation is really like, and that was the North game. Every game prior to that, I was very, very careful not to put him in critical situations. We were up about 20 - a kid’s allowed to make mistakes in that situation.
“The thing was, people were ooohing and aaahhing at his points, but didn’t see his man breaking free on the baseline for a layup,” he added. “When you’re up 25 points, those kinds of things aren’t glaring mistakes. But John’s really gotten into the team defensive concept.”
Improved individual skills and greater team unity have made the Wildcats a formidable offensive threat. They lead the league in points with an 82.9 average. North, meanwhile, is averaging just 61.8, but is second in WOL defense, allowing 56.0. South is seventh of eight teams in that category, surrendering 68.4.
“With the type of game we play - pressing and going for steals - you’re going to give up some easy buckets. The thing is, you’ve got to make more than you give up,” Ham said.
Lawson leads the ‘Cats in rebounding with nine boards per game, while Fambro and Miller are close behind. Their inside muscle will be necessary tonight in staving off North advantages in size and strength.
The Panthers get 9.6 boards per outing from the 6-foot-6 Threats and 7.5 more from 6-3 senior C.J. McDavid. Senior wing Scott Deas, 6-4, paces them offensively, averaging 19.4 points, while McDavid throws in 13.5 and Threats 10.7.
“I think the key for us is probably defense,” Ford said. “We’ve got to play good defense. They score a lot of points - lead the league in scoring - so we’ve got to have a good, consistent effort there.”
With both sporting ample youth, response to tonight’s pressure is key. Encouraged by the improved play of his young guards, Ford said he’ll offer them calming, pre-game advice.
“Grab onto the seniors’ coattails,” he said, chuckling. “Ride their (emotional) wave. Strap onto C.J., Jabbar and Scott and ride along. Everybody’s got to have a solid game. We can’t have a tremendous amount of turnovers from any one position.”
Both teams plan to attack defensively with a combination of man and zone defenses, a full- and half-court press.
But South, in particular, enters with revenge in mind.
“The disadvantage is that they beat you at your place, so they’re favored,” Ham said. “But the way our kids look at it, we either have to make them prove they’re really that good, or show the first game was a fluke.
“We played horrible at our place,” he added. “But don’t get me wrong - they had something to do with that.”
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Player Spotlight: Graham’s Austin Jones
Senior Austin Jones is an emotional and fiery leader for the No. 1 Graham boys basketball team.
He also does plenty on the court. His 12.6 points per game average ranks him 15th in the Central Buckeye Conference. His 23 3-pointers rank him fourth, he ranks first in accuracy from 3-point range with 23 3-pointers in 46 attempts.
Previous Player Spotlight: Southeastern’s J.P. McFarland
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Weather wreaking havoc on schedule
Mother Nature must hate Tuesdays. It seems like every bad storm has come on a Tuesday this winter. This week is no different.
Several area boys and girls basketball games have already been postponed.
The Greeneview at Southeastern boys game has been rescheduled for Saturday, Jan. 31. JV girls will play at 3 p.m., followed by varsity girls at 4:30 p.m. JV boys will start at 6 p.m., followed by varsity boys at 7:30 p.m. Purchase of one ticket will get you into all four games.
The Mechanicsburg at West Liberty-Salem boys game has also been rescheduled for Saturday, Jan. 31.
The Cedarville at Northeastern boys game has been rescheduled for Saturday, Feb. 14.
The Triad at Catholic Central boys game has also been postponed with no makeup date announced at the moment.
The boys and girls game between Emmanuel Christian and Xenia Nazerene has been rescheduled for Thursday, Feb. 19. JV boys will start at 4:30 p.m., followed by girls at 6 p.m. and the varsity boys will begin at 7:30 p.m.
The Piqua at Springfield boys basketball game has been rescheduled for Saturday, Feb. 21.
The Urbana at Kenton Ridge boys game has been rescheduled for Monday, Feb. 9.
The Graham at Shawnee boys game has been rescheduled for Saturday, Feb. 24.
The Jefferson at Yellow Springs boys game has been rescheduled for Saturday, Feb. 14th.
For more updates, check back here throughout the day.
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Cheerleading a contact sport, court rules
From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
A cheerleader injured while practicing a stunt cannot sue her high school or the spotter who was supposed to break her fall, the Wisconsin Supreme Court said in a decision released today.
In its ruling, the court interpreted state law and found that cheerleading is a contact sport. That means the student who was spotting the girl cannot be sued under Wisconsin’s Recreational Immunity Law, which limits the liability of people who participate in contact sports.
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Nic Black named Graham football coach
I just spoke with Graham High School athletic director Brook Cupps, and he confirmed that Black “is the direction we are going to go.”
He also added that Black’s hiring is not official. He will be recommended to the district board of education.
Black was the defensive coordinator at Springboro for three seasons. He has some ideas about how he will run the Falcons.
“When you go out and do a million things, you don’t do any of them well. that’s when you’re bad,” Black said.
Black earned football letters at Wittenberg University in 1999, 2000 and 2001.
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On this date in area sports history …
Eight years ago on this date, Jan. 27, 2001, Wittenberg defeated Oberlin, led by interim coach Mike Cavey, a former Tiger. Complete story on the jump.
WITTENBERG MEN CLAW EX-TIGER
By KEITH WALTHER, News-Sun Sports Writer
For a victory over his alma mater, the Wittenberg Tigers, Mike Cavey would have, without hesitation, traded all his previous victories as a head coach.
All four of them.
Instead, the 1999 Wittenberg grad — now the interim head coach at Oberlin College — watched his Yeomen play the Tigers tight in the first half, only to crumble over the final 20 minutes, on their way to an 85-50 loss Saturday at the HPER Center.
“I was extremely excited. Ever since I got this job, this has been the game I’ve been counting down to,” Cavey said. “It was definitely one I wanted. I told the team before the game, `It would make my entire season if you win this for me.’ ”
And, to his credit, Cavey had his team, 4-13 and 1-9 in North Coast Athletic Conference play, believing it could pull the upset.
The Tigers led early, 6-5, but the fired-up Yeomen took control, led by as many as six points (14-8) and were still tied, 26-26, with under four minutes left in the first half.
But Wittenberg, 15-2 and 9-1 NCAC, withstood the charge and managed a 34-28 lead at halftime. With 16 minutes left in the game, the Tigers still only led by seven, 41-34. But a 21-2 Wittenberg run left Oberlin in the dust. By the time it was over, every player on the Tiger bench had seen action.
“Did I think we could win? If we played the perfect game and Wittenberg struggled a little bit, who knows?” Cavey said. “I do know that first half was the best half of basketball we have played all year. We had them reeling. We just couldn’t sustain it.”
Wittenberg Coach Bill Brown cited his team’s superior depth as the reason for Oberlin’s second half slide.
“Oberlin was really excited about playing and believed they had a chance,” he said. “They had a lot of energy, an emotional approach. But that emotional approach uses some energy, too — and they used a lot of it in the first half. I think there is no question we wore them down.”
A little firing up of his own team at the intermission didn’t hurt, either.
“We have the tendency of not taking teams for real and we didn’t come out as aggressive as we should have and Coach reminded us of that,” said Kevin Longley, who paced the Tigers with 15 points and nine rebounds. “But we came out and played our game in the second half. We knew we would put them away.”
And they did it on the glass. Indeed, the difference in Wittenberg’s energy level, coupled with Oberlin’s increasing fatigue, resulted in a plus-14 rebounding margin for the Tigers in the second half.
“Right before we went out on the floor (for the second half), I said, `Guys, this is probably indicative of our intensity that we only have a plus-one rebounding margin (15-14) in the first half,’ ” said Brown. “We challenged our guys to play harder and they kept their poise and kept grinding.”
That, according to Cavey, is what he would expect out of a Wittenberg squad.
“The thing with good teams is, you can challenge them like that and they will respond — which I’m sure Bill did at halftime,” Cavey said. “I think that is exactly what they did.”
Wittenberg senior Chris Fillmore, a fifth-year senior, said the team never panicked.
“We took a good shot from them in that first half,” Fillmore said. “Being Wittenberg, we get a lot of teams’ best shots. I guess that has to be a staple of a good team that we came out and got it done.”
And, while Cavey’s dream of his team being able to get it done Saturday was not realized, he still relished the surreal experience of coaching where he once played.
“It was definitely weird, a strange feeling, sitting there coaching,” Cavey noted. “To think I played with Chris Fillmore and Ryan Taylor and here I was trying to find ways to stop them.
“But it was a great experience coming back here. I had three great years here and don’t regret anything. I made great friends and am doing what I love to do right now. So everything worked out well.”
As they did for the Tigers, who remain deadlocked with Wooster — a 90-80 winner over Earlham Saturday — atop the NCAC standings. Wittenberg hosts Earlham Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.
OBERLIN (50) — Elrod 4-11 0-0 8, Eremic 1-3 0-0 3, Buchanan 3-4 4-5 10, Knight 5-19 5-6 16, Leverett 1-3 1-3 3, Crowder 1-1 0-0 2, Hill 1-1 0-0 2, Alschuler 0-1 0-0 0, MacDonald 3-5 0-0 6, Pierce 0-2 0-0 0. Totals: 19-50 10-14 50.
WITTENBERG (85) — R. Taylor 4-8 3-3 12, Longley 6-9 3-5 15, Fillmore 2-6 2-2 6, Rustad 3-6 1-1 9, Krauss 1-2 0-0 3, Borland 3-6 2-2 9, Mossing 0-5 2-2 2, J. Taylor 0-0 1-3 1, Welp 1-1 0-0 3, Emmons 0-2 0-0 0, Harris 3-6 3-3 9, Dietrich 0-0 1-2 1, Walker 3-8 0-0 9, Gratsch 2-4 2-4 6. Totals: 28-63 20-27 85.
Halftime: Wittenberg, 34-28. Three-point goals: Oberlin 2-14 (Knight 1-7, Eremic 1-3, Elrod 0-3, Leverett 0-1), Wittenberg 9-27 (Walker 3-4, Rustad 2-5, R. Taylor 1-5, Krauss 1-2, Borland 1-1, Welp 1-1, Mossing 0-4, Emmons 0-2, Longley 0-1, Harris 0-1, Fillmore 0-1). Shooting percentages: Oberlin .380, Wittenberg .444. Rebounds: Oberlin 27 (Knight 6), Wittenberg 42 (Harris 10). Total fouls: Oberlin 24, Wittenberg 16. Fouled out: Pierce. Technical fouls: None. Assists: Oberlin 10 (Elrod 3), Wittenberg 13 (R. Taylor 3, Krauss 3, Harris 3). Turnovers: Oberlin 17, Wittenberg 10. Officials: Bill Cook, Brad Wilkins, John Gurney. Records: Oberlin 4-13, 1-9 NCAC; Wittenberg 15-2, 9-1. A: 827.
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Graham still No. 1; Trojans 5th in new poll
Unbeaten Graham is still No. 1 in Division II in the latest state poll, released minutes ago. The Falcons are seven wins away from their second straight 20-0 season.
There are 10 unbeaten teams among the 40 top-10 teams in the four divisions.
Southeastern (11-1) lost for the first time this season last week against Kenton Ridge, and the Trojans fell from a tie for fourth to fifth in D-IV.
Kenton Ridge is 14th in D-II.
Complete poll on the jump.
How a state panel of sports writers and broadcasters rates Ohio high school boys basketball teams in the third of seven weekly Associated Press polls of 2009, by OHSAA divisions, with won-lost record and total points (first-place votes in parentheses):
DIVISION I
1, Cols. Northland (26) 11-0 317
2, Cin. Moeller (1) 13-1 228
3, Warren Harding (1) 9-0 225
4, Cin. Princeton (1) 12-1 220
5, Cle. Glenville 9-0 177
6, Lima Sr. (1) 11-0 152
7, Middletown (1) 11-1 116
8, Trotwood-Madison 11-2 55
9, Barberton 10-1 52
10, Upper Arlington 11-3 32
Others receiving 12 or more points: 11, Dublin Scioto 31. 12, Can. GlenOak (1) 30. 13 (tie), Cin. La Salle, Garfield Hts. 25. 15, Can. Timken 22. 16, Centerville 21. 17, Lorain Admiral King (1) 16.
DIVISION II
1, St. Paris Graham (28) 13-0 317
2, Circleville Logan Elm 12-1 220
3, Wilmington (1) 12-1 200
4, Day. Dunbar (3) 9-3 185
5, Cin. Indian Hill 10-1 180
6, Cols. DeSales (1) 11-2 154
7, Cle. Benedictine 10-4 138
8, Akr. SVSM 10-3 110
9, Dover 10-2 64
10, Day. Thurgood Marshall 11-4 49
Others receiving 12 or more points: 11, Chillicothe 35. 12, Poland Seminary 34. 13, St. Bernard Roger Bacon 31. 14, Spring. Kenton Ridge 19. 15, Kettering Alter 18. 16, Canal Winchester 13.
DIVISION III
1, Smithville (18) 12-0 294
2, Casstown Miami E. (3) 11-0 249
3, Kirtland (1) 10-0 191
4, Findlay Liberty-Benton (3) 10-1 175
5, Ottawa-Glandorf (6) 9-2 171
6, Anna (1) 11-1 140
7, W. Salem NW 11-1 118
8, St. Henry (1) 11-1 108
9, Cle. Cent. Cath. 9-2 94
10, Piketon 12-2 36
Others receiving 12 or more points: 11, Cuyahoga Falls CVCA 32. 12, Beverly Ft. Frye 30. 13, Sparta Highland 28. 14, Middletown Madison 21. 15, London Madison Plains 20. 16, Richwood N. Union 18. 17, Ironton 16. 18, Seaman N. Adams 12.
DIVISION IV
1, New Knoxville (23) 12-0 300
2, Berlin Hiland (9) 13-0 287
3, Newark Cath. 11-1 194
4, Delphos St. John’s (1) 8-2 187
5, S. Charleston SE 11-1 139
6, Cle. Hts. Lutheran E. 11-1 131
7, Bedford Chanel 8-2 124
8, Worthington Christian 10-3 118
9, Oak Hill 12-2 89
10, Cin. Seven Hills 9-3 45
Others receiving 12 or more points: 11, Day. Jefferson 37. 12, Pandora-Gilboa 34. 13, Plymouth 30. 14, Malvern 26. 15, Ottoville 23. 16, Continental 16.
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Cedarville men new No. 1 in NAIA D-II
From NAIA’s Web site:
Owning the nation’s longest winning streak at 14 straight, Cedarville (Ohio) moves into the No. 1 position in the sixth edition of the 2008-09 NAIA Division II Men’s Basketball Coaches’ Top 25 Poll, announced today (Jan. 26). CU collected 405 total points and boasted all 15 of the possible first-place votes. The Yellow Jackets, who are 22-1 overall, last were ranked No. 1 on Dec. 7, 2004.
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Late coaches inspire Witt women’s team
From Wittenberg’s Web site:
It may have happened more than 19 months ago, but the passing of Wittenberg women’s basketball coach Pam Evans Smith is still fresh in the minds of many of the coaches and student-athletes who continue to don the Red & White. For Head Coach Sarah Jurewicz, Wittenberg class of 1998, the memories came flooding back Saturday morning when she learned of the passing of North Carolina State University Head Coach Kay Yow.
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KR grad Heskett transfers to Wright State
Kenton Ridge graduate Tyler Heskett, the 2007 News-Sun All-Area Baseball Player of the Year, has transferred from the Division II University of Findlay to Division I Wright State. He made the team and will have to sit out the 2009 season under transfer rules.
Heskett’s bio on Wright State’s Web site
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Coach whose team won 100-0 is fired
From the Dallas Morning News:
The Covenant School fired its girls basketball coach Sunday, the same day he posted a message on a youth basketball Web site saying he disagreed with school officials who had publicly apologized for the team’s 100-0 victory over Dallas Academy.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Breaking News, For your reading enjoyment..., Girls Basketball
On this date in area sports history…
On this date seven years ago, Jan. 26, 2002, Wittenberg beat Wooster 75-70 to stay tied atop the NCAC standings.
The Tigers made 11 3-pointers in the victory. Click the jump for the complete story.
Published in the Jan. 27, 2002 edition of the News-Sun:
WITT STOPS SCOTS, SAVES SEASON
TIGERS NOW TIED WITH WOOSTER ATOP NCAC WITH A REMATCH LOOMING FEB. 16
By KEITH WALTHER, News-Sun Sports Writer
There was no stirring pep talk from coach Bill Brown before the game. Sometimes nothing needs to be said.
To be sure, the Wittenberg Tigers knew this one was a must-win, a gotta-have-it venture. A loss at home to Wooster and they could forget about defending their North Coast Athletic Conference crown and, quite possibly, a future NCAA tournament berth.
But, after posting a 75-70 victory over Wooster in front of 2,420 fans at the HPER Center Saturday night, all the Tigers’ dreams live on.
“If I needed to say anything special tonight, I was really going to be in trouble,” Brown said. “When you look at Wooster’s remaining schedule, it probably was a must-win. It’s difficult in this league to ever lose one at home and still win a conference championship.”
The Tigers (16-3), who were coming off a shocking setback at Wabash on Wednesday, move into a first place tie in the NCAC with the Scots (15-4). Both teams are 9-1 in league play with a return match at Wooster slated for Feb. 16.
“They played with a lot of effort and desire,” a gracious Wooster coach Steve Moore said. “They would have been highly motivated either way (but) I’m sure they played with even more motivation having lost that game (at Wabash).”
“I think the Wabash loss opened our eyes a little bit. It certainly made this game that much more important for us to win,” said Wittenberg sophomore Rod Emmons. “Nothing was really said though. Everyone just knew it was a must-win. I mean, it’s Wooster. No one needs to get you pumped up for Wooster.”
Emmons, who finished with 11 points off the bench including three 3-pointers, scored on a baseline drive with the shot clock showing :01 to give the Tigers a 72-67 lead with 39 seconds remaining.
Antwyan Reynolds, Wooster’s all-conference guard, missed a shot, and Emmons rebounded and was fouled with 25.2 seconds left. At that point, some of the Tigers began celebrating, urging the student section on as they chanted, “Just like football” to the Wooster fans in attendance, referring to Wittenberg’s 47-13 gridiron victory over the Scots last fall.
But Emmons missed both free throws — not a surprise given the fact Witt was a putrid 10 of 20 from the charity stripe for the game — and Ryan Snyder scored for Wooster to cut the lead to 72-69 with 19.4 seconds left.
As Wittenberg tried to in-bound against full-court pressure, point guard Mark Borland was called for an offensive foul in his struggle to get open. Wooster’s Matt Smith made the first free throw to make it 72-70 but missed the second. Wittenberg’s Brian Gratsch scraped down the rebound, was fouled, and made one of two freebies to give the Tigers a 73-70 advantage with 18.3 remaining.
After a time out, Wooster came down the floor looking for a 3-point opportunity. The Tigers, however, defended the perimeter well, and Bryan Nelson’s off-balance 25-footer was off the mark. Danny Brywczynski pulled down the rebound with less than a second left and was fouled. The freshman sank two free throws for the final margin.
“Obviously, we were trying to get a 3-point shot there,” Moore said of the Scots’ final trip down the floor. “But in hindsight, maybe we could have gone inside, scored and then fouled again. But give them credit, they defended it well.”
Trailing 10-8, the Tigers began to flex their muscles defensively, holding the Scots to just one field goal over the next eight minutes while building a 25-12 lead. Wittenberg went on to take a 36-28 halftime advantage.
“They were getting lay-ups and free throws early on and I told the guys, `Hey fellas, let’s make them score away from the basket,’ ” Brown said.
“I think we went nine straight possessions without scoring and had five turnovers during that time,” Moore groaned. “We struggled offensively in the first half, and that was a big key.”
But the Scots erased a nine-point second half deficit behind the inside work of Nelson (24 points) and drew even with the Tigers on four occasions (42, 47, 52 and 64-apiece) but could never regain the lead.
“Wittenberg kept coming through with some big plays. They hit some crucial 3-pointers on us — and several different guys came through for them,” Moore said.
Indeed, if not for Wittenberg’s 11 of 22 shooting from beyond the arc, the Tigers likely would have suffered a second straight NCAC loss. Greg Rustad, Peter Walker, Chad Mossing and Emmons each hit treys in the second half to help ward off Wooster.
Borland paced the Tigers with 12 points and five assists. Walker, Gratsch and Mossing added nine apiece, and Harris and Rustad each chipped in eight.
“This was probably the biggest must-win since I’ve been here,” Harris said. “It was pretty much the same situation last year — we had one loss and they were undefeated coming into our game with them here. But this seemed different somehow. More urgent in some way.”
WOOSTER (70) — Smith 2-8 1-2 5, Mealer 2-7 0-0 6, Nelson 8-11 8-10 24, Mitchell 3-5 2-2 9, Reynolds 5-11 0-0 13, Snyder 1-4 4-4 6, Sims 1-3 1-1 3, Carlisle 0-0 0-0 0, Schlingman 1-1 2-2 4. Totals: 23-50 18-21 70.
WITTENBERG (75) — Mossing 3-7 3-6 9, Longley 2-7 0-1 4, Harris 4-7 0-1 8, Rustad 3-7 0-0 8, Borland 3-7 5-6 12, Emmons 4-7 0-2 11, Brywczynski 0-0 2-2 2, Bucheit 1-2 0-0 3, Walker 4-5 0-0 9, Gratsch 3-9 3-8 9. Totals: 27-58 10-20 75.
Halftime: Wittenberg 36-28. Three-Point goals: Wooster 6-20 (Smith 0-5, Mealer 2-5, Nelson 0-3, Mitchell 1-1, Reynolds 3-5, Snyder 0-1), Wittenberg 11-22 (Mossing 3-6, Emmons 3-6, Rustad 2-4, Walker 1-1, Bucheit 1-2, Borland 1-2, Longley 0-1). Rebounds: Wooster 30 (Mealer 9), Wittenberg 37 (Longley 7). Assists: Wooster 9 (Smith 3), Wittenberg 18 (Borland 5). Total fouls: Wooster 23, Wittenberg 19. Technical Fouls: none. Fouled Out: none. Records: Wooster 15-4, 9-1 NCAC; Wittenberg 16-3, 9-1 NCAC. A: 2,420.
