Not off the Press: A record-breaking night, along with a lot of basketball ahead
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
• A record-breaking night
I have to start off by sending my congratulations to Fairfield's Cameron Rolark for his performance on Saturday night against the Adena Warriors.
What a great, great display of shooting the basketball from beyond the arc. It was like watching an NBA 3-point shooting contest, as he made a total of 11 in the game, but he made nine – yes, NINE – in the first half, six in the first quarter.
If you were there, you realize just how great of a first half Rolark had. He finished the game with 43 points (two shy of tying the single-game record at FHS) but did set the scoring record for a half with 33.
That was the type of shooting performance I've waited to see all season, and I finally got to see it.
Here is a link to the game story: http://bit.ly/g2wvXr
• Girls Tournament Draw
Here are the games for Highland County teams:
Division II
No. 4 McClain vs. Logan Elm on Wednesday, Feb. 16 at Adena
No. 8 Hillsboro vs. Waverly on Monday, Feb. 14 at Adena (7 p.m.)
Division III
No. 6 Lynchburg-Clay vs. Adena on Saturday, Feb. 19 at Lucasville-Valley (1 p.m.)
Division IV
Fairfield vs. Franklin Furnace Green on Monday, Feb. 14 at McDermott Northwest (6:15 p.m.)
Whiteoak vs. Sciotoville East on Monday, Feb. 14 at McDermott Northwest (8 p.m.)
• The Week Ahead
Has anyone looked at the high school basketball schedule this week?
On Monday, we have a makeup game between the Miami Trace Lady Panthers and the McClain Lady Tigers at McClain High School. Earlier this season, MT beat MHS at The Panther Pit in a very close game, but this game on Monday has even greater importance. MHS has two league losses, MT has none, so if the Lady Tigers want to win the South Central Ohio League title, I think it is safe to say this is a MUST win for them.
Here is a link to their game earlier in the season at MT. MT won the game, 50-46: http://bit.ly/fQx63T
I think this game will be full of emotion, as it will be Senior Night for MHS and they need this game to stay in the SCOL title hunt. MT will also enter the game undefeated, while MHS will be 7-2 in the SCOL and 11-5 overall. In their last three meetings, MHS has lost all three by a combined score of 136-100. Two of the losses came at MT, and the other one was at the Convo in Athens.
Following their win two games ago against the Washington Lady Blue Lions, MHS head coach Dennis Overstake, who is in his 30th season at the helm of the Lady Tigers, said this about Miami Trace: "They (MT) won't change anything because they have been so successful with what Coach (James) Stutzman teaches his team," he said. "The kids have been through the program, and they know what to expect. They will come with their best effort, and last time the game came down to the last possession."
There are a couple of good games I'm looking forward to on Tuesday with the FHS Lions against the Manchester Greyhounds and McClain Tigers vs. Miami Trace, both games being boys games. Haven't decided where I will be yet. A win by MHS would keep teams alive in the SCOL race, but an MT win would clinch at least a share of the SCOL title, I think.
The FHS game is a rematch from a game Friday night where the Lions lost by one point (69-68) at Manchester. The Lions led in the second half, but the Greyhounds came away with the win. Tuesday's makeup game should, and probably will, be close once again. This will be the first of three games this coming week for the Lions. Following their game Monday, FHS will play at Fayetteville on Wednesday and vs. West Union on Friday, which will be the Lions' homecoming game.
On Wednesday, there are three good games on the slate with the aforementioned FHS-Fayetteville game, HHS girls basketball vs. McClain (a makeup game) and the Whiteoak boys team against Ripley in another makeup game. Depending on the outcome of the MHS-MTHS girls game on Monday, the stakes could be high for the Lady Tigers on Wednesday. In the Ripley-WHS boys game, well, the Wildcats could shake up some things in the SHL with a win over the first-place Blue Jays. I haven't seen RHS in person yet this season, but from what I have been told about them, they are a tough team to beat. Should be a good game.
