Stewart's Indians off to 8-0 start in 1989-90
By
Bob Patton-
(Continued from last week.)
In 1989-90, Washington had the potential to be in the thick of the race for the league championship if the Lions played up to their full potential.
The Blue Lions opened their season Nov. 25 when they entertained Jamestown Greeneview. The Rams were 6’ 5”, 6’ 6,” and 6’ 7” across the front line. Regardless of their skill level, they were playing pretty close to the ceiling.
After a rugged battle, Greeneview came out on top 68-66 in overtime. Young sophomore Pittser came in off the Lion bench and scored 15 points.
On Friday, Dec. 1, the Blue Lions blew away Miami Trace, 70-32, on the MT court. At Hillsboro, the Indians trailed McClain by nine points with about four minutes remaining in the contest, when Coach Stewart went to a full-court press. The press worked. The Tigers’ attack didn’t. The Indians quickly caught up, and took a 54-49 win over visiting McClain.
Kevin Gale (6-7) set the pace for the Indians with 16 points, but Snyder and Nartker added 12 and 10 for the red-and-white. Kile Cameron of McClain hit for 23 points for the Tigers. Circleville traveled to Wilmington, where they fought from behind in the second half to take a 68-54 win. Circleville had four men in double figures, led by Ed Helwagen’s 20. Mark Bryan had 13 and Howard Johns had 10 to lead the Hurricane.
On Saturday, Miami Trace traveled to Clark County to take on the Northeastern Jets. The Panthers showed considerable improvement after being drubbed by WCH.
The Jets had to go all out to down the visitors from Fayette County, 54-41. Meanwhile, at Logan Elm, Washington downed the Braves, 66-51. Kidney had 29 of Washington’s 66 points, as the Braves just couldn’t do anything with him. Joe Hulse racked up 17 markers for Logan Elm.
The following Friday night saw Circleville entertaining the Blue Lions of Washington C.H. Both teams played hard, but Washington turned the ball over 30 times and hit only 8 of 18 of their free throw attempts. Circleville only got 11 free throw opportunities, but made good on 9 of them. The Lions led throughout the game, but lost in overtime, 70-67.
Sophomore Jason Pittser, getting his first varsity start, racked up 18 points to lead the visitors. Cellio led Circleville with 25 points. The pint-sized guard scored the first 12 points of the second half. Helwagen added 16 markers for the red-and-black.
Wilmington was scheduled at Hillsboro, the same night, and Miami Trace was to visit Greenfield to do battle with the McClain Tigers.
A heavy snowfall in Highland County canceled both games. They would be made up before the Christmas break.
On Saturday night, Washington traveled to Amanda, where they played just well enough to win, 59-38. McClain played at Waverly, where they led by two points midway through the final quarter, but Waverly ran off six unanswered points, and McClain was never able to get back on top. The final score was Waverly 61, McClain 55. Rannells and Cameron posted 16 points each to lead McClain.
The Miami Trace at McClain game was made up Friday, Dec. 22 at Greenfield. McClain rocked the Panthers, 65-36 as Miami Trace hit just 13 of 45 shots from the field (29 percent). Cameron hit 18 points and Rannels bagged 16 for the Tigers. Tobin Hoppes’ 14 was Miami Trace’s best.
Also, Washington hit 63 percent from the field and scorched Unioto, 82-66 at Unioto, Hillsboro edged Paint Valley on the HHS court, 61-57, and Columbus Briggs blasted Circleville, 83-63, in Columbus.
The very next evening, Miami Trace head coach Kirk Hardman got an early Christmas gift when the Panthers downed the Madison Plains Golden Eagles, 53-44, on the Trace court, breaking a 33-game losing streak. Todd Henry hit 9 of 13 shots for 22 points to lead the Panthers.
At the end of December, McClain was awarded a 42-37 win when the lights went out at Gallipolis with about a minute and a half remaining in the game. Hillsboro ran their record to 8-0 with a 74-53 win over Leesburg Fairfield, Hilliard crushed Circleville, 72-36, and Washington trounced Adena, 73-42.
As the New Year came in, after a myriad of postponed and rescheduled games, the SCOL standings were:
Hillsboro 2-0, 8-0
Circleville 2-0, 3-5
Washington 1-1, 6-2
McClain 1-1, 6-2
Wilmington 0-2, 3-4
Miami Trace 0-2, 1-5
The first annual Ohio University Classic was held in the Convocation Center at Ohio University in January of 1990. Miami Trace locked horns with the Zane Trace Pioneers. The Panthers gave it their best effort, but poor shooting from the field got the best of them, again. Zane Trace got the win, 40-27.
A couple of days later, McClain traveled to Washington to meet the Blue Lions. The Lions held a fairly comfortable lead at halftime, but McClain’s Ashley Rannells got a hot hand, and scored 17 points in the third stanza. The quarter ended with the Lions clinging to a 37-35 lead. Both teams scored 11 points in the final quarter, and the Lions managed a 48-46 league win. Hillsboro took the measure of Circleville, winning by a 74-66 count.
At Wilmington, struggling Miami Trace trailed the Hurricane 35-25 at halftime. The Panthers tried to come back in the second half, but two technical fouls on Coach Hardman were costly to the Panthers, who ended up on the short end of a 66-53 score.
(Continued next week.)
