MHS off to quick start in '71-72 season
By
Bob Patton-
As area coaches prepared their high school teams for the 1971-72 basketball season, Sam Snyder was returning for his third season at McClain, Gary Shaffer was back at Washington, Buddy Bell was the new coach at Wilmington, John Lawhorn was still at Circleville, and Jan Stauffer was at Miami Trace.
Hillsboro had employed Robert Ream of Medina to replace Dave Larimer as head basketball coach. Ream had played basketball and baseball at Thiel College in Pennsylvania for three years but transferred to Akron University for his senior year and graduated there. He would also teach American history at Hillsboro and coach the freshman football team. This would be his first head coaching position.
The South Central Ohio League also announced that Madison Plains High School would join the league beginning with the 1973-74 school year. Madison Plains was a new school, created by the consolidation of Madison South and The Plains (Mt. Sterling). Their team would be known as the Golden Eagles. This would make the SCOL a sevenschool league.
Snyder was returning a tall and talented team at McClain. Four All-SCOL players were back from last year’s team, and the Tigers had about eight players who could come in and contribute. Sharp-shooting David Trefz had been first team All-SCOL in 1970-71, Bill Head and Mike Hull were both second team All-SCOL, while 6’6” Chuck Free was honorable mention. They would be joined by 6’3” Frank Lucas, a smooth performer around the basket, and Frank Strobel, a guard who missed most of the 1970-71 season due to injury. Bruce Coleman, a 6’2” forward, Homer Swift, a 6’1” forward and guard Tom Mowbray were all capable of turning in an outstanding performance, as was 5’8” guard Buddy Kennedy.
At Hillsboro, Coach Ream had some veterans returning as well: 6’ Don Jewett had been one of the premier players in the league in the early part of the 1970-71 season, before being injured in an auto accident only six games into the season. The Indians played their last 13 games without him – and, lost all 13. He was back this season, and Coach Ream hoped, in good playing condition. Senior Bruce Murphy was selected to the All-SCOL second team in 1970-71, and was expected to pick up where he left off and have another great season for the Indians. Jeff Hodson, a 6’3” center, was expected to contribute greatly with his rebounding and scoring ability. Eric Bailey had improved his shooting and figured to give the Indians a solid scoring threat from the outside. Charlie Gorman and Karl Frydryk were both hustling, hard-working kids who would definitely contribute.
The Indians opened their league season with McClain, at Hillsboro. The Tigers had opened with non-league Upper Arlington in the Hillsboro gym, because Upper Arlington refused to play in the crackerbox at McClain. But the Hillsboro gym was all right with McClain, and the Greenfield boys grounded out a 65-55 win.
On Dec. 3, in the Hillsboro vs. McClain contest, David Trefz and Mike Hull came out shooting and the Tigers held a 16-7 first quarter lead, which they never relinquished. The purple and gold took home a 67-55 SCOL win over Hillsboro. Frydryk led Hillsboro’s scoring with 17 markers, which included 11 free throws. The Indians lost Jewett in this game, as he broke his left arm.
On Saturday night, the Indians dropped another home game, this time to Clermont Northeastern. The final score was 55-49. McClain traveled to Wilmington in the second round of league play. The Hurricane had graduated nine lettermen, last year. McClain pounced on the young ‘Cane and racked up a 74-57 league win, behind Hull’s 16, Strobel’s 15 and Frank Lucas’ 13 points. David Trefz followed with 9 and Bill Head had 8, proving that it was dangerous to concentrate your defense on any one or two of the Tigers. Hillsboro played at Circleville the same night, where they took a 67- 49 pasting at the hands of the red and black. Jeff Hodson’s 14 points led Hillsboro’s scoring, while Bailey added 12. Terry Morrison scored 23 for Circleville and Dave Truex followed with 17.
The next night, McClain battled the East Clinton Astros on the McClain court. The Tigers stood around and enjoyed the game for 16 minutes, as the Astros surged to a 27-20 halftime lead. But after the intermission, it was all Tigers. Behind the sizzling Lucas’ 25 markers and Chuck Free’s 12, the Tigers outscored East Clinton 50-30 in the second half en route to a 70-57 win.
The Wilmington Hurricane blew in to Hillsboro December 17 expecting an easy win over the Indians. Coach Ream’s charges, though, had other ideas. The fired-up Indians outscored Wilmington in every quarter to notch a 61-50 win. It was Hillsboro’s first win of the season. Karl Frydryk led the winners’ scoring with 17 points. Gorman added 13. Raizk’s 12 was Wilmington’s best. But the McClain Tigers, playing at home, suffered a rare home-court loss to Miami Trace 68-61. The visiting Panthers utilized an effective 1- 3-1 zone, which cluttered the passing lanes and gave the Tigers problems getting open shots. The home club still led at halftime by a 29-26 margin. But encouraged by their defensive success, MT came out roaring in the second half. They took a four-point lead, which McClain had whittled to one by the third quarter stop.
