Not off the Press: Basketball, basketball and some football
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
First off, I want to send a big congratulations to the Clinton-Massie football team for earning a berth in the Division IV State Football Championship game with their win over Columbus Bishop Hartley by a 45-21 score Friday night.
CM (14-0) will play for the state title on Friday, Nov. 30 at 3 p.m. at Canton Fawcett Stadium, where they will face St. Clairsville (14-0). This is the first time either school has played for a state football championship.
St. Clairsville defeated defending champion Creston Norwayne, 40-27 in its state semifinal game.
Unable to attend the playoff games due to the basketball season and writing the yearly basketball preview, I've quietly been cheering on the Falcons from afar.
I had a chance to watch them play McClain this football season and had a chance to talk with them after their first two-a-day practice this August, and even then you could tell there was something special about the Falcons … that, and they said it was their goal to get past where they were last season, which has been achieved so far.
They still have one game left.
Like I've said many times this year when asked … the '12 Clinton-Massie team is the best high school football team I've ever watched. I wish them the best, and I want to thank them for continually representing the South Central Ohio League this football season … best of luck to CM this Friday. Go Falcons!
As for this column, I took a couple weeks off to work on the basketball preview and to just get a fresh start before the basketball season began … and what do you know, the season has arrived.
• Basketball season is here
Ready or not, basketball season has arrived with regular-season girls action already starting for some teams, the rest will begin this week, and I've had the chance to see both SCOL previews.
The two SCOL basketball previews were held at Miami Trace, and I want to thank them for their hospitality for their events, and the two girls regular-season games were Saturday games at the Paint Valley Lady 'Cats Classic held in Bainbridge at PVHS.
As for the two games I had the chance to see, Whiteoak and Lynchburg-Clay gained season-opening wins at the Classic on Saturday where the two best players on their respective teams were Emma Wardlow (WHS) and Laney Lewis (LC) as they were named their team MVPs of the game.
They each played good games, but the game by Lewis was one of the best I've seen her play in her four seasons, and Vinton County is a quality team.
I didn't get to see the Fairfield opener Friday night at the Classic as it was a last minute add-on game, but what I heard was Heather Cox scored 17 points in the Lady Lion loss to Adena.
I'm not being a homer, but Highland County has a lot of talent on the basketball court this season, which should make for an exciting winter.
Also included in this basketball season is the preview I wrote (come to the HCP office for a free copy), and I want to thank all the students and coaches who took time out of their schedule and spoke with me.
• The week ahead
There are a lot of games on the schedule this week … let's take a look at some of the games that catch my interest the most.
Monday, Nov. 26
- Girls Basketball: McClain vs. Jackson - I'm interested in seeing how the Lady Tigers open the season up. This will be a tough game for the young Lady Tigers, as I saw Jackson at the Classic, and they played well from my non-technical basketball eye. Still, this game interests me.
- Girls Basketball: Fairfield at East Clinton - I haven't seen FHS yet, but I have seen East Clinton at the SCOL preview, and they played Hillsboro tough, so this could be a competitive game for each team. Last season, FHS defeated EC in their season opener, so again, this could could be a close one.
Tuesday, Nov. 27
- Girls Basketball: Hillsboro vs. Blanchester - This is the season opener for the Lady Indians, and this will be a nice test to start the year. Just from what I saw at the preview, HHS is improved defensively, and this is a long season, so it will be interesting to see where HHS starts out.
Thursday, Nov. 29
- Girls Basketball: Fairfield at Manchester: I can't say I know a lot about Manchester yet, but they did lose to a quality Paint Valley team on Saturday by a 43-24 score, so this game could be a toss-up and another nice test for FHS early in the season.
Friday, Nov. 30
- Boys Basketball: All five Highland County teams open the season on the road, so all five will be tested away from their home courts right out of the gate. One game that really interests me is Lynchburg-Clay at Miami Trace. I feel both of these teams will be improved with the core players they each have returning and could be the Game of the Week to open the season. Other games that night include: Whiteoak at Notre Dame, Hillsboro at Western Brown, Fairfield at Southeastern and McClain at Jackson.
