Time for the girls to shine

It’s starting to get down to the nitty gritty.
Girls basketball teams will tip it off tomorrow night as district tournaments get underway throughout Northwest Ohio.
There are plenty of games to tickle your fancy if you are a prep basketball fan. All of them will obviously be better than the game I covered last night. There’s nothing like watching a boys game where the score is 11-8 at halftime.

Division I
First on the agenda is the Anthony Wayne-Findlay rematch. Anthony Wayne is 19-1 with its only loss coming to the Trojans in the first game of the season. This is the kind of game you love to watch. Since they played in the opener, you’ll be able to determine which team has improved the most throughout the course of the season.
Although the Trojans won the meeting between the two teams, wow any high school team that wins 19 straight that’s quite an accomplishment. I’ll actually be checking the Courier website when I am at the state wrestling tournament for updates on this one.

Division II
Ottawa-Glandorf plays Celina in the Division II district at Findlay High School. What makes this interesting is that it’s an all-Western Buckeye League district and four pretty solid teams with Bath and Wapak in the other half bracket. Whoever wins this district is well-deserving of a spot in next week’s regional.

Division III
Another wowser. At Shelby you have Ashland Crestview (18-4), who knocked a 1-loss Western Reserve team out of the tournament last week, against Andra Bell’s Upper Sandusky Rams (16-5). Is there a better girls coach out there than Andra? Plus the Rammies have a 16-5 record coming against a pretty good NOL schedule. In the other half of the bracket its periennial power Margaretta (17-3) and Riverdale (21-1). Both of these games will be worth the price of admission.
At Perrysburg you have Genoa (18-3) against BVC quad champion Liberty-Benton (13-7). I’d have to think based on records Genoa is probably the favorite but it’s tournament time and coach Nate Irwin’s Eagles are more than capable of the upset. Look for Columbus Grove (19-2) to roll in the other half of the bracket against an 8-14 Woodmore team.

Division IV
Seven area teams will be playing at three sites in Division IV
At Liberty-Benton it looks like Hopewell-Loudon (22-0) and Van Buren (16-4) might be on a collision course in Saturday’s finals. Van Buren takes on 8-11 Allen East while Hopewell-Loudon plays Pandora-Gilboa. If the Rockets or Mustangs win consider it the upset special of the night. I like the way Van Buren has been playing their rout of St. Wendelin in the sectional final speaks volumes to how far they have come.
At Fostoria, New Riegel (13-8) takes on Ottawa Hills (19-1). Based on records the Green Backs…I mean Green Bears should be favored but Old Fort (3-17) beating Danbury (13-7) has me wondering if the Blue Jackets can pull off the upset here. I wouldn’t be surprised Steve Lucius’ crew found themselves in the finals.
There are some pretty good teams in the Elida District too. Ottoville plays an upstart Kalida team that knocked off Leipsic in the sectional final and the other game at the fieldhouse features Convoy Crestview against Continental in a match up of 16-4 teams that one should be a dandy.

Who will be left standing and heading to regionals?
Among the area teams after looking into my cloudy crystal ball I’d say Ottawa-Glandorf, Columbus Grove, Ottoville and Hopewell-Loudon remain in the tournament after Saturday night’s finals.
Check in Sunday and see if I should be eating filet mignon or crow on those picks.

NOTEWORTHY: No bloggin’ on the Buzz probably until Monday. I’m off to cover the 67th OHSAA state wrestling tournament. I will be banging out some stuff from the Schott on area wrestlers on the Northwest Ohio Wrestling Blog here. Until then enjoy the hoops!

NEWSWORTHY:
Findlay Courier Local Sports for Wednesday
Fostoria Review Times Sports for Wednesday
Fremont Ross ousts Marion Harding
Exciting tournament win ends Galion skid
Bowling Green Sentinel Tribune Wednesday Sports
UF boots Ashland from GLIAC Tourney
Colonel Crawford cuts down Hopewell-Loudon
Seneca East blitzes Gibsonburg
Bucyrus reaches sectional final
Murphy leads Galion past Clear Fork
Crestline sets up rematch with Buckeye Central
Defiance Crescent News Sports
Mansfield Area Boys Basketball Boxscores
Lima News Sports for Thursday
Fostoria bounces Port Clinton
Fostoria ends Port Clinton’s season
Bob Priest named Van Wert’s new football coach

Hanneman is the man!

Who’s the man?
I’ll tell you who the man is…Dave Hanneman is the man.
Husband, father, author, raconteur and award-winning sports writer.
I know a lot of sports writers and Dave is the best. No one in this part of the state can craft local sports stories and columns like Dave can.
Buster and I give him a rash of shit on a daily basis but that’s because we know he’s the best.
The Associated Press Society of Ohio released it’s list of finalists for awards in various categories and Dave was a finalists in three of them. Being up for AP awards is a yearly event for the pride of Kalida.
So if Dave reads this and I know he will eventually. This is just letting him know that I think he’s the best!
Tomorrow we’ll look at the district semifinal girls basketball games…and boy there are gonna be some dandies!
Here are the AP awards nominees from our division in sports…

BEST WEB SITE: The (Dover-New Philadelphia) Times Reporter; The (Hamilton) JournalNews; The (Findlay) Courier.

BEST SPORTS COLUMNIST: Aaron Dorksen, The (Wooster) Daily Record; Bruce Hefflinger, The (Defiance) Crescent-News; Dave Hanneman, The (Findlay) Courier; Joe Arnold, Lancaster Eagle-Gazette; Rick Noland, The Medina Gazette.

BEST SPORTS WRITER: Aaron Dorksen, The (Wooster) Daily Record; Dave Hanneman, The (Findlay) Courier; Joe Arnold, Lancaster Eagle-Gazette; Mark Heiman, The (Findlay) Courier.

BEST SPORTS ENTERPRISE: Dave Hanneman, The (Findlay) Courier, “FHS and Substance Abuse”; Jamie Baker and Mark Heiman, The (Findlay) Courier, “New OHSAA Divisions”; Patrick Meyers, Steubenville Herald-Star, “Zamana: Central’s Angel in the Outfield”; Skip Weaver and John Bombatch, Middletown Journal, “An Era Comes to a Close.”

BEST DAILY SPORTS SECTION: Elyria Chronicle-Telegram; The (Newark) Advocate; The (Findlay) Courier; Middletown Journal.

NEWSWORTHY:
Bowling Green Sentinel Tribune Sports
Clum’s perfect season is on the line for Galion
Miller, four other Delphos area wrestlers qualify for state
Eagles to face Findlay in GLIAC opener
Defiance Crescent News Sports
Findlay Courier Tuesday Local Sports
Fostoria Review Times Local Sports
Lima News Prep Sports

Bonus Info

Trying to get as info out there as I can here are the all-District 6 coaches selections for basketball and the all-Northwest Conference girls basketball picks for the 2006-07 season.

