Area teams ready for 1995-96 season

(Continued from last week.)

Hillsboro has always enjoyed more than its fair share of grandstand coaches. Most of them never coached anything in their lives. But nonetheless, they feel qualified to tell a professional coach how to do his job.

Some of them often are the parents of one or more of the players. Due to second-guessing or otherwise questioning the decisions of the coach, they can sometimes create poor attitudes on the part of players.

A good team is like a family, and the coach is an important part of the family. When you create an attitude of distrust between the coach and a player, you damage the team.

The Grandstand Coaches Association once told a new coach, “We’re with you win or draw.” (No mention of that other word.)

These people can sometimes be vicious. They say and do unbelievable things, sign petitions and start wild rumors that could, potentially seriously damage a professional educator and coach. Is it really worth it? It is, of course, very difficult to be fair and objective when your own children are involved.

I saw Coach Thom Snyder’s team play numerous times during his tenure as coach of the Indians. I thought they appeared to be very well coached, and I thought his game plans were sound. They were SBAC champions twice in a row.

After stepping down as head basketball coach, he built a cross-country program at Hillsboro High School that was one of the best in Ohio. A big cross-country meet was held each year, in Hillsboro, the “Ohio Classic Cross Country Invitational,” which brought in runners from 70 to 80 schools and an average 1,600 to 2,000 runners each year.

It was a huge affair, which resulted in bringing considerable business to area restaurants and stores. While he was the cross-country coach, Hillsboro High School won eight boys and seven girls conference championships and had two boys and two girls district champions. He also had two state championship team appearances. Fifteen of his cross-country runners went on to compete at the college level.

He was a good classroom teacher, a good family man and father. His two sons both played (or will play) in college athletic programs, both were outstanding students and leaders and excellent citizens in the community. Both attended colleges and universities that feature very solid athletic programs in addition to a strong emphasis on academics.

So, I believe that his tenure here was successful. I think students learned a lot more from him than just how to shoot a basketball, or to guard a man, or to run until their tongues hung out halfway to their knees. I think they learned valuable lessons that they have used, and will use throughout their lives. What more can you ask?

Now, back to the 1995-96 basketball season. Coach Pat Stevens would inherit seven returning members of last year’s SBAC co-champions (and Division II sectional champions).

Senior guard C.J. Captain averaged 21.2 points and 5 assists per game last season. He also had a total of 59 steals for the season. He was an SBAC first team selection and Division II All SE District first team.

T.J. Turner, a 6’4” junior was an SBAC second team selection and was All SE District third team.

Also, 5’ 10” senior Jason Barton, 6’ 3” senior Kyle McConnaughey, 6’ 0” senior Brian Cummings, 6’ 3” senior Ben Middleton and 6’ 0” senior Chris Fauber would be back, along with several players who were up from last year’s reserve team.

Coach Stevens predicted that this year’s Indians would be a little more up-tempo and would press a little less than last year’s team.

He expected New Richmond, a co-champion last season, to be one of the top contenders for the league title this season, along with Blanchester and Loveland.

The Tribe would also have non-conference games with old SCOL foes McClain, Wilmington, Washington and Miami Trace, and one with always tough Eastern Brown.

At Greenfield, Coach Rick Van Matre, now in his 15th season as coach of the Tigers, had lost a lot of scoring punch from the 1994-95 team, which went all the way to the regional finals.

(Continued next week.)

Bob Patton is a Highland County sports historian and a contributing writer to The Highland County Press.