Saturday, Dec. 1
- Boys Basketball: Zane Trace Tip-Off Classic - If you are bored on Saturday, or even if you aren't, the place to be for high school basketball is at Zane Trace High School for the annual Tip-Off event. Highland County will have back-to-back games at approximately 4:15 and 6 p.m., starting with McClain taking on what could be a very good North Adams team. I'm excited to see both of these teams as they've had struggles in recent years, and it is time for both of them to start the climb back to the top of their respective league standings.
Following that game, Hillsboro will face Lucasville Valley. For an HHS team with four new starters, it will be interesting to see how two tough games start their season. Either way, playing tough competition early on can only make teams better in the long run, right?
This is what is so great about the early season games … we have no idea what will happen until the games are played. Can't wait.
[[In-content Ad]]
• Wrestling begins this coming weekend
Though I don't know a lot about the sport, I can say I know enough that Hillsboro and McClain have a lot of talent taking the mat this season. Both schools have wrestlers who have either made the state tournament or are capable of reaching the event in Columbus, so it should be a very productive season of wrestling in Highland County. Click here for the HHS preview and here for the McClain preview.
• Random sports thoughts
- I guess Maryland and Rutgers is a good thing for the Big Ten … it is a money decision more than anything. I like Rutgers for football.
- Can't wait to see who Notre Dame plays in the BCS National Championship Game. My guess is Alabama.
- It can easily be said I'm surprised both Ohio State and Notre Dame each went undefeated in the regular season. Didn't see that happening in August.
- Thumbs up to the two Colts cheerleaders who shaved their heads to raise $20,000 in honor of Colts head coach Chuck Pagano. Nice move by all involved for a great cause.
- Congrats to Jack Taylor … the guy who scored 138 points in one game last week. I don't blame him … see the hoop, shoot the ball.
- Strange Auburn fired their coach after he won a national title two years ago … I guess that is why they are the second team in Alabama and probably always will be. I know AU has had a couple bad seasons, but a national title should get a guy four years to rebuild. Am I wrong?
- Is the Big Ten title game a joke this season? The third best team in a division playing for the conference championship is wrong, but rules are rules, and Penn State and Ohio State must pay the price.
- On a personal note as a Penn State fan, I've never been more proud to be a fan of the football program after the season they competed. Thank you the players who stayed and gave me something to cheer and sometimes yell about. The next few years will be interesting … I really hope Coach O'Brien can recruit.
- Carson Palmer was serious when he said he'd never play in Cincinnati again … on the plus side, he did finally pass the ball to a couple Bengal players Sunday.
- The NY Jets finally got to their "mascot" Fireman Ed, as he resigned Sunday from his non-official role as the Jets mascot in the stands.
• Stat of the Week
Clinton-Massie setting the all-time scoring record for Ohio high school football with 776 points this season. Again, I wish this team nothing but the best in their state championship game.
• Quote of the Week
"We knew Vinton County wouldn't quit, and they battled back. Our defense stepped up. We have to continue to play defense like we did in the second half." — Whitney Lewis, Lynchburg-Clay girls basketball head coach, following their 41-36 win over Vinton County Saturday.
• (A second) Quote of the Week
"This is great for the kids. Any type of success is good, and hopefully we can build off it. We have no easy games, and we just have to continue to build." — Mike Cooper, Whiteoak girls basketball head coach following their win Saturday against Western Latham.
• In Memory of Marshall Banks
On a somber note, I want to send my condolences to the family and friends of Marshall Banks, who passed away Thursday. Marshall was a WHS graduate and an All-Ohio Division IV baseball selection two times.
I had the opportunity to cover games Marshall played in at WHS his junior and senior seasons, and I'm saddened by his passing. I didn't know him on a personal level, but as a student-athlete, he was one of the best baseball players I've covered on the high school baseball diamonds.
In four seasons at Whiteoak, Banks (who was a catcher at WHS) compiled 113 hits, finishing with a career batting average of .471. Of his 113 hits, Banks had 41 doubles, nine triples and two career home runs. His career slugging percentage was .742. Banks also had 93 RBIs and 71 runs scored.
Just from the little I knew Marshall, he was a respectful person, and from the tributes on the internet, I can tell he was loved by many.
Again, I just want to send my condolences to his friends and family for their loss.