District 6 Boys Teams
Division I
First team — Kelsey Williams, Sr., Sandusky, 22.0 ppg. Zach Maxey, Mansfield Madison, Sr., 19.0. Antwoine Smith, Mansfield Sr., Sr., 14.0. Taylor Housewright, Ashland, Jr., 15.0. Matt Brown, Madison, Sr., 17.0. Cory Clayton, Fremont Ross, Sr., 15.0.
Second team — Trevonn Lucas, Mansfield Sr., Sr., 10. Gregg Berkshire, Ashland, Jr., 10.0. Phil Haddad, Marion Harding, Sr., 13.0. Tyrone Lindsey, Mansfield Sr., Jr., 12.0. Cole Prophet, Sandusky, Jr., 11.0. Ryan Croudup, Fremont Ross, Jr., 14.0.
Honorable mention — Tyler McFarlin, Ashland. Isiah Twine, Marion Harding. Aaron Megger, Mansfield Madison. Nate Williams, Sandusky. Lonnie Eatman, Mansfield Sr.
Player of the Year — Kelsey Williams, Sandusky.
Coach of the Year — Steve Keller, Sandusky.

Division II
First team — Jon Diebler, Upper Sandusky, Sr., 43.6. Kyle Hallock, Perkins, Sr., 22.0. Kevin Murphy, Galion, Sr., 25.0. Chris Dudics, Shelby, Sr., 16.0. Kyle Smith, Norwalk, Jr., 17.0. Justin Caudill, Perkins, Sr., 20.0. DJ Whinnery, Bellevue, Jr., 15.0.
Second team — Brady Decker, Tiffin Columbian, Sr., 16.0. Jason Cellier, Port Clinton, Sr., 17.0. Darrien Douglas, Willard, Jr., 17.5. Jake Mochoskay, Ontario, Jr., 13.5. Victor Whitelock, Lexington, Sr., 12.5. Alex Falk, Upper Sandusky, Soph., 16.6. Parker Grove, Shelby, Sr., 14.0.
Honorable mention — Logan Tea, Clyde. Jeff DeBlase, Bellevue. Sean Elswick, Port Clinton. Matt Sommer, Shelby. Dan Doster, Perkins. Dylan Cooper, Lexington. Andrew Rice, Ontario. Alex Gillett, Clyde. Drew McClellan, Upper Sandusky.
Player of the Year — Jon Diebler, Upper Sandusky.
Coach of the Year — Scott McVeigh, Perkins.

Division III
First team — Matt Zahel, Margaretta, Sr., 16.7. John Pickett, Western Reserve, Sr., 13.0. Troy Coombs, New London, Sr., 10.5. Jeremy Peyton, Ashland Crestview, Sr., 15.0. Taylor Held, New London, Sr., 12.1. Derek Wurm, Seneca East, Sr., 13.7. Jared Kromer, Margaretta, Sr., 16.1.
Second team — Andrew Fawcett, Huron, Sr., 11.1. Neil Tusing, Seneca East, Sr., 16.9. Matt Rennert, Western Reserve, Sr., 11.0. Anthony Easterling, Ashland Crestview, Jr., 16.0. Noah Hill, Edison, Jr., 11.0. Jimmy Beach, Huron, Sr., 14.8. Robby Schiefer, Bucyrus, Sr., 12.6.
Honorable mention — Craig Buckingham, Western Reserve. Evan Kurt, Margaretta. Clint Berry, New London. Shawn Zahel, Margaretta. Tyler Old, Edison. Troy McCarron, Ashland Crestview. Kory Pruner, Ashland Crestview. Derek Chaffins, New London. Josh Bracken, New London. Garrett Tusing, Seneca East.
Player of the Year — Matt Zahel, Margaretta.
Coaches of the Year — Chris Sheldon, Western Reserve and Tom Howell, New London.

Division IV
First team — Tyler Kreim, Buckeye Central, Sr., 15.0. Ian Franks, South Central, Sr., 20.1. Connor Jump, Mohawk, Jr., 17.2. Bryan Ehrhardt, Sandusky St. Mary Central Catholic, Sr., 16.8. Brook Turson, Plymouth, Fr., 17.7. John Shifley, Bucyrus Wynford, Jr., 14.6. Austin Mass, Tiffin Calvert, Jr., 16.2 Jacob Furr, Plymouth, Jr., 15.8. Austin Smith, Colonel Crawford, Soph., 16.1.
Second team — Cody Perry, Old Fort, Sr., 18.3. Vincent Windau, Carey, Sr., 13.9. Ryan Heath, SMCC, Sr., 17.4. Drew Hipp, St. Paul, St. Paul, Sr., 13.4. Nick Heiby, Crestline, Sr., 8.9. Blaine Irwin, Buckeye Central, Soph., 15.5. Chad Snyder, Wynford, Sr., 14.2. Drew Windisch, SMCC, Sr., 13.2. Zac Osborn, South Central, Sr., 15.1.
Honorable mention — Jordan Ringenberg, Monroeville. Ryan Mack, New Riegel. Dustin Kinn, New Riegel. Corey Britton, Hopewell-Loudon. Tyler Brown, Hopewell-Loudon. Ryan Chenevey, Mansfield St. Peter’s. Michael Heringhaus, Mansfield St. Peter’s. Zach Kleman, Mansfield St. Peter’s. Mike Abernathy, Bettsville. Keith Ziegler, Mohawk. Nathaniel Kurtz, Mohawk. Derrick Cole, Carey. Michael Dennis, Carey. Stephen Kaufman, Mansfield Christian.
Player of the Year — Tyler Kreim, Buckeye Central.
Coach of the Year — Phil Loy, Buckeye Central

District 6 Girls Teams
Division I
First team — Yanette Feagin, Mansfield Sr., Sr., 16.7. Narah Gangi, Ashland, Jr., 13.6. Jessica Jenkins, Marion Harding, Jr., 11.8. Beth Mottayow, Mansfield Madison, Sr., 13.1. Shawnta’ Dyer, Marion Harding, Fr., 18.2. Jasmine Brown, Sandusky, Sr., 10.4.
Second team — Jessica White, Mansfield Sr., 9.7. Kaylee Kepford, Marion Harding, 8.6. Ayanna Grant, Sandusky, Sr., 8.7. Lakeya Holmes, Mansfield Madison, Sr., 8.1. Britta Barron, Fremont Ross, Jr., 6.5. Shanetta Hartfield, Mansfield Sr., Sr., 6.7.
Honorable mention — Jessica Estep, Mansfield Madison. Taylor Rogers, Ashland. Victoria Logan, Fremont Ross. Ashley Long, Fremont Ross. Cyncere White, Mansfield Sr. Jasmunn Ritchie, Sandusky.
Player of the Year — Yanette Feagin, Mansfield Sr.
Coach of the Year — Bill Sycks, Marion Harding

Division II
First team — Cierra Bravard, Perkins, Jr., 22.2. Melissa Goodall, Lexington, Sr., 14.9. Trisha Krewson, Perkins, Jr., 15.5. Stephanie Meyer, Sr., Clyde, 13.8. Chelsea Hawkins, Bucyrus, Soph., 16.6. Jenny Miller, Clyde, Sr., 17.8. Ali Roth, Shelby, Jr., 11.8.
Second team — Liz Bidlack, Clear Fork, Sr., 13.9. Mariah Strayer, Bellevue, Jr., 12.7. Jessica Armintrout, Shelby, Jr., 9.6. Rachel Fitzwater, Willard, Sr., 12.9. Bethany Caudill, Perkins, Soph., 11.2. Kelly Logsdon, Port Clinton, Sr., 12.7. Kelsee Rehm, Bucyrus, Soph., 13.0.
Honorable mention — Megan Florence, Tiffin Columbian. Katie Stephenson, Lexington. Nasumbi Beard, Ontario. Roni Schroeder, Shelby. Kelsey Perry, Willard. Allie DeCaro, Port Clinton. Ashley Dorner, Clear Fork. Brittany Sheward, Tiffin Columbian. Bri Calver, Shelby. Kara Danhoff, Willard. Courtney Wolfe, Lexington.
Player of the Year — Melissa Goodall, Lexington.
Coach of the Year — Jodi Korbas.

