Four Tigers named All-SCOL in 1984-85
By
Bob Patton-
(Continued from last week.)
On Saturday, March 9, 1985, the determined Tigers captured the sectional title by edging Waverly, 57-54.
The Tigers held a one-point lead with only 10 seconds remaining in the game, when Jeff Coleman missed the front end of a one-and-one. The ball went out of bounds and was awarded to Waverly. The orange-and-black quickly got the ball to their backcourt ace, Dave Strickland, who brought it up the court against the tough McClain press.
Strickland would look for the game-winning (and tournament-winning) shot.
But just across the 10-second line, Coleman stripped Strickland of the ball. Waverly fouled the McClain guard immediately, and with only three seconds on the clock, Coleman banged home both free throws.
The McClain Tigers were champions of the Unioto AA Sectional Tourney. They would be going to Athens.
In the AAA District, at Athens, a big, rugged Logan team trampled Miami Trace, 84-48. The Logan team totally dominated the boards by an astonishing 49-21 margin.
The Panthers were down, 22-8, after one quarter, and the outcome was pretty well decided. The Panthers would be getting out the ball gloves and the bats.
Winning the Unioto sectional qualified the 21-1 McClain Tigers for the AA Athens District Tournament. The Tigers were the seventh-ranked AA team in Ohio. They would meet the Jackson Ironmen Saturday night, March 16, in the Convocation Center at Ohio University.
Jackson had earned the right to challenge the Tigers by downing Procterville Fairland in the sectional tournament at Ironton.
In the second game, Saturday evening, Thornville Sheridan would battle Portsmouth West. Both winners would advance.
A McClain win over Jackson would put the Tigers in the regional semifinal game, also at the Convo, at 8 p.m. Tuesday, March 19.
The Tigers trounced Jackson, 78-64, winning their second district championship in three years and setting a new MHS record for wins in one season.
Coach Tom Doyle’s 1954 team had won 21 games.
The Tigers put on a clinic, particularly in the second half. With 3:16 remaining in the third quarter, they led the Ironmen by 24 points. Coach VanMatre substituted freely throughout the remainder of the game.
Thus, McClain advanced to the regional semifinals, where they would meet a very talented Columbus Linden McKinley squad Tuesday night, March 26.
The Tigers put up a terrific battle against the tall and talented Panthers of Linden McKinley, but they were swimming upstream all the way.
The Panthers jumped out to an early 18-6 lead, primarily due to the superb outside shooting of All-State candidate Reggie Rankin, who ended the game with 24 points. Six-foot-seven Chris Wall took care of the inside scoring with 20 points.
The Panthers stood 6’7”, 6’7” and 6’5” along the front line.
Despite getting off to a slow start, the Tigers never gave up. With six minutes remaining in the third quarter, McClain scored three unanswered buckets, bringing the score to 34-32.
But Rankin split the cords from 24 feet out on the next two possessions, and the Tigers never got any closer the rest of the game.
The final score was: Linden McKinley 57, McClain 46.
It was a memorable season, but, it was over, now.
Wilmington’s Greg Nared was named first-team All Southwestern District, and Jeff Coleman of McClain was named first-team All-Southeastern District.
When the All-State listings were released, Nared was named to the second team.
The annual SCOL banquet was held March 18 at Miami Trace High School.
The gold basketball, signifying an undefeated (SCOL) season, was presented to McClain High School.
The 1984-85 All-SCOL Basketball Team was announced. It included (in no particular order): Eddie Simms, Circleville; Dewayne Evans, Washington; Jeff Coleman, McClain; Tony Jackson, McClain; David Mischal, McClain; Sam Page, McClain; Mark Matthews, Miami Trace; Greg Nared, * Wilmington; Ken Stryker, Wilmington; Cam Storer, Wilmington; John Lambecke, Wilmington; Mark Roberts, Hillsboro; Hugh Ballein, Hillsboro.
(* Honorary Captain.)