Stephen Forsha is the sports editor of The Highland County Press. He can be reached at sforsha@gmail.com. Follow Stephen on Twitter @hcpsportseditor.
CM (14-0) will play for the state title on Friday, Nov. 30 at 3 p.m. at Canton Fawcett Stadium, where they will face St. Clairsville (14-0). This is the first time either school has played for a state football championship.
St. Clairsville defeated defending champion Creston Norwayne, 40-27 in its state semifinal game.
Unable to attend the playoff games due to the basketball season and writing the yearly basketball preview, I've quietly been cheering on the Falcons from afar.
I had a chance to watch them play McClain this football season and had a chance to talk with them after their first two-a-day practice this August, and even then you could tell there was something special about the Falcons … that, and they said it was their goal to get past where they were last season, which has been achieved so far.
They still have one game left.
Like I've said many times this year when asked … the '12 Clinton-Massie team is the best high school football team I've ever watched. I wish them the best, and I want to thank them for continually representing the South Central Ohio League this football season … best of luck to CM this Friday. Go Falcons!
As for this column, I took a couple weeks off to work on the basketball preview and to just get a fresh start before the basketball season began … and what do you know, the season has arrived.
• Basketball season is here
Ready or not, basketball season has arrived with regular-season girls action already starting for some teams, the rest will begin this week, and I've had the chance to see both SCOL previews.
The two SCOL basketball previews were held at Miami Trace, and I want to thank them for their hospitality for their events, and the two girls regular-season games were Saturday games at the Paint Valley Lady 'Cats Classic held in Bainbridge at PVHS.
As for the two games I had the chance to see, Whiteoak and Lynchburg-Clay gained season-opening wins at the Classic on Saturday where the two best players on their respective teams were Emma Wardlow (WHS) and Laney Lewis (LC) as they were named their team MVPs of the game.
They each played good games, but the game by Lewis was one of the best I've seen her play in her four seasons, and Vinton County is a quality team.
I didn't get to see the Fairfield opener Friday night at the Classic as it was a last minute add-on game, but what I heard was Heather Cox scored 17 points in the Lady Lion loss to Adena.
I'm not being a homer, but Highland County has a lot of talent on the basketball court this season, which should make for an exciting winter.
Also included in this basketball season is the preview I wrote (come to the HCP office for a free copy), and I want to thank all the students and coaches who took time out of their schedule and spoke with me.
• The week ahead
There are a lot of games on the schedule this week … let's take a look at some of the games that catch my interest the most.
Monday, Nov. 26
- Girls Basketball: McClain vs. Jackson - I'm interested in seeing how the Lady Tigers open the season up. This will be a tough game for the young Lady Tigers, as I saw Jackson at the Classic, and they played well from my non-technical basketball eye. Still, this game interests me.
- Girls Basketball: Fairfield at East Clinton - I haven't seen FHS yet, but I have seen East Clinton at the SCOL preview, and they played Hillsboro tough, so this could be a competitive game for each team. Last season, FHS defeated EC in their season opener, so again, this could could be a close one.
Tuesday, Nov. 27
- Girls Basketball: Hillsboro vs. Blanchester - This is the season opener for the Lady Indians, and this will be a nice test to start the year. Just from what I saw at the preview, HHS is improved defensively, and this is a long season, so it will be interesting to see where HHS starts out.
Thursday, Nov. 29
- Girls Basketball: Fairfield at Manchester: I can't say I know a lot about Manchester yet, but they did lose to a quality Paint Valley team on Saturday by a 43-24 score, so this game could be a toss-up and another nice test for FHS early in the season.
Friday, Nov. 30
- Boys Basketball: All five Highland County teams open the season on the road, so all five will be tested away from their home courts right out of the gate. One game that really interests me is Lynchburg-Clay at Miami Trace. I feel both of these teams will be improved with the core players they each have returning and could be the Game of the Week to open the season. Other games that night include: Whiteoak at Notre Dame, Hillsboro at Western Brown, Fairfield at Southeastern and McClain at Jackson.