Division III
First team — Cayla Keegan, Margaretta, Jr., 18.4. Clare Aubrey, Upper Sandusky, Jr., 22.9. Danielle Jacoby, Carey, Sr., 20.1. Kourtney Volkmer, Colonel Crawford, Jr., 17.8. Brittany Nesbitt, Margaretta, Sr., 11.2. Kate Stimpert, Ashland Crestview, Jr., 17.7. Reanne Montgomery, Western Reserve, Soph., 10.9.
Second team — Karrah Windau, Carey, Soph., 10.6. Brittany Morris, Margaretta, Soph., 12.1. Brittany Howard, Upper Sandusky, Sr., 7.2. Ashley Palmer, Western Reserve, Sr., 10.2. Emma McCarron, Ashland Crestview, Soph., 13.1. Lindsay Clouse, Mohawk, Jr., 11.2. Katie Streeter, Colonel Crawford, Jr., 7.1
Honorable mention — Callie Long, Colonel Crawford. Megan Kraus, Upper Sandusky. Alex Plott, Upper Sandusky. Lauren Gadd, Huron. Julie Berry, Huron. Alyssa Robinson, Edison. Alycia Izzard, New London. Chelsea Cooper, Mohawk. Alicia Clouse, Mohawk. Tiffany Patrick, Western Reserve.
Player of the Year — Danielle Jacoby, Carey.
Coach of the Year — Brenda Friend, Western Reserve.

Division IV
First team — Whitney Lindsay, Mansfield St. Peter’s, Sr., 20.5. Courtney Ritzler, Hopewell-Loudon, Sr., 17.2. Ashley Speicher, Plymouth, Sr., 22.4. Elizabeth Tyler, Monroeville, Sr., 15.2. Jackie Reinhart, New Riegel, Jr., 15.9. Megan Boukissen, Fremont St. Joseph, Sr., 11.9. Blaire Hiler, Buckeye Central, Sr., 16.3. Dani Papenfus, Fostoria St. Wendelin, Jr., 13.8. Jenny Slone, Bucyrus Wynford, Sr., 13.6.
Second team — Nikki Gilmore, Mansfield Christian, Jr., 16.4. Jen Lilly, Bucyrus Wynford, Sr., 12.2. Kim Hohman, Hopewell-Loudon, Sr., 11.0. Rachelle Benfer, Plymouth, Jr., 16.4. Rachelle Lucius, New Riegel, Soph., 12.2. Lauren Geroski, Fostoria St. Wendelin, Fr., 12.0. Haley Nagel, Seneca East, Seneca East, Jr., 14.3. Catherine Spisak, Sandusky St. Mary Central Catholic, Jr., 13.2. Kelly Anatra, Mansfield St. Peter’s, Jr., 9.2.
Honorable mention — Stacia Fritz, St. Paul. Hannah Nagy, Fremont St. Joseph. Francena Tate, Fostoria St. Wendelin. Carrie Ritzler, Hopewell-Loudon. Michelle Sikora, Tiffin Calvert. Shauna Rowland, Bucyrus Wynford. Emily Cleveland, Old Fort. Nicole Ryan, Monroeville. Emily Hatfield, Crestline. Danielle Shoup, Seneca East. Sondra Beaschler, Fremont St. Joseph. Jackie Albrecht, Mansfield Christian. Laura Uselton, Mansfield Christian. Chelsi Clark, South Central.
Player of the Year — Whitney Lindsay, Mansfield St. Peter’s.
Coaches of the Year — Jeff Ritzler, Hopewell-Loudon and Aaron Smith, Fostoria St. Wendelin.


Northwest Conference
Girls Basketball Team
All-NWC First Team
Amanda Schroeder (Columbus Grove), Amanda Stratton (Bluffton), Kara Dysert (Ada), Kelsey Nedderman (Cnvoy Crestview), Jenny Lamoreau (Lima Central Catholic), Anna (Raines (Spencerville).
All-NWC Second Team
Delphos Jefferson — Lindsey Shively, Kayle Miller. Ada — Morgan Dumbaugh. Columbus Grove — Courtney Diller. Allen East — Kym Bowsher. Convoy Crestview — Carly Lichtensteiger.
All-NWC Honorable Mention
Lincolnview — Lauren Evans, Megan Looser. Bluffton — Kendra Bassitt. Convoy Crestview — Melissa Eickholt. Lima Central Catholic — Kristen Gasperetti.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Amanda Schroeder (Columbus Grove).

Boys tournaments set

I have to be honest with you.
The OHSAA boys sectional basketball tournament gets underway tomorrow and the opening round match ups are yawners.
Heck there’s only a handful of teams tonight with a winning record playing in our coverage area at The Courier tomorrow.
I’m covering the tournament at Riverdale. Carey vs. Arcadia and Hopewell-Loudon vs. Colonel Crawford.
Who knows though, maybe one of these teams will be the surprise of the tournament and make it to the regional. Wouldn’t that be something?
I kind of doubt it though.
Things really don’t heat up until districts. I don’t see as many stacked sectionals in the boys bracket this season compared to the girls bracket. We’ll opine on the ladies tomorrow.

Until then here is the area boys basketball tournament schedule for tomorrow:


Boys PREP BASKETBALL
Tuesday's Sectional Semifinals
Division II
At Sandusky Senior
Fostoria vs. Port Clinton
Division III
AT LIMa Central Catholic
Paulding (0-15) vs. Bluffton (13-3), 7
Division IV
At Lima Bath
Pandora-Gilboa (8-7) vs. Cory-Rawson
Lima Temple Christian (5-10) vs. Riverdale (3-11)
At Ottawa-Glandorf
North Baltimore (6-10) vs. McComb (2-12)
Leipsic (0-15) vs. Miller City (7-8)
At Hopewell-Loudon
Bettsville (2-12) vs. Old Fort (4-10)
Tiffin Calvert (7-7) vs. Fostoria St. Wendelin (5-10)
At Van Wert
Fort Jennings (4-10) vs. Delphos St. John's (4-12), 7
At Riverdale
Arcadia (3-12) vs. Carey (9-6)
Hopewell-Loudon (5-9) vs. Colonel Crawford (4-12)
At Kenton
Upper Scioto Valley (2-13) vs. Hardin Northern (3-9)
NOTE: First game listed begins at 6:15, unless noted, while second game begins 30 minutes after conclusion of first game.

King Jon

Well tonight’s the night.
There’s a pretty good chance Upper Sandusky’s Jon Diebler will be the new Ohio High School boys prep scoring king. He only needs I think 48 points in tonight’s home game against Norwalk to set the record of 2,958 career points set by John Glenn’s Jay Burson in 1985.
Usually, I like covering a story like this it’s a big event, check that, monumental event in Ohio prep history. But there will be so many media members there...I’m very glad I’ll be covering the Division III district wrestling tournament at Owens Community College instead.
A player like Jon Diebler doesn’t come around every day. Especially at a school the size of Upper Sandusky. And to become Ohio’s prep all-time leading scorer...that’s big.
But honestly it isn’t Diebler’s talent alone that’s allowed him to set the mark. It’s talent combined with Upper Sandusky’s uptempo style of play that’s made it possible for him to score nearly 3,000 points in his career. Oh and I can’t forget a surrounding cast of pretty good teammates, solid players in their own right, like Drew McClellan and sophomore Alex Falk.
Would Diebler have been able to set the record at a place like say Bettsville, who typically struggles each year, or Holgate which slows the game to a crawl? I’m not sure but it’s an interesting question to ponder.