In the final stanza, the Panthers employed a full court press. The Tigers seemed shaken. The press didn’t result in many steals, but it took the Tigers out of their offense. They fired up hurried and off-balanced shots. They were often out of rebounding position. It was just not a typical effort for the McClain team, and they suffered their first SCOL loss. As all the teams took few days off for the holidays, Trace held the lead in the league race with a 3-0 league mark. McClain and Circleville followed with 2-1 marks, Hillsboro and Washington were both 1- 2 and Wilmington was 0-3.
On Jan. 7, 1972, league competition resumed with Hillsboro at Washington, McClain at Circleville and Wilmington at Miami Trace.
The McClain Tigers jumped all over the Circleville Tigers, winning the battle of the boards by a wide margin and capturing the important league matchup by a score of 89-52. Hillsboro lost to Washington, 73-72 in two overtimes. At Miami Trace, the Panthers hammered Wilmington 71-52. The next Friday saw Washington at McClain, Hillsboro at Miami Trace and Circleville at Wilmington. Hillsboro put up a good battle, but had problems with the MT full-court press, allowing Trace to open up an 11-point lead. They won, 72-54. Murphy’s 17 and Gorman’s 15 showed the way for the Indians. MT had balanced scoring, led by Pete Jones’ 20 points.
On Jan. 21, the Hillsboro Indians journeyed across the county to challenge the McClain Tigers. Hillsboro hung around for a while, but, in the second quarter McClain’s leading scorer, David Trefz went to work and took the Indians out of contention. The Tigers outscored Hillsboro 45-29 in the second half, to take a 71-54 win. Hillsboro showed outstanding scoring balance in this contest. Murphy scored 12, Frydryk 11, Gorman 11 and Hodson 9. Bailey chipped in with 7. Free, Hull, Trefz and Kennedy were all in the 15 to 17 point range for the Tigers. At this stage of the season, McClain and Miami Trace were knotted atop the league field with five league wins and only one loss. The SCOL standings were:
McClain — 5-1, 11-2
Miami Trace — 5-1, 7-6
Circleville — 4-2, 8-3
Washington — 3-3, 4-9
Hillsboro — 1-5, 3-8
Wilmington — 0-6, 1-11
(To be continued)
Bob Patton is a Highland County sports historian and a contributing writer to The Highland County Press.[[In-content Ad]]
Hillsboro had employed Robert Ream of Medina to replace Dave Larimer as head basketball coach. Ream had played basketball and baseball at Thiel College in Pennsylvania for three years but transferred to Akron University for his senior year and graduated there. He would also teach American history at Hillsboro and coach the freshman football team. This would be his first head coaching position.
The South Central Ohio League also announced that Madison Plains High School would join the league beginning with the 1973-74 school year. Madison Plains was a new school, created by the consolidation of Madison South and The Plains (Mt. Sterling). Their team would be known as the Golden Eagles. This would make the SCOL a sevenschool league.
Snyder was returning a tall and talented team at McClain. Four All-SCOL players were back from last year’s team, and the Tigers had about eight players who could come in and contribute. Sharp-shooting David Trefz had been first team All-SCOL in 1970-71, Bill Head and Mike Hull were both second team All-SCOL, while 6’6” Chuck Free was honorable mention. They would be joined by 6’3” Frank Lucas, a smooth performer around the basket, and Frank Strobel, a guard who missed most of the 1970-71 season due to injury. Bruce Coleman, a 6’2” forward, Homer Swift, a 6’1” forward and guard Tom Mowbray were all capable of turning in an outstanding performance, as was 5’8” guard Buddy Kennedy.
At Hillsboro, Coach Ream had some veterans returning as well: 6’ Don Jewett had been one of the premier players in the league in the early part of the 1970-71 season, before being injured in an auto accident only six games into the season. The Indians played their last 13 games without him – and, lost all 13. He was back this season, and Coach Ream hoped, in good playing condition. Senior Bruce Murphy was selected to the All-SCOL second team in 1970-71, and was expected to pick up where he left off and have another great season for the Indians. Jeff Hodson, a 6’3” center, was expected to contribute greatly with his rebounding and scoring ability. Eric Bailey had improved his shooting and figured to give the Indians a solid scoring threat from the outside. Charlie Gorman and Karl Frydryk were both hustling, hard-working kids who would definitely contribute.
The Indians opened their league season with McClain, at Hillsboro. The Tigers had opened with non-league Upper Arlington in the Hillsboro gym, because Upper Arlington refused to play in the crackerbox at McClain. But the Hillsboro gym was all right with McClain, and the Greenfield boys grounded out a 65-55 win.