Thursday's schedule has four girls basketball games on the schedule, with, in my opinion, the Lynchburg-Clay vs. North Adams girls game being the best of the night. LC and NA play in the same division, and a win in this game is for positioning in the league.
So after four big days of basketball, Friday's game of the day, so to speak, could possibly be the HHS Indians vs. Clinton-Massie in boys basketball. In their first meeting this season, CM beat HHS 40-38 at HHS.
This should be an interesting week of basketball for Highland County teams.
• Ten quick thoughts about high school sports
1. I want to send out my congratulations to all the members of both inaugural Hall of Fame classes of the Lynchburg-Clay High School and Fairfield High School. LC had their ceremony last week, and FHS had theirs this past Saturday.
2. All these make-up games can confuse the heck out of a sports editor when he tries to update standings.
3. No basketball team in Highland County will go winless this season. All 10 teams have at least one win. That is a great thing.
4. I'm looking forward to the SCOL wrestling matches this Saturday at McClain High School. This is their first home match in nine years, I was told.
5. I want to send out my third congrats of this column, this one to Mason Hunick, who recently gained his 100th career win in wrestling for the Indians.
6. Did anyone read about how the OHSAA will be voting in April on if football teams will be allowed a few days of practice in May? I'll talk about that more at a later date.
7. This coming Sunday, the boys sectional tournament draw will happen. Looking forward to seeing where Highland County teams go.
8. I've been having this debate/conversation with random people the last few weeks … Who is the best player in the SCOL and SHL boys and girls basketball? I have a few players in mind, what about anyone else?
9. Hillsboro senior soccer player Lauren Colliver signed her National Letter of Intent last week to play women's soccer at Miami University next fall. They got a quality player and person.
10. The McClain vs. London boys game on Friday sounded like it had an awesome ending, thanks to a 3-pointer by Zach Uhl. Thanks to Mike Seely of Seely Portraits for the great photo he allowed me to use with the game story with stats provided by Karen Yeager. Now that is what I call TEAMWORK!
• Quote of the Week: "Wow. That's really all I can say about that is wow. He was just in a different world (Saturday). Cameron is a very streaky shooter. When he gets hot, he can do that, and that was amazing." — Fairfield head coach Matt Carson following Cameron Rolark's 43-point game Saturday night against Adena.
• Unique Stat of the Week: In the SCOL game between the Hillsboro Indians and Miami Trace Panthers, both teams combined to use zero time outs in the first quarter.
• A Second Unique Stat of the Week: Devante Ames scored 13 points in the first half against Miami Trace, all in the second quarter … plus he came off the bench.
• A Third (and Final) Unique Stat of the Week: In the Unioto game against McClain (girls basketball) on Saturday, UHS had 33 free-throw attempts and MHS had nine.
• A random observation: While covering the HHS-MT boys game Friday night at MTHS, I noticed the stands weren't as full as they should be for a game with first place on the line. Don't get me wrong, the game had a great atmosphere, but many bleacher spots were empty for a game with so much on the line.
• Opinions on sports not involving high school: I am glad the Green Bay Packers won Super Bowl XLV. A lot of experts said Aaron Rodgers couldn't win a playoff game entering the season, and this year he and the Packers won four, including the Super Bowl. Now let's hope there isn't a lockout.
Also, my question for Buckeye fans is this: Do you think your OSU Buckeye men's basketball team will go undefeated in the regular season? If so, why? If not, who will beat them?
• One last item of business: I'd like to know what sports fans around the area think about this season so far. What have been your favorite moments? Do you have any questions about the season? What are you looking forward to with the tournament nearing? What have been surprises this year? This is the time of year when the season starts to reach a breaking point, and anything can happen once the tournament starts. Let me know what you are thinking as the tournamernt nears.