Anyway here are the top 10 Ohio prep boys scorers of all-time:
1. Jay Burson, New Concord John Glenn (1981-85) 2,958
2. Jon Diebler, Upper Sandusky (2003-07) 2,916
3. Geno Ford, Cambridge (1989-93) 2,680
4. LeBron James, St. Vincent-St. Mary (1999-03) 2,646
5. Rex Leach, Vienna Mathews (1951-55) 2,581
6. Mike Phillips, Manchester (1970-74) 2,573
7. Bill Szabo, Oberlin Firelands (1976-80) 2,567
8. Nate Davis, Bellaire (2002-06) 2,562
9. Larry Huston, Savannah (1951-55) 2,492
10. Jerry Lucas, Middletown (1955-58) 2,460

Who is Ohio’s greatest prep basketball player of all time? Is it LeBron? Is it someone else and where does Diebler rank?
Some of you out there know way more basketball than I do so you tell me.

NEWSWORTHY:
NW Ohio Wrestling News and Info
Findlay Courier Friday Local Sports
Fostoria Review Times Friday Local Sports
Mansfield Area Prep Roundup
Lima News Preps for Friday
Tiffin Advertiser Tribune Sports
Ashland loses to UF Oilers again
Ashland women rout UF
Elmwood holds off Eastwood
Defiance Crescent News Sports

Touchy subject at Bath

Well there’s a firestorm brewing just south of here.
Here are a couple of stories from today’s Lima News:

High profile transfer at Bath spurs debate
Bath Superintendent under fire for allowing transfers
Essentially a couple of boys from Bath have transferred to Lima Central Catholic. They aren’t just your average students, they are pretty good football players. Bath’s football program has struggled in recent years while LCC has been on an upswing ever since former Columbus Grove coach Jerry Cooper took over as head coach.
While Catholic schools get the bad rap on this most of the time, you can’t fault LCC for bringing them into the fold. They want to change schools so they should be allowed to…it’s their choice and their parent’s choice.
I do have a couple of problems with the situation though. What ever happened to loyalty for the school district you live in and the kids around you you’ve played with for so many years? All that stuff has apparently gone out the window with the way prep athletes change schools these days.
It’s a double-edged sword. You want to see kids maximize their potential and I also understand they may not always be able to do it at their hometown school. It’s a tough issue.
Believe me I coached at a private school and I know what it was like to see kids you developed through elementary school and middle school leave when they get to high school. It seemed to happen quite often for us when I was coaching wrestling at St. Wendelin. Honestly, I can’t remember getting one transfer student into our program the 13 years I was there --- But I saw plenty leave and that always left a bad taste in my mouth as a coach.
But the key in the Bath-LCC situation seems to be the actions of Bath Superintendent Bill Lodemeier. He had to sign an exemption for the athletes to be immediately eligible. The OHSAA waiver states that a student’s physical and emotional well-being must be at stake for the release to be signed by the superintendent.
A lot of Bath people are angry Lodemeier signed the waiver. I think it’s fairly common for supers to sign off on students transferring.
We have a few public to public transfers each year in this area…thankfully most area athletes and their parents aren’t school shopping for sports programs.

NEWSWORTHY:
Findlay Courier Thursday Local Sports
Fostoria Review Times Thursday Sports
Fremont Ross beats Marion in home finale
Oak Harbor has no answer for Royals’ Reynolds
Marion Harding eliminates Fremont Ross girls
Dyer sets season scoring record for Harding girls
Clear Fork wrestler turns it around
Wauseon girls end Bryan’s season
Chasing Jay Burson
What Ashland area coaches say about Diebler
Bucyrus area boys previews
Browns get ready for NFL combine
Fort Jennings shoots down Antwerp girls
Defiance Crescent News Sports
Mansfield area prep roundup
Lima News Thursday Sports
Upper Sandusky, Norwalk in big game Friday

Not many upsets

There weren’t a lot of upsets on the first night of the girls basketball tournament around Northwest Ohio last night.
Probably the biggest upset came at the Division IV Sectional at Tiffin Columbian where 3-17 Old Fort knocked off 12-8 Danbury 58-54.
I couldn’t be happier for the Stockaders.
They have a new old coach in former New Riegel coach Rick DeMoss who has probably forgot more basketball than most people can even remember. He took over a program that was down on their luck just because he wanted to continue coaching basketball.
He’s a good guy and good coach and if OF’s girls stick with it, I’m pretty sure that they’ll get it turned around and they’ll be more competitive in girls basketball.
Like many small schools they have to fight that battle with volleyball. Old Fort has one of the best small school volleyball programs in the state but good volleyball and basketball can co-exist Hopewell-Loudon is an example of that.
Sure Old Fort is now just 4-17 but just maybe that one tournament win is a step in the right direction and a harbinger of better things to come in the future.

NOTEWORTHY:
TIGERS GET A WIN: Huron’s girls basketball was 0-19 heading into the sectional tournament. The Tigers put their winless season to rest by crushing Edison 64-35 in a Division II sectional opener last night. My question is if they beat Edison by 29 in the tournament how come they didn’t beat them in their two meetings during the regular season.

L-B WINS POLL: Congrats to the Liberty-Benton boys basketball team for finishing atop the Division III AP boys basketball poll. No we’ll see if it translates into a real championship on the court. They are a very good basketball team and should make a deep run into the tournament so I’ve been told. Kudos to Van Buren for finishing sixth in the Division IV poll the Black Knights should have a lengthy tournament run as well. Upper Sandusky was 10th in the Division II poll while Continental finished 10th in Division IV.

BENTLEY OUT: According to the Plain Dealer former Ohio State standout LeCharles Bentley won’t be playing center for the Browns in the 2007 season. His knee injuries are in fact career threatening. You can read about the bad news here. Looks like it will be another season of me sitting in my seat and dropping F-bombs about how pathetic Hank Fraley is for the Browns at center.

NEWSWORTHY:
Findlay Courier Wednesday Prep Roundup
BG holds off Ottawa-Glandorf boys
Fast start lifts Elmwood boys past Oak Harbor
BG Sentinel Tribune basketball roundup
Bucyrus area prep roundup
Ottoville boys shoot down Marion Local
Late run lifts Lima Perry past Fort Jennings
Defiance Crescent News Sports
3-pointers vault Gibsonburg boys past Lakota
Galion girls finish 0-20
Fostoria Review Times Wednesday Sports
Allen East say no to soccer
Mansfield area prep roundup
Lima News Wednesday Sports Roundup

Bowling as sport

Is it or isn’t it?
That’s the question. Is bowling a sport or isn’t it? I say yep it’s a sport.
Others would argue it’s an activity not a sport. But you don’t have to be a great physical specimen to be a bowler but you do need some skill.
I guess this is an interesting topic because this weekend will be the first OHSAA sponsored Northwest District bowling tournament at Varsity Lanes in Bowling Green.
One thing some of the boys at work have said is that if you can drink and smoke while you play it shouldn’t be a high school sport. I guess that would include bowling and golf.
I guess I’m all for bowling. It may give some student-athletes a chance to compete for a title that might not be inclined to participate in other sports. And there’s something to be said for playing team sports. You learn to get along with others, work together and pull your own weight. All things you will have to do in the real world after high school.
So good luck to the Fostoria, Ottawa-Glandorf and Patrick Henry teams competing at BG this weekend, and that‘s coming from a bowler who‘s lucky to break 100.

