Snyder's Indians open 7-1 in 1992-93

(Continued from last week.)

In the McDonald’s Holiday Classic, Dec. 28, 1992, a very quick Chesapeake team scored almost at will against the McClain defense, in the early going.

The Panthers repeatedly beat the Tigers down the court for easy transition baskets, and held a 13 point lead (54-41) early in the fourth quarter, before the purple-and-gold managed to rally and close the gap to 58-54 with 27 seconds remaining. The final count was Chesapeake 62, McClain 59. The win put Chesapeake’s record at 6-0, while McClain dropped to 2-4.

The Tigers would host tough Gallipolis Jan. 2, 1993.

Like Chesapeake, the Blue Devils (5-1) were very quick. Gallipolis, coached by veteran mentor Jim Osborne, had lost a one-point decision to Chesapeake just a few days previous. The Blue Devils would present another stiff challenge to the locals, although McClain was never easy to beat on the local court.

Hillsboro was scheduled to meet Fairfield on Dec. 29 at Leesburg. In this game, the two Snyder brothers, Thom and Everett (the Fairfield head coach) would lock horns on the Fairfield court.

With an overflow crowd in the small Fairfield gymnasium, warmer than usual temperatures and high humidity made the gym floor so slick the players could hardly stand up on it.

By mutual consent, the game was suspended at halftime, with the Indians holding a one-point lead, 31-30.

Washington participated in the Waverly Holiday Tournament, Dec. 29 and 30. On the 29th, they disposed of Ross Southeastern, 72-60.

The Blue Lions had four starters in double figures, but John Bennett, Southeastern’s sophomore sensation, led all scorers with 22 points.

At Miami Trace, Joe Stewart’s Chillicothe Cavaliers utilized a 19-point effort by James Lee to gain a tight 45-44 victory over the Panthers, making Stewart 4-0 against Hardman, over the past several years. The Cavaliers and the Panthers were scheduled to meet again in mid-January, on the Chillicothe court.

On Jan. 2, undefeated Hillsboro traveled to Miami Trace, where Terrell Baker bounced back from his 6-point performance against Chillicothe, to rack up 18 markers against the Indians. Hillsboro made a late run against the black-and-gold, but Trace held on for a 54-43 win.

The Indians were able to score only 15 points in the first half, which contributed to their downfall.

Elsewhere, Washington hosted Lynchburg-Clay. The Mustangs played very well in the first half, and went to the locker room with a 40-32 lead. But the Lions roared back in the second half, when Gale Shaffer went on a scoring tear, downing the Mustangs, 72-66. The Blue Lions were now 9-0 for the season.

At Greenfield, Richie Highley and Pat Coleman combined for 39 points, and the McClain Tigers thumped Gallipolis, 60-45 in what was expected to be a real barnburner. Gallipolis was coached by Jim Osborne. Rick Van Matre had served as reserve coach under Osborne for several years prior to his employment at McClain. The two veteran coaches had enormous respect for each other.

The Hillsboro at Fairfield game, which was suspended Dec. 29, was completed Tuesday, Jan. 5.

The Fairfield Lions held a six-point lead (56-50) with 6:44 remaining in the game. But the Lions were guilty of several errant passes and other costly errors which helped the Indians stage a comeback. When Brad Beatty connected on a long jumper with 4:44 remaining, the Indians took the lead for good. They outscored the Lions 25-11 in the final quarter to take a
73-62 win.

Also on the 5th, East Clinton invaded Miami Trace High School and were walloped, 94-57 when Terrell Baker, quite possibly the premiere guard in the entire area, poured in 47 points for the Panthers.

Also, McClain, playing excellent basketball, now, traveled to Huntington, where their hot shooting continued, as they blew the Huntsmen out, 67-44.

Highley hit for 21 points and Pat Coleman added 21 for the purple-and-gold, as the Tigers hit for 57 percent from the field for the second straight game. This win lifted the Tigers to 4-4 for the season.

January 8 saw Washington stomp Dayton Stebbins, 76-51 on the WCH floor.

On Saturday, Jan. 9, McClain entertained Waverly. Coach Van Matre’s team, which had hit 57% from the field in the past two games, couldn’t buy a basket against Waverly. The Tigers hit only four field goals in 26 attempts in the first half. That figures out to 15 percent on anybody’s slide rule. Waverly led, 18-8 at halftime. They went on to down McClain, 42-29, as the Tigers shot 25 percent for the game.

Also on Jan. 9, the Hillsboro Indians entertained Carlos Roberts’ Wilmington Hurricane. The orange-and-black was tall and talented. 6’ 7” Casey Chroust racked up six first-period points and the Hurricane took a 16-11 lead at the first period break. In the second quarter, with 6:18 remaining, the ‘Cane moved out to their biggest lead, 22-13.

The Hurricane zone defense was leaving the Hillsboro guards virtually wide open, and they began to zero in on the basket. With Justin Ames, Jamie Thompson, Rodney Captain and Sean Longstreth ripping the cords, the Tribe came back. They held a narrow two-point lead after three quarters, 44-42.

In the final two minutes, Wilmington was forced to send the Indians to the line, but the red and white hit 10 of their last 11 free throw attempts and took a 64-52 decision. Thompson led the way with 24 points, but Longstreth added 19. The Indians were now 7-1 for the season.

(Continued next week.)

Bob Patton is a Highland County sports historian and a contributing writer to The Highland County Press.