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Graham’s Taylor on his final period against Palmer
Graham’s David Taylor never quit wrestling in his match against Lakewood St. Edward’s Collin Palmer, who had never been beaten in Ohio.
Taylor scored four late points to beat Taylor 8-5.
The Falcons also won the dual match as a team against their biggest rivals.
Watch video of the match for Taylor’s comments on the final period:
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Oher’s uplifting story still being written
One of my favorite books of all-time is Michael Lewis’ The Blind Side: Evolution of a game.
Lewis’ book discusses how the emergence of defensive players such as Lawrence Taylor has made the offensive left tackle position the most important in football.
It also features the story of Michael Oher, a 6-5, 300-pound football player who overcame poverty and illiteracy to become a star left tackle at Ole Miss.
Oher is expected to be a first-round pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, and will likely be on the Bengals’ radar.
Check out this CSTV video for more on Oher’s life:
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: College Football, NFL
On this date in area sports history …
Five years ago on this date, Jan. 25, 2004, the News-Sun published an update on pitcher Rick White. Complete story on the jump:
Published Jan. 25, 2004
ANOTHER FRESH START FOR WHITE
By Kermit Rowe
Here’s an image for you: Springfield veteran major-league pitcher Rick White as a surfer dude.
Gnarly, huh?
Hey, he’s planning on a trip to California soon, so it’s not entirely out of the realm of possibility.
OK, so maybe it is out of the realm of possibility.
“I don’t think I’m going to go out there and come back at the end of the season with blonde hair,” said White on Thursday from his home in frigid, icy Springfield. “I’ve been kidding my wife that I was going to let my hair grow out and bleach it blonde.”
But seriously, folks. White recently signed a minor-league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, which will be his eighth team in 11 years in the majors. And he’d like nothing better than being in the City of Angels come April.
“Small town, big town; Ohio and L.A. That’s pretty much night and day as far as I’m concerned,” said the veteran right-hander, who has a 4.17 career ERA. “But I made it through New York and I actually enjoyed it there, so I can make it through L.A.”
There will be some adjustments for this midwest boy, though.
“The main thing I’m going to have to get used to is the three-hour time difference,” White said. “The one good thing about it is I can talk to the kids about their day before the game and they’ll be home and getting ready for bed.
“Game time now will be past their bed time. At least they won’t see me do bad.”
White was kiddingly referring to his nightmare stay with the Chicago White Sox at the beginning of last season. Things started bad, then got worse. Before he knew it, it was early summer and he was looking for work again. A 1-2 record and 6.61 ERA will put many a pitcher in the unemployment line.
“That month of May was the worst month I have ever had in my career,” he said. “Mechanics-wise, I didn’t know if what I was doing was right or wrong.
“Things didn’t work out in Chicago, but I think they worked out in Houston.”
They worked out so well White thought he was going to be back with the Astros. After all, he had a 3.72 ERA in 15 games there. But he has been fooled before.
“I don’t want to worry each winter about where I’m going to play the next season,” said White. “This is the third winter in a row when I came back thinking I was going to be some place and then it worked out that I wasn’t.
“I guess if I could figure all of that stuff out, I wouldn’t need an agent, I guess.”
White has kept his agent busy. This will be his eighth major-league team.
“I think I’ve officially become a journeyman,” he said with a laugh. “I saw where Jesse Orosco retired a couple of weeks ago and I was trying to figure if I had been with as many teams as he had.”
Turns out, he hasn’t. Not yet, at least.
“I’m not going to hang around as long as Jesse,” he continued. “At best, I’ll try to stay until I’m 40.”
White just turned 35, so that’s four or five more seasons he’s hoping to get in before calling it quits. He has 11 years of big-league experience so far.
“The political part of the game is taking over,” he said.
“Unless you have a spectacular year, you are looking at being a free agent. And then the market is flooded and it is hard finding a good fit.”
In the last couple of seasons, he’s had a hard time finding one. But this year, in a lot of ways, White is starting fresh. Coming into spring training with a minor-league contract is the main reason.
“It’s the first time I’ve had that in I don’t know how long,” he said. “I think it is my first one. Hopefully, it will be my last.”
“It’s actually going to make spring training a little bit different for me. Last year, I went in and just got ready to go. This year, it’s more of a competitive thing.
“I’m in pretty good shape,” he added. “I think I am going to have a big year.”
Where he fits in to the Dodgers plans, though, remains to be seen.
“I’m not real sure,” he said. “A lot is going to be determined on how I throw this spring. I know I can help the team out. Like I told the last five managers I’ve played for, `Just give me the ball.’ I pitch better when I go out there a lot.
“The last couple of years, I haven’t seen the ball quite as much. But I’m excited about playing for the Dodgers. They are a good team, and it’s a new experience.”
Apparently, even though they offered him only minor-league deal, the Dodgers are excited about White.
“I talked to Dan Evans (the Dodgers’ general manager) myself and he said they wanted to bring me to spring training with aspirations to make the team,” White said. “With (veteran Paul) Shuey having surgery and (set-up man Paul) Quantrill gone, there are going to be holes to fill.
“I told them I’d do anything they want. Basically, they said it is my job to lose.”
White doesn’t plan on losing it, either, because he’s tired of bouncing from team to team _ even if his reputation a solid second-half-of-the-season performer has gotten him work to date.
“The bad thing about it is I get released in the first half of the season,” he said about his recent ups and downs. “Then I have to get picked up by a team in the second half. I just want to help a team for the entire year.”
One thing’s for sure, White is happy to be back in Florida for spring training.
“The last two years were the first two years I’ve ever had spring training in Arizona,” he said. “Then coming back here, I don’t know if that had something to do with it or not. I’m a big humidity, hot weather kind of guy.”
He also focusing on the mental aspects, which might have been the culprit in the past.
“Most of people’s mistakes are mental,” he said. “I’m taking the new attitude that I’m in Florida and the ball is going to break the way it is supposed to.”
But whether he’s in Florida or California, Springfield is still where White’s heart is.
“I just like coming home,” he said. “All the guys I grew up with I still hang out with. All of us have kids the same age. It makes it a lot easier than moving the family around just to live some place warm.”
It’s a safe bet Springfield will be a part of his future, too _ a future he is already starting to lay some foundation for.
He had a line on hosting a show for the Outdoor Channel last spring, but that one wiggled off the hook.
“The Outdoor Channel was bought out and the show I was going to take over got its number of shows cut from 26 to 13. So the guy who is doing it can handle that,” he said. “It happens. I’ve talked to plenty of people about doing shows the last few of years, and I’ve got good information on how do do a show. So things could still happen.”
If not, White is considering a new post-retirement direction _ coaching.
“I don’t want to get into professional coaching; I’m done with that part of the game,” he said. “I want to work with guys and help them get there. That way I can stay home with my family.
“Jay Lewis (the baseball coach at Wittenberg) said I can come over and give him some help once I’m done.
“It’s going to be fun either way, coaching or hunting _ or a little bit of both.”
That’s because this family man at heart, and self-proclaimed baseball journeyman by trade, will get to finally settle down with his family year-round.
That’s good news for his wife, two daughters and 16-month-old son Hunter (not to mention his parents, who also live in town).
In fact, he’s already training Hunter on how to live up to his name.
“He knows when he sees my camouflage clothing to get his on,” proud papa White said with a chuckle. “ He’ll look at the binoculars, but not through them. He enjoys riding around looking for deer, but he hasn’t got that hunting thing down yet.”
No problem there, though, That hunting thing, be it for a job or a deer, is something White has gotten down pat.
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Live updates from Shawnee-KR boys basketball
9:16 Shawnee won 49-38 to grab a share of the CBC Kenton Trail Division lead. The Braves outscored the Cougars 19-8 in the final period.
8:57: After three quarters, the score is tied at 30-all. KR took its first lead of the game at 26-24 on a Michael Bennett layup with 2:15 remaining, but the Braves fought back to tie the score.
8:35: At halftime, Shawnee leads 20-17. KR outscored Shawnee 13-4 in the quarter. Derek Toadvine has eight points for the Cougars.
8:20: After one quarter, Shawnee leads 16-4. KR opened the game with three straight turnovers and Shawnee capitalized by taking an 11-2 lead. P.J. Howell and Connor McDonough each have six points for Shawnee.
8:02: The national anthem just ended and they’re introducing the players for both teams. The gym is packed. Parking spots are at a premium.
The game’s a battle for first place in the Central Buckeye Conference Kenton Trail Division. KR (9-1) leads the Division with a 6-1 record, while Shawnee (7-2) is just one game back at 5-2.
Permalink | Comments (5) | Post your comment | Categories: Boys Basketball, Central Buckeye Conference, Kenton Ridge High School, Live Blogs, Shawnee High School
Area trio guiding Cedarville women’s squad
CEDARVILLE — Kirk Martins understands what a 13-5 record means to his Cedarville University women’s basketball squad.
On the surface, five losses may look like a bad thing. But considering the NAIA Division II 25th-ranked Yellow Jackets have played just four teams with a losing record, it’s a really good thing.
Of the 16 teams in the AMC, only six senior starters graduated from the conference — and three were on one team. Eight of the 16 teams in the league have a winning record.
“We knew our conference was going to be loaded this year and it is,” Martin said. “There are two really good teams who won’t even make our conference tournament.”
For more from Martin on his team, click the jump.
On the season: “It’s been very gratifying, It’s so nice to have experience back. There’s no substitute for that. I’m really pleased with the steps we’ve taken to get better.”
On having three locals players starting on his team: “It’s very rewarding. Of course, I could recruit locally and if we were 5-15, you’d go ‘Well, big deal.’ We’re able to compete at our level, which is a strong level of competition and we’re doing it with three local girls who all start. We’re still young with them. There’s still lots of room for improvement. It shows the quality of basketball in Clark County.”
On Alison Lemon: “She’s having a really good year. What I like about her is that its (her third year) and if you research her statistics, every year has been better. She’s taken a step forward. This year what I’ve like about her the most is that she’s taken back some of her need for shots to make us better and she’s done exactly what I’ve asked her to do on the floor. We’re a lot more post-oriented this year. She’s giving up shots for assists. She’s coachable and she wants to win — that’s ingrained in her. She’s our leader.”
On Aubrey Siemon: “Last year, there was a health issue with her foot and this year she’s had some health problems as well. She’s obviously impacting our team. She was on the (AMC) freshmen team last year. She’s better than she was a year ago, so what more can you ask for?”
On Jenna Smith: “In the NAIA, we were very fortunate that we can redshirt. That proved to be an ideal situation for her. Everyone is totally in awe of the improvement she’s made from high school to college. As she continues to break through that freshman wall — because there is a wall there and January is when the wall arrives
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On this date in area sports history…
On this date five years ago, Jan. 24, 2004, Graham lost to Lakewood St. Edward in a battle of state wrestling powerhouses.
Today, the two schools will face off again in another dual for Ohio bragging rights.
Published in the Jan. 25, 2004 edition of the News-Sun:
GRAHAM LOSES MATS SHOWDOWN
SENIOR-LADEN SQUAD GIVES EDGE TO ST. EDWARD
By Kermit Rowe, Staff Writer
ST. PARIS — Once again, a scrappy Graham wrestling team came up short of beating perennial powerhouse and nationally second-ranked Lakewood St. Edward.
The three-time defending Division II state champion Falcons, ranked as high as sixth nationally, found out that at this lofty level of the sport, youth is usually served a hefty portion of defeat. Graham fell to the senior-laden Eagles 32-22 in what is becoming an annual meeting between Ohio’s two wrestling juggernauts.
But the Falcons and their faithful fans did manage to win something during Saturday afternoon’s national showdown in this quiet rural town _ respect.
Veteran St. Ed’s head coach Greg Urbas, shortly after the conclusion of the dual meet, sat happy but emotionally-spent, soaking in the electricity of the day.
“Like (assistant coach Jim) Heffernan said to us before the match, this is what it is all about,” said Urbas of the crowd of nearly 900 and the atmosphere they and the day’s intense competition had produced. “A big, loud crowd like this, everybody rooting for their team, every match so important.
“There’s only two colleges in the nation that can draw a crowd like this,” continued Urbas, whose team has won seven straight D-I state titles and 19 overall. “And the fans are extremely knowledgeable wrestling fans. They were in it every second. You’re not going to put anything over on them.
“It forces us to coach up a storm, to coach better, to look for every advantage. We know if we do less, we’re in for a long afternoon.”
Graham third-year coach Jeff Jordan knew his team was in for the above type of an afternoon when defending D-II, 125-pound state champ Cameron Doggett lost a controversial, last-second 9-7 decision to St. Ed’s D-I returning state runner-up Clayton Stark at 125 pounds.
With the Eagles up just 15-12, Doggett and Stark fought the entire six minutes in what everyone knew would be the match of the day.
Stark held 2-0 and 4-2 leads after the first two periods, respectively. But Doggett started dominating Stark on his feet in the final period, scoring a takedown with 1:25 left, then another with 40 seconds left to go up 6-5. But with less than 15 seconds left, Stark managed a reversal and two quick back points to come away with a 9-7 win.
It took the two referees and several scorekeepers several minutes to sort out what had happened in those last few seconds.
Instead of a having a 15-15 tie, the Falcons found themselves behind 18-12 _ a hole they weren’t able to dig out of.
“That match was the swing match for us,” Jordan said. “After Doggett lost, it took the wind out of our sails. He gets three straight takedowns, then a controversial call goes against us. It was just a tough loss for us.”
The Doggett-Stark match was created when Urbas chose to move Stark from his normal 119 up to 125, pushing state fourth-placer Albert Madsen up to 135 and normal 130-pounder Sean Nemec up to 135. That gave the Falcons three matchups that Jordan said were more unfavorable for his team.
“We were hoping that they would leave the lineup like it has been, maybe even get an upset at 119,” Jordan said. “In the three matches that were pivotal, we won one. But with their depth, they can make those kinds of changes.”
Indeed, the Eagles list more seniors (28) on their squad than Graham has team members (26). And 10 of those seniors were in the visitor’s starting lineup against the Falcons’ three seniors.
“That’s why they are ranked No. 2 in the nation,” said Jordan. “Everyone says St. Ed’s is down this year. They aren’t down. They are never down. Next year, they’ll lose those 10 seniors and again, they won’t be down.
“That’s why they have that confidence, because they have been dominant for 25 years.”
The 189-pound class was drawn to start the match, and a quick St. Ed’s pin put Graham down 6-0. But senior 215-pounder Joe Dennis remained undefeated by pinning returning D-I state fifth-placer Ryan Adkins at 3:45. Heavyweight Jason Marshall scored a 5-0 win, then 103-pounder Aaron Hart squeezed out a 3-1 win to put the hosts up 12-6.
But a pin by St. Ed’s defending state champion Lance Palmer evened the match at 12-12, and sophomore Jordan Current dropped a 4-1 decision at 119, leading up to the Doggett-Stark bout.
After Stark’s win, Madsen scored a major decision to give the Eagles a 10-point lead, which ended up a 10-point win as the teams traded wins the rest of the match. Seniors Tyler Schlater (10-8 at 135) and Jacob Frerichs (4-2 at 145) and junior David Erwin (11-3 major decision at 160) rounded out the winners for the Falcons.
And the mighty Eagles left St. Paris with a new-found respect.
“They are such a fine team,” said Urbas of Graham. “They are aggressive, but not reckless. Their technique is very sound, like what you see at the NCAA tournament. They wrestle like a college team.
“They wrestle like their coach (when Jordan was a four-time state champ and collegiate star at Wisconsin). That keeps us humble.
“We know we’re in for a battle no matter where the match is.”
Added Jordan: “This team has definitely been a team of momentum, and we didn’t have that today. But it was a good meet, a good crowd and good wrestling. Now we’ll have to wait 365 more days to get another shot at them.”
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North grad Leech on fire
Simply put, North High School grad Tryvan Leech was on fire.
Leech, a Glenville State College senior guard, scored a school record 52 points in a 118-75 victory over Wheeling Jesuit on Jan. 22.
He made 16 of 18 field goals, including a school record 12 3-pointers for the Pioneers (9-5, 3-4 WVIAC). The previous mark of 46 points was set by Tom Coates in 1977.
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Why the Wiz hates the Steelers
Brian Plasters hates the Steelers. He says so in his latest Wizard column.
I totally agree with him. Who Dey.
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NCAC: Revolutionary conference
From the Columbus Dispatch:
When the presidents and athletic directors of seven small colleges met in February 1983 to form an athletic conference, they talked about walking a path that administrators nationwide always thought was too prickly and full of potholes.
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Witt AD in the spotlight
Wittenberg AD Garnett Purnell is in his 10th year at the helm. Here’s a story about him:
From NCAA Championship Magazine:
Garnett Purnell says he’s in heaven, and he has a long list of guardian angels to thank for helping him get there. Now he’s returning the favor by helping others find their own paradise.
Purnell is in his 10th year as director of athletics and recreation at Wittenberg, and after walking a path that led him through high school administration, coaching, compliance oversight, a stint on the NCAA staff and the rehabilitation of a Division I athletics program, he says he feels no urge to move further along from the Division III program he now leads.
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Cedarville and the missing uniforms
The News-Sun isn’t the only one writing about Cedarville University’s forgotten uniforms. Scroll down in this piece to find ESPN’s take on it.
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On this date in area sports history …
Sixteen years ago on this date, Jan. 23, 1993, former South football player Don Logan, a lineman at Iowa Central Junior College, died at the age of 19. Complete story on the jump.
Published Jan. 26, 1993
FORMER SOUTH FOOTBALL STANDOUT DIES AT 19
By Rob Oller, Sports Writer
Don Logan, who graduated from South last spring and dreamed of playing in the NFL, died from an irregular heartbeat Saturday night at Fort Dodge, Iowa.
Logan, a 6-foot-3, 275-pound offensive lineman for Iowa Central Junior College, collapsed at a drinking fountain in the lobby of his dormitory after playing a game of touch football in the lobby, said Logan’s father, Don, who lives in Springfield.
Logan, 19, was pronounced dead at a local hospital after doctors tried to revive him.
Dr. Dan Cole, the Fort Dodge coroner, said Logan’s heart went into an abnormal rhythm and stopped beating.
Cole said the abnormal rhythmmay have developed because of Logan’s involvement in sports, an infection or a toxic reaction.
Reports on infection - often the Don Logan cause of such deaths among young people - and possible toxic reaction - which Cole said was unlikely - will not be finished for at least two weeks, he said.
The elder Logan said he learned Monday that no trace of drugs or alcohol was found in his son’s system.
Logan roomed with former South teammate Gene Cameron at the college. The two were playing football inside because it was too cold outside, Logan’s father said.
“He was playing quarterback and told Gene he felt tired,” he said. “He went over to the drinking fountain and collapsed. He was still breathing when they got him off the floor … but by the time they got him to the hospital, he was clinically dead.”
The father told how his son often talked of someday playing professional football.
“That was Don’s love. He said, `Daddy, you’re gonna see me on TV because I’m going to the pros,’ and I believed him,” Logan said.
South Coach Tom Adams described Logan, a three-year starter for the Wildcats, as a self-made player.
“We told Don after his junior year that if he got in the weight room and worked hard he could achieve his goals, which were to be chosen all-league and play college football, and that’s what he did,” Adams said. “Don epitomized what a high school coach wants out of a player.”
Dennis L. Porter Funeral Home in Springfield is handling arrangements.
Staff writer Bill Monaghan contributed to this story.
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Ky. high school coach charged in player’s death
From the Associated Press:
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A Kentucky high school football coach was charged Thursday with reckless homicide in the death of a player who collapsed during a sweltering practice in a rare criminal case against a coach in a heat death.
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Final score of girls game in Texas: 100-0
From the Dallas Morning News:
The final score of the high school girls basketball game was 100-0, and his team had the nothing. Still, a week later, Dallas Academy Athletic Director Jeremy Civello was chalking up the game in the win column.
“My girls never quit,” he said. “They played as hard as they could to the very end. They played with all their hearts at 70-nothing, 80-nothing and 100-nothing. I was really proud of them. That’s what I told them after the game.”
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Graham highlights from Flyin’ to the Hoop tourney
It may have taken me a few days, but I finally compiled some highlights from Graham’s victory.
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On this date in area sports history…
On this date, Jan. 22, 1999, the News-Sun published a story on how area basketball coaches — including former North coach Eddie Ford — handle last-second situations.
Published in the Jan. 22, 1999 edition of the News-Sun:
WHEN SECONDS COUNT … … TEAMS MUST PLAN LATE-GAME STRATEGIES.
By Matt Thompson, News-Sun Sports Writer
Nearly four years after the fact, Eddie Ford still replays the scenario over and over in his mind.
“Say you have 10 seconds left, you’re up by three and the other team has the ball,” Ford says.
“Now do you foul them, make them hit the one and one and get the ball back from them? Or do you play tough defense and make them shoot the high-pressure three?”
Back when this wasn’t a hypothetical and instead was the closing seconds of the first overtime of a 1995 regional final game between Ford’s Panthers and Cincinnati Oak Hills, Ford had his players hold back and play defense.
The result?
“Their guy nailed a 22-footer to tie the game,” he says, smiling slightly.
And though North did manage to eke out a 64-63 double-overtime victory, the situation serves to illustrate just how complicated a relatively simple game can get when the clock is running out and even the smallest decision can mean the difference between victory or defeat.
“Maybe next time,” Ford says, “I’ll try it the other way.”
This is the kind of thing basketball coaches think about when they’re mowing the lawn, when they’re buying groceries, or just lying awake in bed.
Do you foul or look for the defensive stop? Do you go with your go-to guy, or attempt to outsmart the opponent by sneaking the ball to someone else?
The first 31 minutes? Child’s play. That last minute? That’s when coaches really earn their paychecks.
Huddle up
Perhaps the most obvious characteristic of that last minute is it seems to last about as long as the rest of the quarter put together. Oh, sure, during the middle of the third quarter, coaches can rest assured there’s ample time to fix things later on, but as the margin for error grows ever slimmer, they tend to call a flurry of timeouts, checking defenses, drawing up plays, putting the freak firmly in control.
“We talk about how we want to play the situation,” said Kenton Ridge Coach Jeff Hobbs. “We talk about what we think’s gonna happen. Coaches play a lot of guessing games, We think so-and-so will take this shot,' orThey’ll be in this defense.’ ”
More often than not, coaches use that time just to make sure their players are all on the same page _ that one kid won’t be popping into zone while the rest of his teammates are matched up man-to-man, or someone else won’t take it upon himself to play hero with a dangerous three-point attempt, with his team up by one.
