Tigers win SCOL title; lose in regionals
By
Bob Patton-
(Continued from last week.)
After a long, hard 1986 season, the final SCOL standings were:
McClain – 9-1, 19-1
Circleville – 7-3, 13-7
Washington – 5-5, 14-6
Wilmington – 4-6, 7-13
Miami Trace – 3-7, 4-17
Hillsboro – 2-8, 6-14
The Associated Press All-Southeastern District Basketball Team was released to the media in February.
McClain coach Rick Van Matre was named AA Co-Coach of the Year, along with the Pomeroy Meigs head coach. Senior McClain sharpshooter Tony Jackson was named AA Co-Player of the Year, sharing the honor with Mike Chancey, a 6’ 5” senior from Pomeroy Meigs.
When the sectional tournament drawings were held, McClain was seeded No. 1. They drew a bye the first session and would meet the Thornville Sheridan vs. Wellston winner, Feb. 25, 1986 at Unioto.
Washington C.H. got the second seed and would meet 6-14 Hillsboro, Feb. 21, also at Unioto. The winner of this game would meet the Waverly – Vinton County winner. Miami Trace drew 6-11 Chillicothe in the opening game of the AAA tournament in the Convocation Center, in Athens, on Feb. 19.
On Saturday, Feb. 15, the Wilmington Hurricane blew over Dayton Oakwood 72-64 in the sectional tournament at U.D. Arena, in something of an upset. Bill Kocher led the ’Cane scorers with 21 markers, while John Lambcke added 17 and Mike Taylor, 16.
In the AAA sectional, Chillicothe eliminated Miami Trace, 78-53, on Wednesday, Feb. 19 at the Convo in Athens. Mark Matthews set the pace for the Panthers with 14 points. Chillicothe had four men in double figures.
On Friday night, Feb. 21, at Unioto, the Hillsboro Indians rallied from behind in the fourth quarter to upset Washington, 62-55, in the first round of the AA sectional. The victorious Indians had three men in double figures, led by Jeff Taylor’s 16 points. Washington was led by Dwayne Evans’ 17 markers.
Hillsboro would now do battle with the Waverly Tigers for the right to meet the McClain vs. Thornville winner in the sectional championship game. McClain’s Tony Jackson scored 31 points and grabbed seven rebounds as McClain bowled over Thornville Sheridan at Unioto Feb. 25, 67-49.
Waverly sidelined the Hillsboro Indians, 67-55, in the semifinals at Unioto, and the two sets of Tigers would settle the score Saturday, Feb. 28, with the winner advancing to the AA District Tournament in the Convocation Center at Ohio University. Cris Walker led the Indians with 14 points, while Dave Strickland led Waverly with 21.
The surprising Wilmington Hurricane advanced when senior Bill Kocher hit a 10-foot jumper with two seconds remaining to lift the Hurricane to a 58-56 win over Carlisle in the sectional tourney at U.D. Arena. SCOL teams were giving a good account of themselves in tournament play. John Lambcke’s 21 points led the ’Cane, who would now play in the championship game.
In the title game at Unioto, the McClain Tigers rallied from behind in the fourth stanza to take an exciting 47-46 win over Waverly and capture the sectional championship.
Tony Jackson scored only 12 points but hit four of four key free throws in the fourth quarter. Doug Mustard’s 14 points led the purple-and-gold, while Chris Brown tallied 17 for Waverly in a losing cause. McClain would now play Friday, March 6, in the Convo. Their opponent would be the winner of the Chesapeake vs. Portsmouth game.
At the U.D. Arena, Wilmington would meet another Clinton County school, East Clinton in the semi-final game of the sectional.
The ’Cane, which won only 4-of-10 SCOL games and only 7-of-20 games, overall, had come to life with a bang.
Senior guard Bill Kocher hit for a career-high 26 points and led Wilmington to a 63-51 victory over East Clinton to advance to the tournament championship game, where they would take on Greenon. Greenon was ranked No. 2 in the state in AA.
In Columbus, senior Jeff Spencer exploded for 21 points to lift the Circleville Tigers to a 75-68 win over Northmoor in the class AA sectional tournament at the Fairgrounds Coliseum. Brad Dade and Brad Belles each contributed 14 points for Circleville.
The Circleville Tigers advanced to meet powerful Bexley, 19-0 and ranked No. 1 in the state, in the Fairgrounds Coliseum in Columbus. The Tigers played very well, but Bexley was just too strong. They downed the Tigers, 75-56. Jeff Spencer led the Tigers with 15 points.
On March 6, 6’9” Troy McCracken scored 18 points in the second half to lift No. 2 ranked Greenon to a 74-54 win over Wilmington in the sectional final at U.D. Arena. McCracken scored a total of 22 points. Big John Lambcke and Mike Taylor tallied 18 each for the Hurricane.
The same night, in the Convo, McClain downed the Portsmouth Trojans, 56-51, in double overtime. Both teams scored one field goal in the first overtime, but the Tigers outscored Portsmouth, 13-7, in the second. Reliable Tony Jackson racked up 25 points for the Tigers, while Patrick Tubbs scored 24 for the Trojans.
