Circleville, Trace set the pace in 1973
By
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By BOB PATTON
For The Highland County Press
(continued from March 27)
On Feb. 9, 1973, Washington traveled to Circleville for a critical SCOL
matchup. Wilmington visited Miami Trace the same night, and the McClain
Tigers took on the Indians at Hillsboro.
For the second time this season, Hillsboro’s Indians utilized a 1-3-1
zone to clog the passing lanes and the Tigers shot poorly, enabling the
county seaters to take a 70-55 SCOL victory.
At Miami Trace, the Panthers walloped Wilmington, 74-60, as the Jones
boys both turned in big games. Washington put up a great battle at
Circleville, but the red and black had a little too much offense. The Tigers
captured the contest, 68-63.
The final league playing date of the 1972-73 season saw the Circleville
Tigers meet the McClain Tigers; the Hillsboro Indians taking on the
Wilmington Hurricane in the Wilmington gym and another renewal of the
Fayette County battle between WCH and Miami Trace.
McClain, after a great season in 1971-72, was having a hard time winning
this season. But with the great tradition at McClain and with the tireless
efforts of their cheerleaders Nanci Woods, Jo Streitenberger, Terri Hull,
Carol Crabtree, Sue Herman and Sue Ann Lucas, the spirit was high and loyal
McClain fans still showed up at the games in huge numbers. The Circleville
Tigers used 25-point performances by Truex and Graham to put another loss on
the McClain record, this time 80-64.
Hillsboro surprised Wilmington by administering a 62-59 defeat of the
Hurricane. David Larimer’s 17 markers and Turner’s 14 led the Indians, while
Wilson had 17 and McClary 16 for Wilmington. Miami Trace put another
beating on WCH, this time by a 64-55 count. The final SCOL standings were:
Circleville — 7-3, 14-4
Miami Trace — 7-3, 12-6
Washington — 6-4, 9-8
Hillsboro — 5-5, 10-8
Wilmington — 5-5, 9-8
McClain — 0-10, 4-14
Buddy Kennedy of McClain was the leading scorer in the SCOL with 357
points in all 18 games. He was followed by Don Jewett of Hillsboro, who
totaled 353 points. Dave Truex of league co-champion Circleville was third
with 328, Muff Jones of MT scored 306 and Robert Raizk of Wilmington totaled
276.
Jewett was named to the SCOL All-Star first team, along with Truex,
Jones, Raizk, of Wilmington, Tom Wilson, of Wilmington, and Buddy Kennedy,
of McClain.
Pete Jones, of Miami Trace, headed the second team. Joining him was Dick
Witherspoon and Chuck Bath, both of Washington, Kevin Bailey of Hillsboro
and Larry Crabtree of McClain.
Hillsboro drew McClain in the sectional tournament at Waverly.
The Indians led most of the way. They posted a three-point lead after
three quarters and hung on for a final margin of 64- 58.
George Hamilton led the Tigers in scoring, with 18 markers. Kennedy
counted 14. Jewett racked up 21 and Coffman scored 18 for the Indians.
McClain’s season was over; but the Indians moved on to the sectional
finals, and would meet tough Albany Alexander.
Alexander was top seeded in the tourney. The Vikings proved to be too
tough for Hillsboro. They jumped out to a 20-10 lead after one quarter,
increased their lead to 40-24 at halftime, and coasted to an 80-64 win.
Jewett racked up 33 points and Larimer added 11 for the Indians.
Alexander had four men in double figures.
In other tournament action, SCOL co-champion Circleville fell to rival
Teays Valley in the Columbus sectional, 91-70, and Bishop Ready downed
Washington C.H., 74-52 at the Westland sectional.
Miami Trace, the other SCOL co-champ, beat Meigs in the Rio Grande
sectional and would meet tough Chillicothe in the district title game in the
Convo, at Athens.
Chillicothe, led by All-Stater Mark Bayless, was expected to make short
work of the Panthers, but, it didn’t happen. Guard Glen Gifford (at 5’9”),
who had broken his wrist five weeks earlier against McClain, returned to
action and coolly handled Chillicothe’s zone presses, as 6’5” Dave Persinger
intimidated the Cavaliers inside.
The Panthers controlled the boards and took a hard-fought 43-40 win, to
capture the district championship, and move into the Columbus regional.
Pete Jones’ 20 points led the way for Trace. The Panthers lost in the
regionals to end an outstanding season.
Madison Plains High School, which would become a member of the SCOL for
the 1973-74 school year, announced that they would be leaving the league
after only one season.
Principal Tom Shoemaker, of MP said that his school board did not feel
that the Golden Eagles could be competitive with the other SCOL schools,
particularly in football. MP was a new school, formed by the consolidation
of Madison South and The Plains (Mt. Sterling). There was not strong
community backing of the consolidation, resulting in several lost tax
levies, and in small turnouts for football and basketball teams, according
to the principal.
MP had spent the past two years working into the schedules of the other
SCOL schools, but had lost nearly every game against SCOL competition.
Also, London, which had indicated a desire to become a member, announced
that they had decided not to join the league, but to form a new loop with
Springfield Northeastern, Greenon, Urbana and Springfield Shawnee. London
would be the smallest school in this new league.
In January, the “eternal optimist” Jay Knierim, announced his
resignation as head football coach at McClain.
In February, Coach Dale Ambos resigned as head football coach at
Hillsboro.
When school opened in September, there would be some new faces along the
football sidelines in the South Central Ohio League.