“You go over situations,” said Greenon’s Kris Spriggs. “If we’re shooting free throws, what do we do if there’s one make, two makes, or even no makes?”
And while the coaches talk, the players sweat, drink water and try to concentrate on what they’re being told.
“(Coach Ford) gets into it,” said North guard Vaughn Stephens. “You’re standing there, feeling your heart beating, sweaty palms, watching while he tells you what’s going on.”
The one universal, it seems, is that no matter the situation — winning, losing or tied — things must remain positive.
“You have to make the kids believe good things are gonna happen,” Hobbs said. “We’re always gonna get this stop, we’re gonna make these free throws.”
“You have to reassure them,” Spriggs said. “They have to have confidence in their ability.”
And of course, the luck of a bounce here or there doesn’t hurt, either.
Practice time
Coaches will still tell you most of their work is done in practice — even those late-game situations. Coaches dedicate a fair amount of practice time to preparing for those crucial, last-minute inbounds passes, or the ball movement that will get the basketball in the right hands with time still on the clock.
“As a coach, you hope you’ve done enough in practice so that when you get in that situation, the kids are prepared,” Hobbs said. “You hope the kids remember, we ran the same things over and over and over … now we get in a game, they remember how they ran that out of bounds play 20 times in practice.”
That said, there’s no replacement for true game experience, and this may be one area where the inequities between experienced and rookie players really come to the forefront.
North center Marcus Banta, for one, can remember when the idea of getting the ball with time running out got the butterflies going in his stomach.
Now, however, he says it’s business as usual.
“I’m used to it,” the senior says. “The first time it was close like that, I was scared … but I really don’t worry about it anymore. I know this team is good enough to pull it out.”
That kind of confidence _ in one’s team and one’s own abilities _ is vital when the game’s on the line.
“Some kids live for those situations,” said Spriggs. “They’d rather be the ones to say, I’m the one who lost or won the game.”
“It’s pretty rare,” Ford said of that trait. “But every year or so you have one person who at least says he wants the ball.”
“Those are the guys you want on your team,” Hobbs said. “The guys who want to make something happen.”
Foul time
Sometimes it’s not just baskets that you have to hit. In fact, the patented intentional-but-not-intentional fouling contest that populates the final minutes of close games sometimes presents as much of a challenge as hitting free throws.
To wit, how do you intentionally foul someone _ hoping they miss the resulting freebies and you get the ball back _ without getting called for an intentional foul, which gives the other team two shots and possession out-of-bounds?
“Usually I just come from behind, try to knock the ball out,” said Stephens. “You just don’t hit ‘em hard … but make sure the ref sees it.”
Have refs been known to miss fouls like that?
“All the time,” Stephens said, grinning.
Typically, coaches have at least an idea who’s the best and worst foul shooters on the opposing team. Even when stats aren’t available, you can study a player’s shooting form, gauge how they’ve done for the night, and figure out who you’d rather have shooting against you with the game on the line.
“You put it in the back of your mind,” Ford said. “Like a computer.”
And when it’s you on the line, having to make the shots? Just keep as cool as possible.
“I treat it just the same as the other free throws in a game,” said Banta, himself about a career 60 percent free-throw shooter. “I just concentrate on the basket.”
So which would you rather do, head into the last minute with a one-point lead, or trailing by one but coming up fast?
“You’d rather be in the lead,” said Ford. “But then, protecting a lead is always kind of hard.”
Ford’s assistant, Jim Scoby, suggests a third option.
“I’d rather be up by 30,” he said with a laugh.
The last shot
All coaches can really hope for in the end is one shot that can win his team the game. Whether or not that shot goes in has a good deal to do with luck. Whether or not that shot gets made in the first place, doesn’t.
“What you want to have is a situation where you can get it to the guy you want to get it,” Hobbs said.
Getting to that point takes all the savvy a coach can muster - and pass on to his kids.
“It’s a constant feeding practice,” said Spriggs. “You’re absorbing the game constantly and at the very end, it’s like looking over a menu … and you decide what to do.”
After that? Well, after that even the most controlling of coaches has to put his team’s chances into the hands of the fates, and hope for a gust of good fortune.
“Lots of it’s luck,” said Hobbs. “Hopefully you’ve gone over the right things … but then it’s better to be lucky than good.”
Ultimately, however, it’s a lot like in life — luck always seems to favor the well-prepared.
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Wooster’s Moore had brief stint at Catholic Central
Did you know Wooster men’s basketball coach Steve Moore coached JV one year at Catholic Central High School? You’ll find that little nugget on Moore in this profile of the coach by Aaron Dorksen of the Wooster Daily Record.
Moore earned his 500th career victory at Wooster by defeating his alma mater Wittenberg on Saturday, Jan. 17.
Wooster’s got Moore: Scots coach has created a small-college hoops dynasty
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Graham’s David Taylor on matchup with Lakewood St. Edward’s Collin Palmer
It will be part of the annual dual meet between the Division II eight-time defending state champion Falcons and the D-I 12-time defending state champion Eagles, to be held at Graham High School at 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 24.
Taylor has had it in the back of his mind since his successful freshman season, when Taylor was a 103-pounder and Palmer was at 112.
But as sophomores, Taylor remained at 103 and Palmer moved up to 125, then as juniors, Taylor moved up one class to 112 while Palmer was at 135.
That didn’t bode well for the meet. But Taylor grew last summer, and is at 135 this season while Palmer sits at 140.
Close enough, in Taylor’s estimation, to have a memorable showdown.
“It never happens when one good wrestler bumps up one class to meet another,” said Taylor. “ Especially in Ohio, where they are all about cutting weight to get into the best class.
“I’m doing it because ‘A’ it’s something I want to do and ‘B’ it’s good for wrestling in Ohio.”
The match will be the last of a tri-meet. Two-time D-III state champion Troy Christian wrestles Graham at 11 a.m., then St. Ed’s gets Troy Christian at 12:30 p.m.
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KR students ride the roller coaster
The Kenton Ridge student section calls it the roller coaster. They didn’t invent it, but they’ve perfected it at a smaller scale than what you might see at college games. Check it out in the first few seconds of this video from Tuesday’s Kenton Ridge victory over previously unbeaten Southeastern.
The KR student section has to be one of the area’s sharpest. Earlier this season, after the News-Sun’s Brian Plasters wrote in his Wizard column about how much he hated the “Just like football!” chant, the Shawnee students started the same chant in a game against KR. The Cougar students responded to the Shawnee students with, “Read the paper! Read the paper!”
Now here’s another version of the roller coaster.
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For your viewing pleasure…
Explore the life of a Wittenberg volleyball player on gameday…
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WLS coach McIntosh on Hickenbottom
An amazing accomplishment for both Hickenbottom and the Tigers program.
“She came in as a freshmen and the seniors accepted her and she fit right in,” McIntosh said. “Now, she’s basically the leader playing with younger kids.”
McIntosh said the Tigers squad has been guard-oriented the last few seasons, but with 6-0 freshman post Becka Peterson now in the mix, the team has adjusted to throwing the ball inside.
He said Hickenbottom and senior Danielle King have accepted that to the fullest — and have both provided great leadership.
“It’s cut down on their scoring, but it’s made us better,” McIntosh said.
He also raved about the things she does that won’t show up on the scoreboard.
“She plays good defense for the most part,” McIntosh said. “She anticipates well and that’s big because she gets a lot of deflections and causes steals that give us easy buckets. She’s also great rebounder. She’s done a super job this year.”
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Girls Basketball, Ohio Heritage Conference, West Liberty-Salem High School
KR, WLS girls still ranked in state poll
The Kenton Ridge and West Liberty-Salem girls basketball squads were each ranked in the top-10 in their divisions for the second straight week.
After a loss to Division II No. 3 Tippecanoe on Jan. 13, Kenton Ridge (12-1) fell to No. 6 in D-II.
West Liberty-Salem is ranked No. 7 in D-III and earned one first place vote. The Tigers are 12-1, dropping its first game of the season to Miami Trace at the Pickerington Shootout on Monday, Jan. 19.
State girls basketball poll for Jan. 21
By the Associated Press
How a state panel of sports writers and broadcasters rates Ohio high school girls basketball teams in the second of six weekly Associated Press polls of 2009, by OHSAA divisions, with won-lost record and total points (first-place votes in parentheses):
DIVISION I
1, Cin. Mt. Notre Dame (24) 13-0 265
2, Dublin Coffman (2) 13-0 223
3, Lakota West 10-2 145
4, Cin. Winton Woods 10-0 137
5, Dresden Tri-Valley 12-0 120
6, Xenia 13-0 88
7, Delaware Hayes 13-0 85
7, Perrysburg 9-0 85
9, Chaminade Julienne 7-4 76
10, Pickerington Central 10-2 68
Others receiving 12 or more points: 11, Twinsburg 28. 12, Tol. Start 19. 13, Green 15. 14 (tie), Zanesville, Warren Howland (1) 14. 16 (tie), Can. McKinley, Fairmont 12.
DIVISION II
1, Lima Bath (12) 12-0 233
2, Alter (7) 12-1 204
3, Tippecanoe (3) 12-0 171
4, Warsaw River View 11-1 155
5, Tiffin Columbian 12-0 133
6, Kenton Ridge 12-1 116
7, Chillicothe Unioto (2) 13-0 106
8, Geneva (1) 13-0 75
9, Shaker Hts. Hathaway Brown (1) 9-3 72
10, Cols. Eastmoor 7-3 30
Others receiving 12 or more points: 11, Cuyahoga Falls Walsh Jesuit 23. 12, Akr. Hoban 21. 13, Cols. DeSales 19. 14, Cambridge 16. 15, Canton South (1) 15. 16, Zanesville Maysville 14.
DIVISION III
1, Marion Pleasant (13) 13-0 246
2, Findlay Liberty-Benton (3) 10-0 205
3, S. Euclid Regina (9) 12-0 191
4, Smithville 10-0 150
5, Genoa Area 10-0 116
6, Oak Hill 12-1 107
7, West Liberty-Salem (1) 12-0 103
8, Millbury Lake 10-0 90
9, Mt. Blanchard Riverdale 8-0 65
10, Cin. Hills Christian 9-3 48
Others receiving 12 or more points: 11, Sugarcreek Garaway 23. 12, Andover Pymatuning Valley 19. 13 (tie), Plain City Jonathan Alder, Lisbon David Anderson 16. 15, Newark Cath. (1) 15. 16, Middletown Madison 13.
DIVISION IV
1, Berlin Hiland (26) 9-1 269
2, Convoy Crestview (1) 8-0 218
3, Delphos St. John’s 9-4 178
4, Cols. Harvest Prep 12-1 104
4, Pettisville 8-1 104
6, New Bremen 12-1 97
7, New Riegel 11-1 87
8, Cols. Africentric 8-4 75
9, Shadyside 10-1 68
10, Troy Christian 11-1 62
Others receiving 12 or more points: 11, Waterford 54. 12, Carey 38. 13, Continental 24. 14, Leipsic 22. 15 (tie), Ottoville, Fort Recovery 16. 17, Cle. Hts. Lutheran E. 12.
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On this date in area sports history…
On this date, Jan. 21, 1997, Eric Thomas and Chris Strodes each scored 18 points to help the Panthers knock off Fairborn 88-67. The Panthers played in back-to-back Division I state semifinal games in 1996 and 1997.
Thomas, the 1997 News-Sun All-Area Player of the Year, eventually went on to Kent State, where he helped guide the Flashes to the Elite Eight in 2002.
Published in the Jan. 22, 1997 edition of the News-Sun:
DUO POWERS PANTHERS
Chris Strodes and Eric Thomas each had 18 as the Panthers knocked off Fairborn, 88-67, in a Western Ohio League game Tuesday.
Eleven different players scored for North as the Panthers dominated inside. Thomas also had 10 rebounds while Strodes had eight.
North took control in the second half with its 2-3 and 1-3-1 zones, which stalled the Skyhawk offense.
NORTH (88) — Lute 1 0-0 2, Browning 4 2-3 11, Minney 0 0-2 0, Ellis 0 3-4 3, Stephens 1 0-0 2, Kissell 4 0-0 12, Harris 1 2-2 4, Castleberry 3 6-8 12, Thomas 9 0-3 18, Kelley 1 0-0 2, Strodes 7 4-5 18, Banta 2 0-0 4. Totals: 33 17-27 88.
FAIRBORN (67) — Whitt 1 0-0 3, McCladdie 1 0-0 2, Shirley 4 2-2 11, Starkes 5 0-0 12, Salley 6 2-2 16, Howard 1 1-2 4, Yeary 5 5-5 15, Ballance 2 0-0 4. Totals: 25 10-11 67.
Three-point goals: North 5 (Kissell 4, Browning); Fairborn 7 (Starkes 2, Salley 2, Whitt, Shirley, Howard)
Records: North 12-2, 7-2 in WOL
Reserves: North 66 (Ellis 24), Fairborn 60, OT
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Kenton Ridge hands No. 4 Trojans first loss
Kenton Ridge dominated Southeastern for most of three quarters, then let the Trojans make a run in the fourth quarter before putting them away 67-56 on Tuesday, Jan. 20, in South Charleston.
The Cougars are now 8-1. Southeastern is 10-1.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Boys Basketball, Breaking News, Kenton Ridge High School, Ohio Heritage Conference, Southeastern High School
Player spotlight: Southeastern’s J.P. McFarland
Early this season, Southeastern boys basketball coach P.J. Bertemes said this of his 6-foot-5 junior post J.P. McFarland:
“The sky’s the limit for J.P. He’s got such an upside to him. When J.P. decides to play or take over a game or spend time working out in the offseason, he can really be something special, and he shows us in spurts.”
McFarland has continued to impress as the season moves on. Entering Tuesday night’s game against Kenton Ridge, McFarland was averaging a team-high 15 points per game for the 10-0 Trojans. That number ranks seventh in the area and second in the Ohio Heritage Conference behind West Liberty-Salem’s Nate Bratka (19.0).
McFarland also ranks second in the area behind Bratka in field-goal percentage (61.7) and rebounding (8.5).
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Up close and personal at Southeastern
Does any other gym get you closer to the action than Southeastern’s? You literally can’t get any closer unless you’re starting at point guard. Check out this clip:
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A fun scene from the Witt-Wooster game
Check out the Tigers in this clip as they prepare to run onto the court at Timken Gymnasium before their 69-58 loss to Wooster on Jan. 17.
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KR-SE ready for tonight’s Clark County hoops clash
The gym will be packed with fans set to watch these state-ranked Clark County foes battle.
For Southeastern, which leads the OHC at 10-0, 8-0, the Cougars will be the Trojans’ biggest test this season. They’ll have to find a way to neutralize KR’s size advantage in the paint. SE has a big post in J.P. McFarland, but also play with four guards who like to get up and down the basketball court.
Kenton Ridge leads the Central Buckeye Conference Kenton Trail Division at 7-1 and 5-1 in the Division. The Cougars haven’t played since Jan. 10, so they’ll be motivated to get back on the floor. They play a deliberately slow style, using halfcourt offense and defense to dictate the pace of the game — which will be key in stopping Southeastern.
Here’s a link to Kenton Ridge’s season statistics.
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For your reading enjoyment…
Here are some links of some great stories I’ve found over the last few weeks:
The Audacity of Hoops — Sports Illustrated’s take on how basketball shaped President Obama.
Mitch Albom’s take on why Detroit fans still believe in the city’s sports teams.
A Canadian Paper reports that athletes’ testosterone spikes during home games.
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On this date in area sports history…
On this date 16 years ago, Jan. 20, 1993, Kenyon upset Wittenberg 61-57, knocking off the Tigers for the first time in 42 years.
The Lords were then coached by current Wittenberg coach Bill Brown.
(UPDATE (2:30 p.m.): From former Wittenberg player and current Southeastern coach P.J. Bertemes:
Michael —
In 1993 Kenyon was coached by Bill Brown, but it was not the Bill Brown that currently coaches Wittenberg, instead it was the Bill Brown that currently coaches at California University in Pennsylvania.
Thanks, coach. Witt’s Bill Brown was at Kenyon, but not in 1993. Here’s the Bill Brown who coached the Kenyon team in 1993.
Published on Jan. 21, 1993:
INSIDE STORY: KENYON SHOCKS VISITING WU
By Rob Oller, Sports Writer
GAMBIER, Ohio — Please forgive Anthony Robinson. He’s just a freshman and relatively innocent when it comes to fully understanding Wittenberg tradition.
Still, 5-foot-9 point guard was pretty sure it was a bad loss when Kenyon stunned the Tigers, 59-56, in a North Coast Athletic Conference thriller before a crowd of about 500 at Tomsich Arena Wednesday.
“Something inside says we weren’t supposed to lose that one,” Robinson said.
As far as he knew, Kenyon had not beaten Wittenberg in a long time.
How long? Try 42 years. The Lords last humbled WU, 61-57, at Gambier during the 1950-51 season. Wittenberg had won 40 straight.
While the loss was painful, dropping Wittenberg to 11-4 and 6-2 in the NCAC, at least Robinson was able to dress himself afterwards.
Others may not be so fortunate. Losing to Kenyon could send longtime Tiger fans to the window ledge with more on their minds than enjoying the view.
Surprisingly, maybe the least shocked person was Wittenberg Coach Dan Hipsher, who had worried about the game all season.
“(Coach Bill) Brown does a great job up there,” Hipsher has often said.
This was his greatest job.
The Lords’ matchup zone confounded the Tigers, whose perimeter game has not been up to snuff this season.
That meant Wittenberg had to pound it inside, but the middle was mushy all night.
Hipsher fumed over his team’s 12 turnovers against soft pressure, the Tigers’ foul shooting woes (seven of 15) and, mainly, the invisible inside game.
Of course, the inside would have benefited from the play of freshman post Aaron Smith, but that brings up more bad news for the Tigers.
Hipsher suspended, Smith, who started his last two games, and freshman forward Nick Wolf for two games this week for disciplinary reasons. They missed Wednesday’s game - although Smith traveled with the team and sat on the bench in street clothes - and will miss Saturday’s home game against Wooster.
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Graham still No. 1 in state boys poll
Graham is still No. 1 in Division II, and the area’s other unbeaten team, Southeastern, rose from ninth to a tie for fourth in the state boys basketball poll released at 7:20 p.m. tonight, Jan. 19. Complete poll on the jump.
How a state panel of sports writers and broadcasters rates Ohio high school boys basketball teams in the first of seven weekly Associated Press polls of 2009, by OHSAA divisions, with won-lost record and total points (first-place votes in parentheses):
DIVISION I
1, Cols. Northland (24) 9-0 273
2, Cin. Moeller 10-1 187
3, Cin. Princeton 10-1 171
4, Warren Harding (1) 7-0 152
5, Trotwood-Madison 10-1 135
6, Cle. Glenville 7-0 120
7, Upper Arlington (1) 10-1 97
8, Middletown (1) 10-1 85
9, Lima Sr. (1) 9-0 83
10, Barberton 8-1 43
Others receiving 12 or more points: 11, Garfield Hts. 25. 12, Dublin Scioto 17. 12, Can. Timken 17. 14 (tie), Centerville, Lyndhurst Brush 16. 16, Sylvania Southview 15. 17, Cin. La Salle 12.
DIVISION II
1, St. Paris Graham (25) 11-0 276
2, Day. Dunbar (2) 9-2 223
3, Wilmington 10-0 155
4, Circleville Logan Elm (1) 10-1 151
5, Cin. Indian Hill 9-1 142
6, Cols. DeSales 10-2 85
7, Cle. Benedictine 8-3 84
8, Poland Seminary 8-2 76
9, Akr. SVSM 8-3 59
10, Dover 9-2 54
Others receiving 12 or more points: 11, Day. Thurgood Marshall 40. 12, Spring. Kenton Ridge 38. 13, Chillicothe 34. 14, Bay Village Bay 28. 15, St. Bernard Roger Bacon 23.
DIVISION III
1, Ottawa-Glandorf (18) 9-0 249
2, Smithville (5) 10-0 203
3, Casstown Miami E. (1) 10-0 153
4, W. Salem NW 9-0 131
5, Cle. Cent. Cath. 8-1 113
6, Kirtland 9-0 96
7, Sparta Highland 8-0 92
8, Findlay Liberty-Benton 8-1 90
9, St. Henry (2) 9-0 76
10, Anna (1) 9-1 69
Others receiving 12 or more points: 11, Richwood N. Union 54. 12, Piketon (1) 23. 13 (tie), Middletown Madison, Ironton 22. 15, Cortland Maplewood 20. 16, Cuyahoga Falls CVCA 18. 17, Belmont Union Local 14. 18, London Madison Plains 12.
DIVISION IV
1, New Knoxville (19) 10-0 248
2, Berlin Hiland (9) 11-0 247
3, Worthington Christian 9-2 160
4, Newark Cath. 10-1 137
4, S. Charleston SE 10-0 137
6, Delphos St. John’s 5-1 115
7, Cle. Hts. Lutheran E. 10-1 104
8, Bedford Chanel 7-2 66
9, Oak Hill 9-2 49
10, Cin. Seven Hills 8-3 43
Others receiving 12 or more points: 11 (tie), Continental, Malvern 36. 13, Pandora-Gilboa 33. 14, Pettisville 25. 15, Day. Jefferson 24. 16, Ottoville 22. 17, Plymouth 15. 18, McDonald 14.
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On this date in area sports history …
Five years ago on this date, Jan. 19, 2004, the News-Sun published a story about the new football coach at Tecumseh, Kent Massie. This past fall, Massie led the Arrows to a 10-0 season. Complete story on the jump.
Published: Jan. 19, 2004
Massie to lead Arrows
New head football coach was longtime assistant to DeLong
By LUCAS SULLIVAN, News-Sun Sports Writer
Tecumseh offensive coordinator Kent Massie was named the school’s head football coach on Tuesday, a little over a month after long-time coach Bob DeLong resigned for personal reasons.
School board members approved Massie’s hiring at their bi-weekly meeting, tapping the 13-year Arrows assistant to become the team’s coach.
