SCOL History: McClain finishes 9th in final state poll
By
Bob Patton-
McClain finishes 9th
in final state poll
Indians claim district championship
By BOB PATTON
For The Highland County Press
(Continued from last week.)
Elsewhere, Miami Trace traveled to Teays Valley, where they put up a terrific battle late in the 1981-82 season. With 25 seconds remaining in the game, Miami Trace had the ball with the score tied at 47 all. The Panthers controlled the ball. With five seconds remaining, Steve Grooms shot and missed, rebounded his own shot and shot again. He missed both shots and the game went into overtime.
Teays Valley’s Tim Bainter took over at this point. He scored a three-point play, and scored seven points in the overtime. Trace lost its 17th consecutive game. The final score was 59-56.
McClain entertained Circleville and took a relatively easy 79-58 win over the red and white.
Hillsboro took the long ride to Madison-Plains. The off-again, on-again Golden Eagles forced the Indians to go all out to gain their 11th SCOL win. But Mark Snyder and Mark Cumberland hit 19 points each and Hillsboro pulled away in the fourth quarter, leading by 15 points when Coach Snyder emptied his bench. The final score was Indians 77, Eagles 70.
The final league standings were:
McClain — 3-1, 17-2
Hillsboro — 11-3, 16-4
Wilmington — 10-4, 13-6
Circleville — 9-5, 12-7
Teays Valley — 5-9, 7-12
Washington — 5-9, 7-11
Mad. Plains — 3-11, 6-13
Miami Trace — 0-14, 1-18
The McClain Tigers had moved up in the AP AA statewide poll and finished the season ranked ninth in the state.
McClain was top-seeded at the sectional tournament at Unioto. Hillsboro was second-seeded. This meant that the two Highland County teams would not meet unless both made it to the championship game. Both had a bye for the first round.
McClain, in the upper bracket, would meet the winner of the Waverly vs. Wellston game.
Hillsboro, in the lower bracket, would met the Washington vs. Vinton County winner. In the Convocation Center, at Athens, 1-18 Miami Trace would battle 9-9 Chillicothe.
Miami Trace stayed with Chillicothe throughout the game. But Chillicothe came out on top, 36-34, when the Cavaliers’ forward John Brown hit a shot at the buzzer. The Panthers gave it all they had, but it wasn’t quite enough. This was the 18th consecutive loss for the Panthers, who ended their season on another sour note.
Vinton County (3-17) burned 7-11 Washington C.H., 74-65, to quickly end the tournament hopes of the Blue Lions. Vinton led all the way and opened up a 49-33 lead in the third quarter. The Blue Lions made it a little closer toward the end of the game, but the outcome was never in doubt.
Waverly beat Wellston in the upper bracket to advance to the semifinals, where they would tangle with McClain.
In the semifinal upper bracket contest, McClain and Waverly traded punches for three quarters. In the second quarter alone, the game was tied on four occasions, and the lead changed hands 11 times. McClain was up by two points after three quarters. But in the fourth stanza, the Highland County boys scored five straight points. After Waverly got a basket, McClain scored 11 points in a row, which gave them a 56-44 lead with two minutes remaining. The final score was McClain 57, Waverly 48.
In the second game, Hillsboro jumped out to a 15-7 first quarter advantage and never looked back. Forward Mark Cumberland racked up 22 points to go with 11 rebounds. He was dominant inside. Guards Mark Snyder and Doug Price chalked up 10 points each and did an outstanding defensive job on the VC playmakers. The final score was Hillsboro 64, VC 50. The Indians and the McClain Tigers would meet again in the championship game.
In the first two meetings between the Indians and the Tigers, Hillsboro had used Tony Cumberland to defense the Tigers’ Rob Munyan.
Cumberland, who was very quick and could jump out of the gym, was possibly the best defensive player in the SCOL. He did, however, love to block shots, and was prone to getting into foul trouble.
Coach Snyder made a defensive adjustment during the week leading up to the tournament championship game, that I have always thought played a key role in the outcome of the game. “We can’t shut Munyan down, anyway,” he reasoned, “and I’m afraid Tony will get into early foul trouble. We are going to put Tony on Jim Washburn and let Munyan get his points (which he probably will get, anyway). If he gets 35 or 40 points, they will probably beat us – but, I don’t think he’ll get that many.”
As it turned out, it was great strategy. Munyan collected 26 points and 16 rebounds, but the Indians contained most of the other McClain starters.
Hillsboro grabbed the lead at about the 5-minute mark in the first quarter. The Tigers never saw the lead again. Doug Price and Will Gregory burned the Tigers from outside, repeatedly. Price totaled 21 points in the game, while Gregory added 17, along with eight rebounds. The Indians took the tournament championship by a score of 63-58. They would advance to the Athens District Tournament to meet the Portsmouth Trojans.
