SCOL boys' race still too close to call
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
After last Friday’s games involving six teams from the South Central Ohio League, it is safe to say the league is too close to call near the halfway point of the league season.
The Miami Trace Panthers currently have the most wins in the SCOL with five (5-1), while the Hillsboro Indians have played one less league game but have just one loss at 4-1. The London Red Raiders and Madison-Plains Golden Eagles each have three wins, with LHS at 3-2 and MP at 3-3. Clinton-Massie (Falcons) are 2-3 in the SCOL and so are the Washington Blue Lions. McClain (Tigers), though they have a three-game winning streak in non-league games, are 0-5 in the SCOL.
So what can we take from this SCOL season? Let's start by taking a look at some team scoring stats.
Up until Friday, Jan. 7, the Panthers have scored 392 points in six games, averaging 63.6 ppg for the most in league games. MP is the only other SCOL team to play six league games with 321 points for a 53.5 ppg.
The remaining teams of the SCOL all have played five league games.
Of the teams who have played five league games, the Indians are averaging the most with 62.4 ppg. They have wins over MP, Washington, MT and McClain. Their lone loss came this past Friday to Clinton-Massie, where HHS scored their lowest amount in a single game this year, a 40-38 loss. The Indians are in second place by a half game to MT; though HHS defeated MT earlier this season, 78-70 at HHS, MT has one more SCOL game.
LHS has three wins in the league, defeating MHS, CM and Washington, with losses to MP and MT. The three wins by LHS are consecutive wins. The Red Raiders are averaging 52.6 ppg when they face league opponents.
Two SCOL teams are 2-3 overall: London and Washington. The Blue Lions are averaging 54 ppg, and the Falcons have 48.2 ppg. Though MHS hasn't won in the SCOL so far this season, they are averaging 42.2 ppg but have allowed an average of 50.6 ppg.
The most points allowed by MHS have been 69 to the Panthers, but in that game MHS tallied their biggest offensive total in SCOL games at 56.
With those stats, it does show scoring 60 or more per game (on average) will get you to the top spot in the SCOL. The top two teams (in terms of records) are the only teams in the league to score those amount of points.
Teams who focus more on a slower type of basketball follow the Panthers and Indians in the standings.
Here are the exact scoring numbers for SCOL teams (in SCOL games) this season:
Miami Trace: 65.3 ppg, 392 points, 6 games
Hillsboro: 62.4 ppg, 312 points, 5 games
Washington: 54 ppg, 270 points, 5 games
Madison-Plains: 53.5 ppg, 321 points, 6 games
London: 53.4 ppg, 267 points, 5 games
Clinton-Massie: 48.2 ppg, 241 points, 5 games
McClain: 42.2 ppg, 211 points, 5 games
Now let's take a look at points allowed numbers this season.
Clinton-Massie: 48.4 pa, 242 points, 5 games
McClain: 50.6 pa, 253 points, 5 games
London: 52.2 pa, 261 points, 5 games
Washington: 54.4 pa, 272 points, 5 games
Hillsboro: 57.6 pa, 288 points, 5 games
Madison-Plains: 58.2 pa, 349 points, 6 games
Miami Trace: 58.3 pa, 350 points, 6 games
If we take out the MP-MT game (their most recent game) and do their five game average, here is what those stats look like.
Miami Trace: 58.2 pa, 291 points, 5 games
Madison-Plains: 55.2 pa, 276 points, 5 games
What do we take from that?
Well, first off, the team who has scored the most points for average, along with allowing the most points per game, is in the top spot in the SCOL.
The second-best team (in terms of record), Hillsboro, is second in points scored per game for total and average scoring but have allowed the second-most ppg for average and total in five games played.
Does defense really win games?
The answer: From what has happened in the SCOL (so far this season), it has to be no.
The two teams who have allowed the least amount of points per game have a combined two SCOL wins, but one of those wins is against Hillsboro, whose only league loss is the game where they were held to under 40 points (38) against Clinton-Massie.
But then again, Massie's defense did hold one of the better offensive teams to their lowest total of the season and scoring just the right amount of points in 32 minutes to get a win.
Just for giggles here are the the home and away win-loss records for each SCOL team in SCOL games (Up to Jan. 14):
CM 1-2 (H), 1-1 (A)
HHS 2-1 (H), 2-0 (A)
MHS 0-2 (H), 0-3 (A)
MT 3-0 (H), 2-1 (A)
MP 2-1 (H), 1-2 (A)
LHS 3-0 (H), 0-2 (A)
WCH 1-3 (H), 1-0 (A)
I believe the coaches when they say you have to take one game at a time when it comes to this league.
CM head coach Brian Mudd said following their win over the Indians last Friday that: "Our league is one of those leagues where any team can win on any given night. (It depends) on who plays well and who catches a break."
Following that same game, Hillsboro head coach Tim Davis told me: "Every league game is important. You have to come out and play your 'A' game, and we (HHS) have to do it together."
That can be the word for this column: together. All of us will have to watch this league together for the rest of the season. Some teams have six games remaining, others have seven, but I challenge another league to say they have this close of a common ground when it comes to determining a champion, once the season comes to a close.
I can't wait to see if defense really does win championships, or if offense will allow a team to take home a championship trophy. Does a winning home-away record factor into winning a title?
Only time will tell.
