Basketball season tips off for 1992-93

(Continued from last week.)

Coach Shaffer expected Wilmington, McClain and Miami Trace to be the toughest teams on the WCH schedule.

The Blue Lions would be playing as an independent this year, as they transitioned from the SCOL to the Buckeye Athletic Conference.

On Saturday, Dec. 5, 1992, the London Red Raiders visited McClain. This was a wide open, rugged game, with London’s superior size trying to overcome McClain’s disciplined game.

London gained the lead in the final quarter, but Rob Snavely penetrated the lane in the final six seconds of the game, where he deftly passed off to junior forward Dale Bowers, who banked in a layup just before the buzzer, giving the Tigers an opening game 59-57 win.

Neither team played terribly well, but McClain’s Richie Highley, who poured in a game-high 27 points and added nine rebounds, was the difference in the contest.

In Hillsboro, the same night, Jamie Thompson’s 22 points showed the way for the Indians, as they captured a hard-earned win over Lynchburg-Clay.

Paul Cluxton racked up 30 points for the Mustangs, but the Indians had better balance (18 from Justin Ames, 12 from Rodney Captain and 12 from Nathan Walker). The Indians played well. They knew they were in for a tough game, and they gave a good account of themselves.

Elsewhere, Miami Trace blasted Logan Elm, 64-41, on the Logan Elm court, and Washington came from behind to down Jamestown Greeneview, 63-52, at Jamestown. The 1992-93 basketball season was officially under way.

Tuesday, Dec. 8 saw the Hillsboro Indians locked in a barnburner at New Richmond. The Indians held a 10-6 first-quarter lead, but both teams scored 17 in the second stanza. The Lions thumped the red-and-white, 14-7 in the third period, to take a 37-34 edge, but Coach Thom Snyder got his charges regrouped, and the Tribe squeaked out a narrow 55-49 SBAC win over the Lions. Hillsboro featured outstanding scoring balance, led by Captain, Ames and Walker.

Washington traveled to Greenfield Dec. 11 to take on the McClain Tigers.

It was a sloppy performance by both teams, but the blue-and-white took a narrow 52-51 win. Coach Gary Shaffer’s son, Gale, led his team with 18 points. Richie Highley led McClain with 25 markers. This was Washington’s third straight road victory.

Hillsboro entertained Felicity-Franklin the same evening. Sean Longstreth ripped the cords for 25 points to lead the Tribe to a 63-48 win over the Cardinals. This game was much closer than the final score indicates. The Indians led only 38-33 going into the final quarter, but outscored the Cardinals 25-15 in the last quarter.

Hillsboro’s record was now 3-0, but their first road game of the season would be Tuesday, Dec. 15 at Clermont Northeastern.

Also, on the 15th, West Jefferson took on the Blue Lions at Washington C.H. and were thoroughly trounced, 80-49. Travis Robertson poured in 26 points in the runaway game, but virtually every member of the team scored.

McClain played Paint Valley on the road Saturday night and lost another game, 52-41. The Tigers managed to hit only one of 12 first-quarter shots.

The purple-and-gold played at Peebles the following Tuesday and were downed again, this time 57-49. Peebles was now 4-0, while the Tigers slipped to 1-3.

Elsewhere, Hillsboro utilized their scoring balance by putting four men in double figures at Owensville, the Indians escaping with a 59- 53 win. The red-and-white now stood 4-0 for the season and 3-0 in the SBAC.

Hillsboro’s Jamie Thompson rocked Bethel-Tate with four consecutive field goals at the beginning of the crucial BT at Hillsboro SBAC game Dec. 18. The Indians, playing red-hot basketball, owned a remarkable 46-16 halftime lead. The final score was, Hillsboro 81, BT 55.

Thompson and Justin Ames carried the bulk of the scoring load for the Tribe, but eight men scored. With this decisive win, Hillsboro took control of the SBAC basketball race.

Miami Trace visited the McClain gym, also Friday, Dec. 18. When the smoke had cleared, the Tigers had used clinical defense and a very patient offense to take a thrilling 30-29 win over the Panthers.

This was the first loss of the season for Trace and marked the end of a three-game skid for McClain. Terrell Baker, the Panthers’ top scorer, was held to five points. Coleman totaled 15 and Highley, 10 for the Tigers. The loss gave Miami Trace a 3-1 record. The Tigers moved up to 2-3 for the young season.

The following evening, the Blue Lions walloped Teays Valley, 91-55 in the TV gymnasium.

Unioto invaded Washington C.H. Dec. 22 with their twin towers, 6’7” (sophomore) Jason Cruse and 6’5” (senior) Charlie Ward. The Blue Lions outscored the Tanks 19-14 in the first stanza. But, in the second period, the Lions simply wiped the visitors out, 26-9. With four men scoring in double figures and hitting 24-of-28 from the free-throw line, the blue-and-white rolled to an 81-60 win.

(Continued next week.)

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