Stephen Forsha is the sports editor of The Highland County Press. He can be reached at sforsha@gmail.com. Follow Stephen on Twitter @ www.twitter.com/HCPSPORTSEDITOR.[[In-content Ad]]
I have to start off by sending my congratulations to Fairfield's Cameron Rolark for his performance on Saturday night against the Adena Warriors.
What a great, great display of shooting the basketball from beyond the arc. It was like watching an NBA 3-point shooting contest, as he made a total of 11 in the game, but he made nine – yes, NINE – in the first half, six in the first quarter.
If you were there, you realize just how great of a first half Rolark had. He finished the game with 43 points (two shy of tying the single-game record at FHS) but did set the scoring record for a half with 33.
That was the type of shooting performance I've waited to see all season, and I finally got to see it.
Here is a link to the game story: http://bit.ly/g2wvXr
• Girls Tournament Draw
Here are the games for Highland County teams:
Division II
No. 4 McClain vs. Logan Elm on Wednesday, Feb. 16 at Adena
No. 8 Hillsboro vs. Waverly on Monday, Feb. 14 at Adena (7 p.m.)
Division III
No. 6 Lynchburg-Clay vs. Adena on Saturday, Feb. 19 at Lucasville-Valley (1 p.m.)
Division IV
Fairfield vs. Franklin Furnace Green on Monday, Feb. 14 at McDermott Northwest (6:15 p.m.)
Whiteoak vs. Sciotoville East on Monday, Feb. 14 at McDermott Northwest (8 p.m.)
• The Week Ahead
Has anyone looked at the high school basketball schedule this week?
On Monday, we have a makeup game between the Miami Trace Lady Panthers and the McClain Lady Tigers at McClain High School. Earlier this season, MT beat MHS at The Panther Pit in a very close game, but this game on Monday has even greater importance. MHS has two league losses, MT has none, so if the Lady Tigers want to win the South Central Ohio League title, I think it is safe to say this is a MUST win for them.
Here is a link to their game earlier in the season at MT. MT won the game, 50-46: http://bit.ly/fQx63T
I think this game will be full of emotion, as it will be Senior Night for MHS and they need this game to stay in the SCOL title hunt. MT will also enter the game undefeated, while MHS will be 7-2 in the SCOL and 11-5 overall. In their last three meetings, MHS has lost all three by a combined score of 136-100. Two of the losses came at MT, and the other one was at the Convo in Athens.
Following their win two games ago against the Washington Lady Blue Lions, MHS head coach Dennis Overstake, who is in his 30th season at the helm of the Lady Tigers, said this about Miami Trace: "They (MT) won't change anything because they have been so successful with what Coach (James) Stutzman teaches his team," he said. "The kids have been through the program, and they know what to expect. They will come with their best effort, and last time the game came down to the last possession."
There are a couple of good games I'm looking forward to on Tuesday with the FHS Lions against the Manchester Greyhounds and McClain Tigers vs. Miami Trace, both games being boys games. Haven't decided where I will be yet. A win by MHS would keep teams alive in the SCOL race, but an MT win would clinch at least a share of the SCOL title, I think.
The FHS game is a rematch from a game Friday night where the Lions lost by one point (69-68) at Manchester. The Lions led in the second half, but the Greyhounds came away with the win. Tuesday's makeup game should, and probably will, be close once again. This will be the first of three games this coming week for the Lions. Following their game Monday, FHS will play at Fayetteville on Wednesday and vs. West Union on Friday, which will be the Lions' homecoming game.
On Wednesday, there are three good games on the slate with the aforementioned FHS-Fayetteville game, HHS girls basketball vs. McClain (a makeup game) and the Whiteoak boys team against Ripley in another makeup game. Depending on the outcome of the MHS-MTHS girls game on Monday, the stakes could be high for the Lady Tigers on Wednesday. In the Ripley-WHS boys game, well, the Wildcats could shake up some things in the SHL with a win over the first-place Blue Jays. I haven't seen RHS in person yet this season, but from what I have been told about them, they are a tough team to beat. Should be a good game.