On Saturday, March 8, McClain thumped Pomeroy Meigs, 58-41 in the district championship game at the Convo. Jackson scored 22 McClain Points on 7-of-12 shooting from the field and 8-of-8 from the line.
McClain had led by only a 24-19 margin at halftime, but took complete control of the game beginning in the third quarter.
In the first game of the regional tournament, in the U.D. Arena, McClain dominated Cincinnati Wyoming, winning the contest by a 54-41 margin, with Tony Jackson totaling 26 points. Wyoming bowed out with a 19-6 record. The Tigers would advance to meet Dayton district winner Greenon, who defeated Cincinnati CAPE in the regional semifinals.
On Saturday, March 15, Greenon’s Troy McCracken scored 19 points to lead undefeated Greenon to a thrilling 71-67 triple overtime victory over the Tigers. Neither team scored in the first overtime, and they traded field goals in the second extra period. Greenon outscored McClain, 11-7, in the third and final OT. Tony Jackson led the Tigers with 25 points (12-of-16 from the field) and virtually controlled the entire game. The senior sharpshooter was whistled for his fifth foul with 53 seconds remaining in regulation and it was an uphill battle for the Tigers without him. The purple-and-gold ended their season 24-2.
The South Central League teams had all performed extremely well in tournament play, this season.
When the All-SCOL Team was released, 6’3” McClain star Tony Jackson was named Honorary Captain.
Jackson led the SCOL in scoring with a 20.9 points per game average. Jackson was joined, on the team, by seniors Mark Matthews and Tracy Reisinger of Miami Trace, seniors Dwayne Evans and Rob Shaw of Washington, junior Brad Belles and senior Brad Dade of Circleville, seniors John Lambcke and Bill Kocher of Wilmington and juniors Dale Gillenwater, Joey King and Doug Mustard of McClain.
The AP class AA 1986 All-Ohio basketball team was released to the media March 19. McClain’s Tony Jackson was named to the first team. Mike Chancey of Pomeroy Meigs and Troy McCracken of Greenon were both on the second team. This honor put Jackson in very elite company. The only McClain athletes ever to be named to the All-Ohio first team were Gerald “Red” Armstrong, Jimmy
Hull, Don Grate, Robert Miller and, of course, Jackson.
Another memorable South Central Ohio League basketball season had come to an end.
Bob Patton is a Highland County sports historian and a contributing writer to The Highland County Press.[[In-content Ad]]
After a long, hard 1986 season, the final SCOL standings were:
McClain – 9-1, 19-1
Circleville – 7-3, 13-7
Washington – 5-5, 14-6
Wilmington – 4-6, 7-13
Miami Trace – 3-7, 4-17
Hillsboro – 2-8, 6-14
The Associated Press All-Southeastern District Basketball Team was released to the media in February.
McClain coach Rick Van Matre was named AA Co-Coach of the Year, along with the Pomeroy Meigs head coach. Senior McClain sharpshooter Tony Jackson was named AA Co-Player of the Year, sharing the honor with Mike Chancey, a 6’ 5” senior from Pomeroy Meigs.
When the sectional tournament drawings were held, McClain was seeded No. 1. They drew a bye the first session and would meet the Thornville Sheridan vs. Wellston winner, Feb. 25, 1986 at Unioto.
Washington C.H. got the second seed and would meet 6-14 Hillsboro, Feb. 21, also at Unioto. The winner of this game would meet the Waverly – Vinton County winner. Miami Trace drew 6-11 Chillicothe in the opening game of the AAA tournament in the Convocation Center, in Athens, on Feb. 19.
On Saturday, Feb. 15, the Wilmington Hurricane blew over Dayton Oakwood 72-64 in the sectional tournament at U.D. Arena, in something of an upset. Bill Kocher led the ’Cane scorers with 21 markers, while John Lambcke added 17 and Mike Taylor, 16.
In the AAA sectional, Chillicothe eliminated Miami Trace, 78-53, on Wednesday, Feb. 19 at the Convo in Athens. Mark Matthews set the pace for the Panthers with 14 points. Chillicothe had four men in double figures.
On Friday night, Feb. 21, at Unioto, the Hillsboro Indians rallied from behind in the fourth quarter to upset Washington, 62-55, in the first round of the AA sectional. The victorious Indians had three men in double figures, led by Jeff Taylor’s 16 points. Washington was led by Dwayne Evans’ 17 markers.
Hillsboro would now do battle with the Waverly Tigers for the right to meet the McClain vs. Thornville winner in the sectional championship game. McClain’s Tony Jackson scored 31 points and grabbed seven rebounds as McClain bowled over Thornville Sheridan at Unioto Feb. 25, 67-49.
Waverly sidelined the Hillsboro Indians, 67-55, in the semifinals at Unioto, and the two sets of Tigers would settle the score Saturday, Feb. 28, with the winner advancing to the AA District Tournament in the Convocation Center at Ohio University. Cris Walker led the Indians with 14 points, while Dave Strickland led Waverly with 21.