NEWSWORTHY:
Ottoville boys run the table in the PCL
Findlay Courier Local Sports for Tuesday
Fostoria Review Times Sports for Tuesday
St. Joseph girls get win No.18 against Vanlue

Lima News Tuesday Sports

March Madness Ladies Style

It’s tournament time.
Ohio’s girls version of March Madness gets underway in Northwest Ohio this week.
Girls from some of the other parts of the state like the Central and Southwest Districts started their tournaments last week. Actually, there might be a push for the Northwest District to start their tournaments a week earlier beginning next year…stay connected for more on that later.
Some teams are going into the tournament on a roll while others are struggling.
Take the Findlay High School girls for instance. They enter the tourney riding a 2-game losing streak. They collapsed against Napoleon last Thursday as the Wildcats went on a 17-2 run late to keep the Trojans from gaining a share of the GBC title. Then they lost an overtime thriller to Division II Lima Bath Saturday.
They’ll open tournament play Saturday at Bowling Green against the winner of Tuesday’s matchup between Springfield and Oregon Clay. I doubt they stumble in that one.
If you are looking for a good girls basketball sectional to attend this week is a land of plenty around the area.
To the south at Bucyrus, the Division III sectional there should be a dandy. Mohawk and NCC champion and state-ranked Riverdale square off Tuesday with the winner playing Colonel Crawford in the sectional title game. Carey and Upper Sandusky two more excellent teams will play in the other sectional final at Bucyrus. No matter which game you watch you are going to see some pretty good girls hoops.
The other sectional that I’d recommend is the Division IV Sectional at Fostoria.
OK, Tuesday’s first round games don’t do it for me, it will be Van Buren and North Baltimore and Hopewell-Loudon and Vanlue. But the semifinals should be a battle with Hopewell-Loudon likely to take on Arcadia and Van Buren and Fostoria St. Wendelin. Again, both those sectional finals will be worth the price of admission.
You can download and print your own set of girls brackets and follow along in the fun by clicking here on the OHSAA web site.

NEWSWORTHY:
NW Ohio Wrestling Results and Info
Bucyrus area prep roundup
Big first half carries Royals past Riverdale
Other Monday stories from the Bucyrus Telegraph Forum
Defiance Crescent News Sports
Ottoville boys team wins 13th PCL title
Ottawa-Glandorf tunes up by beating Kalida
Findlay Courier Local Sports for Monday
Fostoria Review Times Monday Sports
Tiffin Advertiser Tribune Local Sports

Sports writing tools

I can’t imagine what it was like being a sports writer before the advent of 3 things I know take for granted:
1, Fax machines
2, Email
3, The Internet

Many thinks to Al Gore for inventing the Internet. OK he took credit for it but be really didn’t invent it. I don’t know who did invent it but it has changed the world. It greases the skids so that information can travel across the world at the click of your mouse. Someday my job will probably be obsolete and there won’t be newspapers in the form we know them today,
Anyway, here are my 10 must have websites that I use on a daily or weekly basis throughout the year. My job as a sports writer would be much more difficult without them.

1, Baums Page -- Wrestling, track and field, cross country golf. If you’re looking for results in those prep sports in Ohio, Baum’s Page has it. I probably check out Baum’s page every day during the school year.
2, OHSAA -- If its high school sports information you seek…it’s here. Tournament brackets, past OHSAA tournament results, a member school directory, enrollment figures, board of control meeting minutes its all here and more.
3, The Swami -- Want to know how Findlay High School, did against Toledo Rogers earlier in the season and what their remaining schedule might be? The Swami knows. In fact The Swami has a complete database for high school basketball in the NW District as well as a column they call “Trail Trash” throughout the year. A terrific reasource.
4, Joe Eitel -- The guru of Ohio Prep Football Computer Ratings. Provides scores and weekly computer point projections on his website. During football season the traffic this site sees must be enormous.
5, JJ Huddle -- The original Ohio Prep Sports Message Board. May have lost a little of its edge over the past couple of years but if you want sports info this is a place to go.
6, Rocket Corner -- Great site for Ohio prep sports and they let you take the gloves off and duke it out unlike the Huddle. Especially informative for folks in NW Ohio.
7, The Courier -- No NW Ohio newspaper gives you access to more prep sports stories and results than The Courier. From basketball brackets to NW Ohio high school football and basketball standings it’s all there. If you are looking for prep results from the last decade all you have to do is search the Courier online archive.
8, Sportsjournalists.com -- One of my personal favorites. Sports journalists talking sports and the business some interesting insights on this message board.
9, Ohio National Weather Service Page -- Gotta know what the weather is going to be like today, tomorrow and the rest of the week. This has all the links to Ohio weather that you will ever need.
10, Google -- Info right at your keyboard. Don’t know a first name of that Ayersville basketball player that scored 25 points tonight? Google Ayersville Jones and Basketball and you’ll get the name,

White out

OK I have strayed from the beaten path somewhat this week.
It will be back to sports later this week and next as tournaments begin heating up.
And I’m going to do so again today.
It’s the great Blizzard of ‘07. I’ll tell you that storm last night was pretty bad. But some people use no common sense.
If you take it slow and easy everything should be all right. If you take your Geo Priszm out on rural county roads at night in the middle of the blizzard, expect the worst.
I went to the store Monday night the bread and milk aisle was ravaged. It looked like the storm had already struck. I think the Findlay area had enough bread, eggs and milk to make enough French Toast to last them until May.
Actually sometimes I think these snowfall forecasts are trumped up by the milk, egg and bread companies to boost sagging sales. But yesterday’s storm was no conspiracy it was a good old fashion dumping. It was probably the biggest winter storm to hit the area in the last five years, it’s the biggest I can remember in that span.
It made me start thinking about the big one. The Blizzard of ‘78.
Some of you out there might not be old enough to remember the Blizzard of ‘78. I do I was 10. We lost power and spent a whole week home from school. The thing I remember most is my mom putting me and my two younger brothers all in the same king sized bed to stay warm at night.
Drifts were 6-8 feet tall it was something I will never forget.
Here’s a historical view of the Blizzard of 78 from a Kent State University historian.
There was also a documentary made on the Blizzard of 78 made by WBGU TV in Bowling Green. I always like to catch the show everytime its one. Here’s a link to the show.
What are your memories of the Blizzard of 1978?
Tomorrow, as promised earlier in the week, my top 10 list of prep sports websites.

NEWSWORTHY:
Fort Jennings girls wins barnburner
Findlay Courier Wednesday Sports

Differences between boys and girls hoops

For all of you non-wrestling people out there, I have to admit I haven’t had as much blogging time as I’d like.

I write a wrestling report each year ranking wrestlers and predicting who will make it to state from the Northwest District in Division III. If you feel so inclined you can read about it here.

You wouldn’t believe how time consuming that was and trying to keep putting results on the NW District Wrestling Blog I maintain as well.

I can blog about the top 10 prep websites anytime.

Today’s topic is something my buddy Buster and I argued about at work recently and yes we have these friendly discussions all the time and rarely do they end in fisticuffs or hard feelings on either side.