“I have been given a great opportunity,” said Massie, a Shawnee graduate. “I am loyal to this football program, and this is the only head football coaching job I wanted. It was the only one I would have accepted.”
Massie, 35, spent 10 seasons as offensive coordinator under DeLong who was head coach for 13 seasons. Under DeLong and Massie, the Arrows held a record of 85-49. Both were a part of the school’s first playoff berth in 1998 and again in 2001.
DeLong cited family as a major reason for stepping down. He said he wanted to reset his priorities at home and football was taking away from that. He handed his resignation to athletics director Craig Eier on Nov. 12 at the team’s annual football banquet. Both Eier and DeLong said the news came as a shock to those involved with the football program.
“I talked it over with my family before taking the job,” Massie said. “It does take a lot of time away from that, but it’s all about prioritizing. You do the things you should do and stay away from things you shouldn’t do.”
Eier was not available for comment Saturday.
After learning of his hire, Massie said he addressed members of the football team during Wednesday’s weightlifting session to comfort any fears that may have developed since DeLong’s resignation.
“We have a good platform of coaches and players here,” Massie said. “We were kind of limbo there for a month. But the kids are tough and they are very coachable. That’s the main reason why I took this job.”
Massie, a special education teacher at Tecumseh, said his No. 1 priority is establishing a coaching and support staff. He added that the majority of personnel under DeLong would stay onboard through at least the 2005 season.
His ability to run the offense under DeLong and his prior collegiate experience as a three-year starter at tight end for Capital were the main reasons for his hire, Massie said. Before attending Capital he was a tight end at Shawnee High School.
“After graduating from Capital, I was going to stay in Columbus or go back home,” he said. “As it turned out, I came back here and have loved every part of it.
“Football is a big part of the community here at Tecumseh. The people love it and are great to work with. It’s always been an honor to represent this team. I guess it is a little overwhelming that I am in charge of it now.”
Tecumseh went 3-7 in 2004. It was the team’s first losing season since 1992.
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Graham dominates at Flyin’ to the Hoop tournament
Brook Cupps and his Graham High School boys basketball team left Trent Arena with a lot more fans than they may have had before their game at the Flyin’ to the Hoop tournament on Saturday, Jan. 17.
Click here for coverage from all the games at the Flyin’ to the Hoop.
Click the jump for more on Graham.
Offensive arsenal: Senior Josh Schuler struggled in the first quarter, missing several 3-point shots. But he was still able to pour in 30 points.
“He finds different ways to score,” Cupps said. “He missed a couple three’s early, then gets a couple backdoor cuts, then gets a post touch and make a couple free throws and that makes three a little easier to make. He’s on a great team in terms of guys being able to get him the ball. You have to be really disciplined to guard him and be able to do it consistently.
Squeak: In the second quarter, junior Ryan Zook was all over the floor. He scored six straight points and had several big steals and assists to help the Falcons start pulling away. He’s affectionately called Squeak by Cupps and his teammates.
“He’s just one of those little pesky guys who you want to kick your leg and get him off of you,” Cupps said. He’s one of those kids who seems like he’s always around the basketball. He’s perfect because he fits his role on this team and he’s happy with it. He does what he can do and he guards the ball so well.”
Home again: For senior guard Ben Rosenberger, it was his second trip back to Fairmont’s Trent Arena — where he used to suit up for the Firebirds as a freshman and sophomore. The Falcons beat Chaminade-Julienne at Trent Arena earlier this season.
“It’s always fun to come back,” Rosenberger said. “It’s a nice place.”
Big stage: It didn’t take long to realize the Falcons weren’t shaken by the crowd one bit.
Rosenberger and Schuler each admitted to having some nerves before the game, but they said that happens before every game.
They quickly dictated the style of the game. The Falcons didn’t get caught up in Ripley’s need for a fast-paced game. If not for Ripley’s ability to nail 3-pointers in the first half, the lead might’ve been bigger than 11 before halftime.
“We knew that was what they wanted to do and taking that away is not an easy thing to do,” Cupps said. “After halftime, I felt like we sured up our helpside and our on-line, up-line and I’m sure some of it had to do with fatigue
After wins over C-J, Future Prep Academy, N.C. and Ripley this season, the Falcons are proving they’re not afraid to play anyone.
“They’ve played so much basketball that it really doesn’t bother them,” Cupps said.
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Hickenbottom helps WLS take two-game lead in OHC
The unbeaten (Tigers 12-0, 9-0 OHC) now have the inside track on the OHC title. They’ve won or shared the last three in a row.
For more on Hickenbottom’s big night, click the jump
In the first half, the Tigers struggled against the Cardinals 1-2-2 half-court trap that’s been stifling opponents all season. They made one big adjustment in the second half that helped them outscore Triad 20-3 in the fourth quarter.
“Putting Haleigh in the middle of the press breaker was big for us,” said WLS coach Dennis McIntosh. “She was able to create shots for other people and not just herself. She just made some great decisions.”
“I knew coming in she needed 25 points to get to 1,000 and she’s only been averaging about 15 a game, so we really didn’t think she’d do it tonight, but she had a great game for us,”
Hickenbottom said the key was penetrating through the Cards defense and getting the ball to posts Becka Peterson and Brooke Mayse.
“We knew getting it inside would be key,” Hickenbottom said. “We wanted to get their big girls in foul trouble like we did at home.”
McIntosh is happy to have a comfortable two-game lead in the conference, but isn’t taking anything for granted. They play at second place Southeastern (11-3, 7-2 OHC) on Dec. 29, but the Trojans would need to beat WLS and get some help to nab a share of the title.
“We’ve still got a lot of road games left,” McIntosh said. “We’ve got to be ready to play and keep working to get ourselves better.”
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Girls Basketball, Ohio Heritage Conference, Triad High School, West Liberty-Salem High School
Live from Wittenberg-Wooster
9:00: Scots win 68-59. Complete live blog on the jump.
8:50: Josh McKee hits a 3-pointer with 1:04 left, and the Tigers still have a chance. They trail 64-59. It’s the closest they’ve been since the first half.
8:42: Alex Brandt’s bucket at the 3:39 mark gets Wittenberg within nine points.
8:38 p.m.: Wooster freshman Justin Hallowell just hit his second 3-pointer in the last two minutes, and Wooster leads 60-46.
The Tigers cut the deficit to 10 earlier and had three shots to get it to single digits without success.
8:29: A mini-run for the Tigers, and Wooster’s lead is down to 10 at the 11:57 mark. It’s 47-37. Mark Snyder just made a layup for Witt, which is beginning to have success inside.
8:10 p.m.: It’s halftime here. The Tigers struggled in the first half, making just 9-of-32 field goals, and they trail 33-22.
In a two-minute stretch, the Scots turned a 23-18 lead into a 13-point advantage on three straight baskets.
It’s a typically packed Timken Gymnasium. Wooster requested a blackout, and most fans are dressed in black. Former Scot and South graduate James Cooper, who finished his career last year as the school’s second all-time leading scorer, is in attendance.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: College Basketball, College Men's Basketball, Live Blogs, North Coast Athletic Conference, Wittenberg, Wooster
Graham beats Ripley, WV
The Graham High School boys basketball team beat Ripley, W.Va., 76-51 on Saturday, Jan. 17.
This game was played in the Flyin’ to the Hoop tournament at Kettering Fairmont’s Trent Arena. This is the second out-of-state team Graham’s beat this week, and runs their regular-season winning streak to 33 games.
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Witt-Wooster clash tonight with first place on line
From today’s News-Sun:
SPRINGFIELD — Wittenberg and Wooster could be twin brothers on the basketball court this season, without the matching uniforms and high-tops and the ability to read each other’s playbooks through ESP.
Entering the game at 7:30 p.m. today, Jan. 17, at Wooster, the two North Coast Athletic Conference rivals seem to be dribbling down parallel paths.
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Graham easily moves to 10-0
From the Bellefontaine Examiner:
Graham, the top-ranked Division II team in the state, proved to be too much Friday for visiting Benjamin Logan as the Falcons rolled to a 73-41 win in Central Buckeye Conference action.
The Falcons remain perfect at 10-0 overall and are 7-0 in the CBC, while the Raiders fall to 0-8, 0-6.
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On this date in area sports history …
Five years ago on this date, January 17, 2004, the Wittenberg men’s basketball team knocked off No. 5 Wooster with a huge night at the free-throw line. Complete story on the jump:
WITT WALKS A FINE LINE
FREE THROWS KEY AS TIGERS KNOCK OFF NO. 5 SCOTS
By KEITH WALTHER, News-Sun Sports Writer
With under a minute to play Saturday, the vocal Wittenberg student section at the HPER Center chanted a message to the fifth-ranked Wooster Scots.
“Overrated … Overrated …”
Probably not. More accurate is the notion that the Tigers just could be underrated.
Wittenberg, receiving no votes in the latest D3hoops.com poll, made a statement on this night. Hitting a school record 96 percent of their free throws (27 of 28), the Tigers rolled to a 72-62 win over the Scots in front of 2,445 fans.
“That’s what this game is all about — respect. We have mutual respect for each other — whatever the rankings might be,” Witt senior Rod Emmons said. “Hopefully we’ll get some votes not but I don’t really care about that. What matters most is we are on top in the league.”
The Tigers, winners of eight straight and five of their last six games against Wooster, improve to 12-3 overall and 6-0 in the North Coast Athletic Conference. Wooster falls to 12-2 and 5-1, and Ohio Wesleyan, which comes to Springfield on Wednesday, is also 5-1 (11-4 overall).
Wittenberg’s performance at the free-throw line boggles the mind — especially considering the Tigers made just 19 of 40 attempts from the charity stripe in their win at Wabash earlier in the week.
“Who can figure?,” asked Wittenberg coach Bill Brown after being informed of the near-perfect shooting performance. “That (free throw shooting) was one of our salvations early in the year when we weren’t doing other things. But during our winning streak it’s kind of turned south on us. But my hat’s off to my players in having confidence and a little bit of will to make them tonight and getting it done out there.”
In typical Wittenberg-Wooster fashion, nothing came easy. Every shot was contested. Every loose ball had several bodies diving on it. In all, there were nine ties and nine lead changes.
“It’s a huge win any way you look at it,” said senior forward Peter Walker who led Wittenberg with 14 points. “We were just better tonight, played a little harder, and the ball bounced our way.
“Wooster always comes in with a great reputation and we just want to play well against them … Geesh, I can’t believe we’ve had that kind of success against them lately.”
The Scots trailed 59-55 with 3:13 to play. Out of a time out, Wittenberg junior Danny Brywczynski took a pass from Emmons and drilled a 3-pointer from the left baseline — his first points of the game — to give Wittenberg a 62-55 cushion.
Kenny Brady and Brywczynski each added a pair of free throws and Wittenberg was in control with a 66-55 lead with 1:36 left — and the Scots never challenged after that.
“That was a big shot Danny made there and you have to give him credit,” Wooster coach Steve Moore said. “The second half we just didn’t execute the way we needed to but their defense had a lot to do with that.”
The Scots shot 53 percent from the field in the first half but still trailed 32-30. But the Tigers held them to 37 percent shooting in the second half, despite never finding an answer to center Matt Schlingman who led the Scots with 21 points.
“How many Schlingman score? It seemed like 40,” Brown moaned. “They never changed (from going to him). But you have to pick your poison against a team like Wooster. I guess on this night we were trying to take away their great balance.”
Two other Scots — Rodney Mitchell and Blake Mealer — reached double figures with 12 and 11, respectively. However, the Scots, who had canned 13 treys in their win Wednesday at Kenyon, finished a meager 5 of 15 for beyond the arc against Wittenberg.
“They were very good and not just with their free throw shooting, but with a lot of different things,” Moore said. “They played very good defense and we didn’t get the movement on offense we needed to.”
Brady and Daniel Russ added 13 and 10 points, respectively, for Wittenberg. Andy Bucheit, who came off the bench to spark Witt when it was down 16-9 early in the contest, chipped in nine points and four assists.
The two teams will hook up again Feb. 14 at Wooster.
Reach Keith Walther at
kwalther@coxohio.com
WOOSTER (62) — Mitchell 5-9 1-2 12, Witucky 0-7 2-2 2, Port 3-9 2-2 9, Mealer 4-6 0-0 11, Schlingman 8-15 5-6 21, Snyder 1-1 2-2 4, Ridder 0-0 0-0 0, McCloud 0-2 0-2 0, Stevens 0-0 3-4 3. Totals: 21-49 15-20 62.
WITTENBERG (72) — Emmons 1-7 4-4 7, Brywczynski 1-2 2-2 5, Brady 3-8 7-7 13, Walker 5-10 3-3 14, Russ 4-10 2-2 10, Bucheit 3-8 1-2 9, Molz 1-3 2-2 4, Bowen 0-1 2-2 2, Hemenway 0-0 4-4 4, Borchers 2-3 0-0 4. Totals: 20-52 27-28 72.
Halftime: Wittenberg 32-30. 3-point goals: Wooster 5-15 (Mitchell 1-3, Witucky 0-4, Port 1-3, Mealer 3-4, McCloud 0-1); Wittenberg 5-21 (Emmons 1-4, Brywczynski 1-2, Brady 0-2, Walker 1-4, Russ 0-2, Molz 0-1, Bowen 0-1, Bucheit 2-5). Rebounds: Wooster 33 (Port 8); Wittenberg 31 (Borchers 7). Shooting percentages: Wooster .429; Wittenberg .385. Assists: Wooster 10 (Port 4); Wittenberg 11 (Bucheit 4). Turnovers: Wooster 13, Wittenberg 7. Fouled out: None. Technical Fouls: None. Records: Wooster 12-2, 5-1 NCAC; Wittenberg 12-3, 6-0 NCAC.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Boys Basketball, On this date, Wittenberg, Wooster
Bertemes: Second go-round in OHC will be tough
At 8-0 in the Ohio Heritage Conference, Southeastern (10-0 overall) has beaten every league team once and Mechanicsburg twice, including 71-52 on Friday.
“The thing I told our guys is when we go through the second half of the league, teams aren’t going to play us the same way they did the first time,” Southeastern coach P.J. Bertemes said. “They’re going to do something different. Mechanicsburg did a really nice job of of stopping our transition by doubling the rebounder and then bothering the ball. We turned it over a ton of times, and that led to a lot of points. I think we did a better job in the second half of taking care of the ball.”
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Boys Basketball, Mechanicsburg High School, Ohio Heritage Conference, Southeastern High School
Live from the Southeastern-Mechanicsburg game
9:06: Final: Southeastern wins 71-52.
Complete live blog on the jump.
8:57: Southeastern leads 61-50 with 2:20 left.
Austin Mercer’s layup and free throw, on an assist from Tyler Cooper, gives the Trojans a 64-50 lead. They have won eight of their nine games by double digits.
8:54: Reed Florence at the line for Southeastern with 3:57 mark. Trojans trying to add to a 58-50 lead. He hits it. 59-50.
8:50: A four-point swing. A layup by Burg rolls around the rim and out, and the Trojans get a quick basket on the other end. 55-58 at the 4:58 mark.
8:48: Southeastern leads 53-46 at the 5:45 mark. Kyle Bossetti’s layup at the 5:34 mark cuts the deficit to 53-48.
8:44: About to start the fourth. Trojans lead 51-41.
8:40: Trojans pulling away with a 51-39 lead at the 1:09 mark of the third. Jared Toops just scored on a jumper and a layup in a 12-second span, and the crowd roars, “Trojans! Trojans!”
Burg called a time-out. A win for Southeastern makes it 10-0, halfway to a perfect regular season with a big test coming up next week against Kenton Ridge.
8:33: Southeastern leads 40-35 at the 3:46 mark of the third quarter. The Trojans scored the first eight points of the quarter to lead 38-28 on a 3-pointer by Austin Mercer at the 6:00 mark.
But Burg isn’t going away.
8:22: At halftime, the Trojans lead 30-28. Tyler Cooper tied the score with 5.7 seconds left, but Kyle Bossetti was fouled with one second left to give Burg a 1-point on the first throw. But he missed the second free throw and Reed Florence nailed a 75-foot swish at the buzzer to give Southeastern the lead.
Bossetti has 13 for Mechanicsburg, while Cooper has 13 for the Trojans.
7:55 p.m.: The Trojans lead 13-12 after one quarter. Southeastern opened up a 5-0 lead to start the game, but the Indians changed to a 2-3 zone that gave the Trojans fits.
7:22 p.m.: This game will start in 10 minutes or so. The cold weather hasn’t stopped the Southeastern fans, here to root on the unbeaten and state-ranked Trojans.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Boys Basketball, Live Blogs, Mechanicsburg High School, Southeastern High School
Friday’s boys basketball games postponed
The following boys basketball games scheduled for tonight, Jan. 16, have been postponed.
Complete list on the jump.
Northwestern at Urbana.
Stebbins at Shawnee.
Bellefontaine at Kenton Ridge.
Fairmont at Springfield. New date: Feb. 7.
Indian Lake at Greenon: New date: Saturday, Jan. 17. JV at 2 p.m. Varsity at 3.
These games will be played tonight:
Mechanicsburg at Southeastern.
Triad at Northeastern.
Benjamin Logan at Graham.
Cedarville at Catholic Central.
Tecumseh at Tippecanoe.
West Liberty-Salem at Greeneview.
The following girls game scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 17, has been postponed:
Fairborn at Springfield. New date: Feb. 2.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Boys Basketball, Breaking News, Kenton Ridge High School, Shawnee High School, Springfield High School
Premier game in Flyin’ to the Hoop back on
Columbus Northland will play San Diego Senior High on Saturday, Jan. 17, instead of today.
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On this date in area sports history …
Eleven years ago on this date, Jan. 16, 1998, the North boys basketball team had a little fun in blowing out Xenia. Complete story on the jump.
PANTHERS ROLL.
OVEREAGER TEAM SETTLES DOWN TO GET WOL VICTORY
By Greg Billing, News-Sun Sports Writer
North’s boys basketball team — holding major advantages in quickness and height — turned on showtime a little too early Friday against Xenia.
Three missed dunks and a technical foul for hanging on the rim — all in the second quarter — prompted North Coach Eddie Ford to focus the Panthers on the virtues of good defense and smart shot selection in the second half.
With help from its 2-3 zone and composed offense, North eventually dominated Xenia, 63-43, in the Western Ohio League game.
The Panthers improved to 7-3 overall and 4-3 in the WOL, while Xenia fell to 1-9 and 1-6.
“I think we figured we had this team beat,” North junior Ty Myers said, explaining the Panthers efforts to duplicate moves of their NBA idols.
The trouble came in the second as the Panthers flirted with a double-digit lead. Up 17-10 and following a steal, Myers sent his first dunk attempt bouncing high off the rim. His second attempt a minute later also refused to go down, but did bounce off the backboard and in for a 22-12 lead.
North junior Marcus Banta almost found himself on the receiving end of an alley-oop pass with 2:32 left in the half. But he couldn’t get to the ball and was left dangling from the rim for a technical foul. He picked up his third foul just 15 seconds later.
“That shows our immaturity as a team,” Ford said. “We thought we’d go out and beat them and they’d roll over.”
Xenia senior Zach Hughes knocked down one technical free throw to pull the Buccaneers within seven at 22-15. North led by that same margin at the half.
“We tried to showboat in the second quarter and we let them get back into the game,” North sophomore Joey Davis said.
“We were trying to do highlight moves,” added sophomore Adam Ellis. “We knew we had to take our time. We needed to play smart.”
North’s switch from man-to-man to a 2-3 zone forced bad shots from a Xenia team already struggling from the field. And the Panthers were more than willing to take advantage of those opportunities this time.
“We knew they didn’t have many three-point shooters,” Davis said. “The zone helped us get a couple of steals.”
Junior Vaughn Stephens and Ellis knocked down back-to-back treys with just under two minutes left in the third and North finally pushed its lead to — and kept it at — double digits the rest of the way. The Panthers knocked down 6 of 8 shots in the third, while Xenia hit just 3 of 14.
“If we play like that every game, no one can beat us,” Myers said of North’s second half.
Stephens led all scorers with 17. Myers had 16 points and seven rebounds and Ellis tallied 14 points.
“We weren’t getting the shots we wanted,” Xenia Coach Tony Ricciuto said, whose team shot 13 of 57 overall.
Ricciuto, who left Catholic Central to coach at Xenia, also had no answer for the 6-foot-9 Banta and Ellis and Myers, both 6-4.
“We talked about taking it at Banta, but you can’t neutralize one kid,” he said.
Xenia discovered that in the first quarter as Banta scored seven of his nine points during a 13-4 run. The Panthers led 15-7 after one quarter as the Buccaneers shot 3 of 15 from the floor.
North’s height was neutralized in the second as Banta and Davis both picked up their third fouls. While Davis finished with four, Banta fouled out with 4:14 remaining in the game.
“We played very sloppy and we didn’t execute well enough,” Ford said.
But against Xenia — whose tallest active player was 6-2 senior Joe Freeman — North managed to get court time for all but one varsity player. The Panthers played without senior Robbie Browning. Ford said Browning sat out with internal school problems and his status is day to day.
XENIA (43) — James 2-8 3-5 7, Hughes 5-17 5-6 16, Parries 3-8 1-2 7, Brown 1-4 0-2 3, Bynum 1-1 1-2 3, Freeman 0-3 2-4 2, Marshall 1-9 3-4 5, Thomas 0-1 0-0 0, Futrell 0-5 0-0 0, Darjean 0-1 0-0 0. Totals: 13-57 15-25 43.
NORTH (63) — Davis 0-3 0-0 0, Stephens 8-11 0-0 17, Ellis 6-12 1-3 14, Myers 7-11 2-4 16, Banta 4-9 1-2 9, Haycox 2-2 0-0 5, Wagner 0-3 0-0 0, Wynn 0-2 0-0 0, Bacon 1-1 0-0 2. Totals: 28-54 4-9 63.
Xenia 7 19 30 43
North 15 26 42 63
Three-point goals: Xenia 2 (Hughes, Brown), North 3 (Stephens, Ellis, Haycox).
Records: Xenia 1-9, 1-6 WOL; North 8-3, 4-3.
Reserves: Xenia 45, North 42
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Football to remain in six divisions for Ohio high schools
From the Associated Press:
COLUMBUS — The Ohio High School Association Board of Directors voted Thursday to reject a proposal from an OHSAA subcommittee to divide the Division I football schools into two equal divisions. Had the proposal been approved, a seventh division in football would have been created.
