Not off the Press: Rivalries, buzzer-beaters and movie themes
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
It is easy to say that there has been a lot of high school basketball going on lately. Seems like Monday through Saturday, there is a game nightly at some gym, which makes it a busy, but fun time of the year.
One night I realized it was winter season, not because of an actual game, but when I drove through downtown Hillsboro and looked at the bank clock it said it was 20 degrees … so cold.
But what a great week of games we just witnessed. The two best games of the week were early with the McClain Lady Tigers winning over Lynchburg-Clay and Hillsboro boys basketball defeating the Fairfield Lions. More on that later.
This week, I also want to talk about some other parts of the winter season, so let's get to it.
• The week in review
I think the game of the week (at least for me) was at the start of the week on Monday when the McClain Lady Tigers (thanks to Jenna Perie) sank a buzzer-beater to defeat the Lynchburg-Clay Lady Mustangs 44-42 at McClain High School.
It was just a fun game to be around, and I'm sure it will be on my list of best games I watched during the 2011-12 season.
Also not to be forgotten was Tuesday's game with Hillsboro defeating the Fairfield Lions 59-52. This game had probably the best comeback so far in this short season as the Lions trailed at one point by 16 points, only to came back and take the lead in the third quarter.
Those games keep up my energy throughout the season, as it is always an unexpected when covering high school sports. Sometimes when you think the game is finished in the second quarter, they aren't.
Also, congrats to the Hillsboro Lady Indians and their first win of the season on Saturday against the London Lady Red Raiders. (I wasn't at the game, but I have seen this team play two times this regular season, and they play with great effort from start to finish.)
Though I haven't seen them yet this season (I will on Friday), the Whiteoak Wildcats and Lynchburg-Clay Mustangs seem to be doing well on the court this season. In game recaps I've written, what stands out for me is how LC has multiple players stepping up this season. More on this upcoming game later in the column.
Of course I'm going to talk about the McClain at Hillsboro boys basketball game from Friday night. Yes, it wasn't the best MHS vs. HHS game I've ever seen, but there were some parts of the game that stood out. The turning point of the game had to be the second quarter where the Indians outscored their rival 25-9 for their best second quarter of the season, in terms of scoring points. After that quarter, it was a completely different ball game.
Saturday was the Fairfield Lady Lions hosting the Adena Lady Warriors, and though Adena won (they are a good team), FHS didn't stop battling, and once they work out a few things they will be much improved. Heather Cox and Shelby Smithson are doing a good job of scoring points for the Lady Lions, with Cox averaging 13.4 points per game this season, including two 18-point games against Fayetteville and East Clinton. This team will keep improving.
To go back and rewind, I watched the LC Lady Mustangs and Fayetteville Lady Rockets play in a Southern Hills League game at the start of the week. I really like what the Lady Rockets bring to the court … they can shoot the ball and play defense. They are, at this point, the best girls team I've seen so far this season. LC has the potential to do good things this season, too. The combo of Brooke Hertlein and Laney Lewis is one of the best in the SHL because not only can they score points and play very tough defense, when they are on the court (or even not on the court) they are game changers, and everyone has to respect that.
• "Gonna Fly Now"
The other night, Tuesday at Hillsboro High School, the HHS Pep Band played "Gonna Fly Now," the theme to the Rocky movie series. This band must read my mind … they have a cowbell and they played the theme to one of my favorite movies … great job!
• Student Sections
I just want to say I love the creativity of the student sections this year. I've seen people dressed as holiday gifts, a mannequin or doll dressed in a tie, student section T-shirts, people dressed in all red completely head to toe, and back-and-forth chants all game long. There was a good back-and-forth between Hillsboro and McClain this past week …just remember, it is all for fun.
• Previewing the Week
This week, there are 16 boys and girls basketball games on the schedule involving Highland County teams.
I think the "Game of the Week" will be the aforementioned Lynchburg-Clay at Whiteoak boys basketball game. You know the WHS gym will be packed, the parking lot will be even more occupied, there will be great play, a great crowd atmosphere. Basically what I'm saying is I'm very excited to attend this game.
Since I'll be attending that game, it means I won't be able to attend the other game I want to see when the Blue Lions of Washington C.H. visit Hillsboro in boys basketball. This will be a quality South Central Ohio League matchup.
Today (Monday), there are three girls basketball matchups with Whiteoak hosting North Adams, along with LC traveling to Western Brown and Fairfield at Manchester. LC has to be one of the better 1-3 teams around, as two of those losses are by a combined five points.
Tuesday will be interesting when Hillsboro takes on Eastern Brown in boys basketball. This will be a nice non-league game between two teams who are usually near the top of their respective leagues. That same night, the Fairfield Lions will travel to Fayetteville for a SHL game. Here is the triangle between three of the four teams I just mentioned … Hillsboro has defeated Fairfield, Fairfield defeated Fayetteville and HHS will now play EB. Talk about a small world.