I’d like to hear some other’s opinions on a basketball topic.
In our basketball tab, we had a big feature on Carlee Roethlisberger and how she had a chance to become Findlay’s all-time leading scorer in basketball for both the boys and the girls.

I’ve seen this other places listing a school’s all-time leading scorers and sometimes they list the boys with the girls. I argued with Buster that if a girl today is recognized as the top scorer in the schools history for both genders it wasn’t right. It’s not just basketball it’s boys basketball and girls basketball.

After all it should theoretically be easier for girls to score because they do play with a smaller ball than the boys. Since they don’t use the same equipment they shouldn’t be compared by the same standard was my argument. He disagreed.

His argument was basketball is basketball. It doesn’t matter if it’s played by boys or whether it’s played by girls. It’s still five-on-five put it in the hole. The only difference is girls play with a smaller ball because they have smaller hands.

My argument was that the smaller ball makes it mathematically easier for girls to score. Plus you never hear anyone in track and field compare boys and girls when talking about all all-time list of their school’s top throwers in the shot put and discus. That’s because boys throw a bigger implements (a 12-pound shot vs. 8-pound shot, bigger discus etc).

Is a boys 1,000 point scorer comparable to a girls 1,000 point scorer…I’m a basketball neophyte, please set me straight.

NOTEWORTHY: With the area set to be suffocated by a blanket of White Death (that’s snow to the average Ohioan) Carey has already cancelled it’s boys and girls games as I write this at 6:51 a.m. and expect other schools to follow suit. There were 18 games on The Courier schedule for tonight and I imagine all of them will be either cancelled or postponed.

NEWSWORTHY:My Column this week about the BVC teams competing in the OWL
Findlay Courier Tuesday Local Sports
Fostoria Review Times Tuesday Local Sports
St. John’s pulls away from Ottoville girls
Fort Jennings holds on against Delphos Jefferson
Defiance Crescent News Sports
Lima News Tuesday Prep Roundup
Mansfield News Journal Tuesday Prep Roundup
Tiffin Advertiser Tribune Tuesday Prep Sports

I'm jumping on the bandwagon: Sting for Mayor

No. Say it isn’t so.
I haven’t been so excited about a political newcomer since Jesse Ventura threw his hat into the ring and became governor of the state of Minnesota.
I’m distraught, just days after taking out petitions to run against incumbent Republican Tony Iriti to become Findlay’s next mayor, Jeff Gatchell returned the petitions unsigned to the Hancock County Board of Elections Friday.
Damn, damn, double damn.
Here I was hoping for an interesting primary election.
You know Gatchell, he’s the guy who dresses up like the professional wrestler Sting and has been seen near in Findlay’s Tiffin Avenue retail district.
Here’s a link to a story from 2000 that ace Findlay Courier reporter J. Steven Dillon did on Gatchell, aka Sting, for the newspaper.
Now would he have won? Probably not. But just the thought of Sting going toe-to-toe with Tony in a mayoral debate is intriguing.
Hell forget the debate, put them both in a set of tights, set up a wrestling ring in Dorney Plaza and let them duke it out in a no-holds-barred winner becomes mayor steel cage match.
Could you imagine what kind of attention that would bring?
There would be camera crews from the four corners of the globe here to cover Findlay’s own version of Wrestlemania. Maybe the undercard could feature a two-outta-three falls match between service director and former Courier business writer and current Findlay Service Director Mike Sobczyk and Findlay Safety Director Eileen Benson. Other matches could be maybe a tag team match with the Police and Fire Chiefs and their top commanders getting it on in the squared circle.
If Gatchell did run, maybe people would pay a little more attention to local politics. And just maybe it would get some people involved and interested in their local government and who’s in charge of it. He could bring some of the issues the city faces off the back burner and place them front and center in the public eye opening up discussion and debate. And he could do it with a flair and pinache’ only someone imitating a professional wrestler could.
Plus he would sell one heck of a lot of newspapers.
Run, Gatchell, run -- Sting the Flag City in 2007.

BVC logjam...FHS ends drought

Well they did it. Those Arcadia Redskins threw a wrench in the works and caused a four-way tie for the Blanchard Valley Conference girls basketball championship.

Honestly I wasn’t sure how all that would turn out. But in the end I guess everyone will be happy with a four way tie. Leipsic might be a little disappointed losing such a close game to Arcadia but hey Vikes…you are still BVC champions.

Meanwhile I was sent to cover the Findlay High School boys basketball game. Nice crowd but not a packed house.

I would have figured a few more people would be there since the Trojans has a chance to win their first outright league championship since way back in 1980.

That’s right the last league basketball championship came in 1980 in the old Buckeye Conference. That’s simply amazing when you consider that Findlay has had a pretty successful boys basketball program over that time.

The Trojans didn’t set the world on fire but the did what they had to do to win and repel a young and hungry Lima Senior team. They went 14-of-15 from the line including an impressive 14-of-14 from the line in the fourth quarter they just didn’t miss.

They don’t want to win this year, the Trojans want to start a tradition of being GBC contenders every single year.

They are off to a great start.

NOTEWORTHY:
IMPRESSED: I have to tell you I was very impressed with the play of Lima Senior freshman Anton Hutchins. He played like anything but a freshman and seemed to really step up his game and take it to the Trojans in the third quarter to keep his team in the game. He scored 23 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. This kid has a very bright future ahead of him.
THE OWL: Saturday the wrestlers from the Blanchard Valley Conference will get to compete in their first league championship since the early 1980s when they head to Northwood for the OWL. I’ll be there to cover it.
MONDAY’S BLOG: Another look at finding prep sports information on the web and my top 10 list of sites I can't live without.

NEWSWORTHY:
NW Ohio Wrestling and Info
Findlay Courier Friday Local Sports
Bryan, Swanton girls to battle for NWOAL title
Bucyrus slips past Riverdale boys
Ontario wins title share in NCC
Colonel Crawford rallies late for win
Colonel Crawford tames Crestline
St. Joseph cruises past Old Fort
Lima News Friday Sports
Woodmore knocks off Lakota
Shelby girls earn share of NOL crown
Tiffin Advertiser Tribune Friday Sports

UF signs 18

The Jon Wauford era at the University of Findlay is in full swing.
The Oilers signed 18 players for its 2007 recruiting class including three area players -- 9 of them were offensive players where UF has seemed to need the most help in recent years.

Decision day is upon us

It’s all going to come down to one night for area girls basketball championships this week.

OK make that two nights -- Thursday and Friday nights.

The BVC will be decided on Thursday night. Leipsic has already gained a piece of the championship. But if things shake out a certain way, there could be a four-way tie atop the BVC final standings.

The conference is much more balanced and better overall on the girls side than the boys side. If Arcadia can spring the upset and knock off Leipsic the Redskins will earn a share of the title. If Van Buren and Liberty-Benton also win their BVC finales that will make it a four-way tie for the crown.

The Redskins haven’t played really well lately, but Leipsic struggled Monday in a 68-37 loss to an excellent Ottoville team.

The basketballing ladies of the BVC are outstanding and since the conference gives out a championship and runner-up trophy (another topic for another day) anyway what’s a league championship shared among 4 friends?

The other championship night will be Friday night when Findlay hosts Marion Harding in a key GBC game. FHS fans are asked to dress in white for a “white out.”

The Trojans need a win or their title hopes are over. They are catching a bit of a break as Marion Harding rescheduled it’s game with Thomas Worthington for Thursday so the Presidents will have to play on back to back nights.