Thursday's schedule has four girls basketball games on the schedule, with, in my opinion, the Lynchburg-Clay vs. North Adams girls game being the best of the night. LC and NA play in the same division, and a win in this game is for positioning in the league.
So after four big days of basketball, Friday's game of the day, so to speak, could possibly be the HHS Indians vs. Clinton-Massie in boys basketball. In their first meeting this season, CM beat HHS 40-38 at HHS.
This should be an interesting week of basketball for Highland County teams.
• Ten quick thoughts about high school sports
1. I want to send out my congratulations to all the members of both inaugural Hall of Fame classes of the Lynchburg-Clay High School and Fairfield High School. LC had their ceremony last week, and FHS had theirs this past Saturday.
2. All these make-up games can confuse the heck out of a sports editor when he tries to update standings.
3. No basketball team in Highland County will go winless this season. All 10 teams have at least one win. That is a great thing.
4. I'm looking forward to the SCOL wrestling matches this Saturday at McClain High School. This is their first home match in nine years, I was told.
5. I want to send out my third congrats of this column, this one to Mason Hunick, who recently gained his 100th career win in wrestling for the Indians.
6. Did anyone read about how the OHSAA will be voting in April on if football teams will be allowed a few days of practice in May? I'll talk about that more at a later date.
7. This coming Sunday, the boys sectional tournament draw will happen. Looking forward to seeing where Highland County teams go.
8. I've been having this debate/conversation with random people the last few weeks … Who is the best player in the SCOL and SHL boys and girls basketball? I have a few players in mind, what about anyone else?
9. Hillsboro senior soccer player Lauren Colliver signed her National Letter of Intent last week to play women's soccer at Miami University next fall. They got a quality player and person.
10. The McClain vs. London boys game on Friday sounded like it had an awesome ending, thanks to a 3-pointer by Zach Uhl. Thanks to Mike Seely of Seely Portraits for the great photo he allowed me to use with the game story with stats provided by Karen Yeager. Now that is what I call TEAMWORK!
• Quote of the Week: "Wow. That's really all I can say about that is wow. He was just in a different world (Saturday). Cameron is a very streaky shooter. When he gets hot, he can do that, and that was amazing." — Fairfield head coach Matt Carson following Cameron Rolark's 43-point game Saturday night against Adena.
• Unique Stat of the Week: In the SCOL game between the Hillsboro Indians and Miami Trace Panthers, both teams combined to use zero time outs in the first quarter.
• A Second Unique Stat of the Week: Devante Ames scored 13 points in the first half against Miami Trace, all in the second quarter … plus he came off the bench.
• A Third (and Final) Unique Stat of the Week: In the Unioto game against McClain (girls basketball) on Saturday, UHS had 33 free-throw attempts and MHS had nine.
• A random observation: While covering the HHS-MT boys game Friday night at MTHS, I noticed the stands weren't as full as they should be for a game with first place on the line. Don't get me wrong, the game had a great atmosphere, but many bleacher spots were empty for a game with so much on the line.
• Opinions on sports not involving high school: I am glad the Green Bay Packers won Super Bowl XLV. A lot of experts said Aaron Rodgers couldn't win a playoff game entering the season, and this year he and the Packers won four, including the Super Bowl. Now let's hope there isn't a lockout.
Also, my question for Buckeye fans is this: Do you think your OSU Buckeye men's basketball team will go undefeated in the regular season? If so, why? If not, who will beat them?
• One last item of business: I'd like to know what sports fans around the area think about this season so far. What have been your favorite moments? Do you have any questions about the season? What are you looking forward to with the tournament nearing? What have been surprises this year? This is the time of year when the season starts to reach a breaking point, and anything can happen once the tournament starts. Let me know what you are thinking as the tournamernt nears.
Stephen Forsha is the sports editor of The Highland County Press. He can be reached at sforsha@gmail.com. Follow Stephen on Twitter @ www.twitter.com/HCPSPORTSEDITOR.[[In-content Ad]]