Bob Patton is a Highland County sports historian and a contributing
writer to The Highland County Press.[[In-content Ad]]
For The Highland County Press
(continued from March 27)
On Feb. 9, 1973, Washington traveled to Circleville for a critical SCOL
matchup. Wilmington visited Miami Trace the same night, and the McClain
Tigers took on the Indians at Hillsboro.
For the second time this season, Hillsboro’s Indians utilized a 1-3-1
zone to clog the passing lanes and the Tigers shot poorly, enabling the
county seaters to take a 70-55 SCOL victory.
At Miami Trace, the Panthers walloped Wilmington, 74-60, as the Jones
boys both turned in big games. Washington put up a great battle at
Circleville, but the red and black had a little too much offense. The Tigers
captured the contest, 68-63.
The final league playing date of the 1972-73 season saw the Circleville
Tigers meet the McClain Tigers; the Hillsboro Indians taking on the
Wilmington Hurricane in the Wilmington gym and another renewal of the
Fayette County battle between WCH and Miami Trace.
McClain, after a great season in 1971-72, was having a hard time winning
this season. But with the great tradition at McClain and with the tireless
efforts of their cheerleaders Nanci Woods, Jo Streitenberger, Terri Hull,
Carol Crabtree, Sue Herman and Sue Ann Lucas, the spirit was high and loyal
McClain fans still showed up at the games in huge numbers. The Circleville
Tigers used 25-point performances by Truex and Graham to put another loss on
the McClain record, this time 80-64.
Hillsboro surprised Wilmington by administering a 62-59 defeat of the
Hurricane. David Larimer’s 17 markers and Turner’s 14 led the Indians, while
Wilson had 17 and McClary 16 for Wilmington. Miami Trace put another
beating on WCH, this time by a 64-55 count. The final SCOL standings were:
Circleville — 7-3, 14-4
Miami Trace — 7-3, 12-6
Washington — 6-4, 9-8
Hillsboro — 5-5, 10-8
Wilmington — 5-5, 9-8
McClain — 0-10, 4-14
Buddy Kennedy of McClain was the leading scorer in the SCOL with 357
points in all 18 games. He was followed by Don Jewett of Hillsboro, who
totaled 353 points. Dave Truex of league co-champion Circleville was third
with 328, Muff Jones of MT scored 306 and Robert Raizk of Wilmington totaled
276.
Jewett was named to the SCOL All-Star first team, along with Truex,
Jones, Raizk, of Wilmington, Tom Wilson, of Wilmington, and Buddy Kennedy,
of McClain.
Pete Jones, of Miami Trace, headed the second team. Joining him was Dick
Witherspoon and Chuck Bath, both of Washington, Kevin Bailey of Hillsboro
and Larry Crabtree of McClain.
Hillsboro drew McClain in the sectional tournament at Waverly.
The Indians led most of the way. They posted a three-point lead after
three quarters and hung on for a final margin of 64- 58.
George Hamilton led the Tigers in scoring, with 18 markers. Kennedy
counted 14. Jewett racked up 21 and Coffman scored 18 for the Indians.
McClain’s season was over; but the Indians moved on to the sectional
finals, and would meet tough Albany Alexander.
Alexander was top seeded in the tourney. The Vikings proved to be too
tough for Hillsboro. They jumped out to a 20-10 lead after one quarter,
increased their lead to 40-24 at halftime, and coasted to an 80-64 win.
Jewett racked up 33 points and Larimer added 11 for the Indians.
Alexander had four men in double figures.
In other tournament action, SCOL co-champion Circleville fell to rival
Teays Valley in the Columbus sectional, 91-70, and Bishop Ready downed
Washington C.H., 74-52 at the Westland sectional.
Miami Trace, the other SCOL co-champ, beat Meigs in the Rio Grande
sectional and would meet tough Chillicothe in the district title game in the
Convo, at Athens.
Chillicothe, led by All-Stater Mark Bayless, was expected to make short
work of the Panthers, but, it didn’t happen. Guard Glen Gifford (at 5’9”),
who had broken his wrist five weeks earlier against McClain, returned to
action and coolly handled Chillicothe’s zone presses, as 6’5” Dave Persinger
intimidated the Cavaliers inside.
The Panthers controlled the boards and took a hard-fought 43-40 win, to
capture the district championship, and move into the Columbus regional.
Pete Jones’ 20 points led the way for Trace. The Panthers lost in the
regionals to end an outstanding season.
Madison Plains High School, which would become a member of the SCOL for
the 1973-74 school year, announced that they would be leaving the league
after only one season.
Principal Tom Shoemaker, of MP said that his school board did not feel
that the Golden Eagles could be competitive with the other SCOL schools,
particularly in football. MP was a new school, formed by the consolidation
of Madison South and The Plains (Mt. Sterling). There was not strong
community backing of the consolidation, resulting in several lost tax
levies, and in small turnouts for football and basketball teams, according
to the principal.
MP had spent the past two years working into the schedules of the other
SCOL schools, but had lost nearly every game against SCOL competition.
Also, London, which had indicated a desire to become a member, announced
that they had decided not to join the league, but to form a new loop with
Springfield Northeastern, Greenon, Urbana and Springfield Shawnee. London
would be the smallest school in this new league.
In January, the “eternal optimist” Jay Knierim, announced his
resignation as head football coach at McClain.
In February, Coach Dale Ambos resigned as head football coach at
Hillsboro.
When school opened in September, there would be some new faces along the
football sidelines in the South Central Ohio League.
Bob Patton is a Highland County sports historian and a contributing
writer to The Highland County Press.[[In-content Ad]]