On Dec. 3, in the Hillsboro vs. McClain contest, David Trefz and Mike Hull came out shooting and the Tigers held a 16-7 first quarter lead, which they never relinquished. The purple and gold took home a 67-55 SCOL win over Hillsboro. Frydryk led Hillsboro’s scoring with 17 markers, which included 11 free throws. The Indians lost Jewett in this game, as he broke his left arm.
On Saturday night, the Indians dropped another home game, this time to Clermont Northeastern. The final score was 55-49. McClain traveled to Wilmington in the second round of league play. The Hurricane had graduated nine lettermen, last year. McClain pounced on the young ‘Cane and racked up a 74-57 league win, behind Hull’s 16, Strobel’s 15 and Frank Lucas’ 13 points. David Trefz followed with 9 and Bill Head had 8, proving that it was dangerous to concentrate your defense on any one or two of the Tigers. Hillsboro played at Circleville the same night, where they took a 67- 49 pasting at the hands of the red and black. Jeff Hodson’s 14 points led Hillsboro’s scoring, while Bailey added 12. Terry Morrison scored 23 for Circleville and Dave Truex followed with 17.
The next night, McClain battled the East Clinton Astros on the McClain court. The Tigers stood around and enjoyed the game for 16 minutes, as the Astros surged to a 27-20 halftime lead. But after the intermission, it was all Tigers. Behind the sizzling Lucas’ 25 markers and Chuck Free’s 12, the Tigers outscored East Clinton 50-30 in the second half en route to a 70-57 win.
The Wilmington Hurricane blew in to Hillsboro December 17 expecting an easy win over the Indians. Coach Ream’s charges, though, had other ideas. The fired-up Indians outscored Wilmington in every quarter to notch a 61-50 win. It was Hillsboro’s first win of the season. Karl Frydryk led the winners’ scoring with 17 points. Gorman added 13. Raizk’s 12 was Wilmington’s best. But the McClain Tigers, playing at home, suffered a rare home-court loss to Miami Trace 68-61. The visiting Panthers utilized an effective 1- 3-1 zone, which cluttered the passing lanes and gave the Tigers problems getting open shots. The home club still led at halftime by a 29-26 margin. But encouraged by their defensive success, MT came out roaring in the second half. They took a four-point lead, which McClain had whittled to one by the third quarter stop.
In the final stanza, the Panthers employed a full court press. The Tigers seemed shaken. The press didn’t result in many steals, but it took the Tigers out of their offense. They fired up hurried and off-balanced shots. They were often out of rebounding position. It was just not a typical effort for the McClain team, and they suffered their first SCOL loss. As all the teams took few days off for the holidays, Trace held the lead in the league race with a 3-0 league mark. McClain and Circleville followed with 2-1 marks, Hillsboro and Washington were both 1- 2 and Wilmington was 0-3.
On Jan. 7, 1972, league competition resumed with Hillsboro at Washington, McClain at Circleville and Wilmington at Miami Trace.
The McClain Tigers jumped all over the Circleville Tigers, winning the battle of the boards by a wide margin and capturing the important league matchup by a score of 89-52. Hillsboro lost to Washington, 73-72 in two overtimes. At Miami Trace, the Panthers hammered Wilmington 71-52. The next Friday saw Washington at McClain, Hillsboro at Miami Trace and Circleville at Wilmington. Hillsboro put up a good battle, but had problems with the MT full-court press, allowing Trace to open up an 11-point lead. They won, 72-54. Murphy’s 17 and Gorman’s 15 showed the way for the Indians. MT had balanced scoring, led by Pete Jones’ 20 points.
On Jan. 21, the Hillsboro Indians journeyed across the county to challenge the McClain Tigers. Hillsboro hung around for a while, but, in the second quarter McClain’s leading scorer, David Trefz went to work and took the Indians out of contention. The Tigers outscored Hillsboro 45-29 in the second half, to take a 71-54 win. Hillsboro showed outstanding scoring balance in this contest. Murphy scored 12, Frydryk 11, Gorman 11 and Hodson 9. Bailey chipped in with 7. Free, Hull, Trefz and Kennedy were all in the 15 to 17 point range for the Tigers. At this stage of the season, McClain and Miami Trace were knotted atop the league field with five league wins and only one loss. The SCOL standings were:
McClain — 5-1, 11-2
Miami Trace — 5-1, 7-6
Circleville — 4-2, 8-3
Washington — 3-3, 4-9
Hillsboro — 1-5, 3-8
Wilmington — 0-6, 1-11
(To be continued)
Bob Patton is a Highland County sports historian and a contributing writer to The Highland County Press.[[In-content Ad]]