'Cane, Blue Lions take early 1990 lead

By BOB PATTON
For The Highland County Press

(Continued from last week.)

Friday, Nov. 30, 1990 saw Hillsboro fall to cross-county rival McClain, 54-49, on the McClain court. Marcus Coleman’s 20 points led the Tigers while McClain’s stingy defense allowed the Indians only 27 points through three quarters.

The Tribe did mount a slight comeback in the final stanza, but McClain held on for a five-point win. Jeff Griffith, Aaron Boone and Josh Snyder compiled 11, 10 and 9 points, respectively, for the red and white.

The win put McClain at 1-0 in the SCOL and 3-0 overall. Hillsboro dropped to 0-1 in the league and 1-2 overall.

The same night, Miami Trace invaded the Lions’ Den at WCH. The Panthers played cool and collected for three quarters, and enjoyed a ten point lead at the break, 49-39. From that point on, the blue and white outscored Trace 25-1 and rolled to an impressive 64-50 win over the stunned visitors in the black uniforms. Veteran coach Gary Shaffer said he had never seen anything like it. Trace coach Kirk Hardman was too stunned to talk.

The very next night, the Lions traveled to West Union, where outstanding shooter Jason Pittser scorched the nets for 25 points and the visitors grabbed a 74-66 overtime win over the Dragons. Eric Courtright scored 24 points for the Dragons and Greg Grooms added 22. But the Lions had five men in double figures to get the win.

In other action, unbeaten Wilmington came back from a four point deficit to grab an 83-77 win over Lebanon, as Howard Johns and Michael Campbell racked up 18 points each. The Hurricane stood at 4-0 on the young season.

Then, on Tuesday, Dec. 4, at Georgetown, the Hillsboro Indians lost their third straight game, when Georgetown thumped them, 61-53.

In this game, the Tribe played sub-par defense and turned the ball over 25 times. The Indians converted only 11 of 22 free throw attempts, which did little to aid their cause.

Friday, Dec. 7 saw Miami Trace thump the McClain Tigers in the Panther Pit, 58-45. Todd Henry and Ross Matthews lit up the scoreboard for Trace, Henry racking up 21 markers. The Panthers hit 19 of 21 free throw attempts. Marcus Coleman totaled 21 for McClain, but got little help in the scoring department. McClain pulled to within five points in the fourth quarter, but Trace held on.

Hillsboro traveled to Wilmington the same night, where the unbeaten Hurricane forced 34 Indian turnovers on the way to a 64-55 SCOL win. Hillsboro senior Neal Huffman scored all 10 of Hillsboro’s first quarter points as the Tribe led 10-9 after one stanza. But the ‘Cane scored 9 consecutive points at the beginning of the second quarter to take an 18-10 lead.

Actually, Hillsboro could have beaten the Hurricane if they could have cut down on costly turnovers. In the last two Indian games, the red-and-white had given the ball away an unbelievable 59 times. You can’t beat “Little Sisters of the Poor” turning the ball over that many times.

On Saturday night, Washington entertained Amanda Clearcreek. The Lions had five men in double figure scoring, led by Jason Pittser’s 24 points and slaughtered the Aces, 98-66. Ten players scored for the Blue Lions, who got their fifth consecutive win.

On Tuesday, Dec. 11, Miami Trace played a young Westfall squad on the road.

Following the WCH example, the Panthers placed five men in double figure scoring and walloped the Mustangs, 81- 52. Guards Tobin Hoppes and Terrell Baker set the pace with 16 and 18 points respectively and also forced numerous turnovers with their sticky defense.

Hillsboro lost to Lynchburg, 69-60, for their fifth straight defeat. The Indians were 1-5, overall. Tyler Anderson racked up 20 points for the Indians, but Paul Cluxton totaled 25 for LC, and Keith Glover added 19.

Elsewhere, Wilmington remained unbeaten as the ‘Cane plastered Goshen, 74-50.

The Paint Valley Bearcats hosted the Hillsboro Indians Tuesday, Dec. 18.

The ‘Cats jumped out to a 13-0 lead in the first two and a half minutes, putting the Indians behind the eight-ball. Fourteen first half Indian turnovers led to a 38-26 Bearcat halftime lead. But the Indians didn’t quit.

(Continued next week.)

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