With a loss earlier this season to Marion Harding the Trojans need a win to have a chance at a title share. My guess is that this week’s quirk of fate and change in the schedule plays right into Findlay High School’s hands.

Read Mark Heiman’s column on the state of the BVC girls basketball race here.

Also read tomorrow’s Courier for more on the BVC Basketball jumble.

NEWSWORTHY:
Findlay Courier Tuesday Sports
Fostoria Review Times Tuesday Sports
BG Sentinel Tribune Sports
Arlin Field loses bid for historical status
Fort Jennings girls overpower Ayersville
Schulte staying put at St. John’s
Defiance Crescent News Sports
Lima News Tuesday Sports
Hard work pays off for Fremont’s Johnson

Super Bowl?????

The Super Bowl is history.
Not exactly a Super Bowl to remember unless you were a Bears fan. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen back-to-back fumbles twice in a game.
Don’t have much time to blog today but tomorrow we’ll look at the BVC girls race and the real possibility that it will end up in a four team deadlock.
Are the BVC girls teams good or just balanced…you make the call tomorrow.


NEWSWORTHY:
NW Ohio Wrestling Results and Info
Fostoria Review Times Monday Sports
Gonya wins one for the dog
Findlay Courier Monday Sports
Fremont Ross pounds Libbey
Fremont area sports roundup
BG Sentinel Tribune Sports
Riverdale girls beat Colonel Crawford
Bluffton boys ruin milestone night
Defiance Crescent News Sports

Boys Sectional Pairings

Here are the Sectional Pairings for the entire NW District...From the Findlay Courier Sports Department


ENJOY!

Boys Sectional Pairings
Division I
At Liberty-Benton
UPPER BRACKET
Bowling Green (9-6) vs. Celina (5-10), Feb. 27, 7
Winner vs. Findlay (12-2), March 2, 6:15 for sectional title
LOWER BRACKET
Anthony Wayne (11-4) vs. Lima Senior (6-8), Feb. 28, 6:15
Perrysburg (11-5) vs. Maumee (0-15), Feb. 28, second game
Winners meet March 2, second game for sectional title
Findlay seeded No.1, Perrysburg No.2
At Willard
UPPER BRACKET
Marion Harding (3-13) vs. Fremont Ross (3-12), Feb. 27, 6:15
Winner vs. Mansfield Senior, March 2, 6:15
LOWER BRACKET
Sandusky (11-6) vs. Ashland, Feb. 27, second game
Winner vs. Mansfield Madison, March 2, second game for sectional title
Mansfield Senior seeded No.1, Sandusky No.2
At Toledo Central Catholic
UPPER BRACKET
Oregon Clay vs. Toledo Waite, Feb. 27, 7
Winner vs. Toledo Libbey, March 2, 6:15 for sectional title
LOWER BRACKET
Toledo St. Francis vs. Toledo Rogers, Feb. 28, 6:15
Toledo Whitmer vs. Sylvania Southview, Feb. 28, second game
Winners meet March 2, second game for sectional title
At Toledo Waite
UPPER BRACKET
Sylvania Northview vs. Toledo Woodward, Feb. 27, 7
Winner vs. Toledo Scott, March 2, 6:15 for sectional title
LOWER BRACKET
Toledo St. John's vs. Springfield, Feb. 28, 6:15
Toledo Bowsher vs. Toledo Start, Feb. 28, second game
Winners meet March 2, second game for sectional title
Toledo Libbey seeded No.1, Toledo Scott No.2, Toledo St. John's No.3, Toledo St. Francis No.4



Division II
At Mansfield Senior
UPPER BRACKET
Clear Fork (3-11) vs. Galion (4-11), Feb. 27, 7
Winner vs. Upper Sandusky (13-2), March 2, 6:15 for sectional title
LOWER BRACKET
Ontario (12-3) vs. Lexington (10-6), Feb. 28, 6:15
Willard (2-13) vs. Shelby (12-4), Feb. 28, second game
Winners meet March 2, 8 for sectional title
Upper Sandusky seeded No.1, Ontario No.2
At Sandusky Senior
UPPER BRACKET
Oak Harbor vs. Sandusky Perkins, Feb. 27, 6:15
Fostoria vs. Port Clinton, Feb. 27, second game
Winners meet March 2, 6:15 for sectional title
LOWER BRACKET
Bellevue vs. Tiffin Columbian, Feb. 28, 6:15
Norwalk vs. Clyde, Feb. 28, second game
Winners meet March 2, second game for sectional title
Sandusky Perkins seeded No.1, Bellevue No.2
At Anthony Wayne
UPPER BRACKET
Defiance (5-10) vs. Eastwood (6-8), Feb. 27, 7
Winner vs. Toledo Central Catholic (10-5), March 2, 6:15 for sectional title
LOWER BRACKET
Wauseon (12-3) vs. Bryan (4-12), Feb. 28, 6:15
Rossford (8-7) vs. Napoleon (6-9), Feb. 28, second game
Winners meet March 2, second game for sectional title
Toledo Central Catholic seeded No.1, Wauseon No.2.
At Lima Senior
UPPER BRACKET
Elida (5-10) vs. St. Marys Memorial (8-7), Feb. 27, 7
Winner vs. Van Wert (14-1), March 2, 6:15 for sectional title
LOWER BRACKET
Lima Shawnee (11-4) vs. Kenton (9-6), Feb. 28, 6:15
Lima Bath (2-11) vs. Wapakoneta (8-7), Feb. 28, 8
Winners meet March 2, 8 for sectional title
Van Wert seeded No.1, Lima Shawnee No.2


Division III
At Old Fort
UPPER BRACKET
Bucyrus (2-13) vs. Lakota (1-13), Feb. 27, 6:15
Winner vs. Liberty-Benton (14-0), March 2, 6:15 for sectional title
LOWER BRACKET
Gibsonburg (6-10) vs. Seneca East (12-3), Feb. 27, second game
Winner vs. Elmwood (11-2), March 2, second game for sectional title
Liberty-Benton seeded No.1, Elmwood No.2
At Napoleon
UPPER BRACKET
Ayersville (13-1) vs. Delta (5-10), Feb. 27, 6:15
Winner vs. Patrick Henry (12-4), March 2, 6:15 for sectional title
LOWER BRACKET
Tinora (6-9) vs. Fairview (5-11), Feb. 27, second game
Winner vs. Archbold (15-2), March 2, second game for sectional title
Archbold seeded No.1, Patrick Henry No.2
At Lima Central Catholic
UPPER BRACKET
Paulding (0-15) vs. Bluffton (13-3), Feb. 7, 7
Winner vs. Convoy Crestview (14-2), March 2, 6 for sectional title
LOWER BRACKET
Wayne Trace (11-4) vs. Ottawa-Glandorf (9-5), March 2, 8:45 for sectional title
Convoy Crestview seeded No.1, Wayne Trace No.2
At Elida
UPPER BRACKET
St. Henry vs. Parkway, Feb. 27, 6:15
Winner vs. Lima Central Catholic, March 2, 6:15 for sectional title
LOWER BRACKET
Coldwater vs. Delphos Jefferson, Feb. 27, second game
Winner vs. Spencerville, March 2, second game for sectional title
Lima Central Catholic seeded No.1, Spencerville No.2
At Sylvania Southview
UPPER BRACKET
Woodmore (6-10) vs. Lake (5-10), Feb. 27, 6:15
Winner vs. Evergreen (9-5), March 2, 6:15 for sectional title
LOWER BRACKET
Swanton (9-8) vs. Otsego (9-6), Feb. 27, second game
Winner vs. Genoa (11-4), March 2, second game for sectional title
Evergreen seeded No.1, Genoa No.2
At Norwalk
UPPER BRACKET
Milan Edison (4-13) vs. Margaretta (7-8), Feb. 27, 6:15
Winner vs. Western Reserve (12-5), March 2, 6:15 for sectional title
LOWER BRACKET
Ashland Crestview (8-7) vs. Huron (5-10), Feb. 27, second game
Winner vs. New London (11-4), March 2, second game for sectional title
Western Reserve seeded No.1, New London No.2.