Bob Patton is a Highland County sports historian and a contributing writer to The Highland County Press.[[In-content Ad]]
On Saturday, March 9, 1985, the determined Tigers captured the sectional title by edging Waverly, 57-54.
The Tigers held a one-point lead with only 10 seconds remaining in the game, when Jeff Coleman missed the front end of a one-and-one. The ball went out of bounds and was awarded to Waverly. The orange-and-black quickly got the ball to their backcourt ace, Dave Strickland, who brought it up the court against the tough McClain press.
Strickland would look for the game-winning (and tournament-winning) shot.
But just across the 10-second line, Coleman stripped Strickland of the ball. Waverly fouled the McClain guard immediately, and with only three seconds on the clock, Coleman banged home both free throws.
The McClain Tigers were champions of the Unioto AA Sectional Tourney. They would be going to Athens.
In the AAA District, at Athens, a big, rugged Logan team trampled Miami Trace, 84-48. The Logan team totally dominated the boards by an astonishing 49-21 margin.
The Panthers were down, 22-8, after one quarter, and the outcome was pretty well decided. The Panthers would be getting out the ball gloves and the bats.
Winning the Unioto sectional qualified the 21-1 McClain Tigers for the AA Athens District Tournament. The Tigers were the seventh-ranked AA team in Ohio. They would meet the Jackson Ironmen Saturday night, March 16, in the Convocation Center at Ohio University.
Jackson had earned the right to challenge the Tigers by downing Procterville Fairland in the sectional tournament at Ironton.
In the second game, Saturday evening, Thornville Sheridan would battle Portsmouth West. Both winners would advance.
A McClain win over Jackson would put the Tigers in the regional semifinal game, also at the Convo, at 8 p.m. Tuesday, March 19.
The Tigers trounced Jackson, 78-64, winning their second district championship in three years and setting a new MHS record for wins in one season.
Coach Tom Doyle’s 1954 team had won 21 games.
The Tigers put on a clinic, particularly in the second half. With 3:16 remaining in the third quarter, they led the Ironmen by 24 points. Coach VanMatre substituted freely throughout the remainder of the game.
Thus, McClain advanced to the regional semifinals, where they would meet a very talented Columbus Linden McKinley squad Tuesday night, March 26.
The Tigers put up a terrific battle against the tall and talented Panthers of Linden McKinley, but they were swimming upstream all the way.
The Panthers jumped out to an early 18-6 lead, primarily due to the superb outside shooting of All-State candidate Reggie Rankin, who ended the game with 24 points. Six-foot-seven Chris Wall took care of the inside scoring with 20 points.
The Panthers stood 6’7”, 6’7” and 6’5” along the front line.
Despite getting off to a slow start, the Tigers never gave up. With six minutes remaining in the third quarter, McClain scored three unanswered buckets, bringing the score to 34-32.
But Rankin split the cords from 24 feet out on the next two possessions, and the Tigers never got any closer the rest of the game.
The final score was: Linden McKinley 57, McClain 46.
It was a memorable season, but, it was over, now.
Wilmington’s Greg Nared was named first-team All Southwestern District, and Jeff Coleman of McClain was named first-team All-Southeastern District.
When the All-State listings were released, Nared was named to the second team.
The annual SCOL banquet was held March 18 at Miami Trace High School.
The gold basketball, signifying an undefeated (SCOL) season, was presented to McClain High School.
The 1984-85 All-SCOL Basketball Team was announced. It included (in no particular order): Eddie Simms, Circleville; Dewayne Evans, Washington; Jeff Coleman, McClain; Tony Jackson, McClain; David Mischal, McClain; Sam Page, McClain; Mark Matthews, Miami Trace; Greg Nared, * Wilmington; Ken Stryker, Wilmington; Cam Storer, Wilmington; John Lambecke, Wilmington; Mark Roberts, Hillsboro; Hugh Ballein, Hillsboro.
(* Honorary Captain.)
Bob Patton is a Highland County sports historian and a contributing writer to The Highland County Press.[[In-content Ad]]