Not off the Press: Tournament road continues
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
Another week of tournament play has seen Highland County gain two more sectional champions and another team bow out of the postseason tournament play.
Watching games since my last Not off the Press column last Monday, I have seen teams go a combined 4-1 with the Lynchburg-Clay girls win at Waverly, then fall at the Convocation Center in Athens. That following night after the LC win at WHS, the Fairfield Lions and Whiteoak Wildcats each won their sectional final game. The Whiteoak game was one for the ages, so to speak, winning in double overtime against the Green Bobcats. That game was one of the most physical games I've witnessed in a very long time. More on that later.
Then on Monday (March 7), the Lions fended off an 18-win team in the Eastern-Meigs (Reedsville) Eagles by a score of 43-41.
But this week, I watched five games where the teams left everything they had on the floor, but the game that stands out the most is the WHS-Green game.
Let's start there.
• Whiteoak vs. Green
What a game that was. It was a very physical game, there was high intensity, and it went into double overtime. Again, What-A-Game!
It was like a 12-round heavyweight boxing match, because neither team wanted to be knocked out.
While taking photos of the Wildcats cutting down the nets for their sectional win, you could see in their faces how tired they were. It was just like a big breath of air was let out when the game was over. Again, my respect for both teams, they put on a heck of a show. That is one of those games that makes all the time traveling to the different venues well worth it.
One of the Green players really stood out. He cut his eye, took I don't know how many charges, not including the times he dove onto the ground or was knocked to the ground not via charge … and he still got back up and played basketball. He had to be sore the next day, but just the way he continued to play, not lose his cool and be productive on the court really stood out to me.
This was the best tournament game I've seen in a long time.
• The Lions advance to the district finals
This game was dominated by senior Chris Cox, but if there ever was a team-effort game, well, Monday night proved what teamwork can accomplish.
Remember when Matt Carson took over as head coach of the Lions four seasons ago? He was 20 years old, the Lions were coming off a one-win season, and now four seasons later, the Lions have made it to the Convocation Center three of those years, broke a 14-year district skid and will be playing for a district championship this Saturday against South Webster. What a team the Lions are … remember, they started the season at 0-6, and well, they are still playing now.
In their district semifinal, the Lions topped an 18-win team with physical play, and they had domination from senior Chris Cox in the lane, along with big shots from senior Cameron Rolark. Those two combined for 39 of the Lions' 43 points, Monday. Check back later in the week for another preview of the Lions' tournament run.
• Lynchburg-Clay Lady Mustangs
This team is another one of those teams where they weren't given a great chance of accomplishing something good in the tournament. Well, the Lady Mustangs proved people wrong with two tournament wins, a trip to the Convo, a district runner-up trophy and a season where they could have easily made excuses and given up but didn't. This team beat some good teams along the way this year and should be very proud of what they accomplished.
• 10 thoughts/questions on high school sports
1. Tournament games at the Convo just have a different feel to them.
2. The further a team goes in the tournament, the more fans show up. I hope there are a ton of fans to see the Lions (and hopefully the Wildcats if they win Thursday) this Saturday morning. These teams deserve a lot of support.
3. The Minford student section during the LC-MHS game was really cheering on their team. Even got creative with their chants.
4. The Lions' opponents this Saturday, South Webster, are pretty tall. The have five players listed at 6-1 or taller.
5. I've been to the following venues for tournament games this year: Valley High School, Adena High School, Waverly High School, Southeastern High School and the Convo.
6. Highland County has two boys basketball teams remaining … come support them.
7. If WHS and Manchester win their respective games, well, the SHL can have three of the four teams playing at the Convo Saturday morning for a district title.
8. When you are on the floor on the Convo, looking at the players as they walk onto the court, some for the first time, you can just see how much they are enjoying the experience.
9. Am I too nice of a sports reporter? If so, too bad. I refuse to be grumpy while having a fun job like I have.
10. What is my favorite time during the tournament? You know it … Basketball Thirty.
• Non-high school sports thought
I honestly have no idea who will win the NCAA tournament, but as of right now, I'd have to pick Ohio State. Speaking of OSU, have you heard any news on their football team lately? If you can't trust sweater vests, who can ya trust? Maybe none of it is true, though.