Stephen Forsha is the sports editor of The Highland County Press[[In-content Ad]]
The Miami Trace Panthers currently have the most wins in the SCOL with five (5-1), while the Hillsboro Indians have played one less league game but have just one loss at 4-1. The London Red Raiders and Madison-Plains Golden Eagles each have three wins, with LHS at 3-2 and MP at 3-3. Clinton-Massie (Falcons) are 2-3 in the SCOL and so are the Washington Blue Lions. McClain (Tigers), though they have a three-game winning streak in non-league games, are 0-5 in the SCOL.
So what can we take from this SCOL season? Let's start by taking a look at some team scoring stats.
Up until Friday, Jan. 7, the Panthers have scored 392 points in six games, averaging 63.6 ppg for the most in league games. MP is the only other SCOL team to play six league games with 321 points for a 53.5 ppg.
The remaining teams of the SCOL all have played five league games.
Of the teams who have played five league games, the Indians are averaging the most with 62.4 ppg. They have wins over MP, Washington, MT and McClain. Their lone loss came this past Friday to Clinton-Massie, where HHS scored their lowest amount in a single game this year, a 40-38 loss. The Indians are in second place by a half game to MT; though HHS defeated MT earlier this season, 78-70 at HHS, MT has one more SCOL game.
LHS has three wins in the league, defeating MHS, CM and Washington, with losses to MP and MT. The three wins by LHS are consecutive wins. The Red Raiders are averaging 52.6 ppg when they face league opponents.
Two SCOL teams are 2-3 overall: London and Washington. The Blue Lions are averaging 54 ppg, and the Falcons have 48.2 ppg. Though MHS hasn't won in the SCOL so far this season, they are averaging 42.2 ppg but have allowed an average of 50.6 ppg.
The most points allowed by MHS have been 69 to the Panthers, but in that game MHS tallied their biggest offensive total in SCOL games at 56.
With those stats, it does show scoring 60 or more per game (on average) will get you to the top spot in the SCOL. The top two teams (in terms of records) are the only teams in the league to score those amount of points.
Teams who focus more on a slower type of basketball follow the Panthers and Indians in the standings.
Here are the exact scoring numbers for SCOL teams (in SCOL games) this season:
Miami Trace: 65.3 ppg, 392 points, 6 games
Hillsboro: 62.4 ppg, 312 points, 5 games
Washington: 54 ppg, 270 points, 5 games
Madison-Plains: 53.5 ppg, 321 points, 6 games
London: 53.4 ppg, 267 points, 5 games
Clinton-Massie: 48.2 ppg, 241 points, 5 games
McClain: 42.2 ppg, 211 points, 5 games
Now let's take a look at points allowed numbers this season.
Clinton-Massie: 48.4 pa, 242 points, 5 games
McClain: 50.6 pa, 253 points, 5 games
London: 52.2 pa, 261 points, 5 games
Washington: 54.4 pa, 272 points, 5 games
Hillsboro: 57.6 pa, 288 points, 5 games
Madison-Plains: 58.2 pa, 349 points, 6 games
Miami Trace: 58.3 pa, 350 points, 6 games
If we take out the MP-MT game (their most recent game) and do their five game average, here is what those stats look like.
Miami Trace: 58.2 pa, 291 points, 5 games
Madison-Plains: 55.2 pa, 276 points, 5 games
What do we take from that?
Well, first off, the team who has scored the most points for average, along with allowing the most points per game, is in the top spot in the SCOL.
The second-best team (in terms of record), Hillsboro, is second in points scored per game for total and average scoring but have allowed the second-most ppg for average and total in five games played.
Does defense really win games?
The answer: From what has happened in the SCOL (so far this season), it has to be no.
The two teams who have allowed the least amount of points per game have a combined two SCOL wins, but one of those wins is against Hillsboro, whose only league loss is the game where they were held to under 40 points (38) against Clinton-Massie.
But then again, Massie's defense did hold one of the better offensive teams to their lowest total of the season and scoring just the right amount of points in 32 minutes to get a win.
Just for giggles here are the the home and away win-loss records for each SCOL team in SCOL games (Up to Jan. 14):
CM 1-2 (H), 1-1 (A)
HHS 2-1 (H), 2-0 (A)
MHS 0-2 (H), 0-3 (A)
MT 3-0 (H), 2-1 (A)
MP 2-1 (H), 1-2 (A)
LHS 3-0 (H), 0-2 (A)
WCH 1-3 (H), 1-0 (A)
I believe the coaches when they say you have to take one game at a time when it comes to this league.
CM head coach Brian Mudd said following their win over the Indians last Friday that: "Our league is one of those leagues where any team can win on any given night. (It depends) on who plays well and who catches a break."
Following that same game, Hillsboro head coach Tim Davis told me: "Every league game is important. You have to come out and play your 'A' game, and we (HHS) have to do it together."
That can be the word for this column: together. All of us will have to watch this league together for the rest of the season. Some teams have six games remaining, others have seven, but I challenge another league to say they have this close of a common ground when it comes to determining a champion, once the season comes to a close.
I can't wait to see if defense really does win championships, or if offense will allow a team to take home a championship trophy. Does a winning home-away record factor into winning a title?
Only time will tell.
Stephen Forsha is the sports editor of The Highland County Press[[In-content Ad]]