McClain had been ranked in the state in Division 2 practically the entire season. But the Indians played them three times, beat them twice, and the one game the Tigers won came on a 30-foot off-balance shot which banked in at the buzzer.
Hillsboro and Portsmouth would square off on March 12, 1982 immediately after the Albany Alexander vs. Wheelersburg game, which was to begin at 7 p.m. The Trojans and Indians had met in a non-league game at Portsmouth Feb. 9, with the Trojans coming out on top, 73-57. Chris Gentry, the Trojans’ 5’10” guard and Southeast District Player of the Year, was their key player, but the Trojans were very big underneath and loved to fast break; 6’1” sophomore guard Kevin Parker was another handful, as he averaged more than 13 points per game. The Indians would have their hands full, and everyone knew it.
When the two outstanding teams met at Athens, the Indians, though much smaller, held their own throughout the first half and actually held a 29-27 lead at halftime. In the second half, however, Portsmouth’s superior size wore the Indians down. Gentry marked up 18 points and 11 rebounds (for the game) to lead the Trojans to a 60-51 win.
Mark Cumberland’s 14 points were tops for Hillsboro. Doug Price added 12 and Will Gregory, 9. Price had 11 rebounds, and Cumberland, 10 for the Indians. Neither team shot well from the field. Doug Price hit two free throws with only 4:25 remaining in the game to make the score 48-45, then Doug Taylor slipped under the basket for a basket that made the score 48-47 with 4:02 remaining. A little later, Price hit two more free throws to give Hillsboro the lead, 49-48, with 3:32 remaining. But the Trojans hit the key
shots down the stretch, and when the Indians fouled them, they hit the free throws to put the game out of reach.
Portsmouth advanced to the regional tournament, where they would meet Martin’s Ferry.
In late March, it was announced that Rick Van Matre had been named AA Coach of the Year in Ohio. Also, it was announced that Gary Kellough, who had been head coach of the Miami Trace Panthers the last two years, had resigned.
The annual South Central Ohio League Winter Sports Banquet was held at Miami Trace High School Feb. 26, 1982. The All-SCOL basketball team was presented. It included: Tim Bainter, Teays Valley; Steve Cluxton, Wilmington; Mark Cumberland, Hillsboro; Tony Cumberland, Hillsboro; Sean McConnell, Circleville; Dusty Miller, McClain; Rob Munyan, McClain; Greg Nared, Wilmington; Doug Price, Hillsboro; Tim Redman, Washington; Dan Shelton, McClain; and Tommy Tomlinson, Circleville.
Bob Patton is a Highland County sports historian and a contributing writer to The Highland County Press.
(Continued from last week.)
Elsewhere, Miami Trace traveled to Teays Valley, where they put up a terrific battle late in the 1981-82 season. With 25 seconds remaining in the game, Miami Trace had the ball with the score tied at 47 all. The Panthers controlled the ball. With five seconds remaining, Steve Grooms shot and missed, rebounded his own shot and shot again. He missed both shots and the game went into overtime.
Teays Valley’s Tim Bainter took over at this point. He scored a three-point play, and scored seven points in the overtime. Trace lost its 17th consecutive game. The final score was 59-56.
McClain entertained Circleville and took a relatively easy 79-58 win over the red and white.
Hillsboro took the long ride to Madison-Plains. The off-again, on-again Golden Eagles forced the Indians to go all out to gain their 11th SCOL win. But Mark Snyder and Mark Cumberland hit 19 points each and Hillsboro pulled away in the fourth quarter, leading by 15 points when Coach Snyder emptied his bench. The final score was Indians 77, Eagles 70.
The final league standings were:
McClain — 3-1, 17-2
Hillsboro — 11-3, 16-4
Wilmington — 10-4, 13-6
Circleville — 9-5, 12-7
Teays Valley — 5-9, 7-12
Washington — 5-9, 7-11
Mad. Plains — 3-11, 6-13
Miami Trace — 0-14, 1-18
The McClain Tigers had moved up in the AP AA statewide poll and finished the season ranked ninth in the state.
McClain was top-seeded at the sectional tournament at Unioto. Hillsboro was second-seeded. This meant that the two Highland County teams would not meet unless both made it to the championship game. Both had a bye for the first round.
McClain, in the upper bracket, would meet the winner of the Waverly vs. Wellston game.
Hillsboro, in the lower bracket, would met the Washington vs. Vinton County winner. In the Convocation Center, at Athens, 1-18 Miami Trace would battle 9-9 Chillicothe.
Miami Trace stayed with Chillicothe throughout the game. But Chillicothe came out on top, 36-34, when the Cavaliers’ forward John Brown hit a shot at the buzzer. The Panthers gave it all they had, but it wasn’t quite enough. This was the 18th consecutive loss for the Panthers, who ended their season on another sour note.
Vinton County (3-17) burned 7-11 Washington C.H., 74-65, to quickly end the tournament hopes of the Blue Lions. Vinton led all the way and opened up a 49-33 lead in the third quarter. The Blue Lions made it a little closer toward the end of the game, but the outcome was never in doubt.