• Quote of the Week: "To sum it up, our seniors played like seniors tonight. They weren't going to lose. I've never seen this look in their eyes in four years. I knew during the final timeout they weren't going to lose this ballgame and were going to do whatever it took to win this basketball game, and they did tonight. I'm so proud of them." — Fairfield boys basketball coach Matt Carson following the Lions' 43-41 district win over the Eastern-Meigs (Reedsville) Eagles.
• Another Quote of the Week: "Like I said before, (our girls) could have given up at various points in time. We were 7-6 in our league. We played a tough schedule. We played with those teams and didn't feel we were that caliber of a team. Going into the tournament draw, I'll be honest, we were disappointed with our seed (LC was a No. 6 seed) to a degree, with the exception we just thought we should have been the three seed, instead we were a six. We played from the same spot fine, would go in as the underdog. We would play from the same spot … we knew we were better than what everyone else thought we were." — Lynchburg-Clay girls basketball coach Tiffany Barnett following the Lady Mustangs' district semifinal game.
• A third (and final) Quote of the Week: "A win like this says we are very good at taking care of the basketball, and when push comes to shove, we can play with people. That's what this win says about us. No matter what happens with us, we are still going to try to win and compete." — Whiteoak boys basketball coach Tom Wessner following the Wildcats' sectional final win.
• Stat of the Week: Chris Cox and Cameron Rolark combined for 39 of the Lions' 43 points, Monday.
• Another Stat of the Week: In their sectional final double-OT win, the Wildcats had four players score at least 13 points.
• A third (and final) Stat of the Week: LC's Brooke Hertlein averaged 15.6 points per game in three tournament games this postseason.
• A Quick Observation
Opening Day for the Cincinnati Reds is 23 days away.
• One last item of business
Good luck to the Fairfield Lions this Saturday and to the Whiteoak Wildcats this Thursday. Keep on winning.
Stephen Forsha is the sports editor of The Highland County Press. He can be reached at sforsha@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/hcpsportseditor.[[In-content Ad]]
Watching games since my last Not off the Press column last Monday, I have seen teams go a combined 4-1 with the Lynchburg-Clay girls win at Waverly, then fall at the Convocation Center in Athens. That following night after the LC win at WHS, the Fairfield Lions and Whiteoak Wildcats each won their sectional final game. The Whiteoak game was one for the ages, so to speak, winning in double overtime against the Green Bobcats. That game was one of the most physical games I've witnessed in a very long time. More on that later.
Then on Monday (March 7), the Lions fended off an 18-win team in the Eastern-Meigs (Reedsville) Eagles by a score of 43-41.
But this week, I watched five games where the teams left everything they had on the floor, but the game that stands out the most is the WHS-Green game.
Let's start there.
• Whiteoak vs. Green
What a game that was. It was a very physical game, there was high intensity, and it went into double overtime. Again, What-A-Game!
It was like a 12-round heavyweight boxing match, because neither team wanted to be knocked out.
While taking photos of the Wildcats cutting down the nets for their sectional win, you could see in their faces how tired they were. It was just like a big breath of air was let out when the game was over. Again, my respect for both teams, they put on a heck of a show. That is one of those games that makes all the time traveling to the different venues well worth it.
One of the Green players really stood out. He cut his eye, took I don't know how many charges, not including the times he dove onto the ground or was knocked to the ground not via charge … and he still got back up and played basketball. He had to be sore the next day, but just the way he continued to play, not lose his cool and be productive on the court really stood out to me.
This was the best tournament game I've seen in a long time.
• The Lions advance to the district finals
This game was dominated by senior Chris Cox, but if there ever was a team-effort game, well, Monday night proved what teamwork can accomplish.
Remember when Matt Carson took over as head coach of the Lions four seasons ago? He was 20 years old, the Lions were coming off a one-win season, and now four seasons later, the Lions have made it to the Convocation Center three of those years, broke a 14-year district skid and will be playing for a district championship this Saturday against South Webster. What a team the Lions are … remember, they started the season at 0-6, and well, they are still playing now.