Wednesday will be the McClain Lady Tigers and the Washington Lady Blue Lions in a very important SCOL game. Both have losses to Clinton-Massie this season (the SCOL leader), so the team with the least amount of points will be at least two games back in the standings in December. That same night, Hillsboro girls will be traveling to Madison-Plains.
Thursday is a big SHL girls basketball night with all three SHL schools from Highland County in action. All are good matchups with LC traveling to Eastern Brown, Fairfield hosting West Union and Whiteoak hosting Manchester. Of those three, the most intriguing will be the LC game.
Friday is boys basketball night this week. LC and Whiteoak is important for a variety of reasons, and we've already mentioned the HHS game. Other games on the slate are Fairfield at Ripley and McClain at Clinton-Massie. The most interesting part about the MHS game is this will be the season opener for the Falcons at MHS. They had their first game postponed because of their run in the football postseason, but not only is this a season opener for CM, but it is their league opener as well.
Saturday will have Hillsboro against Miami Trace and McClain vs. London, which will be important in the league standings.
• Non-high school sports thoughts
- The NBA rejecting the three-team trade this week between the L.A. Lakers, Houston Rockets and New Orleans Hornets just doesn't make much sense. Cavs owner Dan Gilbert needs to just go away … nobody would even know his name if not for LeBron James taking his talents to South Beach and his Comic Sans letter-writing skills.
- For the 2011-12 NBA season, NBA Commissioner David Stern is the current leader in blocks.
- I wish ESPN, the Associated Press or whoever it is would stop interviewing Colt McCoy's dad every time something happens to him. That goes for Archie Manning as well. It is the NFL, not pony league.
- One of the biggest disappointments of the 2011 NFL season is the Cleveland Browns. They were unable to take advantage of an easier first-half schedule, and they have, in fact, become "A Factory of Sadness." They regressed a lot this season.
- That goes for the St. Louis Rams as well. Here is an idea for them … my free advice is to draft some wide receivers to go with a pretty good quarterback in Sam Bradford. (The Chicago Bears need to take this advice for Jay Cutler too … they aren't going anywhere this season either.)
- I don't have a problem with Albert Pujols leaving St. Louis for $250-plus million. Sure, 10 years is a long time, but he'll be in the American League and he can be a designated hitter. Also, for those who say he makes too much money … it's not his fault people offer him that much, plus the Angels' owner will eventually make that back, plus more in the next 10 years.
- Tackiest headline I read during the Pujols signing … "Sent from heaven."
- This is my one sentence about the NHL.
- With the recent colder weather we've been having, my Christmas wish is to be at Great American Ball Park and watching baseball on a hot June day.
- In June, I'll be wishing for fall and football … there is no pleasing me.
- Charlie Weis will do big things in Kansas.
- This week's "Official Sports Editor's Fuel" is Dunkin' Donuts coffee. (It was on sale.)
- It happened … the Dallas Cowboys found another way to lose a game. Why do I keep watching?
- How do the Denver Broncos keep winning? I'm starting to like the guy more and more just because he's so dang humble for being a star athlete.
- Will the Green Bay Packers ever lose again?
- Can it get much worse for the Indianapolis Colts?
• Stat of the Week
The McClain Lady Tigers were held to two points in the first quarter Saturday, but they rallied and held EB to two points in the fourth (both points on free throws). Not to mention they (MHS) played four games in seven days with a 3-1 record in that span.
• (A second) Stat of the Week
Tyrand Cumberland scored 30 points this past week in two Hillsboro wins against Fairfield and McClain. He scored 15 points in each game.
• (A third) Stat of the Week
Against Clinton-Massie (swimming), McClain seniors Trevor Figgins and Savannah Olaker, along with junior Morgan Dettwiller, took first place in all four of their events.
• Quote of the Week
"I couldn't be more thrilled with the week. I haven't slept a whole lot with this being the first league game. To us, the season started tonight, and to start the league 1-0, that's a great boost to our kids." — Brett Prince, Hillsboro boys basketball head coach following the Indians' game against McClain on Friday.
• (Another) Quote of the Week
"We have three freshmen who are playing a lot of minutes for us, and we have some nice freshmen on the JV team who are improving. We have a lot of youth … we have six seniors and juniors combined, so we are counting on the young kids to carry the program into the future." — JR Moberly, Hillsboro girls basketball head coach. following a 51-32 loss at Washington C.H. on Wednesday.
• (A third) Quote of the Week
"This team does stuff the right way, they are unselfish and this was a big win." — Matt Carson, Fairfield boys basketball head coach following their 45-40 win against Eastern Brown, Friday.
• One last item of business
This is a big week for teams in Highland County, especially in terms of league standings. Should be fun.