Waverly beat Wellston in the upper bracket to advance to the semifinals, where they would tangle with McClain.
In the semifinal upper bracket contest, McClain and Waverly traded punches for three quarters. In the second quarter alone, the game was tied on four occasions, and the lead changed hands 11 times. McClain was up by two points after three quarters. But in the fourth stanza, the Highland County boys scored five straight points. After Waverly got a basket, McClain scored 11 points in a row, which gave them a 56-44 lead with two minutes remaining. The final score was McClain 57, Waverly 48.
In the second game, Hillsboro jumped out to a 15-7 first quarter advantage and never looked back. Forward Mark Cumberland racked up 22 points to go with 11 rebounds. He was dominant inside. Guards Mark Snyder and Doug Price chalked up 10 points each and did an outstanding defensive job on the VC playmakers. The final score was Hillsboro 64, VC 50. The Indians and the McClain Tigers would meet again in the championship game.
In the first two meetings between the Indians and the Tigers, Hillsboro had used Tony Cumberland to defense the Tigers’ Rob Munyan.
Cumberland, who was very quick and could jump out of the gym, was possibly the best defensive player in the SCOL. He did, however, love to block shots, and was prone to getting into foul trouble.
Coach Snyder made a defensive adjustment during the week leading up to the tournament championship game, that I have always thought played a key role in the outcome of the game. “We can’t shut Munyan down, anyway,” he reasoned, “and I’m afraid Tony will get into early foul trouble. We are going to put Tony on Jim Washburn and let Munyan get his points (which he probably will get, anyway). If he gets 35 or 40 points, they will probably beat us – but, I don’t think he’ll get that many.”
As it turned out, it was great strategy. Munyan collected 26 points and 16 rebounds, but the Indians contained most of the other McClain starters.
Hillsboro grabbed the lead at about the 5-minute mark in the first quarter. The Tigers never saw the lead again. Doug Price and Will Gregory burned the Tigers from outside, repeatedly. Price totaled 21 points in the game, while Gregory added 17, along with eight rebounds. The Indians took the tournament championship by a score of 63-58. They would advance to the Athens District Tournament to meet the Portsmouth Trojans.
McClain had been ranked in the state in Division 2 practically the entire season. But the Indians played them three times, beat them twice, and the one game the Tigers won came on a 30-foot off-balance shot which banked in at the buzzer.
Hillsboro and Portsmouth would square off on March 12, 1982 immediately after the Albany Alexander vs. Wheelersburg game, which was to begin at 7 p.m. The Trojans and Indians had met in a non-league game at Portsmouth Feb. 9, with the Trojans coming out on top, 73-57. Chris Gentry, the Trojans’ 5’10” guard and Southeast District Player of the Year, was their key player, but the Trojans were very big underneath and loved to fast break; 6’1” sophomore guard Kevin Parker was another handful, as he averaged more than 13 points per game. The Indians would have their hands full, and everyone knew it.
When the two outstanding teams met at Athens, the Indians, though much smaller, held their own throughout the first half and actually held a 29-27 lead at halftime. In the second half, however, Portsmouth’s superior size wore the Indians down. Gentry marked up 18 points and 11 rebounds (for the game) to lead the Trojans to a 60-51 win.
Mark Cumberland’s 14 points were tops for Hillsboro. Doug Price added 12 and Will Gregory, 9. Price had 11 rebounds, and Cumberland, 10 for the Indians. Neither team shot well from the field. Doug Price hit two free throws with only 4:25 remaining in the game to make the score 48-45, then Doug Taylor slipped under the basket for a basket that made the score 48-47 with 4:02 remaining. A little later, Price hit two more free throws to give Hillsboro the lead, 49-48, with 3:32 remaining. But the Trojans hit the key
shots down the stretch, and when the Indians fouled them, they hit the free throws to put the game out of reach.
Portsmouth advanced to the regional tournament, where they would meet Martin’s Ferry.
In late March, it was announced that Rick Van Matre had been named AA Coach of the Year in Ohio. Also, it was announced that Gary Kellough, who had been head coach of the Miami Trace Panthers the last two years, had resigned.
The annual South Central Ohio League Winter Sports Banquet was held at Miami Trace High School Feb. 26, 1982. The All-SCOL basketball team was presented. It included: Tim Bainter, Teays Valley; Steve Cluxton, Wilmington; Mark Cumberland, Hillsboro; Tony Cumberland, Hillsboro; Sean McConnell, Circleville; Dusty Miller, McClain; Rob Munyan, McClain; Greg Nared, Wilmington; Doug Price, Hillsboro; Tim Redman, Washington; Dan Shelton, McClain; and Tommy Tomlinson, Circleville.
Bob Patton is a Highland County sports historian and a contributing writer to The Highland County Press.
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