In their district semifinal, the Lions topped an 18-win team with physical play, and they had domination from senior Chris Cox in the lane, along with big shots from senior Cameron Rolark. Those two combined for 39 of the Lions' 43 points, Monday. Check back later in the week for another preview of the Lions' tournament run.
• Lynchburg-Clay Lady Mustangs
This team is another one of those teams where they weren't given a great chance of accomplishing something good in the tournament. Well, the Lady Mustangs proved people wrong with two tournament wins, a trip to the Convo, a district runner-up trophy and a season where they could have easily made excuses and given up but didn't. This team beat some good teams along the way this year and should be very proud of what they accomplished.
• 10 thoughts/questions on high school sports
1. Tournament games at the Convo just have a different feel to them.
2. The further a team goes in the tournament, the more fans show up. I hope there are a ton of fans to see the Lions (and hopefully the Wildcats if they win Thursday) this Saturday morning. These teams deserve a lot of support.
3. The Minford student section during the LC-MHS game was really cheering on their team. Even got creative with their chants.
4. The Lions' opponents this Saturday, South Webster, are pretty tall. The have five players listed at 6-1 or taller.
5. I've been to the following venues for tournament games this year: Valley High School, Adena High School, Waverly High School, Southeastern High School and the Convo.
6. Highland County has two boys basketball teams remaining … come support them.
7. If WHS and Manchester win their respective games, well, the SHL can have three of the four teams playing at the Convo Saturday morning for a district title.
8. When you are on the floor on the Convo, looking at the players as they walk onto the court, some for the first time, you can just see how much they are enjoying the experience.
9. Am I too nice of a sports reporter? If so, too bad. I refuse to be grumpy while having a fun job like I have.
10. What is my favorite time during the tournament? You know it … Basketball Thirty.
• Non-high school sports thought
I honestly have no idea who will win the NCAA tournament, but as of right now, I'd have to pick Ohio State. Speaking of OSU, have you heard any news on their football team lately? If you can't trust sweater vests, who can ya trust? Maybe none of it is true, though.
• Quote of the Week: "To sum it up, our seniors played like seniors tonight. They weren't going to lose. I've never seen this look in their eyes in four years. I knew during the final timeout they weren't going to lose this ballgame and were going to do whatever it took to win this basketball game, and they did tonight. I'm so proud of them." — Fairfield boys basketball coach Matt Carson following the Lions' 43-41 district win over the Eastern-Meigs (Reedsville) Eagles.
• Another Quote of the Week: "Like I said before, (our girls) could have given up at various points in time. We were 7-6 in our league. We played a tough schedule. We played with those teams and didn't feel we were that caliber of a team. Going into the tournament draw, I'll be honest, we were disappointed with our seed (LC was a No. 6 seed) to a degree, with the exception we just thought we should have been the three seed, instead we were a six. We played from the same spot fine, would go in as the underdog. We would play from the same spot … we knew we were better than what everyone else thought we were." — Lynchburg-Clay girls basketball coach Tiffany Barnett following the Lady Mustangs' district semifinal game.
• A third (and final) Quote of the Week: "A win like this says we are very good at taking care of the basketball, and when push comes to shove, we can play with people. That's what this win says about us. No matter what happens with us, we are still going to try to win and compete." — Whiteoak boys basketball coach Tom Wessner following the Wildcats' sectional final win.
• Stat of the Week: Chris Cox and Cameron Rolark combined for 39 of the Lions' 43 points, Monday.
• Another Stat of the Week: In their sectional final double-OT win, the Wildcats had four players score at least 13 points.
• A third (and final) Stat of the Week: LC's Brooke Hertlein averaged 15.6 points per game in three tournament games this postseason.
• A Quick Observation
Opening Day for the Cincinnati Reds is 23 days away.
• One last item of business
Good luck to the Fairfield Lions this Saturday and to the Whiteoak Wildcats this Thursday. Keep on winning.
Stephen Forsha is the sports editor of The Highland County Press. He can be reached at sforsha@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/hcpsportseditor.[[In-content Ad]]