Saturday, Dec. 1
- Boys Basketball: Zane Trace Tip-Off Classic - If you are bored on Saturday, or even if you aren't, the place to be for high school basketball is at Zane Trace High School for the annual Tip-Off event. Highland County will have back-to-back games at approximately 4:15 and 6 p.m., starting with McClain taking on what could be a very good North Adams team. I'm excited to see both of these teams as they've had struggles in recent years, and it is time for both of them to start the climb back to the top of their respective league standings.
Following that game, Hillsboro will face Lucasville Valley. For an HHS team with four new starters, it will be interesting to see how two tough games start their season. Either way, playing tough competition early on can only make teams better in the long run, right?
This is what is so great about the early season games … we have no idea what will happen until the games are played. Can't wait.
[[In-content Ad]]
• Wrestling begins this coming weekend
Though I don't know a lot about the sport, I can say I know enough that Hillsboro and McClain have a lot of talent taking the mat this season. Both schools have wrestlers who have either made the state tournament or are capable of reaching the event in Columbus, so it should be a very productive season of wrestling in Highland County. Click here for the HHS preview and here for the McClain preview.
• Random sports thoughts
- I guess Maryland and Rutgers is a good thing for the Big Ten … it is a money decision more than anything. I like Rutgers for football.
- Can't wait to see who Notre Dame plays in the BCS National Championship Game. My guess is Alabama.
- It can easily be said I'm surprised both Ohio State and Notre Dame each went undefeated in the regular season. Didn't see that happening in August.
- Thumbs up to the two Colts cheerleaders who shaved their heads to raise $20,000 in honor of Colts head coach Chuck Pagano. Nice move by all involved for a great cause.
- Congrats to Jack Taylor … the guy who scored 138 points in one game last week. I don't blame him … see the hoop, shoot the ball.
- Strange Auburn fired their coach after he won a national title two years ago … I guess that is why they are the second team in Alabama and probably always will be. I know AU has had a couple bad seasons, but a national title should get a guy four years to rebuild. Am I wrong?
- Is the Big Ten title game a joke this season? The third best team in a division playing for the conference championship is wrong, but rules are rules, and Penn State and Ohio State must pay the price.
- On a personal note as a Penn State fan, I've never been more proud to be a fan of the football program after the season they competed. Thank you the players who stayed and gave me something to cheer and sometimes yell about. The next few years will be interesting … I really hope Coach O'Brien can recruit.
- Carson Palmer was serious when he said he'd never play in Cincinnati again … on the plus side, he did finally pass the ball to a couple Bengal players Sunday.
- The NY Jets finally got to their "mascot" Fireman Ed, as he resigned Sunday from his non-official role as the Jets mascot in the stands.
• Stat of the Week
Clinton-Massie setting the all-time scoring record for Ohio high school football with 776 points this season. Again, I wish this team nothing but the best in their state championship game.
• Quote of the Week
"We knew Vinton County wouldn't quit, and they battled back. Our defense stepped up. We have to continue to play defense like we did in the second half." — Whitney Lewis, Lynchburg-Clay girls basketball head coach, following their 41-36 win over Vinton County Saturday.
• (A second) Quote of the Week
"This is great for the kids. Any type of success is good, and hopefully we can build off it. We have no easy games, and we just have to continue to build." — Mike Cooper, Whiteoak girls basketball head coach following their win Saturday against Western Latham.
• In Memory of Marshall Banks
On a somber note, I want to send my condolences to the family and friends of Marshall Banks, who passed away Thursday. Marshall was a WHS graduate and an All-Ohio Division IV baseball selection two times.
I had the opportunity to cover games Marshall played in at WHS his junior and senior seasons, and I'm saddened by his passing. I didn't know him on a personal level, but as a student-athlete, he was one of the best baseball players I've covered on the high school baseball diamonds.
In four seasons at Whiteoak, Banks (who was a catcher at WHS) compiled 113 hits, finishing with a career batting average of .471. Of his 113 hits, Banks had 41 doubles, nine triples and two career home runs. His career slugging percentage was .742. Banks also had 93 RBIs and 71 runs scored.
Just from the little I knew Marshall, he was a respectful person, and from the tributes on the internet, I can tell he was loved by many.
Again, I just want to send my condolences to his friends and family for their loss.
Stephen Forsha is the sports editor of The Highland County Press. He can be reached at sforsha@gmail.com. Follow Stephen on Twitter @hcpsportseditor.