When the Hornets went 20-3

With the recently concluded Republican National Convention behind us and the Democratic National Convention getting under way this week, it seems a perfect time to talk about … Sports.

And I'm not talking about the sport of politics.

Sometimes, a column idea is as hard to find as a cabana shirt in January. Other times, the idea just walks into the newspaper office. Or, in this case, the idea just walked into Holtfield Station last week.

Longtime friend Chuck Emery had mentioned to me that his mother kept a comprehensive collection of junior high and high school sports memorabilia from the Mowrystown, Sugar Tree Ridge and Belfast schools from the 1960s.

Knowing that I attended school at Concord, Belfast and Whiteoak, Chuck thought I might find the collection of interest. I did.

The two-volume memorabilia collection includes so many familiar names. The faces are familiar, too, but you have to look real close.

For instance, there's a 1965 Whiteoak basketball team photo – one of the very few color photos in Chuck's archives. I immediately recognized the head coach. A tall, slender fellow in a sport coat, white shirt and pencil-thin black necktie. That would be my friend Jim Evilsizer. (Please do not ask Coach Evilsizer about my column where I talked about parring hole No. 17 at the Hilltop Golf Course in Manchester by hitting two 7-irons, a pitching wedge and a putt. He will never let me live that down. But I did it, and Terry Rigdon witnessed it.)

A couple of other things about Coach Evilsizer's 1965 squad. There's a former Highland County commissioner to the left. Number 12 is a rather youthful Gary Heaton. Teammate Chuck Emery is in the photograph. One thing is readily obvious: Jim's team was in great shape. These young men were ready to run (and gun, since this was the Wildcats' … er, Hornets' style).

How many players and cheerleaders can you identify in the 1965 team photo?

That reminds me of another basketball story. Please let me digress for just a moment. Shortly before former Whiteoak and longtime North Adams head coach Dave Young passed away earlier this year, we talked about the different playing styles among the schools. Some schools were known for their up-tempo style (Whiteoak), while others were known for defense (McClain).

During one preseason scrimmage, Coach Young's North Adams Green Devils were playing Rick Van Matre's McClain Tigers. As Dave recalled, a North Adams player launched – and missed – a long 3-point attempt. As the story goes, Dave glanced at Rick and said "You'd probably have a problem with that shot, wouldn't you?"

But what both coaches (and good friends) agreed on was that either style was acceptable as long as the players understood and bought into it.

Back to the 1960s and the Emery Archives: A few pages later, I came across a photo of another Whiteoak graduate. This guy actually hired me in 1990. Wearing No. 40 for the Wildcats and scoring 20 points in the Whiteoak-Belfast Tournament was none other than Phil Roberts.

I wonder if Phil can jump that high today. (I know I can't.)

And then there was the box score (undated) from a Highland County Basketball League contest between Lynchburg and Belfast. Carey Michael of Belfast led all scorers with 33 points. Bobby Pittser scored 28 for Lynchburg. The story called Lynchburg the "Bobcats."

On another night some 40+ years ago, Jim Phillips connected for 17 points to lead Belfast over Sinking Spring, 59-54. Four players for Sinking Spring scored 13 points apiece: Scott, Puckett, Carroll and Huffman. Perkins added the final two for the Eagles.

One of my favorite lines came from this report that "Coach John Burton of Fairfield was highly perturbed over the use of a varsity regular in a reserve game" against Buford.

During the county tournament, Fairfield school administrator George Greer said the Leesburg gym – the largest in the county at that time – could "squeeze in" 1,000 to 1,200 fans, if everyone "bunched up."

Tournament manager Gene Cook of Buford said details of the tournament hadn't been finalized. The tournament used to be held at Wilmington.

One night, back in the day, Dick Emery and Steve Harvey scored 24 and 21 points, respectively, but it wasn't enough as Winchester topped the Hornets, 68-63. Oscar Sweet scored 22 points in the jayvee game.

A high-scoring game that was a real barn-burner between Buford and Fayetteville ended in a 103-97 Bulldogs' win. Daryle Miller (34) and Jim Purdy (32) totaled 66 points for Buford. Patton scored 32 for FHS.

Later in the season, Dick Emery and Steve Harvey earned All-Tourney status in the Seaman Holiday Tournament. Top scorers for WHS were Harvey with 18, Chuck Emery with 16 and Dick Emery with 12, as they beat Winchester, 56-54.

The school programs also provide great reading and reminiscing. The Class A basketball tournament program sold for 10 cents.

The first advertisement was for Banyas Pontiac and Cadillac. "A name you can depend on." The dealership was located at 1049 Western Avenue in Chillicothe. It made me wonder if this was Susan Banyas' family dealership. I think it was.