The surprising Wilmington Hurricane advanced when senior Bill Kocher hit a 10-foot jumper with two seconds remaining to lift the Hurricane to a 58-56 win over Carlisle in the sectional tourney at U.D. Arena. SCOL teams were giving a good account of themselves in tournament play. John Lambcke’s 21 points led the ’Cane, who would now play in the championship game.
In the title game at Unioto, the McClain Tigers rallied from behind in the fourth stanza to take an exciting 47-46 win over Waverly and capture the sectional championship.
Tony Jackson scored only 12 points but hit four of four key free throws in the fourth quarter. Doug Mustard’s 14 points led the purple-and-gold, while Chris Brown tallied 17 for Waverly in a losing cause. McClain would now play Friday, March 6, in the Convo. Their opponent would be the winner of the Chesapeake vs. Portsmouth game.
At the U.D. Arena, Wilmington would meet another Clinton County school, East Clinton in the semi-final game of the sectional.
The ’Cane, which won only 4-of-10 SCOL games and only 7-of-20 games, overall, had come to life with a bang.
Senior guard Bill Kocher hit for a career-high 26 points and led Wilmington to a 63-51 victory over East Clinton to advance to the tournament championship game, where they would take on Greenon. Greenon was ranked No. 2 in the state in AA.
In Columbus, senior Jeff Spencer exploded for 21 points to lift the Circleville Tigers to a 75-68 win over Northmoor in the class AA sectional tournament at the Fairgrounds Coliseum. Brad Dade and Brad Belles each contributed 14 points for Circleville.
The Circleville Tigers advanced to meet powerful Bexley, 19-0 and ranked No. 1 in the state, in the Fairgrounds Coliseum in Columbus. The Tigers played very well, but Bexley was just too strong. They downed the Tigers, 75-56. Jeff Spencer led the Tigers with 15 points.
On March 6, 6’9” Troy McCracken scored 18 points in the second half to lift No. 2 ranked Greenon to a 74-54 win over Wilmington in the sectional final at U.D. Arena. McCracken scored a total of 22 points. Big John Lambcke and Mike Taylor tallied 18 each for the Hurricane.
The same night, in the Convo, McClain downed the Portsmouth Trojans, 56-51, in double overtime. Both teams scored one field goal in the first overtime, but the Tigers outscored Portsmouth, 13-7, in the second. Reliable Tony Jackson racked up 25 points for the Tigers, while Patrick Tubbs scored 24 for the Trojans.
On Saturday, March 8, McClain thumped Pomeroy Meigs, 58-41 in the district championship game at the Convo. Jackson scored 22 McClain Points on 7-of-12 shooting from the field and 8-of-8 from the line.
McClain had led by only a 24-19 margin at halftime, but took complete control of the game beginning in the third quarter.
In the first game of the regional tournament, in the U.D. Arena, McClain dominated Cincinnati Wyoming, winning the contest by a 54-41 margin, with Tony Jackson totaling 26 points. Wyoming bowed out with a 19-6 record. The Tigers would advance to meet Dayton district winner Greenon, who defeated Cincinnati CAPE in the regional semifinals.
On Saturday, March 15, Greenon’s Troy McCracken scored 19 points to lead undefeated Greenon to a thrilling 71-67 triple overtime victory over the Tigers. Neither team scored in the first overtime, and they traded field goals in the second extra period. Greenon outscored McClain, 11-7, in the third and final OT. Tony Jackson led the Tigers with 25 points (12-of-16 from the field) and virtually controlled the entire game. The senior sharpshooter was whistled for his fifth foul with 53 seconds remaining in regulation and it was an uphill battle for the Tigers without him. The purple-and-gold ended their season 24-2.
The South Central League teams had all performed extremely well in tournament play, this season.
When the All-SCOL Team was released, 6’3” McClain star Tony Jackson was named Honorary Captain.
Jackson led the SCOL in scoring with a 20.9 points per game average. Jackson was joined, on the team, by seniors Mark Matthews and Tracy Reisinger of Miami Trace, seniors Dwayne Evans and Rob Shaw of Washington, junior Brad Belles and senior Brad Dade of Circleville, seniors John Lambcke and Bill Kocher of Wilmington and juniors Dale Gillenwater, Joey King and Doug Mustard of McClain.
The AP class AA 1986 All-Ohio basketball team was released to the media March 19. McClain’s Tony Jackson was named to the first team. Mike Chancey of Pomeroy Meigs and Troy McCracken of Greenon were both on the second team. This honor put Jackson in very elite company. The only McClain athletes ever to be named to the All-Ohio first team were Gerald “Red” Armstrong, Jimmy
Hull, Don Grate, Robert Miller and, of course, Jackson.
Another memorable South Central Ohio League basketball season had come to an end.
Bob Patton is a Highland County sports historian and a contributing writer to The Highland County Press.[[In-content Ad]]