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Thursday’s girls basketball games postponed
Many basketball games scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 15, have been postponed because of weather. Click on the jump to find out which ones.
The Shawnee at Greenon girls game will now be played Jan. 21.
The Tecumseh at Northwestern girls game will be played Feb. 9.
The Tippecanoe at Urbana game will be played Feb. 3.
The Kenton Ridge at Indian Lake game has no makeup date yet.
The Bellefontaine at Graham game will be played Jan. 26.
The Cedarville at Emmanuel Christian game will be played at 1 p.m. Jan. 31.
The Urbana University at Central State women’s basketball game has also been postponed. No makeup date has been announced.
Check back for more updates.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Girls Basketball, Greenon High School, Northwestern High School, Shawnee High School, Tecumseh
Got game in 7th grade? NCAA says you’re a prospect
From the Associated Press
OXON HILL, Md. (AP) — Giving in to the young-and-younger movement in college basketball recruiting, the NCAA has decreed that seventh-graders are now officially classified as prospects.
The organization voted Thursday to change the definition of a prospect from ninth grade to seventh grade — for men’s basketball only — to nip a trend in which some college coaches were working at private, elite camps and clinics for seventh- and eighth-graders. The NCAA couldn’t regulate those camps because those youngsters fell below the current cutoff.
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After upset of Wooster, Wabash back to earth
From Ohio Wesleyan’s Web site:
Junior post Brent Pleiman (Russia) scored 20 points during the first half to power Ohio Wesleyan to a double-digit lead, and the Bishops went on to defeat Wabash in North Coast Athletic Conference action on Wednesday at Branch Rickey Arena.
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Wooster, Witt, Hiram tied for first
From the The Daily Record in Wooster:
WOOSTER — Here are three words College of Wooster basketball fans never thought they’d hear together: First-place Hiram.
The Terriers made their way through the snow to Timken Gymnasium Wednesday night in sole possession of first in the North Coast Athletic Conference. They’re still in a tie for the top spot after Wooster’s 79-63 victory, and maybe a little wiser about what it will take to beat the four-time defending NCAC champions.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: College Men's Basketball, Hiram College, North Coast Athletic Conference, Wittenberg, Wooster
On this date in area sports history…
On this date seven years ago, Jan. 15, 2002, South’s Amanda Jackson nailed a 12-foot bank shot to lift the Wildcats past Dayton Christian.
Jackson went on to become the all-time leading scorer at Miami University. She’s currently playing professionally in Portugal.
Click the jump for the complete story.
Published in the Jan. 16, 2002, edition of the Springfield News-Sun:
SOUTH’S JACKSON HITS GAME-WINNING SHOT
Staff reports
DAYTON — After a putback with three seconds left in the game gave Dayton Christian a one-point lead, South’s Amanda Jackson canned a 12-foot bank shot with two seconds remaining to give the Wildcats a wild 48-47 non-conference victory in girls basketball action Tuesday night.
“We went in and won ugly,” said South coach Lee Ann Ballard, whose team improved to 8-4. “This is four in a row. We are winning, and we are playing to get a good seed in the (postseason) tournament so we don’t have to play any of the best teams early.”
Jackson had 19 points to lead the Wildcats, while teammate Shawna Lollis added 11. For Dayton Christian (6-7), Sarah Martin had a game-high 21 points.
SOUTH (48) — Lollis 5 0-0 13, Bell 1 0-2 2, Jackson 8 3-5 19, Rogers 0 2-4 2, May 3 0-0 6, Sha. Portis 2 0-1 4, Bray 1 0-0 2. Totals: 20 5-12 48.
DAYTON CHRISTIAN (47) — Wilson 1 0-0 2, Martin 7 2-2 21, An. Serinius 1 2-2 4, Pugh 1 0-1 2, Am. Serinius 1 1-2 3, Stiffler 4 0-0 9, Bauman 1 4-10 6, Russell 0 0-2 0. Totals: 16 9-19 47.
Three-point goals: South 3 (Lollis 3); Dayton Christian 6 (Martin 5, Stiffler). Records: South 8-4; Dayton Christian 6-7.
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Wittenberg routs Earlham by 33
9:00 p.m.: Wittenberg wins 91-58. Kevin Murray scores 27 points. Rest of live blog on the jump.
8:43: Wittenberg has stretched its lead to 73-43 and will rise above .500 for the first time this season with this victory. It will be 7-6 and will take a season-best four-game winning streak into Saturday’s game at Wooster.
It appears the Tigers will also set season highs in points and victory margin today, but there are still seven minutes left.
8:30: Wooster up 14 at halftime, and Tigers lead 49-36 here. Now it’s 51-36. Kevin Murray just dribbled the length of the floor and took it strong to the basket for a layup.
Murray has 18.
8:12 p.m.: Time to a little scoreboard watching at halftime here. Wooster leads Hiram 20-16 with 9:59 left in the first half.
8:08 p.m.: Chris Sullivan hits a 3-pointer with 3 seconds left in the first half, and the Tigers lead 43-30.
Despite a slow start, Wittenberg has control of this game. Kevin Murray has 14 points, and Michael Cooper scored eight.
Wittenberg went on a 22-8 run over the last 8:47. Earlham has hit 7-of-16 3-pointers.
7:29 p.m.: Wittenberg and Earlham set to tip off here. Introductions just beginning. Starters for the Tigers: Josh McKee, Michael Cooper, Mark Snyder, Kevin Murray and David Nowicki.
If the Tigers win tonight and Hiram beats Wooster, then Wittenberg, Wooster and Hiram will each be 4-1. The Tigers and Scots play Saturday, Jan. 17, in Wooster.
Permalink | Comments (1) | Post your comment | Categories: College Basketball, College Men's Basketball, Earlham College, Live Blogs, North Coast Athletic Conference, Wittenberg
Impressions from KR-Tipp Round 1
Here are some of my thoughts from last night’s Kenton Ridge-Tippecanoe CBC girls matchup —
Opposite: The game was like that legendary Seinfeld episode “The Opposite”. Up was down, black was white, day was night. Everything we’ve come to know about the rivalry over the years — where each team makes a load of plays — didn’t happen last night.
Both teams shot poorly, turned the ball over and played sloppy. Saira House had just three points and didn’t score field goal. What? I’ll be the first to say that won’t happen again in her career.
The one thing that did happen was good defense from both sides — but I think the low scores were more a factor of poor shooting rather than tough D. Both teams got good looks at layups and 3-pointers, but just missed them. There were several shots that went into the cylinder then popped out — it was like the ball had just broken up with the basket and was avoiding it.
Experience: Overall, this was one of the big keys to the game. The Red Devils, led by guard Abby Dowd, are a senior-laden team full of upperclassmen who’ve played in big games. It was apparent late in the game that the Red Devils had been in a game of this magnitude before.
Despite neither team playing its best game, the Red Devils made plays in the fourth quarter to win the game, while KR had several turnovers that cost them. The shots by Schiller and Pentaudi to open the fourth quarter spelled doom for KR early, despite pulling to within six late.
The Cougars were able to make stops, but couldn’t convert them to points — proof that a young team is still learning how to play in big games. They rushed shots on key possessions, while Tippecanoe would routinely get easy shots with longer, time-consuming possessions.
3-pointers: Another key was Tipp’s ability to make 3-pointers. Even though they made just four, it was four more than KR. Each team had 13 field goals, but add in four more points from made 3-pointers and that was the difference (at least on the scoreboard).
The next matchup at Kenton Ridge on Saturday, Jan. 31 will be another great one, likely for a share or complete control of the CBC Kenton Trail Division title. By then, we’ll know which team earned the No. 1 seed in the D-II Vandalia Butler sectional and whether they decided to avoid each other or play again come tournament time in the sectionals.
Either way, it will be another big battle in one of the area’s top rivalries in any sport.
For photos from the game, click here.
Here’s a link to the Troy Daily News story.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Girls Basketball, Kenton Ridge High School
A look at Ripley, W. Va.
Horstman on the Graham Falcons: “They’re playing like the world’s on fire. The team I have them against (Ripley, W.Va.) is the exact same kind of team.”
The Vikings are 4-2 this season, and beat Nitro 70-53 on Tuesday, Jan. 6.
Ripley has an array of good players, including sharp shooting Bucknell-signee Noah Fischer.
Another player, Chase Fischer, has already committed to Marshall University … as a sophomore.
Graham faces Ripley at 3 p.m. on Jan. 17 at Trent Arena in Kettering. Here’s a link to the tournament’s website.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Boys Basketball, Central Buckeye Conference, Graham High School
On this date in area sports history …
Nine years ago on this date, Jan. 14, 2000, Cedarville beat Southeastern 54-41 in boys basketball. The two teams played again Tuesday night, Jan. 13. Southeastern is now coached former Cedarville coach P.J. Bertemes.
Published Jan. 15, 2000
BRAGGING RIGHTS GO TO INDIANS
By Keith Walther, News-Sun Sports Writer
CEDARVILLE — Southeastern brought its ”A” game to Cedarville Friday night. Problem is, the Trojans were playing the game.
Allow Trojan Coach Aaron Perry to explain.
“Anyone who grew up in Cedarville or South Charleston knows what this game means. It is not just a game on the schedule. This is the game,” Perry said after his Trojans dropped a 54-41 decision to the Indians.
“This has been a knock-down, drag-out rivalry since the two schools existed. Cedarville played like that tonight, and we didn’t. We weren’t ready to meet the challenge.”
Perry said his team, 5-6 overall and 2-4 in the Kenton Trace Conference, “didn’t deserve to win” — and it did plenty of things to back that statement.
“A game like this demands emotion, demands heart and demands desire, and we just didn’t have it — and I have no idea why,” he said. “We pleaded with them and pleaded with them all week long. All the physical miscues go back to one thing — we just weren’t mentally ready to play.”
Meanwhile, the Indians celebrated wildly in their lockerroom. Sure, they had snapped a four-game losing streak, but that played only a bit part in their excitement.
“I love beating them more than anything,” Cedarville junior Nick Trimbach said after scoring a game-high 16 points. “It feels good to come out here and do what we did, because they were talking to us for a long time. They were all over my back about this one, so this is great.”
Don’t be fooled by the 13-point margin of victory, however, the Indians had to earn this one. In fact, the lead changed hands 11 times in the first half. Cedarville inched ahead and took a 40-32 lead into the final period, going into a semi-delay in an effort to milk time off the clock.
That’s when Southeastern turned up the heat defensively and, when Keith Clark came up with a steal and found Josh Briggs on the fly for a lay-up, the Trojans were down just six, at 40-34, with 3:49 to play.
Seconds later, Briggs picked off a pass and broke free for what could have been an easy lay-up. Instead, the senior elected to attempt a slam dunk — and missed. Momentum returned to the Indians who, from that point, went on a 9-0 run to put the game away, 49-34, with 2:15 to go.
“Briggs made a tremendous defensive play and he has a chance to bring his team to within a bucket or two buckets and, boy, that was, no question about it, a big play,” Cedarville Coach P.J. Bertemes said. “I’d like to stand here and say we made all the plays happen, but really, they gave us a break there. I know Coach Perry will make a point to his team about that.”
Perry did just that but also noted that, if not for Briggs’s tenacious play at both ends, his team wouldn’t have been in the game at all.
“The last thing we want to do is blame it on Josh Briggs — he is one of the few kids that got after it and hustled,” Perry said. “We told him the points are more important at that time, but he’s a kid and makes mistakes. He just made a poor decision. But, if everyone on the team played as well, as hard and as aggressive as Josh did, we would have been all right tonight.”
So, bragging rights — at least until the team’s rematch on Feb. 15 in South Charleston — go to the Indians, 5-6 and 3-3 KTC.
“This is always a big game with us and Southeastern, being that we are just five or six miles apart,” Bertemes said. “Then, you add in the fact that Aaron and I are such good friends, having played together at Wittenberg, and it is really special. We root for each other all year long except when we hook up.”
“P.J. and I have a pretty good relationship but this game is a lot more than me coaching against him,” Perry said. “It shouldn’t take P.J. and I being college teammates and roommates and all that kind of stuff to bring the rivalry in.
“Hopefully, the kids will be ready to go next time (the teams meet). Tonight, we didn’t display the effort that you need every night out. You just can’t show up to play when you are on the road and young like we are. You have to get after it and show some heart. We’ll find five kids that will do that, who will lay it on the line.”
Southeastern placed no one in double figures as leading scorer Willie Shingler, averaging 16 points, managed just eight. Jeff Moore backed Trimbach’s output with 12 points for the Indians.
SOUTHEASTERN (41) — Shingler 2 3-4 8, Clark 3 0-0 6, Waddle 3 0-0 6, Briggs 3 1-3 7, Earles 2 0-0 4, Cooper 0 5-6 5, Banion 1 0-0 3, Knox 0 2-5 2. Totals: 14 11-18 41.
CEDARVILLE (54) — Trimbach 6 4-5 16, Moore 4 4-6 12, Donahue 0 1-2 1, Martindale 1 0-0 2, Willis 2 0-0 4, Schlappi 1 4-5 6, Spradlin 3 0-0 8, Howard 2 2-2 6. Totals: 19 15-20 54.
Southeastern12 24 32 41
Cedarville11 26 38 54
Three-point goals: Southeastern 2 (Shingler, Banion), Cedarville 1 (Spradlin)
Records: Southeastern 5-6, 2-4 KTC; Cedarville 5-6, 3-3
Reserves: Southeastern 57 (West 16), Cedarville 44 (Hull 16)
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Boys Basketball, Cedarville High School, Ohio Heritage Conference, On this date, Southeastern High School
KR-Tipp girls hoops live blog
It’s over. Tippecanoe wins 40-32. The Cougars trailed 32-23 after Leah Schiller nailed a jumper and Christina Pentaudi buried a three-pointer to open the quarter. Kenton Ridge would pull to within six, but couldn’t get any closer.
After three quarters, Tippecanoe leads 27-23. KR opened the half on fire — not by their standards — going on a 6-2 run to open the quarter to take a 23-20 lead. But Tipp scored seven straight points to retake the lead.
Dowd has 12 points for the Red Devils.
At halftime, Tippecanoe leads 18-17. The Red Devils went on a 12-4 run to open the quarter, jumping out to a 18-13 lead.
Abby Dowd has nine points for Tippecanoe, while Lonnie Lassiter and Liz Mathews each have six points for KR.
After the first quarter, KR leads 9-6. Both teams are playing zone defenses, forcing the other team to shoot the basketball.
Problem is, neither team is making shots — especially Tipp. They’re 2-for-15 from the field.
We’re 10 minutes from tip-off here at Tippecanoe High School for the Central Buckeye Conference Kenton Trail Division matchup of unbeatens — Kenton Ridge and Tippecanoe.
The house is packed. Every CBC and D-II coach in the area is here to see the matchup between the No. 3 Cougars and No. 4 Red Devils.
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Cougars, Tigers girls hoops squads ranked in top-10 in the state
The Kenton Ridge and West Liberty-Salem High School girls basketball teams were each ranked in the top-10 in the first AP state girls basketball poll, released today.
Kenton Ridge (11-0) is No. 3 in Division II after receiving five first-place votes. Last year, they were ranked No. 1 when the first AP poll was released. They travel to No. 4 Tippecanoe at 8 p.m. tonight.
West Liberty-Salem (11-0) is ranked 6th in D-III. They received three first-place votes. The Tigers travel to Triad at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in a first place battle for the Ohio Heritage Conference.
For the full poll, click the link below.
Associated Press girls state basketball poll
How a state panel of sports writers and broadcasters rates Ohio high school girls basketball teams in the first of six weekly Associated Press polls of 2009, by OHSAA divisions, with won-lost record and total points (first-place votes in parentheses):
DIVISION I
1, Cin. Mt. Notre Dame (17) 11-0 213
2, Dublin Coffman (2) 12-0 167
3, W. Chester Lakota W. (2) 9-1 142
4, Cin. Winton Woods 10-0 106
5, Pickerington Cent. 8-1 91
6, Dresden Tri-Valley (2) 11-0 89
7, Day. Chaminade-Julienne (1) 7-4 87
8, Xenia 11-0 85
9, Perrysburg 9-0 83
10, Delaware Hayes 11-0 73
Others receiving 12 or more points: 11, Warren Howland 40. 12, Zanesville 29. 13, Grove City 22. 14, Tol. Scott 20. 15 (tie), Tol. Start, Kettering Fairmont 19. 17 (tie), Akr. Kenmore, Dublin Scioto 16. 19, Beavercreek 15.
DIVISION II
1, Lima Bath (5) 10-0 173
2, Kettering Alter (10) 11-1 168
3, Spring. Kenton Ridge (5) 11-0 150
4, Tipp City Tippecanoe 10-0 137
5, Warsaw River View (1) 10-1 106
5, Tiffin Columbian 10-0 106
7, Chillicothe Unioto (2) 11-0 85
8, Geneva (1) 10-0 64
9, Cols. Eastmoor 6-2 60
10, Shaker Hts. Hathaway Brown (1) 8-3 53
Others receiving 12 or more points: 11, Cambridge 50. 12, Cols. DeSales 43. 13, Cuyahoga Falls Walsh Jesuit 24. 14 (tie), Cin. Indian Hill, Cin. McNicholas 23. 16, Akr. Hoban 18. 17, Salem 16. 18, Wauseon 15. 19, Zanesville Maysville 12.
DIVISION III
1, Marion Pleasant (11) 11-0 190
2, Findlay Liberty-Benton (3) 8-0 149
3, Oak Hill (3) 11-0 126
4, Smithville 10-0 112
5, Genoa Area 10-0 105
6, W. Liberty-Salem (3) 10-0 96
7, Millbury Lake 10-0 73
8, Cin. Hills Christian 9-1 67
9, Lisbon David Anderson 9-1 62
10, S. Euclid Regina (4) 10-0 57
Others receiving 12 or more points: 11, Andover Pymatuning Valley 53. 12, Newark Cath. (1) 31. 13 (tie), Mt. Blanchard Riverdale, Defiance Tinora 23. 15, Plain City Jonathan Alder 22. 16, Brookville 20. 17, W. Milton Milton-Union 19. 18, Versailles 17. 18, Middletown Madison 17. 20 (tie), Archbold, S. Point, Sugarcreek Garaway 12.
DIVISION IV
1, Berlin Hiland (22) 8-0 247
2, Convoy Crestview (2) 8-0 145
3, Delphos St. John’s 8-1 129
4, Cols. Africentric 7-3 101
5, Pettisville 6-0 85
6, Cols. Harvest Prep 9-1 80
7, New Riegel 9-1 64
8, Ottoville 8-2 55
9, New Bremen 9-1 53
10, Troy Christian 10-1 49
10, Continental 8-2 49
10, Shadyside 8-1 49
Others receiving 12 or more points: 13, Waterford 46. 14, Carey 41. 15, Leipsic 33. 16, Arlington 29. 17, McDonald 25. 18, Houston 16.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Central Buckeye Conference, Girls Basketball, Greater Western Ohio Conference, Kenton Ridge High School, Ohio Heritage Conference, West Liberty-Salem High School
High-flying Ohio team enjoys time away from island
From the Associated Press:
First, there’s no scouting report to review their opponents. Then there’s the airplane flight off the island. And finally, an overnight stay at a hotel.
The biggest perk for the players is shopping at a mainland Wal-Mart.
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Witt-Wooster Week begins
Wittenberg-Wooster week is here, though both teams have games Wednesday before they meet at Wooster at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 17. Read more on the rivalry on the jump.
The Tigers and Scots have split the last 10 meetings.
Adding up the scores of each of those 10 games, Wooster leads 744-743.
Either Wittenberg or Wooster has tied for shared the NCAC regular-season title every year since 1988. Ohio Wesleyan and Allegheny tied for the title in 1988, and Wooster finished third. Wittenberg joined the NCAC in 1989.
Wooster has won four straight outright NCAC regular-season titles. Wittenberg has finished second or tied for second in each of those years.
This year, if Witt beats Earlham on Wednesday and Wooster beats Hiram, then Wittenberg, Wooster and Hiram will each be tied for first at 4-1 heading into Saturday.
The following facts were put together by Wooster sports information director Hugh Howard and can be found here:
This is the 93rd game between the two programs. Witt leads 50-42.
In those 93 games, 43.5 percent have been decided by five points or less. That includes seven of the last eight and 20 of the last 37.
Since the Tigers joined the NCAC, the teams have met 45 times. Witt leads 25-20.
Either Witt or Wooster has won all but three NCAC Tournament titles.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: College Basketball, College Men's Basketball, North Coast Athletic Conference, Wittenberg, Wooster
Take 2: KR-Tippecanoe girls hoops
KR (11-0, 7-0) is scoring 74 points per game (tops in the CBC), while Tippecanoe is scoring 71 points per game. The Cougars allow 41 ppg, while the Red Devils allow 34.5 ppg — best in the league.
The teams have won 21 straight games this season, and split their conference games last season. The first state poll will be released at 6:30 p.m. today, and both teams could be ranked in the top-10 in Division II.
It should another thriller in Tipp City tonight.
If you can’t make it to the game, I’ll be live-blogging after each quarter. Also, check back here for updates on possible weather-related announcements.
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Update on Ivan Harris
Springfield native Ivan Harris is averaging 16.5 points per game for the Erie Bayhawks in the NBA D-League.
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OHC rivalry heats up tonight
The rivalry hasn’t been going on for very long, but its still a fierce one.
The schools have only played against each other in OHC play since 2001. It was a big rivalry before that time, but has grown bigger each year. It’s likely the biggest rivalry game for each team.
It’s a big game for both teams. For the D-IV ninth-ranked Trojans, a victory would give them a two-game lead atop the league through one round. That means if anyone wants to catch them, they’ll have to beat the Trojans and get some help.
For Northeastern, it would put them a half-game behind the Trojans in the standings with eight OHC games to go. They’d control their own destiny from that point.
A key for the Jets will be stopping the Trojans high-powered offense. Other than a one-point win at Greeneview, no team has gotten to within 13 points of Southeastern.
Defensively, Southeastern will have to contain big man Aaron Hartzell and not let the NE guards into the game. They’ll also have to look to the transition game off of rebounds — something they’ve been very good at through the first eight games.