Bob Patton is a Highland County sports historian and a contributing writer to The Highland County Press.[[In-content Ad]]
In 1989-90, Washington had the potential to be in the thick of the race for the league championship if the Lions played up to their full potential.
The Blue Lions opened their season Nov. 25 when they entertained Jamestown Greeneview. The Rams were 6’ 5”, 6’ 6,” and 6’ 7” across the front line. Regardless of their skill level, they were playing pretty close to the ceiling.
After a rugged battle, Greeneview came out on top 68-66 in overtime. Young sophomore Pittser came in off the Lion bench and scored 15 points.
On Friday, Dec. 1, the Blue Lions blew away Miami Trace, 70-32, on the MT court. At Hillsboro, the Indians trailed McClain by nine points with about four minutes remaining in the contest, when Coach Stewart went to a full-court press. The press worked. The Tigers’ attack didn’t. The Indians quickly caught up, and took a 54-49 win over visiting McClain.
Kevin Gale (6-7) set the pace for the Indians with 16 points, but Snyder and Nartker added 12 and 10 for the red-and-white. Kile Cameron of McClain hit for 23 points for the Tigers. Circleville traveled to Wilmington, where they fought from behind in the second half to take a 68-54 win. Circleville had four men in double figures, led by Ed Helwagen’s 20. Mark Bryan had 13 and Howard Johns had 10 to lead the Hurricane.
On Saturday, Miami Trace traveled to Clark County to take on the Northeastern Jets. The Panthers showed considerable improvement after being drubbed by WCH.
The Jets had to go all out to down the visitors from Fayette County, 54-41. Meanwhile, at Logan Elm, Washington downed the Braves, 66-51. Kidney had 29 of Washington’s 66 points, as the Braves just couldn’t do anything with him. Joe Hulse racked up 17 markers for Logan Elm.
The following Friday night saw Circleville entertaining the Blue Lions of Washington C.H. Both teams played hard, but Washington turned the ball over 30 times and hit only 8 of 18 of their free throw attempts. Circleville only got 11 free throw opportunities, but made good on 9 of them. The Lions led throughout the game, but lost in overtime, 70-67.
Sophomore Jason Pittser, getting his first varsity start, racked up 18 points to lead the visitors. Cellio led Circleville with 25 points. The pint-sized guard scored the first 12 points of the second half. Helwagen added 16 markers for the red-and-black.
Wilmington was scheduled at Hillsboro, the same night, and Miami Trace was to visit Greenfield to do battle with the McClain Tigers.
A heavy snowfall in Highland County canceled both games. They would be made up before the Christmas break.
On Saturday night, Washington traveled to Amanda, where they played just well enough to win, 59-38. McClain played at Waverly, where they led by two points midway through the final quarter, but Waverly ran off six unanswered points, and McClain was never able to get back on top. The final score was Waverly 61, McClain 55. Rannells and Cameron posted 16 points each to lead McClain.
The Miami Trace at McClain game was made up Friday, Dec. 22 at Greenfield. McClain rocked the Panthers, 65-36 as Miami Trace hit just 13 of 45 shots from the field (29 percent). Cameron hit 18 points and Rannels bagged 16 for the Tigers. Tobin Hoppes’ 14 was Miami Trace’s best.
Also, Washington hit 63 percent from the field and scorched Unioto, 82-66 at Unioto, Hillsboro edged Paint Valley on the HHS court, 61-57, and Columbus Briggs blasted Circleville, 83-63, in Columbus.
The very next evening, Miami Trace head coach Kirk Hardman got an early Christmas gift when the Panthers downed the Madison Plains Golden Eagles, 53-44, on the Trace court, breaking a 33-game losing streak. Todd Henry hit 9 of 13 shots for 22 points to lead the Panthers.
At the end of December, McClain was awarded a 42-37 win when the lights went out at Gallipolis with about a minute and a half remaining in the game. Hillsboro ran their record to 8-0 with a 74-53 win over Leesburg Fairfield, Hilliard crushed Circleville, 72-36, and Washington trounced Adena, 73-42.
As the New Year came in, after a myriad of postponed and rescheduled games, the SCOL standings were:
Hillsboro 2-0, 8-0
Circleville 2-0, 3-5
Washington 1-1, 6-2
McClain 1-1, 6-2
Wilmington 0-2, 3-4
Miami Trace 0-2, 1-5
The first annual Ohio University Classic was held in the Convocation Center at Ohio University in January of 1990. Miami Trace locked horns with the Zane Trace Pioneers. The Panthers gave it their best effort, but poor shooting from the field got the best of them, again. Zane Trace got the win, 40-27.
A couple of days later, McClain traveled to Washington to meet the Blue Lions. The Lions held a fairly comfortable lead at halftime, but McClain’s Ashley Rannells got a hot hand, and scored 17 points in the third stanza. The quarter ended with the Lions clinging to a 37-35 lead. Both teams scored 11 points in the final quarter, and the Lions managed a 48-46 league win. Hillsboro took the measure of Circleville, winning by a 74-66 count.
At Wilmington, struggling Miami Trace trailed the Hurricane 35-25 at halftime. The Panthers tried to come back in the second half, but two technical fouls on Coach Hardman were costly to the Panthers, who ended up on the short end of a 66-53 score.
(Continued next week.)
Bob Patton is a Highland County sports historian and a contributing writer to The Highland County Press.[[In-content Ad]]