Stephen Forsha is the sports editor of The Highland County Press. He can be reached at sforsha@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @hcpsportseditor.[[In-content Ad]]
One night I realized it was winter season, not because of an actual game, but when I drove through downtown Hillsboro and looked at the bank clock it said it was 20 degrees … so cold.
But what a great week of games we just witnessed. The two best games of the week were early with the McClain Lady Tigers winning over Lynchburg-Clay and Hillsboro boys basketball defeating the Fairfield Lions. More on that later.
This week, I also want to talk about some other parts of the winter season, so let's get to it.
• The week in review
I think the game of the week (at least for me) was at the start of the week on Monday when the McClain Lady Tigers (thanks to Jenna Perie) sank a buzzer-beater to defeat the Lynchburg-Clay Lady Mustangs 44-42 at McClain High School.
It was just a fun game to be around, and I'm sure it will be on my list of best games I watched during the 2011-12 season.
Also not to be forgotten was Tuesday's game with Hillsboro defeating the Fairfield Lions 59-52. This game had probably the best comeback so far in this short season as the Lions trailed at one point by 16 points, only to came back and take the lead in the third quarter.
Those games keep up my energy throughout the season, as it is always an unexpected when covering high school sports. Sometimes when you think the game is finished in the second quarter, they aren't.
Also, congrats to the Hillsboro Lady Indians and their first win of the season on Saturday against the London Lady Red Raiders. (I wasn't at the game, but I have seen this team play two times this regular season, and they play with great effort from start to finish.)
Though I haven't seen them yet this season (I will on Friday), the Whiteoak Wildcats and Lynchburg-Clay Mustangs seem to be doing well on the court this season. In game recaps I've written, what stands out for me is how LC has multiple players stepping up this season. More on this upcoming game later in the column.
Of course I'm going to talk about the McClain at Hillsboro boys basketball game from Friday night. Yes, it wasn't the best MHS vs. HHS game I've ever seen, but there were some parts of the game that stood out. The turning point of the game had to be the second quarter where the Indians outscored their rival 25-9 for their best second quarter of the season, in terms of scoring points. After that quarter, it was a completely different ball game.
Saturday was the Fairfield Lady Lions hosting the Adena Lady Warriors, and though Adena won (they are a good team), FHS didn't stop battling, and once they work out a few things they will be much improved. Heather Cox and Shelby Smithson are doing a good job of scoring points for the Lady Lions, with Cox averaging 13.4 points per game this season, including two 18-point games against Fayetteville and East Clinton. This team will keep improving.
To go back and rewind, I watched the LC Lady Mustangs and Fayetteville Lady Rockets play in a Southern Hills League game at the start of the week. I really like what the Lady Rockets bring to the court … they can shoot the ball and play defense. They are, at this point, the best girls team I've seen so far this season. LC has the potential to do good things this season, too. The combo of Brooke Hertlein and Laney Lewis is one of the best in the SHL because not only can they score points and play very tough defense, when they are on the court (or even not on the court) they are game changers, and everyone has to respect that.
• "Gonna Fly Now"
The other night, Tuesday at Hillsboro High School, the HHS Pep Band played "Gonna Fly Now," the theme to the Rocky movie series. This band must read my mind … they have a cowbell and they played the theme to one of my favorite movies … great job!
• Student Sections
I just want to say I love the creativity of the student sections this year. I've seen people dressed as holiday gifts, a mannequin or doll dressed in a tie, student section T-shirts, people dressed in all red completely head to toe, and back-and-forth chants all game long. There was a good back-and-forth between Hillsboro and McClain this past week …just remember, it is all for fun.
• Previewing the Week
This week, there are 16 boys and girls basketball games on the schedule involving Highland County teams.
I think the "Game of the Week" will be the aforementioned Lynchburg-Clay at Whiteoak boys basketball game. You know the WHS gym will be packed, the parking lot will be even more occupied, there will be great play, a great crowd atmosphere. Basically what I'm saying is I'm very excited to attend this game.
Since I'll be attending that game, it means I won't be able to attend the other game I want to see when the Blue Lions of Washington C.H. visit Hillsboro in boys basketball. This will be a quality South Central Ohio League matchup.
Today (Monday), there are three girls basketball matchups with Whiteoak hosting North Adams, along with LC traveling to Western Brown and Fairfield at Manchester. LC has to be one of the better 1-3 teams around, as two of those losses are by a combined five points.
Tuesday will be interesting when Hillsboro takes on Eastern Brown in boys basketball. This will be a nice non-league game between two teams who are usually near the top of their respective leagues. That same night, the Fairfield Lions will travel to Fayetteville for a SHL game. Here is the triangle between three of the four teams I just mentioned … Hillsboro has defeated Fairfield, Fairfield defeated Fayetteville and HHS will now play EB. Talk about a small world.