Jerry's Pizza – one of my favorite places in Chillicothe – had a half-page ad in the 1966 postseason program. They were open from 9 a.m.-2:30 a.m. daily. The Cozy Inn – and its famous Cozy Burgers – had an 11-word, half-page ad. The ad simply said: Cozy Inn, open till 2:30 a.m., Corner Western and Elm, Free Parking.

(If you've ever been to Jerry's or the Cozy, you'd understand.)

One of my lifelong friends and HCP columnist Jim Surber is mentioned in the 1965 Whiteoak High School program. Jim, along with Jim Richey, Ruth Bright, Glenna Shaw, Diana Tissot, Gay Roush, Beverly Emery, Cheryl Carr, Rita Tissot, Bill Boyd and Richard Carr provided instrumentals and vocals prior to a postseason banquet or two. (Note: Some of these students were in a program from 1964.)

There are several photos of Principal Fay Kisling, too, but these bring back rather unpleasant personal memories. Mr. Kisling boarded me more times than I care to remember when he was the Belfast principal. (I earned every one of them, though.)

And as this is fair week in Highland County, let's not overlook the photo of Sam Snyder, who exhibited the champion lamb at the Highland County Junior Fair almost 50 years ago. (Did Charles Emery win the pig scramble that year?)

Moving along, we come to another section of basketball memories. It seems that Lynchburg and Whiteoak played to a 77-71 Bobcats' (that's Lynchburg) victory amid 56 total fouls. Chuck Emery probably had 8 or 9 of them that weren't called.

There's also mention of Hillsboro High School standout Fred Cluff, a 6-8 center and top scorer in the South Central Ohio League. Ohio State, Morehead and Ohio University were recruiting Cluff. His teammate, Terry McConnaughey, joined him on the SCOL All-League team.

Roger Puckett scored 31 points to lead Lynchburg past Sinking Spring.

Gordy Rhoads (27) and Greg Rhoads (25) put together a 52-point effort to pace Sinking Spring in an 89-70 loss to Fairfield. Leesburg sophomore John Anderson scored 23 points for the victors.

That same week, Whiteoak hit the 100-mark as Dick Emery scored 31 points and Gary Heaton scored 24. One report said Heaton started shooting before they put the brakes on the school bus. Some guy named Chuck scored 19 points in the game, as Whiteoak defeated Belfast, 100-68, to improve to 4-0 in the county league.

Carey Michael scored 24 of Belfast's 68 points.

A few nights later, Whiteoak would win its eighth straight game as the Emery boys combined for 31 points against Georgetown.

While the date is missing from this entry, on a Friday night in the mid-1960s, Lynchburg scored 139 points in a win over Sinking Spring, and Whiteoak scored 114 points in a win over Buford. The 253 total points scored by two teams on the same night was thought to be a county record. Gary Heaton scored 36 for Whiteoak. Dan Branham scored 45 points for Lynchburg, and Bobby Pittser added 31.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think they had 3-pointers back then. According to the box score, Heaton hit 15 field goals and six free throws. That would account for his 36 points. If they had had the 3-point line, Gary would have scored 50 or more.

Whiteoak won the county title that year, posting a 9-0 league record. Lynchburg and Fairfield each finished at 6-3.

In a late-season game between Belfast and Buford, Carey Michael connected on 20 field goals and 10 free throws to hit the half-century mark. He scored 50 of Belfast's 104 points. Golden Hill scored 36 for Buford.

Whiteoak wrapped up a 20-3 season (1965-66) with a tournament loss to Centralia of Ross County. Glenn Burchwell led Centralia with 28 points.

Jim Evilsizer's team had four players in double digits: Gary Heaton, 24; Dick Emery, 20; Chuck Emery, 12; and Oscar Sweet, 12. Terry Guthrie added five points for the Hornets. Jim Snyder, Aaron Walker and Glenn Morgan also were on that team. Cheerleaders included Lola Harvey, Jayne Hauke, Linda Magee, Andrea Snyder and Barbara Whalen.

There are so many stories and so many memories in this collection. From the program advertisements – which implore county residents to "shop local" almost 50 years ago – to the names of so many friends.

I can't thank Chuck Emery enough for sharing this. And as I closed the final chapter, I saw the Concord Junior High champions.

Coached by my old "nemesis" Fay Kisling, the players and managers included: Mike McAfee (Cosmo?), Danny Walker, Randy Roberts, Dennis Walker, Dave Neal (a great point guard), Oris Snyder (tremendous defensive player), Bob Emery, Jim Guthrie, Rick Kisling, Elliot Wilkin and Bob Robertson. The team was undefeated. I remember most of the players.

Thanks, again, Chuck, for a most enjoyable reading experience.

Rory Ryan is a Ridgerunner who attended Concord, Belfast and Whiteoak schools.