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Hiram makes another statement in NCAC
Hiram continues to surprise in the NCAC men’s basketball race. The Terriers, who play Wooster on Wednesday, Jan. 14, are now 4-0 in the NCAC and 9-4 overall.
From Hiram’s Web site:
The Hiram College men’s basketball team remained perfect in North Coast Athletic Confernece play with a 77-73 win against Ohio Wesleyan University this afternoon (Sunday, Jan. 11) at the Branch Rickey Arena in Delaware.
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Graham coach Cupps not focusing on No. 1 ranking
He’s only worried about making his team better.
“For what our focus is, it really doesn’t change anything,” Cupps said. “We’ve got to just keep working and get better for the end of the season.”
It’s the first time in school history the Falcons are ranked No. 1 in boys basketball. They finished the season ranked No. 5 in D-II last season, the school’s highest ranking until Monday.
The last Springfield-area team to be ranked No. 1 in any division was the 2001-2002 Southeastern Trojans, which won the D-IV state poll title.
He feels the ranking will help teams who may have underestimated the Falcons previously — which still happens, Cupps said, despite the squad’s 31-game regular season winning streak — work even harder to beat them.
“It’s more the way we look and our style of play,” Cupps said. “We’re not flashy or do anything spectacular. That all plays into it.”
He said the senior and junior classes have helped raise the basketball program to new heights.
“Those are the kids who have taken the program to an entirely different level,” Cupps said. “Those kids have changed the mindset of our community and our younger kids and how they think about Graham basketball.”
The Falcons host Future Prep Academy High School from High Point, N.C. tonight at 8 p.m.
Cupps isn’t the only coach having trouble getting information about Future Prep.
“They’re a private school and they have some fifth-year kids who are still 18 and trying to get into a college,” Cupps said. “I’m sure they’ll be a good team. Beyond that, I don’t really know that much about them.”
Cupps praised both Southeastern, No. 9 in the D-IV poll, and Kenton Ridge, No. 11 in D-II for their rankings.
“It’s great for our conference and our area,” Cupps said.
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On this date in area sports history…
On this day six years ago, Jan. 13, 2003, South point guard Shawna Lollis scored 23 points off the bench to lead the ‘Cats to a victory over city rival Catholic Central.
Click the jump for the complete story.
Published in the Jan. 14, 2003 edition of the Springfield New-Sun:
LOLLIS A TROUBLE-MAKER FOR IRISH
SOUTH GUARD COMES OFF BENCH TO POST 23 AGAINST CENTRAL
By KEVIN VAN BRIMMER, News-Sun Sports Writer
After four minutes Monday night, South girls basketball coach Lee Ann Ballard turned to Shawna Lollis and asked if she was ready to go in.
“She told me, ‘Coach, I’ve been ready to go in,’ ” Ballard said.
So Ballard sent in the sophomore guard with the Wildcats down 11-2 to visiting Catholic Central, and Lollis immediately showed just how ready she was. Lollis rattled off six straight points and didn’t slow down on her way to a game-high 23 points in South’s 79-53 non-conference rout of the Irish.
Usually the Wildcats’ starting point guard, Lollis missed Saturday’s practice and sat to start Monday’s game as a result.
“I got in trouble and had Saturday school,” Lollis said sheepishly after the game. “So I knew I wouldn’t start. I just got in and got focused on getting us back into the game. I was ready.”
It was an important win in terms of tournament seeding for South. With the draw just a week and a half away, the Wildcats stand at 8-5. Ballard said that to get a seed in the Dayton sectional, they need to be at 10-5 next weekend.
“That will probably get us the six, seven or eight seed,” she said. “We’ve got Trotwood and Sidney before the draw. … We want the six or seven seed.”
Lollis scored nine of her points in a 15-4 South run spanning the first and second quarters. That snapped the Wildcats (8-5) out of a funk and put them in a 19-15 lead two minutes into the second quarter.
Central (7-6) battled back to take a 26-23 lead with 3:45 left in the half, but it was all South from there.
The Wildcats’ athleticism began to take over. They used it to pressure Central up and down the court. The result was a 14-3 spurt fueled by Irish turnovers, giving South a 37-29 lead at the break.
“I think (in the first quarter) we kind of took this game for granted,” Ballard said. “We’ve been talking since the Centerville game (last week) about making each other work hard. Teams are going to come out and lolly-gag, and I knew Central was going to come in fired up. We needed to pick up the defense, and I think we did that.”
South maintained a lead near double digits throughout the third quarter before finally busting the dam in the final two minutes of the period and the first minute of the fourth.
South’s three double-figure scorers on the night, Lollis, Amanda Jackson and Danielle Roe, combined for 14 points in a 16-0 run during that span that put the game out of reach at 61-39. The Wildcats forced six Central turnovers in the run.
“We knew had to play defense,” Lollis said. “We started playing as a team.”
Jackson scored six straight to start the fourth. She and Roe finished with 16 points. The Wildcats were so effective in the second half that, save for seven missed shots in two possessions, they missed just nine attempts from the floor in the second half. South posted 40 points in the final 16 minutes.
“That’s good. That will help with the percentages,” Ballard said. “A lot of those (were) in transition, a lot of layups. We started attacking in the second half.”
Central was led by Erin Fenton’s 16 points. She was the only Irish player to reach double-figures. Andrea Hackett, suffering from the flu, added nine as did Ann Allen.
“We had a great start,” said Central coach Gary Falkenbach. “They just have too many athletes. You think we’re going to see anything like that in the OHC (Ohio Heritage Conference)? I was impressed. Lollis, she going to be a good player.”
CATHOLIC CENTRAL (53) _ Miller 3 2-3 8, Hackett 3 2-6 9, Allen 3 0-0 9, Culley 1 0-0 3, Fenton 6 4-7 16, Hashemi 4 0-2 8. Totals: 11 8-18 53.
SOUTH (79) _ Lollis 10 2-2 23, Bell 3 0-0 6, Jackson 7 2-3 16, Green 2 0-0 4, Roe 8 0-0 16, Threats 3 0-1 6, Wade 4 0-0 8. Totals: 37 4-6 79.
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Graham No. 1 in D-II; Southeastern, KR ranked in first boys state poll
The Graham and Southeastern High School boys basketball teams were each ranked in the top-10 in the first AP state boys basketball poll, released today.
Graham (8-0), which advanced to the state tournament in Division II last season, is ranked No. 1 for the first time in school history. They host Future Academy, N.C. at 8 p.m. Tuesday.
Southeastern (8-0) is ranked ninth in D-IV. The Trojans host Northeastern at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Kenton Ridge (7-1) is ranked 11th in D-II. The Cougars’ lone loss came to Graham on Jan. 8.
For the full poll, click the link below.
Associated Press boys state basketball poll
How a state panel of sports writers and broadcasters rates Ohio high school boys basketball teams in the first of seven weekly Associated Press polls of 2009, by OHSAA divisions, with won-lost record and total points (first-place votes in parentheses):
DIVISION I
1, Cols. Northland (12) 7-0 153
2, Upper Arlington (2) 10-0 125
3, Cin. Moeller (2) 9-1 119
4, Cin. Princeton (2) 9-1 115
5, Trotwood-Madison (2) 8-0 113
6, Barberton (3) 8-0 100
7, Warren Harding 6-0 91
8, Cle. Glenville 6-0 87
9, Middletown (1) 9-1 73
10, Lima Sr. 8-0 63
Others receiving 12 or more points: 11, Cols. Beechcroft 50. 12, Lorain Admiral King 47. 13, Lyndhurst Brush (1) 37. 14, Cin. La Salle 34. 15, Garfield Hts. (1) 29. 16 (tie), Lakewood St. Edward, Newark (1) 28. 18, Hudson 27. 19, N. Royalton 24. 20, Sylvania Southview 21. 21, Dublin Scioto 19. 22, Cin. Walnut Hills 13. 23, Centerville 12.
DIVISION II
1, GRAHAM (11) 8-0 198
2, Circleville Logan Elm (5) 9-0 142
3, Day. Dunbar (4) 8-1 140
4, Cin. Indian Hill (1) 7-1 112
5, Wilmington 7-0 104
6, Dover (2) 8-1 100
7, Poland Seminary 7-2 78
8, Bay Village Bay (1) 7-1 71
9, Cols. DeSales 9-1 70
10, Cle. Benedictine (1) 7-3 65
Others receiving 12 or more points: 11, Spring. Kenton Ridge 63. 12, Akr. SVSM (1) 58. 13, Chillicothe (1) 36. 14 (tie), St. Bernard Roger Bacon, Tol. Cent. Cath. 29. 16, Chagrin Falls 23. 17, Akr. Buchtel 17. 18, Tol. Libbey 16. 19, Day. Col. White 13. 20, Napoleon 12.
DIVISION III
1, Ottawa-Glandorf (19) 8-0 224
2, Smithville 8-0 125
3, W. Salem NW 8-0 94
4, Richwood N. Union (1) 9-0 87
5, Cle. Cent. Cath. (2) 8-1 85
6, Casstown Miami E. (1) 7-0 81
7, Kirtland 7-0 79
8, Findlay Liberty-Benton 7-1 77
9, Anna 7-1 74
10, Sparta Highland (1) 7-0 69
Others receiving 12 or more points: 11, Cortland Maplewood 51. 12, Belmont Union Local 47. 13, Middletown Madison 44. 14, London Madison-Plains 34. 15, Ironton 32. 16, St. Henry (1) 30. 17, Day. Christian 28. 18 (tie), Youngs. Ursuline, Cuyahoga Falls CVCA 26. 20, Piketon (1), 22. 21, Newton Falls 15. 22, Portsmouth 12.
DIVISION IV
1, New Knoxville (16) 7-0 185
2, Berlin Hiland (7) 10-0 171
3, Worthington Christian (1) 8-2 112
4, Newark Cath. 9-0 105
5, Cle. Hts. Lutheran E. (1) 10-0 104
6, Cin. Seven Hills (1) 7-1 95
7, Delphos St. John’s 5-1 85
8, Bedford Chanel 6-1 78
9, S. Charleston SE 8-0 76
10, Oak Hill 8-1 67
Others receiving 12 or more points: 11, Pandora-Gilboa 64. 12, Continental (1) 50. 13, McDonald 45. 14, Pettisville 43. 15, Plymouth 35. 16 (tie), Tree of Life, Lockland 28. 18, Day. Jefferson 27. 19, Antwerp 17. 20, Malvern 12.
END AGATE LIST
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Boys Basketball, Central Buckeye Conference, Graham High School, Kenton Ridge High School, Ohio Heritage Conference, Southeastern High School
On this date in area sports history…
On this day, Jan. 12, 2002, figure skater and former Springfield resident John Zimmerman, along with partner Kyoko Ina, won their third straight pairs title at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships and qualified for the Olympics.
Click the jump for the full story.
Published in the Jan. 13, 2002 edition of the Springfield News-Sun:
INA-ZIMMERMAN NAB THIRD U.S. TITLE, MAKE OLYMPICS
LOS ANGELES — Going to the Olympics never gets old.
One day after 30-year-old Todd Eldredge earned a spot in his third Olympics, 29-year-old Kyoko Ina matched him. And this time she’s bringing former Springfield resident John Zimmerman with her.
Ina and Zimmerman, far and away the best pair in the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, won their third straight national title early Saturday morning with a workmanlike performance. Considering the mediocre level of competition, that was all they needed.
“It’s always exciting to make the Olympics,” Ina said. “You hear so much about being the home team, it’s just so exciting.”
Added Zimmerman, who is headed for his first games: “We’re where we anticipated being. We’ve had a pretty jam-packed year so far and we’ve had some pretty good performances. The performance tonight was a satisfactory performance going into the Games.”
Ina, who qualified for her third Olympic team, knows Friday’s performance at Staples Center won’t impress anyone.
“If we skate like this we won’t be a factor,” she said. “It was our worst performance to date.”
They will be joined in Salt Lake City by Tiffany Scott and Philip Dulebohn, who both leapt with elation when they saw their marks were good enough for an Olympic spot.
“Right now, I think I am dreaming. This is the happiest day for me,” Scott said.
Ina was ninth in the 1994 Olympics and fourth in 1998 with former partner Jason Dungjen.
“It’s great,” Ina said with a huge smile. “People always think, `Oh, you make your first one, you make your second one.’ It’s a thrill each time. It’s a special club and it’s always exciting.”
She and Zimmerman got together for the 1998-99 season and began training with renowned coach Tamara Moskvina, who has had three Olympic champion Russian pairs. They were second at the ‘99 nationals and have been unchallenged in America since.
Now, they get to challenge the top pairs from Canada, Russia, China, France and Poland at Salt Lake City. They will need a cleaner program at the Olympics after he stepped out of the landing of side-by-side triple toe loops _ she did only a double _ and she touched the ice with her hand on a throw-triple salchow.
Still, that overwhelmed the rest of a weak field as the judges were generous with the artistic marks, including six 5.9s.
“We’re not worried about them. We’re worried about ourselves,” Ina said of the rest of the world’s pairs.
“I still see the potential in which fields they can be better and to prepare them to become one of the best pairs teams in the world,” Moskvina said. “They can medal, but it depends not only on their skating, but how others will skate.”
Moskvina expects them to blossom in Salt Lake City. The secret to winning?
“I’ve told them how to respect each other, to work together,” she said.
American pairs in general frustrate Moskvina. She can’t understand how they split over the slightest of differences. In Russia, they would stay together because the coaches demand it, she said.
“I prepared special measures to keep them together,” she said of her U.S. team.
She talked to them separately about attitude and how to avoid hurt feelings.
Like a marriage counselor?
“Yes, that’s my next paid job,” she said. “The Russians are easier to keep together because they trust the coach.”
Longevity seems to lead to Olympic medals. Russian pairs have won the gold and silver in the last four Games. Ina finished fourth in the 1998 Nagano Games with partner Jason Dungjen.
Since then, she has been with Zimmerman.
Some American hopefuls cite Ina and Zimmerman as taking the right approach to reach the elite level.
“Everybody can do the stuff,” said Aaron Parchem, who placed third Friday with Stephanie Kalesavich. “It’s who looks pretty doing it.”
But to look pretty, teams must practice for years.
Pairs coach Mitch Moyer thought the United States was on verge of a breakthrough for the 2002 Games until injuries devastated some promising teams.
One pair’s hopes ended in 1999 after Paul Binnebose fell while lifting partner Laura Handy. He hit his head on the ice and fell into a month-long comma. He survived but had to retire. Handy joined with Jonathon Hunt last year. They finished sixth Friday.
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WLS grad Ledford leading first place Quakers
Tyler Ledford, a 5-foot-9, 160-pound West Liberty-Salem grad, is averaging 3.8 assists per game — tops in the Ohio Athletic Conference — for the Wilmington College (10-4, 6-1) men’s basketball team, which took over first place with a 78-71 victory at Ohio Northern on Jan. 7.
Ledford had a game-high 18 points and nailed eight straight free throws in the waning moments of the victory.
“It was a great win for us,” Ledford said. “It’s a road game you’ve got to win. We just came out and had a tough first half. We pulled through it and got a victory down the stretch.”
Ledford’s averaging 11.0 points per game and leads the squad in 3-point percentage (50 percent, 11-for-22), free throw percentage (88.5 pct., 23-for-26) and field goal percentage (62.5, 60-for-96).
He scored 14 of his 16 points in the second half to lead the Quakers to a 79-76 win over Mount Union on Jan. 9.
“Now our goal is to come out of the locker room every game in first place,” Ledford said. “We’re excited to be there and now we’re just trying to stay there.”
The Quakers haven’t won an OAC title since joining the league in 2000 — which makes winning a conference title the team’s top goal.
“(The league’s) definitely starting to respect us a little bit more,” Ledford said. ““If you don’t bring you A-game, it’s very easy to get beat (in the OAC). There are no sure wins. You have to come to play and take the win from them.”
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Central grad Hitchcock back in Ohio
Former Catholic Central swimmer Brent Hitchcock, who won the 2008 D-II state swimming title in the 500 freestyle, has transferred from the University of Southern California to Ohio State.
Brent Hitchcock, a Dayton-area native and a recent transfer to Ohio State from USC, picked up a win in his first event as a Buckeye, the 1000 freestyle. He led a 1-2-3 Ohio State finish in a time of 9:31.72. Ryan Stoneburg and Thomas O’Neil were second and third, respectively.
Check out this video from FloSwimming after Hitchcock’s record performance.
Swimming Videos on Floswimming
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On this date in area sports history…
On this date in area sports history, Jan. 11, 1993, the Urbana University men’s basketball squad was ranked in NAIA Division II for the first time in school history.
Published in the Jan. 12, 1993 edition of the Springfield News-Sun:
Despite losing to Cedarville College, 104-93, Saturday night, Urbana University was ranked for the first time in school history in the initial NAIA Division I basketball poll, released Monday.
The Blue Knights, 14-2, are ranked eighth, while the Yellow Jackets, 15-2, are 17th. Urbana was unranked all of last season despite going 26-9 and advancing to the NAIA national tournament.
NAIA statistics released Monday show Urbana guard Wade Goins leading the nation in assists, with an 11.3 per game. Cedarville’s Ken Rucker is first in rebounding (12.9) and eighth in scoring (25.4).
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A photo with bite: Check it out
Instead of the takedown, Springfield’s Cody Fields goes with the bitedown as he wrestles Justin Sloan of National Trail at 140 pounds during the Shawnee Invitational on Saturday, Jan. 10.
(Staff photo by Barbara J. Perenic)
This photo is making rounds on the Internet. Check it out here on the Sydney (Australia) Morning Herald’s Web site.
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Weather changing schedule
The following games scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 10, have been postponed because of inclement weather:
The Wittenberg-Oberlin women’s basketball game scheduled for 2 p.m. today will be played at 3 p.m. Sunday.
The Mechanicsburg at Triad girls game will now be played Thursday, Jan. 15. Varsity will start at 7:30 p.m.
The Emmanuel Christian at Shekinah Christian boys game will now be played Tuesday, Jan. 13. Varsity will start at 7:30 p.m.
The Greenon at Benjamin Logan, Triad at Greeneview, Urbana at Indian Lake boys basketball and Northeastern at Greeneview and Catholic Central at West Liberty-Salem girls basketball games have also been postponed with no makeup announced.
The following games will still be played as scheduled:
Graham at Northwestern, KR at Tecumseh, Springfield at Sidney and Shawnee at Bellefonatine boys basketball games.
The Cedarville men’s and women’s clashes with Walsh will also be played. For live blogs from both games, click here.
Check back later for more updates.
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Wittenberg beats Allegheny, gets back to .500
I’m sitting in the press box at Pam Evans Smith Arena, ready to give you updates on the Wittenberg men’s basketball game against Allegheny. Go to the jump to read more.
5:40: Wittenberg avenges last season’s NCAC tournament quarterfinal loss with 72-64 victory over Allegheny at Pam Evans Smith Arena on Saturday, Jan.
5:33 p.m.: Tigers up 63-55 with 51 seconds left. Eight Tigers have at least five points. The ninth player has three points. Bill Brown going with a nine-man rotation today instead of the usual 10.
Brad Folta has not played, but when he does, he will do so with a mask. He suffered broken facial bones in January.
5:24: Witt’s lead down to 59-53 at the 2:53 mark.
5:23: Wittenberg’s bench just got hit with a technical foul at the 3:23 mark. Not sure what that was about. Allegheny hit two free throws to trim the lead to 58-51, but Witt’s Lewis Buzzard responded with a foul shot, and the lead is eight.
5:15: Lewis Buzzard fights for a few rebounds and gets a short bank shot to fall at the 6:20 mark. Tigers in control with a 58-46 lead.
4:59 p.m.: Josh McKee hits another jumper, and the Tigers lead 48-36 at the 14:20 mark of the second half. McKee has a team-high 12 points.
4:55 p.m. The Tigers call time-out. Allegheny just cut the lead to 44-36 at the 16:23 mark.
They announced Wabash’s upset of Wooster a few minutes ago. That leaves Hiram as the only team with a perfect NCAC mark.
4:35 p.m.: Tigers lead 40-27 at halftime. This has to be head coach Bill Brown’s type of performance. Nine players get in the game in the first half, and all nine score.
4:28 p.m.: McKee scores again on a jumper in the lane. Witt leads 36-19 at the 3:19 mark.
A victory today gets the Tigers back to .500 at 6-6 for the first time since they were 1-1.
4:19: Allegheny just called a timeout with 7:55 to go in the half. Shockingly, the Tigers lead 27-11. Mark Snyder just scored on a nice assist from Michael Cooper. Seconds before that, Josh McKee finished off a fast break on an assist from David Nowicki.
McKee leads the Tigers with eight points.
4:11: At the 11:30 mark, Josh McKee just pulled up to hit second 3-pointer. Tigers lead 22-8. With McKee, Michael Cooper, Alex Brandt and Clayton Black all seeing serious minutes this season, you wonder how good this team can be in a year or two.
4:09: The Tigers lead 17-6 at the 13:27 mark of the first half.
Not a bad crowd considering the weather, or at least the threat of bad weather. The Tigers are a week away from playing in front of the biggest crowd they’ll see this season, at Wooster on Jan. 17.
Michael Cooper just hit a jump shot seconds after getting into the game. The South grad didn’t start today because head coach Bill Brown needed the 6-foot-7 freshman Alex Brandt in the lineup against the taller Gators.
4:00: David Nowicki hit two 3-pointers in the first two minutes following a jumper by Kevin Murray. Witt up 8-2.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: College Basketball, College Men's Basketball, Live Blogs
Wabash upsets Wooster
Good news for Wittenberg, surprising result for NCAC.
Wooster had won 30 straight NCAC regular-season games against teams other than Wittenberg.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: College Basketball, College Men's Basketball, Wittenberg, Wooster
Wildcats reward faithful student section
The most impressive thing about Springfield High School’s new gymnasium has nothing to do with the square footage or the lighting. The Springfield student section is giving the Wildcats a big boost.
Head coach Bill Slagle and leading scorer Zack Burks both credited the raucous students after Friday’s 64-58 victory over Northmont, the team’s first win in the new gym.
“People we’re worried about the school’s coming together, and I wish they would come and see how well they’re getting along and having fun,” Slagle said. “That’s what I told my guys. I want them to remember how it was tonight and how the kids supported them and make sure they go and thank their friends for coming. It was a great atmosphere.”
