Blue Lions hold off Trace for SCOL lead
By
Bob Patton-
(continued from last week)
Miami Trace center Dave Persinger held the second spot with a 16.6 per game average and Washington’s sophomore sensation held onto the third slot with a 15.8 mark.
McClain’s Steve Willett was in fourth place, averaging 14.7 points while Harold Reed of Circleville had a 14.5 average for fifth place.
These averages were for all games – not SCOL games only. And, there was considerable variance in the number of games each of the athletes had played, because of the unusual number of cancellations.
In team statistics, Hillsboro led in the scoring category, averaging 66.1 points per game. Miami Trace was second, averaging 64.6.
Defensively, Circleville was in the top spot, giving up only 55.2 points per game. They were followed by Washington, allowing only 59.4.
As might be expected, Wilmington showed the least productive offense along with the most porous offense. The Hurricane allowed their opponents an average 70.5 points per game, but scored only an average 53.4 points.
The big 6’5” center of the Washington C.H. Blue Lions had gone through a bout with infectious mononucleosis and had missed the past five games.
The Blue Lions, though, had been able to hang in there and remain in contention for the league title, even without Wallace.
But, with the big center coming back for the Washington vs. Circleville game, at Circleville, the Lions were confident.
The game was a real barnburner, with Perry Hoskins taking a last chance shot with three seconds remaining. The shot missed and the Blue Lions won a 60-59 heartbreaker. Miami Trace downed Madison Plains, 72-59, and McClain had a close call but beat Wilmington 66-62.
On Jan. 18, Miami Trace took the lead in the SCOL by pasting Wilmington, 71-61. Mainly, the Panthers had played one more league game than the opponents, in this scrambled season.
The same night, in a shocking upset, the Golden Eagles of Madison Plains upended Circleville, 66-61, behind 28 points by center Jay Joslin.
And, just a couple of nights later, Washington got back into a tie with county Rival Miami Trace, when the Blue Lions beat Hillsboro, 73-63, when sophomore sensation Doug Phillips tallied 30 points against the Indians.
So, as we came to the end of January, it appeared that the two Fayette County schools might share the SCOL championship.
The Blue Lions’ only league loss had been a 51-50 defeat at Miami Trace.
The Panthers’ only loss had been a 71-60 setback at Circleville. On Feb. 12, the Panthers and Blue Lions would lock horns again, this time on the WCH hardwood. This game could well determine the league champion in this crazy season.
On Feb. 2, 1974, Miami Trace traveled to Hillsboro and were lucky to get out of town with a 3-point win, when Hillsboro’s little guard Mike Vance repeatedly hit from downtown to rack up a total of 28 points for the Indians. The final score was MT 65, HHS 62.
Circleville downed Wilmington, 62-47, and McClain, playing a “home game” at Miami Trace, lost to WCH, 73-64.
Circleville, who always seemed to play well at Miami Trace, did the Panthers in, when they visited the Panther Pit and snaked out a 66-63 victory over the MT squad on Feb. 5.
This meant that Trace had to beat Washington on their home court just to get a share of the league title.
On Feb. 12, when the two Fayette County rivals met again, junior Craig Shaffer nailed 26 points for the Blue Lions and they captured a 74-67 win over the Panthers. Persinger tallied 22 for Miami Trace.
Both of the contenders won on the final playing date of the season, and the final league standings were:
Washington — 11-1, 15-3
Miami Trace — 9-3, 11-7
Circleville — 8-4, 12-5
Hillsboro — 6-6, 9-9
McClain — 4-8, 10-8
Madison Plains — 3-9, 5-12
Wilmington — 1-11, 2-15
The All-SCOL team was announced at the League meeting at Miami Trace. It included:
Dave Persinger, MT; Jeff King, MT; Doug Phillips, WCH; Randy Reiber, MT; Jeff Wallace, WCH; Kenny Knicely, WCH; Kevin Bailey, HHS; Harold Reed, CHS; Kris Kline, CHS; Randy Reeder, WHS; Dave Joslin, MPHS; and Bill Flynn, MHS.
Dave Persinger was named honorary captain.