Wednesday will be the McClain Lady Tigers and the Washington Lady Blue Lions in a very important SCOL game. Both have losses to Clinton-Massie this season (the SCOL leader), so the team with the least amount of points will be at least two games back in the standings in December. That same night, Hillsboro girls will be traveling to Madison-Plains.
Thursday is a big SHL girls basketball night with all three SHL schools from Highland County in action. All are good matchups with LC traveling to Eastern Brown, Fairfield hosting West Union and Whiteoak hosting Manchester. Of those three, the most intriguing will be the LC game.
Friday is boys basketball night this week. LC and Whiteoak is important for a variety of reasons, and we've already mentioned the HHS game. Other games on the slate are Fairfield at Ripley and McClain at Clinton-Massie. The most interesting part about the MHS game is this will be the season opener for the Falcons at MHS. They had their first game postponed because of their run in the football postseason, but not only is this a season opener for CM, but it is their league opener as well.
Saturday will have Hillsboro against Miami Trace and McClain vs. London, which will be important in the league standings.
• Non-high school sports thoughts
- The NBA rejecting the three-team trade this week between the L.A. Lakers, Houston Rockets and New Orleans Hornets just doesn't make much sense. Cavs owner Dan Gilbert needs to just go away … nobody would even know his name if not for LeBron James taking his talents to South Beach and his Comic Sans letter-writing skills.
- For the 2011-12 NBA season, NBA Commissioner David Stern is the current leader in blocks.
- I wish ESPN, the Associated Press or whoever it is would stop interviewing Colt McCoy's dad every time something happens to him. That goes for Archie Manning as well. It is the NFL, not pony league.
- One of the biggest disappointments of the 2011 NFL season is the Cleveland Browns. They were unable to take advantage of an easier first-half schedule, and they have, in fact, become "A Factory of Sadness." They regressed a lot this season.
- That goes for the St. Louis Rams as well. Here is an idea for them … my free advice is to draft some wide receivers to go with a pretty good quarterback in Sam Bradford. (The Chicago Bears need to take this advice for Jay Cutler too … they aren't going anywhere this season either.)
- I don't have a problem with Albert Pujols leaving St. Louis for $250-plus million. Sure, 10 years is a long time, but he'll be in the American League and he can be a designated hitter. Also, for those who say he makes too much money … it's not his fault people offer him that much, plus the Angels' owner will eventually make that back, plus more in the next 10 years.
- Tackiest headline I read during the Pujols signing … "Sent from heaven."
- This is my one sentence about the NHL.
- With the recent colder weather we've been having, my Christmas wish is to be at Great American Ball Park and watching baseball on a hot June day.
- In June, I'll be wishing for fall and football … there is no pleasing me.
- Charlie Weis will do big things in Kansas.
- This week's "Official Sports Editor's Fuel" is Dunkin' Donuts coffee. (It was on sale.)
- It happened … the Dallas Cowboys found another way to lose a game. Why do I keep watching?
- How do the Denver Broncos keep winning? I'm starting to like the guy more and more just because he's so dang humble for being a star athlete.
- Will the Green Bay Packers ever lose again?
- Can it get much worse for the Indianapolis Colts?
• Stat of the Week
The McClain Lady Tigers were held to two points in the first quarter Saturday, but they rallied and held EB to two points in the fourth (both points on free throws). Not to mention they (MHS) played four games in seven days with a 3-1 record in that span.
• (A second) Stat of the Week
Tyrand Cumberland scored 30 points this past week in two Hillsboro wins against Fairfield and McClain. He scored 15 points in each game.
• (A third) Stat of the Week
Against Clinton-Massie (swimming), McClain seniors Trevor Figgins and Savannah Olaker, along with junior Morgan Dettwiller, took first place in all four of their events.
• Quote of the Week
"I couldn't be more thrilled with the week. I haven't slept a whole lot with this being the first league game. To us, the season started tonight, and to start the league 1-0, that's a great boost to our kids." — Brett Prince, Hillsboro boys basketball head coach following the Indians' game against McClain on Friday.
• (Another) Quote of the Week
"We have three freshmen who are playing a lot of minutes for us, and we have some nice freshmen on the JV team who are improving. We have a lot of youth … we have six seniors and juniors combined, so we are counting on the young kids to carry the program into the future." — JR Moberly, Hillsboro girls basketball head coach. following a 51-32 loss at Washington C.H. on Wednesday.
• (A third) Quote of the Week
"This team does stuff the right way, they are unselfish and this was a big win." — Matt Carson, Fairfield boys basketball head coach following their 45-40 win against Eastern Brown, Friday.
• One last item of business
This is a big week for teams in Highland County, especially in terms of league standings. Should be fun.
Stephen Forsha is the sports editor of The Highland County Press. He can be reached at sforsha@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @hcpsportseditor.[[In-content Ad]]