The players are supporting each other as the fans have supported them. The Tigers (3-6) had lost their four previous home games.
“It’s easy to fall apart as a team when you have as many losses as that,” Burks said, “but we stuck together.”
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Boys Basketball, Greater Western Ohio Conference, Springfield High School, Videos
Season a success for Trempe
Here are some leftovers from my interview with Ball State University redshirt sophomore wideout and Graham grad Myles Trempe, who called their season a success, despite back-to-back losses to Buffalo and Tulsa:
On Tulsa:
“You could tell that high-powered offense was what allowed them to win a lot of games. They were just as strong on the defensive side. They were able to get to to our quarterback and get us frustrated. They were solid on both sides.”
On the length of the season:
“A 14-game season is a long haul. With that long timespan there comes up and down and I experienced all them from catching a touchdown pass on national TV to dropping a touchdown pass on national TV. We’ll get about two weeks off and we’ll be back at it. I’m excited for next year.”
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Ball State University, College Football, Graham High School
On this date in area sports history…
On this date, Jan. 10, 1997, the Kenton Ridge boys basketball team a school record for points in a 95-45 victory over Northwestern.
Published in the Jan. 11, 1997 edition of the Springfield News-Sun:
SOUNDS OF SUCCESS; COUGARS SET RECORD WITH 95-45 ROMP
By Chris Freeman, News-Sun Sports Editor
A myriad of sounds resonated throughout the gym at Kenton Ridge High School Friday night.
Clank! That was the sound of the visiting Northwestern boys basketball team, which made just five of 27 shots from the field in the first half.
Tweet! That was the repeated sound of the officials’ whistle, which tooted 33 times in the first half alone, including a technical foul on Kenton Ridge Coach Jeff Hobbs.
Scream! And that was the sound of the Cougar faithful as the home team broke the school record for points in a game in a 95-45 romp over Northwestern.
“That’s what I’ve been waiting for,” Hobbs said. “We finally broke loose.”
But not before some serious holding, hacking and pushing dominated the first half.
The teams combined to take 49 free throws in the first half. The Cougars, 9-1 overall and 6-0 in the Central Buckeye Conference, hit 22 of 31 from the line while Northwestern, 3-7 and 1-5, made 12 of 18. That means 34 of the 67 points scored by the two teams in the first half came with no time running off the clock.
“That kind of had us down, but we played well at the end of the (second) quarter and got through it,” KR junior Rusty Woods said.
The Cougars’ second-quarter run came after Hobbs was called for a technical foul following a series of no-calls by officials. Rob Vollrath hit four straight free throws for the Warriors to close within 28-19 with 5:52 left in the half.
“I challenged them after I made a stupid mistake,” Hobbs said. “I’ve got a veteran team and they picked up the pace for me.”
The result was a 15-5 run for Kenton Ridge to close out the half.
“We knew we had to pick up Coach Hobbs,” Woods said.
Woods picked up everyone all night long. Time and again the junior threaded the needle to find teammates open in transition or on backdoor cuts. He finished with 14 points and a game-high seven assists.
“We’ve got plenty of people on this team who can score; we need someone to open everything up for them and make scoring easier,” Woods said.
Which is exactly what the CBC’s leader in assists has done for KR all year, said Hobbs.
“He is really playing well; I told him that’s the best ballgame he’s played since he’s been on the varsity for two years,” said the coach. “He can do it all; he can shoot it, pass, defend, rebound … he’s got great vision.”
The Warriors struggled throughout the first half, making their first shot of the game but hitting just four from the field after that. They did play better in the second half, but by then the Cougars had pushed the lead past 30.
The only remaining question was whether KR could break its school record for points, which was 94 set against Northeastern in 1990.
The record came with 15 seconds left as sophomore Bill Chrisman, a junior varsity starter, hit a layup to the delight of his teammates and the home crowd.
“That’s something I hope he remembers,” Hobbs said.
Six players scored in double figures for the Cougars, led by Richard Clingman’s 16 points and 10 rebounds. Kyle Lucas scored 15, Woods had 14, Brian Smith netted 13, J.D. Dewitt had 11 and Ryan Harris scored 10.
Northwestern got 14 points and seven steals from Vollrath, who was 8 for 8 at the line, and six rebounds from Scott Metzger.
NORTHWESTERN (45) _ Fultz 1-7 0-0 2, Vollrath 2-9 8-8 14, Murphy 1-3 0-0 2, Metzger 1-4 3-6 5, McGhee 2-4 1-2 5, Denny 2-7 0-2 4, Rodman 0-0 0-1 0, Pauling 2-7 0-0 5, Shambaugh 2-6 1-3 7, McLaurin 1-4 0-0 2. Totals: 14-51 13-22 45.
KENTON RIDGE (95) _ Lucas 3-4 8-8 15, Finney 1-3 2-4 4, Clingman 6-12 4-6 16, Smith 4-5 5-7 13, Woods 5-6 2-4 14, Harris 3-7 4-6 10, LeMaster 1-2 0-0 2, Dibert 2-3 2-2 6, Dewitt 4-9 1-1 11, Baldwin 0-1 0-0 0, Chrisman 1-1 0-1 2, Dennis 1-2 0-0 2. Totals: 31-55 28-39 95.
Three-point goals: Northwestern 4-20 (Shambaugh 2, Vollrath, Pauling), Kenton Ridge 5-10 (Woods 2, Dewitt 2, Lucas)
Records: Northwestern 3-7, 1-5 in CBC; Kenton Ridge 9-1, 6-0. Reserves: Kenton Ridge 52 (Baldwin 20), Northwestern 35 (Rodman, Lubbers 10)
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Graham at Ben Logan girls hoops live updates
RUSHSLYVANIA — Benjamin Logan wins 62-56. The Falcons never gave up, pulling to within three at 50-47, but could never regain the lead.
Tiffany Rader had 18 points for Ben Logan, while freshman Brooke Richard had 15 and junior Sarah Yoder added 13.
Freshman Tori Purk had 15 points for Graham while Darbie Zirkle and Chelsea Black each had 13.
After three quarters, Ben Logan leads 42-31. Senior Tiffany Rader and freshman Brooke Richard each have 12 points for the Raiders.
The Falcons are having trouble putting the ball in the basket. They’ve had several good looks, but shots just aren’t falling.
At halftime, the Raiders lead 31-22. They outscored Graham 14-6 in the quarter.
After one quarter, the Raiders lead 17-16. Graham jumped out to a 14-10 lead on the strength of four 3-pointers, but a 7-2 run by Ben Logan gave them the lead to end the quarter.
One minute until tipoff here at Benjamin Logan High School for this clash of CBC Mad River Division squads.
Graham is 6-4 and 5-2 in the division, tied with Indian Lake for first place. Ben Logan is right behind them at 7-3 and 4-3 in the division.
Click here for updates after each quarter.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Central Buckeye Conference, Girls Basketball, Graham High School, Live Blogs
On this date in area sports history …
Sixteen years ago on this date, Jan. 9, 1993, the Wittenberg men’s basketball 59-game regular-season winning streak at home ended against Allegheny. Complete story on the jump.
Published Jan. 10, 1993
GATORS GOBBLE UP TIGERS’ STREAK
WITT’S SUCCESSFUL RUN AT HOME SCREECHES TO HALT
By Rob Oller, Sports Writer
One more little shove, one hack, one foul and Wittenberg’s regular season home winning streak might still be alive.
Unfortunately for the Tigers, Derrick Owens finished with four fouls, not five.
One more foul and Owens would have had a towel draped over his head on the Allegheny bench. Instead, the senior was hitting big shots near the end of the Gators’ huge 66-57 victory over Wittenberg that snapped the Tigers’ HPER Center consecutive victory run at 59.
The last WU home regular-season defeat came on Jan. 20, 1988, a 69-62 loss against Heidelberg.
Saturday’s setback before 1,692 fans also was the first time Wittenberg lost at home to a North Coast Athletic Conference opponent, ending a 23-game roll.
It also dropped the Tigers, 9-3 and 5-1, into second place in the NCAC behind Allegheny, which improved to 10-2 and 6-0.
A bad day? You could say that.
“There were a lot of what-ifs,” said a quiet Matt Croci, who led the Tigers with 21 points. “The problem is you can’t rely on those to win.”
That the streaks died at the hands of the Gators is appropriate. It was three seasons ago that Allegheny ended the Tigers’ consecutive winning streak at 18. That game was at Meadville, Pa., and the Gators rallied from 19 points down in the second half to win, 60-57, dropping Wittenberg to 18-1.
This time there were two comebacks, neither as dramatic as the Miracle in Meadville, but both just as effective.
First, the Gators bounced back from a nine-point deficit early in the second half after benefiting from a controversial intentional foul call on Tiger freshman Anthony Robinson.
Allegheny trailed 38-31 with 16:43 remaining when referee Jim Reichert whistled that Robinson purposely fouled T.J. Florkiewicz as the Gator raced toward a breakaway layup.
Florkiewicz, who tossed in 11 points, buried both free throws to make it 38-33. Allegheny got the ball back because of the foul and Jason Lee was hacked and sank two more freebies to make it 38-35.
“I thought Anthony got all ball,” Tigers’ Coach Dan Hipsher fumed.
The second Allegheny comeback was the return of Owens from the bench. The 6-foot-0 guard from Akron left the game with his fourth foul at 14:20 with his team trailing, 42-39. He returned with seven minutes remaining and Allegheny only down two, at 51-49.
At that point, Owens knew he’d have to cool it on defense.
“You don’t do what you’d been doing before,” he chuckled, describing how he played the final seven minutes knowing one foul would bring his exit.
“You have to back off, contain instead of harass,” he added.
The Gators tied it at 51-all and went ahead 53-51 on a bucket and two free throws by Josh Miller, who finished with 18 points on 8-for-10 shooting, before Wittenberg’s Josh Leslie tied it at 53-all on a double pump, 15-foot jumper with 4:10 showing.
Owens then went to work, scoring six points in just 33 seconds to give the Gators a 59-53 advantage with 3:03 to play. He drove the lane for a layup, was fouled by Chris Wolfe and canned the bonus foul shot. Moments later, he buried a three-pointer from the top of the key.
“I heard coach yell, `No, no,’ but it felt good coming off my hands. It was a real feeling shot,” said Owens, who had 14 points on 6-of-7 shooting and handed off six assists.
“One more foul on Derrick and it would have been disaster,” Ness laughed. “But that’s what makes basketball so exciting.”
Wittenberg kept it exciting pretty much to the end.
John Burns, slowed by mononucleosis, nailed a 12-foot, pull-up jumper with 2:12 showing to cut it to 59-55, but Florkiewicz sank a free throw to push it back to 60-55 and suddenly the Tigers’ win streak was in jeopardy.
Not that any of the Tigers noticed - or admitted noticing.
“I didn’t know what the streak was,” Croci said. “They got hot at the right time and we got cold at the wrong time. That was it.”
Luke Ragan, who had 12 points, drew Wittenberg to within 60-57 at 1:04, but during the final 60 seconds the Tigers failed to score, fumbling and bumbling away their chances.
Allegheny’s Joe Wall went to the foul line for two attempts with 55 seconds left and missed both, but Wittenberg couldn’t pull down the rebound.
Florkiewicz, who plays defensive end on the Gator football team, recovered the loose ball like it was on the goal line and was fouled by Ragan with 42 seconds remaining. The 6-4, 210-pound senior buried both free throws to make it 62-57.
Croci traveled on the Tigers’ next possession and Lee canned two free throws after Robinson fouled him with 26 ticks left.
The score was 64-57 and WU was in melt down. The Tigers turned it over with 15 seconds left and Lee finished the scoring with two more free throws.
“We fumbled the ball and were not getting rebounds when we needed them,” Hipsher muttered. “We try to pull a miracle off and we don’t even pull a rebound down.
“I feel maybe I’m not doing a good job helping them get the offense going.”
Leslie said it was the players, not the coach, who missed the shots.
“We didn't come out aggressive enough,” said Leslie, a Greeneview graduate who finished with a career-high 10 points. “We had a couple of light practices because we thought we needed fresh legs, but that's part of being a young team.
“Allegheny played tough and wanted to win more. I hate saying that.”
But the Gators love hearing it.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: College Men's Basketball, North Coast Athletic Conference, Wittenberg
Graham not taking winning for granted
Just seven players get regular minutes for the Graham boys basketball team. The Falcons are dominant, but depth isn’t one of their strengths.
Senior Josh Schuler said after Thursday’s 72-43 victory over Kenton Ridge that the players can’t afford to get tired.
That’s why they followed Sunday’s victory over Chaminade Julienne with a spirited practice on Monday that had coach Brook Cupps raving days later. This isn’t a team that takes winning for granted.
“We never talk about what the record is, what they’ve done before,” said Cupps, whose team is 7-0 heading into Saturday’s game at Northwestern. “We just try to play to our potential, do what we do and do it the best that we can.”
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Boys Basketball, Central Buckeye Conference, Graham High School, Videos
Live from Kenton Ridge-Graham boys game
9:24: Graham wins 72-43. Falcons improve to 7-0 and win their 30th straight regular-season game.
Rest of the live blog on the jump.
9:17: 68-35, four minutes left in the game. Graham’s starters just left to big applause.
9:11: Graham up 62-39 after three quarters.
8:53: At halftime, Schuler has 16 points. Ethan Ward and Austin Jones each have seven. Nick Vanhoose and Ryan Zook have four each.
For KR, Kyle Morris and Luke Mamer lead the way with four points.
The second half will start in two minutes.
8:46: Putback by Schuler in the final seconds of the first half, and Graham leads 40-14.
8:44: Graham now leads 38-14. Schuler has missed a shot. He isn’t perfect.
8:30: Graham leads 26-5 after the first quarter. The Falcons are absolutely dominating. Josh Schuler, 12-for-12 from the field in their last game, has hit all five of his shots so far.
8 p.m.: I’m sitting court-side in St. Paris. Another packed house, though I hear not as full as Graham’s game against Urbana on Friday. There’s barely enough room for the tubas way up in the top corner of the stands.
The JV game is tied at 40 with 16 seconds left. Now KR’s up by one on a free throw. Graham just turned it over on an over-and-back call with four seconds left.
The Graham varsity team is seeking its 30th straight regular-season victory tonight, but the Cougars are 6-0 and gaining confidence.
Keep checking the blog for updates throughout the game.
KR reserves with 43-40.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Boys Basketball, Central Buckeye Conference, Graham High School, Kenton Ridge High School
On this date in area sports history …
Fifteen years ago on this date, Jan. 8, 1994, one of the area’s most accomplished athletes, pitcher Harvey Haddix, died at the age of 68. Complete story on the jump.
Haddix is best known for pitching what many consider to be the greatest game ever, a 12-inning perfect game for the Pittsburgh Pirates that he lost in the 13th inning. That game took place 50 years ago this year, May 26, 1959.
Published Jan. 9, 1994
HARVEY HADDIX DIES. CLARK COUNTY NATIVE, WHO GAVE BASEBALL ONE OF ITS GREAT PITCHING PERFORMANCES, LOSES BOUT WITH EMPHYSEMA AT AGE 68.
By Dave Shedloski, Sports Editor
Harvey Haddix was probably the most renowned athlete this area has ever produced, a common man who gained a measure of fame for a most uncommon baseball achievement.
Haddix, who pitched 12 perfect innings in a Major League game only to lose in the 13th, died at 5:58 a.m. Saturday morning at Community Hospital. He was 68.
Haddix, who had waged a four-year battle with emphysema, compiled a record of 136-113 as a pitcher for the Cardinals, Phillies, Reds, Pirates and Orioles from 1952 to 1965. But he will best be remembered for his May 26, 1959, effort with the Pirates against the Milwaukee Braves when he retired 36 straight batters before losing in 13 innings, 1-0.
“I’ve always said (that) probably made me more popular than if I had won the game,” Haddix said in 1991 after a special committee appointed by then Baseball Commissioner Fay Vincent took away formal recognition of his feat as a no-hitter.
Still, people who knew Haddix remembered him as a common man who never let his renown go to his head.
“He was just a down-home kind of guy; just a common fella,” said Bill Joseph, a lifelong friend. “You would have never known he’d been at the top if you’d been around him. He was just such a nice guy.”
“There’s no doubt, he was the best around,” said Bill Mote, who tapped Haddix as pitching coach for his Dayton AA Amateur baseball teams. “We were fortunate to have a bona fide expert in our midst. He paid his dues. He was one of the greats, I think.”
The left-handed Haddix, who was born Sept. 18, 1925 in Medway, began his major league career with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1952. Just 5 feet 9 and about 160 pounds, he gained a reputation in 14 major league seasons as a fiery competitor with a good fastball and curve and tremendous control.
“He was one hell of a competitor,” said Springfield native Brooks Lawrence, who played with Haddix in St. Louis in 1954 and Cincinnati in ‘58. “I knew him a long time. He wasn’t a complicated guy. Just a nice guy to be around. And a heck of a pitcher.”
Along with his 136 victories, and a career 3.63 ERA, Haddix was a Gold Glove winner and a member of the NL All-Star team from 1953-55.
He was a 20-game winner in 1953, going 20-9, but did not receive rookie of the year honors because he had been deemed to have pitched too many innings (42) the previous season, which Haddix believed was unfair.
Haddix also was the winning pitcher in the seventh game of the 1960 World Series when Bill Mazeroski’s solo home run in the bottom of the ninth lifted the Pirates to a 10-9 win over the New York Yankees.
But the highlight of Haddix’ career was his effort against the Braves on that May night in 1959 when he set a record that seems as unsurpassable as Joe DiMaggio’s 56-game hitting streak.
Haddix retired 36 batters in a row before the Braves’ Felix Mantilla reached on an error and moved to second on a sacrifice by Eddie Mathews. After Henry Aaron was walked intentionally, Joe Adcock hit a towering home run, ending the no-hitter and the game.
The score officially was 1-0 because Adcock inadvertently passed Aaron, who advanced only to second before heading across the diamond to the dugout.
Haddix, inducted into the Ohio Baseball Hall of Fame in 1980, retired as a player in 1965. He then spent another 13 years as a pitching coach for various teams. His professional career spanned 41 years.
“He was a great role model for the little guys in sports,” Mote said. “He wasn’t a big guy physically, but he showed them he could compete with anyone. He had tremendous desire and ability.”
Marcia, his wife of 36 years, said Harvey enjoyed life.
“He told me just a short time ago that if nothing else, he sure had a great time getting in the (ailing) condition he was,” she said. “I know he was well thought of.”
Haddix also is survived by a son, Harvey III, two daughters, Teri Hixon and Ann Crabtree, all of Springfield, three brothers, Edwin and Benjamin of South Vienna and Frederick of South Charleston, and several nieces and nephews.
Private services will be held at the convenience of the family. Burial will be in Asbury Cemetery.
“It’s a great loss. He did a lot for baseball. He did a lot for this area,” said Joseph, who like Haddix was an avid smoker before both quit about five years ago. “He was such a fighter. I’m going to miss him. There will never be another one like him.”
Haddix, himself, seemed to sense his place in the baseball annals after the disappointing ruling in 1991.
“I know one thing,” Haddix said then, “I’ve done something nobody else has done - retire 36 in a row. That’ll still be there.”
And maybe for a long time to come.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Major League Baseball
NCAC men’s basketball race still wide open
It’s still Wooster’s championship to lose as the Scots have won at least a share of four straight North Coast Athletic Conference regular-season titles, but this year’s NCAC race is more interesting than most.
All you have to do is look at the current first-place team, Hiram. The Terriers are 3-0 in the league, having upset Wittenberg in December. Wooster (2-0) is the only other team without a conference loss.
For an update on Wooster, Allgheny, Wabash and Hiram, follow the links on the jump.
The Daily Record:
- With a relatively young lineup, the Fighting Scots (7-4, 2-0) have found their defensive rhythm and seem to be clicking on that end of the court at just the right time.
Meadville Tribune:
- Yet the Gators, who trailed by as much as eight points in the second half, protected their house and came away with a 79-68 North Coast Athletic Conference win over their Indiana-based adversaries.
The Paper of Montgomery County:
- MEADVILLE, Pa. - Junior Chase Haltom’s three-pointer with one second left in Saturday’s 58-56 win helped lift Wabash to a road win over North Coast Athletic Conference rival Allegheny.
Hiram’s Web site:
- HIRAM, OHIO — The Hiram College men’s basketball team captured its third straight victory against North Coast Athletic Conference opponents with an 85-70 win against Earlham (Ind.) College today (Saturday, Jan. 3) at Price Gymnasium.
Permalink | Comments (1) | Post your comment | Categories: College Basketball, College Men's Basketball, North Coast Athletic Conference, Wittenberg, Wooster
Lawsuit may alter girls hoops practice procedure throughout the area
A lawsuit stemming from males playing against a girls basketball team in Cincinnati could change the way area squads practice.
The suit accuses the district and its employees of failing to provide adequate protection for the female players or supervision, referees or athletic trainers during the scrimmage. Dauner claims the scrimmage became “excessively physical” and resulted in her sustaining a separated right shoulder and resulting medical bills including physical therapy and rehabilitation.
Several area teams practice against male athletes all the time. This could alter the way coaches — and school districts — approach allowing males to enter their practices.
In 2007, I wrote an enterprise piece on boys practicing with girls. Coaches around the area who allow boys to participate feel the boys give their team a better look in practice, due to their extra quickness and strength. Here’s a link to all the stories.
Published in the Jan. 28 through Jan. 30, 2007 editions of the Springfield News-Sun:
Boys on the side: A practice dilemma
DAY ONE
NCAA taking hard look at issue of men helping women practice
The case for and against using male practice players
Witt’s Smith would rather see her JV players in practice than males
Witt AD sees positives and negatives of using male players in practice
DAY TWO
Urbana grad enjoys opportunity to play
Women players say men help out with post play
DAY THREE
Boys making girls better at prep level in the area
Northwestern coach McGinnis says boys really give his team a workout
Boys practicing with girls not an issue for OHSAA
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Central Buckeye Conference, Coaches, Girls Basketball, Greater Western Ohio Conference, Ohio Heritage Conference
Schuler: Last year’s lone loss driving Graham
For a team that has suffered just one loss in the last two seasons — and that came at the hands of Toledo Libbey in the state semifinals — Graham is a hungry team. There seems to be little danger of the Falcons getting comfortable with their success. Here’s what leading-scorer Josh Schuler said about that after Saturday’s 74-53 victory over Chaminade Julienne.