Bob Patton is a Highland County sports historian and a contributing writer to The Highland County Press.[[In-content Ad]]
Miami Trace center Dave Persinger held the second spot with a 16.6 per game average and Washington’s sophomore sensation held onto the third slot with a 15.8 mark.
McClain’s Steve Willett was in fourth place, averaging 14.7 points while Harold Reed of Circleville had a 14.5 average for fifth place.
These averages were for all games – not SCOL games only. And, there was considerable variance in the number of games each of the athletes had played, because of the unusual number of cancellations.
In team statistics, Hillsboro led in the scoring category, averaging 66.1 points per game. Miami Trace was second, averaging 64.6.
Defensively, Circleville was in the top spot, giving up only 55.2 points per game. They were followed by Washington, allowing only 59.4.
As might be expected, Wilmington showed the least productive offense along with the most porous offense. The Hurricane allowed their opponents an average 70.5 points per game, but scored only an average 53.4 points.
The big 6’5” center of the Washington C.H. Blue Lions had gone through a bout with infectious mononucleosis and had missed the past five games.
The Blue Lions, though, had been able to hang in there and remain in contention for the league title, even without Wallace.
But, with the big center coming back for the Washington vs. Circleville game, at Circleville, the Lions were confident.
The game was a real barnburner, with Perry Hoskins taking a last chance shot with three seconds remaining. The shot missed and the Blue Lions won a 60-59 heartbreaker. Miami Trace downed Madison Plains, 72-59, and McClain had a close call but beat Wilmington 66-62.
On Jan. 18, Miami Trace took the lead in the SCOL by pasting Wilmington, 71-61. Mainly, the Panthers had played one more league game than the opponents, in this scrambled season.
The same night, in a shocking upset, the Golden Eagles of Madison Plains upended Circleville, 66-61, behind 28 points by center Jay Joslin.
And, just a couple of nights later, Washington got back into a tie with county Rival Miami Trace, when the Blue Lions beat Hillsboro, 73-63, when sophomore sensation Doug Phillips tallied 30 points against the Indians.
So, as we came to the end of January, it appeared that the two Fayette County schools might share the SCOL championship.
The Blue Lions’ only league loss had been a 51-50 defeat at Miami Trace.
The Panthers’ only loss had been a 71-60 setback at Circleville. On Feb. 12, the Panthers and Blue Lions would lock horns again, this time on the WCH hardwood. This game could well determine the league champion in this crazy season.
On Feb. 2, 1974, Miami Trace traveled to Hillsboro and were lucky to get out of town with a 3-point win, when Hillsboro’s little guard Mike Vance repeatedly hit from downtown to rack up a total of 28 points for the Indians. The final score was MT 65, HHS 62.
Circleville downed Wilmington, 62-47, and McClain, playing a “home game” at Miami Trace, lost to WCH, 73-64.
Circleville, who always seemed to play well at Miami Trace, did the Panthers in, when they visited the Panther Pit and snaked out a 66-63 victory over the MT squad on Feb. 5.
This meant that Trace had to beat Washington on their home court just to get a share of the league title.
On Feb. 12, when the two Fayette County rivals met again, junior Craig Shaffer nailed 26 points for the Blue Lions and they captured a 74-67 win over the Panthers. Persinger tallied 22 for Miami Trace.
Both of the contenders won on the final playing date of the season, and the final league standings were:
Washington — 11-1, 15-3
Miami Trace — 9-3, 11-7
Circleville — 8-4, 12-5
Hillsboro — 6-6, 9-9
McClain — 4-8, 10-8
Madison Plains — 3-9, 5-12
Wilmington — 1-11, 2-15
The All-SCOL team was announced at the League meeting at Miami Trace. It included:
Dave Persinger, MT; Jeff King, MT; Doug Phillips, WCH; Randy Reiber, MT; Jeff Wallace, WCH; Kenny Knicely, WCH; Kevin Bailey, HHS; Harold Reed, CHS; Kris Kline, CHS; Randy Reeder, WHS; Dave Joslin, MPHS; and Bill Flynn, MHS.
Dave Persinger was named honorary captain.
Bob Patton is a Highland County sports historian and a contributing writer to The Highland County Press.[[In-content Ad]]