Division IV
At Lima Bath
UPPER BRACKET
Pandora-Gilboa (8-7) vs. Cory-Rawson, Feb. 27, 6:15
Winner vs. Arlington (11-5), March 2, 6:15 for sectional title
LOWER BRACKET
Lima Temple Christian (5-10) vs. Riverdale (3-11), Feb. 27, second game
Winner vs. Columbus Grove (8-6), March 2, second gbame for sectional title
Arlington seeded No.1, Columbus Grove No.2
At Ottawa-Glandorf
UPPER BRACKET
North Baltimore (6-10) vs. McComb (2-12), Feb. 27, 6:15
Winner vs. Van Buren (14-1), March 2, 6:15 for sectional title
LOWER BRACKET
Leipsic (0-15) vs. Miller City (7-8), Feb. 27, second game
Winner vs. Continental (13-2), March 2, second game for sectional title
Van Buren seeded No.1, Continental No.2
At Hopewell-Loudon
UPPER BRACKET
Bettsville (2-12) vs. Old Fort (4-10), Feb. 27, 6:15
Winner vs. Mohawk (13-3), March 2, 6:15 for sectional title
LOWER BRACKET
Tiffin Calvert (7-7) vs. Fostoria St. Wendelin (5-10), Feb. 27, second game
Winner vs. New Riegel (9-6), March 2, second game for sectional title
Mohawk seeded No.1, New Riegel No.2.
At Van Wert
UPPER BRACKET
Fort Jennings (4-10) vs. Delphos St. John's (4-12), Feb. 27, 7
Winner vs. Lincolnview (7-9), March 2, 6:15 for sectional title
LOWER BRACKET
Ottoville (12-3) vs. Kalida, March 2, second game for sectional title
Ottoville seeded No.1, Lincolnview No.2
At Riverdale
UPPER BRACKET
Arcadia (3-12) vs. Carey (9-6), Feb. 27, 6:15
Winner vs. Wynford (10-5), March 2, 6:15 for sectional title
LOWER BRACKET
Hopewell-Loudon (5-9) vs. Colonel Crawford (4-12), Feb. 27, second game
Winner vs. Vanlue (12-4), March 2, second game for sectional title
Wynford seeded No.1, Vanlue No.2
At Kenton
UPPER BRACKET
Upper Scioto Valley (2-13) vs. Hardin Northern (3-9), Feb. 27, 6:15
Winner vs. Ada (12-3), March 2, 6:15 for sectional title
LOWER BRACKET
Allen East (4-12) vs. Ridgemont (4-10), Feb. 27, second game
Winner vs. Lima Perry (11-3), March 2, second game for sectional title
Ada seeded No.1, Lima Perry No.2
At Sylvania Northview
UPPER BRACKET
Northwood (3-11) vs. Maumee Valley Country Day (4-9), Feb. 27, 7:30
Winner vs. Toledo Christian (15-0), March 2, 6:15 for sectional title
LOWER BRACKET
Ottawa Hills (11-4) vs. Cardinal Stritch (11-5), March 2, second game for sectional title
Toledo Christian seeded No.1, Cardinal Stritch No.2
At Bryan
UPPER BRACKET
North Central (1-15) vs. Montpelier (4-12), Feb. 27, 6:15
Winner vs. Antwerp (10-5), March 2, 6:15 for sectional title
LOWER BRACKET
Edon (5-11) vs. Edgerton (7-8), Feb. 27, second game
Winner vs. Hicksville (9-7), March 2, second game for sectional title
Antwerp No.1 seed, Hicksville No.2
At Coldwater
UPPER BRACKET
New Knoxville (15-0) vs. Waynesfield-Goshen (3-13), Feb. 27, 6:15
Winner vs. Fort Recovery (9-7), March 2, 6:15 for sectional title
LOWER BRACKET
Marion Local (7-6) vs. New Bremen (9-7), Feb. 27, second game
Winner vs. Minster (9-8), March 2, second game for sectiona title
New Knoxville seeded No.1, Minster No.2.
At Wauseon
UPPER BRACKET
Fayette (6-9) vs. Liberty Center (1-13), Feb. 27, 6:15
Winner vs. Pettisville (12-3), March 2, 6:15 for sectional title
LOWER BRACKET
Stryker (10-6) vs. Hilltop (1-14), Feb. 27, second game
Winner vs. Holgate (10-6), March 2, second game for sectional title
Pettisville seeded No.1, Holgate No.2.
At Port Clinton
UPPER BRACKET
Danbury vs. Monroeville, Feb. 27, 6:15
Winner vs. Sandusky St. Mary's, March 2, 6:15 for sectional title
LOWER BRACKET
Fremont St. Joseph vs. Norwalk St. Paul, Feb. 27, second game
Winner vs. South Central, March 2, second game for sectional title
At Lexington
UPPER BRACKET
Crestline vs. Mansfield St. Peter's, Feb. 27, 6:15
Winner vs. Buckeye Central, March 2, 6:15 for sectional title
LOWER BRACKET
Mansfield Christian vs. Lucas, Feb. 27, second game
Winner vs. Plymouth, March 2, second game for sectional title
Buckeye Central seeded No.1, Plymouth No.2

Da Bears

OK it’s time for the biggest game on the planet this weekend.
The Super Bowl.
OK my step dad who is from England would be the first to argue the point because admittedly the World Cup final is probably the biggest game on the planet. But this is Northwest Ohio and not too many people care is Italy plays Ghana in the World Cup final.
What a difference a year makes.
Last year Findlay was Super Bowl Crazy with Ben Roethlisberger and the Pittsburgh Steelers playing in the game. It seems now that no one is even talking about the game and high school basketball has taken it’s rightful place in the conversation and hearts of local sports fans.
If the Browns ever made it to the Super Bowl I’m not sure how I’d react. Would I be happy that they were there? Or hell bent on them winning it all.
I know, let’s not get ahead of ourselves here. I just want them to win back-to-back games sometime.
Back to this year’s Super Bowl. So who do you like in the game? I’m sick of Payton Manning. I’m rooting for the Bears. As bad as Rex Grossman has played for the Bears this season, you have to root for a guy like that in the Super Bowl. He’s been under fire all year and I’d love to see him have the game of his life Sunday.
After all he played well enough to get them to the Super Bowl. It would be like an average guy winning it all.

NEWSWORTHY:
NW Ohio Wrestling News and Information
Findlay Courier Thursday Sports
Fostoria Review Times Thursday Sports
Defiance Crescent News Sports
Bucyrus area basketball capsules
Lima News Thursday sports
Galion’s Zeuch signs with Malone, Heise Park History
NOL Basketball Stats