“I think last year’s loss gave us more of a drive,” Schuler said. “We all knew we could make it that far. We wanted to make it farther. This year, us seniors, it’s our last chance. We’re all getting on each other. Practices are a lot harder. We’re getting after it this year.”
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Boys Basketball, Central Buckeye Conference, Graham High School, Videos
Triad girls hoops streaking into new year
Here are some leftovers from Triad coach Jason Malone, whose Cardinals squad has won six in a row since starting the season 1-3.
On the Southeastern victory:
“It was definitely a big one. We knew going in that if we were going to contend for the league that Southeastern is one of the big ones.”
“The big difference in the second half is that we were trying to attack the basket. We did a good job getting the ball inside. … On top of that, our defense was just great. We knew we had to contain Hayslip and Harvey. It was just a big difference maker.”
On leading freshman leading scorer Kelsey Funderburgh:
“She’s just an athlete. She can handle the ball well. It’s hard for teams to press us in general. She can find ways to score. She can drive to the basket and get to the free throw line. She can create offense off of her defense. She’s really dynamic.”
On league title hopes:
“I really think they’re believing we can compete with the best in the league. We’ve already proved it once. We just have to keep the ball rolling. Little-by-little, we’re putting it together. We’ve haven’t put a complete game together yet. Once we do, we’re really see how good we are.”
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Girls Basketball, Ohio Heritage Conference, Triad High School
On this date in area sports history…
On this date, Jan. 7, 1993, the No. 1 ranked Division II Urbana High School girls basketball team, the defending D-II state champions, beat Shawnee 79-47.
The Hillclimbers, which included future Purdue and WNBA player Jannon Roland, went on to win the state title again in 1993.
Roland will be inducted into the Ohio Hoops Hall of Fame this year.
Published in the Jan. 8, 1993 edition of the News-Sun:
URBANA FEELS RIGHT AT HOME, WHIPS SHAWNEE
By Brett Turner, News-Sun Special Writer
Coming off two tough non-conference losses last week at the prestigious Holiday Classic at Pickerington High School, Urbana made itself feel right at home Thursday night - even though they were at Shawnee.
The Hillclimbers returned to the comfortable confines of Central Buckeye Conference play and registered an easy 79-47 victory over Shawnee in girls basketball.
“We just had to improve our effort,” said Urbana Coach Bill Moss, who saw no real difference between the squad that lost two tournaments games to teams from Tennessee and Kentuckey and the one that defeated Shawnee Thursday. “We had to work on the little things - working hard, hustling.”
It didn’t take the Hillclimbers, 7-2 and 5-0, long to remind the Braves just why they are undefeated in the CBC.
The Hillclimbers, ranked first in the Division II Associated Press poll, combined a balanced scoring attack, led by Jannon Roland’s game-high 22 points, and a tenacious defense that was quick to capitalize on any Braves’ mistakes, to jump out to a 28-6 lead after one quarter.
Shawnee Coach Dave Perin felt that the excitability of the Braves’ recent victories may have contributed to some of their mental mistakes early in the game.
Shawnee, 7-3 and 4-2, was coming off a pair of road wins.
“We just dug ourselves a hole. Most of our turnovers were bad passes. We missed some wide-openshots and it they took us out of our halfcourt offense.” Perin said.
Roland scored 19 of her 22 and Dana Clark had all 10 of her points in the first half as the Hillclimbers widened the lead to 47-16 at halftime.
Beth Ostendorf, meanwhile, led Urbana’s second half effort, scoring 17 of her 20 points after intermission, including 6 of 7 from the foul line. Stacey Parker, playing her first game since suffering a leg injury in December, added 11 points, including three three-pointers.
Meanwhile, Shawnee’s Cassie Kahler, who failed to score in the first half, fired in 16 points, a game-high for the Braves.
Moss said the victory was one of the Hillclimbers’ best of the season and that the Braves were the first hurdle on the remainder of the CBC schedule.
“I was concerned that the (CBC) race would tighten. They gave a good effort, and we have to continue improving ours,” he said.
Despite the Braves’ loss, Perin was quick to acknowledge his respect for the Hillclimbers and his own team’s effort.
“Everybody knew Urbana was in a league of their own, but I feel that we’re fortunate to be where we are. Nobody expected us to compete in the league, but we’ve done a nice job,” he said.
URBANA (79) - Clark 5 0-0 10, Collins 1 0-0 2, Ostendorf 6 8-9 20, Parker 4 0-0 11, Roland 9 2-4 22, Smith 1 0-0 2, Wynia 6 0-0 12. Totals: 33 10-13 79.
SHAWNEE (47) - Haffner 2 0-0 4, Kemp 1 0-0 2, Bauer 3 0-0 6, D. Hupp 2 1-2 5, J. Smith 2 0-4 4, Cummings 3 0-0 6, A. Hupp 0 0-2 0, Gray 0 0-2 0, Mellott 0 2-2 2, Kahler 8 0-0 16, A. Smith 1 0-0 2. Totals: 22 3-12. Three-point goals: Urbana 5 (Parker 3, Roland 2), Shawnee 0. Records: Urbana 7-2, 5-0 CBC; Shawnee 7-3, 4-2
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Games postponed due to weather
Two area basketball games have been postponed due to inclement weather.
The Kenton Ridge at Tippecanoe girls basketball game scheduled for tonight has been postponed. The game has been rescheduled for next Tuesday, Jan. 13 at 8 p.m.
The West Liberty-Salem at Northeastern and Triad at Greeneview boys basketball games have also been postponed.
Check back here for more updates.
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Tale of the tape: KR-Tippecanoe girls hoops
SPRINGFIELD — The Kenton Ridge and Tippecanoe girls have combined for 19 wins this season.
The Cougars (10-0, 6-0 CBC) are outscoring opponents by a total of 32.8 points per game. Meanwhile, Tippecanoe (9-0, 6-0 CBC) is beating its opponents by 34.3 ppg.
Tonight, Jan. 6, something will have to give when the two schools meet in Tipp City in Central Buckeye Conference Kenton Trail Division action. There should be a packed house tonight. We’ll be live-blogging the game after each quarter.
Here’s a scouting report on each team:
SCOUTING THE COUGARS: Kenton Ridge is coming off a big stretch of wins at both the Garfield Heights Holiday Cage Classic in Cleveland and the Bragging Rights Classic in Columbus, where they beat Kenston (43-34), Cleveland Villa Angelo-St. Joseph (92-34) and Cleveland Shaw (65-53). During that span, they also beat CBC Mad River Division leader Graham (77-46) and walloped Tecumseh (101-25). … They face four straight road games starting tonight (at Tippecanoe, at Bellefontaine, at Indian Lake, at Shawnee). … The Cougars play a motion style offense and mostly 2-3 zone on defense. They also love to pressure all over the court. … They’re led by the dynamic duo of junior Saira House (30.5 ppg) and freshman Mariah Harris (14.2 ppg). They combine for 12 steals per game.
SCOUTING THE RED DEVILS: Tipp hasn’t given up more than 32 points since allowing 52 to Northwestern on Dec. 12. … They hammered Division III regional finalist Miami East 65-30 on Dec. 27. … The Red Devils will be patient with the basketball on offense. They’ll also play man-to-man defense full court with hopes of swarming to the basketball. … Senior Abby Dowd is averaging 15.4 points and 6.6 rebounds per game. They also have three players averaging 9 points or more: Leah Schiller (9.6), Cassie Berning (9.4) and Christina Pentaudi (9.3).
LAST SEASON: The squads shared the CBC Kenton Trail title, each finishing 15-1. KR beat Tippecanoe at home 55-53, while the Red Devils defended their home turf, beating KR 53-48.
X-FACTOR: Defense. Each team plays tough, hard-nosed defense. The team who is able to best handle the pressure will be the team who comes out on top.
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On this date in area sports history…
On this date 11 years ago, Jan. 6, 1998, Greenon outlasted Tecumseh 73-72 in triple overtime took take the lead in the Central Buckeye Conference boys basketball race.
Click the jump for the complete story.
Published in the Jan. 7, 1998 edition of the Springfield News-Sun:
EXTRA, EXTRA, EXTRA
KNIGHTS GO THREE OTS FOR VICTORY
By Ron Ware, News-Sun Sports Writer
Nobody — certainly not Greenon Coach Kris Spriggs — was declaring the league race over.
But Spriggs wore an ear-to-ear grin and his players wearily but happily embraced one another after the Knights fought off host Tecumseh, 73-72, in triple overtime Tuesday night in their showdown for first place in the Central Buckeye Conference.
“We felt we had to get this one,” said senior Brandon Staggs, whose pair of free throws with 9.4 seconds left proved to be the difference. “We have a string of home games coming up. We felt if we get this one and Shawnee (on the road Friday), we’d coast.”
Spriggs cringed when he heard those words — after all, the Knights have nine of their 14 league games still to go — but he might be inclined to cut Staggs some slack. After all, if it wasn’t for the 6-foot-2 forward, the two teams might still be playing … and playing … and playing.
“It was big play after big play,” the fifth-year coach said, tidily summarizing a game in which neither team led by more than four points after halftime. “It could have gone either way.”
But the Knights, 6-2 and 5-0 CBC, made just enough of them to earn the distinction as the last unbeaten team in conference play. The Arrows, who shared the title with Kenton Ridge last season, drop into a tie for second with Shawnee at 6-3 and 4-1.
Greenon had hit only 9 of 17 free throws in overtime when an admittedly fatigued Staggs stepped to the line with 9.4 seconds left in the third four-minute extra session. But he calmly swished both, giving the Knights a 73-69 cushion and rendering meaningless Dave Barnhart’s three-pointer for Tecumseh with 2.3 seconds to go. The Arrows did manage to stop the clock with a timeout, but Greenon successfully inbounded, allowing the final 1.2 seconds to tick off.
“I kind of just figured I’d make it,” said Staggs, who finished 11 of 14 from the line. “I was tired. I wasn’t thinking about anything else except putting it in.”
Travis Franck scored 20 points, Staggs 18, Charlie Delacey 16 and Ryan Elliott 13 for Greenon, which scored the final points of both regulation (on Elliott’s three-pointer with 25 seconds left) and the first overtime (on Delacey’s free throw at 1:03) before Barnhart’s layup with four seconds to go in the second overtime extended the game again.
David Craycraft had 22 points and 10 rebounds to lead Tecumseh, which lost front-line starters Rusty Lane and Matt Atkins to fouls in the first and second overtimes, respectively. Barnhart added a career-high 16 points, hitting 7 of 11 shots, while Atkins had 13 and Lane 12.
“We gave ‘em a battle,” said Arrows Coach Steve Macklin, who was still sitting in his office, his gaze fixed on the floor, nearly a half-hour afterward. “I told the guys we just have to bounce back and play with intensity night in and night out, and hopefully we’ll get another shot at them in a game that’s meaningful.”
Tecumseh scored first in the final overtime on Justin Atkins’ short bank shot just seven seconds in, but Greenon got the next five points, the last on Delacey’s basket from underneath, to forge a 70-67 lead with 1:37 to go.
Craycraft answered with a nifty inside move at 1:16, drawing Tecumseh within 70-69, but Greenon got a break when it appeared to exceed the 10-second count as it brought the ball up against the Arrows’ press. Franck hit one free throw with 39.2 remaining, then, after Justin Atkins was called for traveling with 24.5 seconds left, Staggs sank his deciding foul shots.
Each team shot 42 percent from the floor. Greenon had a 44-38 rebounding edge but also made more turnovers, 17-9.
“It was just a good team effort,” Franck said. “Everybody played really hard.”
No one in the gym would disagree … once they catch their breath.
GREENON (73) — Franck 7 6-10 20, Staggs 3 11-14 18, Delacey 7 2-8 16, Elliott 4 1-2 13, Holland 0 1-2 1, Davis 1 0-0 3, Humphrey 1 0-0 2. Totals: 23 21-36 73.
TECUMSEH (72) — M. Atkins 5 0-0 13, Craycraft 10 2-4 22, Lane 5 2-2 12, King 1 0-1 2, Barnhart 7 0-0 16, J. Atkins 3 1-2 7, Berner 0 0-2 0. Totals: 31 5-11 72.
Three-point goals: Greenon 6-15 (Elliott 4, Staggs, Davis), Tecumseh 5-12 (M. Atkins 3, Barnhart 2).
Records: Greenon 6-2, 5-0 CBC; Tecumseh 6-3, 4-1.
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Is Todd Boeckman an Ohio sports legend?
Is it right to call Ohio State quarterback Todd Boeckman an Ohio legend?
Ohio High Magazine managing editor Eric Frantz thinks so.
January 5 is my wife’s birthday. It’s also important for another reason. It’s the day an Ohio legend takes the field for one last time as an Ohio State Buckeye. Lest you think Todd Boeckman is not worthy of such praise, think again. And hard.
I have to agree with Frantz. Boeckman was a great athlete at St. Henry, and got a raw deal at Ohio State this season.
On some NFL draft sites before this season, Boeckman was listed as a possible first-round NFL draft pick this spring. Now, he can’t sniff the field.
But it was Tressel’s decision to play Pryor, likely a result (in my opinion) of trying to make good on recruiting promises.
Remember, it was Boeckman who sacrificed several years to start at quarterback for Ohio State behind a Heisman Trophy winner, Troy Smith.
What do you think?
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On this date in area sports history…
On this date, Jan. 6, 2003, Graham’s C.P. Schlatter was named MVP as the Falcons won the Division State Wrestling Duals.
Click the jump for the full story.
Published in the Jan. 6, 2003 edition of the Springfield News-Sun:
C.P. SCHLATTER MVP AS GRAHAM WINS STATE DUALS
UHRICHSVILLE _ C.P. Schlatter had two pins and a technical fall in the 152-pound weight division as Graham finished first at the Division II State Wrestling Duals at Uhrichsville Claymont High School on Sunday.
Schlatter was named tournament MVP as Graham defeated Maumee (63-10), state-ranked Columbus DeSales (51-10) and state-ranked Walsh Jesuit (56-9) to finished 3-0 and win the eight-team tournament.
For the Falcons, Billy Evans had three pins at 160. Cameron Doggett got three pins at 119. Joe Dennis finished with two pins and a major decision at 171, and Joe Hoke had two pins and a technical fall at 189.
Other Falcon grapplers who went undefeated included: Tyler Schlater, who had a pin, a major decision and a decision at 135; Dustin Schlatter, who had two technical falls and a major decision at 125; and Aaron Hart who earned a pin, a major decision and a decision at 103.
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How good is Graham?
I watched most of Graham’s tournament games in 2008, but Sunday was the first I’ve seen the Falcons this year. By the looks of their 74-53 victory over Chaminade Julienne, the Falcons appear to be even better this season — and I’m not just talking about their brand-new warm-up duds, which say “St. Paris’ on the front and were designed by Austin Jones, Josh Schuler and Ben Rosenberger.
The game wasn’t even as close as the final score. What I’m sure will be a solid CJ team didn’t stand a chance against Graham’s sharp-shooters.
The best thing about Graham is that it has talent, but it plays as a team. What do you think? Will this Graham team go 20-0 and return to the final four?
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Graham 74, CJ 53
Josh Schuler scored 34 points as Graham beat Chaminade Julienne in a matchup of two powerhouse Division II boys basketball teams on Sunday, Jan. 4, at Kettering Fairmont’s Trent Arena.
The Falcons are 6-0.
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‘Cats still looking for first home win
SPRINGFIELD — Bill Slagle couldn’t ask for a better effort from his Springfield High School basketball squad.
Although the ‘Cats didn’t play their best game, they still had a lead in the fourth quarter with 24 seconds remaining.
“We just have to play better defense for 24 seconds,” Slagle said. “That’s something we’ll show the guys. 24 seconds. We can do that.”
Springfield has led in the fourth quarter in all of its games at their new gymnasium, but hasn’t been able to bring home a victory.
“It’s tough,” Slagle said. “The crowd’s been great. The guys are doing everything possible. They took it to heart. We have to find a way to finish off games, finish off halves, finish off quarters.”
He was still pleased with the way they fought back through adversity. They had several chances to pull ahead in the final minute, but the shots just wouldn’t fall.
“The guys were doing what we wanted them to do,” Slagle said. “The guys battled. I’m pleased with our determination. We just have to take it to that next step.”
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Springfield falls in thriller
9:27: What a finish. Zack Burks’ 3-pointer with 24 seconds remaining gave Springfield a 60-59 lead, but a 3-pointer from the top of the key by David Dudgeon with eight ticks to go gave Xenia a 62-60 win. Letrell Leslie’s 3-point attempt at the buzzer banked off the backboard and rimmed out.
9:05: After three quarters, the game is tied 46-46. Xenia outscored Springfield 14-8 in the quarter. The Wildcats led by as many as eight, but back-to-back 3-pointers by the Buccs and a technical foul on Freeman gave Xenia new life. This game will likely go down to the wire.
8:37: At halftime, Springfield leads 38-32. Xenia retook the lead on six straight points by David Dudgeon at 24-22, but on the next possession he recorded his second foul. From that point, Springfield outscored the Buccs 16-8 to end the quarter. Zack Burks and Trey DePriest each had six points. Freeman added another monster dunk.
7:53: Springfield leads Xenia 18-14. An emphatic dunk by Akeem Freeman with four minutes left started a 13-7 run by the Wildcats. Trey DePriest has seven points for Springfield.
7:35: Game will be underway in about 20 minutes. Warmups starting right now. The score will be updated here after each quarter.
Springfield (2-5) is still looking for its first win at their new gymnasium. Xenia is 1-3.
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On this date in area sports history …
Fifteen years ago on this date, Jan. 3, 1994, Aaron Perry scored 26 points for Wittenberg in an 85-67 victory over Thomas More. Complete story on the jump.
Published in the News-Sun on Jan. 4, 1994
PERRY, WOLFE HELP TIGERS OVERCOME CROCI’S ABSENCE
CRESTVIEW HILLS, Ky. - With Matt Croci sitting the bench because of a two-game suspension, Wittenberg needed somebody to fill the scoring gap against Thomas More Monday. Instead of somebody, however, the Tigers got somebodies. Senior guard Aaron Perry and junior forward Chris Wolfe each had career scoring nights, tossing in 26 and 18 points, respectively, to lead the undefeated Tigers to an 85-67 victory before an estimated 300 at the Connor Convocation Center. Croci, a tri-captain and the Tigers’ leading scorer with a 20.0 average, was suspended by Coach Bill Brown on Monday for disciplinary reasons. Brown declined to elaborate but acknowledged the suspension was his idea. The 6-foot-2 forward also will miss Wednesday’s North Coast Athletic Conference game at Denison. “He’s got to grow from it all, and we have to deal with the adversity it presents us,” Brown said. That adversity seemed genuine against a Blue Rebels squad that came in at 2-7. Wittenberg, 10-0, struggled through the first half and trailed, 39-38, at the break. The Tigers would have faced more trouble had Wolfe not knocked down 14 of his points the first 20 minutes, including eight in a span of 1:55. His previous career high was 16 his freshman year. Junior John Burns of North started in place of Croci, finishing with four points and five assists. “Some of the guys were a little concerned with the offense the first half, but it was really the defense (that was hurting the Tigers),” Brown said. The defense picked up after intermission and Wittenberg took the lead for good, 46-45, on a Luke Ragan bucket with 17:00 remaining. But Thomas More rallied from a 12-point deficit with just over 10 minutes left to cut the margin to 67-63 at 6:02. Enter Perry, who buried a jumper and immediately followed with a three-pointer to push the spread to 72-63 at 5:23. The Rebels never recovered, failing to score in the last three minutes. Perry, whose previous best point output was 11 earlier this season, said the Tigers knew they were in for a challenge with Croci dressed in street clothes rather than shorts and high-tops. “It was a rough ride up here and we came out flat, but we’ve got a lot of pride in the lockerroom,” Perry said. “We all knew we had to raise our game a level to pick up the scoring.” Perry actually raised his game a notch at practice Sunday, Brown said. “I don’t think he missed a shot in practice. He’s always razor sharp, but he was extra sharp last night,” Brown said. Perry hit 9 of 12 shots against the Rebels, including 4 of 6 from three-point range and all four of his free throw attempts. Point guard Anthony Robinson chipped in 11 points and handed out six assists, although he also committed five turnovers. Ragan added 10 points and grabbed a team-high nine rebounds. Wittenberg dominated on the boards, gaining a remarkable 42-20 advantage. “We didn’t rebound well the first half, but Luke did a good job on the boards the second half,” Brown said. “Seniors are going to do that.” Ironically, Thomas More also went part of the game without its top scorer, 6-7 sophomore Rick Hughes, who sat the first five minutes for disciplinary reasons. Hughes, who averages 25 points, was held to 10. The Rebels were led by David Mueller’s 17 points. Markel Snyder added 10.
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Trojans beat Rams on Cooper’s buzzer-beater
Southeastern sophomore Tyler Cooper rebounded a missed shot and threw up a quick, off-balance jumper from the baseline as the final buzzer sounded, lifting the Trojans over host Greeneview 43-42 on Friday, Jan. 2.
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Graham wins big
It’s over: Graham 66, Urbana 47. Josh Schuler scored 23 for the undefeated Falcons, and handed Urbana its first loss of the season.
After three quarters: Graham 49, Urbana 32. Graham kept Urbana off the scoreboard for over five minutes.
Halftime: Graham 35, Urbana 23.
Graham’s Austin Jones scored 10 points in the second quarter. Graham, as a team, made 7 of 11 from the field in the quarter (63.6 percent).
Michael Cox leads Urbana with 9 points.
I think the entire west side of Champaign County is at the game. Standing-room only and the crowd has been in the game for both sides.
After one quarter: Graham leads 19-14 in St. Paris.
Michael Cox has hit two 3-pointers to keep the Hillclimbers close. Josh Schuler has nine points. He’s made 4 of 5 from the field.
Friday, Jan. 2, 7:50 p.m.: Urbana boys at Graham. Game is sold out, and it’s posted on the doors.
They even made me show my press pass to get in. Good thing I had it.
I’ll try to post updates as the game goes along.
