High School Huddle

Dayton Lady HoopStars 11U squad falls to Fairfax, Va., in AAU national title game

By Chick Ludwig | Wednesday, July 1, 2009, 07:17 PM

The Dayton Lady HoopStars’ best sixth grade basketball team advanced to the 11U AAU national championship game, but couldn’t quite pull off the upset in Kenner, La., on Wednesday night, July 1.

The Fairfax (Va.) Stars rallied for a 46-42 victory at the Pontchartrain Center near New Orleans for their second straight 11U national title.

Maddie Bazelak (St. Albert) scored 14 points, while Autumn Whirley (National Trail) added 10 and Shea Morgan (Kettering) chipped in 7 for the HoopStars, who built a 22-21 halftime lead. They finish the season with a 38-13 record.

“We made a run and were up in the second half. but a couple shots didn’t bounce our way,” HoopStars coach Matt Madges said. “I’m just extremely proud of the kids. More than anything, I’m just thrilled they got to experience what this is.

“We finished seventh last year. I don’t think anyone really gave us a chance to get to where we are right now. Our kids did everything we asked them to do. We came up a couple bounces short.

“We got close to knocking (the Stars) off, but that’s their second title in a row.”

Taylor Murray led Fairfax with 14 points.

DAYTON LADY HOOPSTARS 11U ROSTER:

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Greene County Officials Association to host football, volleyball classes

By Marc Pendleton | Wednesday, July 1, 2009, 01:48 PM

If you ever desired to be a football or volleyball official, the Greene County Officials Association wants you.

Both sessions meet twice weekly for five weeks. Cost is $120, which includes rule books and an Ohio High School Athletic Association certification exam.

Calling all potential zebras.

• Football: Meets from 6-9 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays at the Beavercreek Board of Education, starting July 20.

• Volleyball: Meets from 6-9 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Beavercreek Board of Education, starting July 21.

For more info, contact Dave Parr at 760-0540 or at GoodRef@SBCGlobal.net. Leave your name and contact number.

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Fairborn’s Gary Wright inducted into OHSAA Officials Hall of Fame

By Marc Pendleton | Monday, June 29, 2009, 03:55 PM

Former Fairborn Baker High School standout Gary Wright has been posthumously honored by the OHSAA as one of 12 new members into its Officials Hall of Fame.

A banquet and ceremony was held this past Saturday at Worthington.

Wright, a successful lawyer based in his beloved Fairborn, was killed in 2004 in an auto accident while driving to Columbus for business.

Gary Wright 1952-2004

Wright was part of the Kirk Minteer, Steve Greene era of Flyers basketball that made an improbable Class AA regional appearance in 1970 following an underachieving Western Ohio League run. It didn’t hurt that Baker was lumped in the Troy district and away from Chaminade, Roth, Xenia and Beavercreek in the Dayton district.

That spring Wright was perfect on the mound for Baker. The lefty went 9-0 to single-handedly win the WOL. That was only possible because league games were all on Friday and there were few rainouts.

Wright advanced to Class AAA with the Kansas City Royals, but turned to lawyering when it was obvious his curveball had reached its career limit. He had long ago gave up hoop, then baseball. They were replaced by officiating boys high school basketball and a passion for golf. He was a fixture at Greene Country Club for years.

Fairborn can be proud of one of its favorite sons.

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T-M/Waggoner’s Raiders do not run in defense of ‘08 Nike Outdoor Nationals title

By Marc Pendleton | Friday, June 26, 2009, 02:09 PM

Trotwood-Madison did not run in the Nike Outdoor Nationals track and field meet. The Rams won the Nike mile relay in 2008.

The meet was last week at North Carolina A&T University, Greensboro, NC.

The T-M foursome of Julius Ruby, Jordan Paschal, Michael Jordan and William Henry set an all-time Ohio mark of 3:13.32 at the state meet earlier this month. That broke the record of 3:13.46 that the ’08 Rams set in the state meet.

Running under the team name Waggoner’s Raiders for then assistant coach Randy Waggoner, the relay of Chris Burrows, Donte Lyons, Derricus Purdy and Michael Shaw ran 3:11.33 to win the Nike relay last summer.

This year the winning time was 3:08.05 by Team Eastern Carolina.

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Neff joins former Butler teammate Pacifico as Ohio Gatorade Track & Field Athlete of the Year

By Marc Pendleton | Friday, June 26, 2009, 01:33 PM

Danny Neff and Jimmie Pacifico are already the most decorated track and field athletes that Vandalia Butler H.S. has ever produced. And now they share another distinction.

Neff joined Pacifico as an Ohio Gatorade Athlete of the Year this week. That makes VB the state’s only school to have two T&F athletes so honored.

Danny Neff was unbeatable in the state meet, defending his D-I 1,600-meters title and adding the 800 crown / Staff photo by Barbara J. Perenic

Like Neff, Jimmie Pacifico also won three state titles in the shot put (twice) and discus / Staff photo by Ron Alvey

Neff won the indoor and outdoor Division I 1,600- and 800-meter state titles this year. Pacifico swept the D-I shot put and discus state titles in 2006, defended his shot put title in ‘07 and was runner-up in the discus as a senior.

“We are all very proud of Danny’s many accomplishments over the past four years,” said Aviators head coach Brian Tregoning.

“He has clearly proven himself to be one of the very best to come out of Ohio in the distance events and we can’t wait to watch him continue to improve as he heads to Georgia this fall. His drive and determination to do his best have served as the backbone for his success.”

Neff also recently won the 800 at the Midwest Distance Gala outside Chicago in a meet-record 1:50.02. It was his first fresh two-lapper this season.

As usual, he pulled away in the final 100, covering the last lap in 56.2. Distance coach Andy White reports that he went out at 53.8 on the first lap.

Initially, the finish time flashed 1:49.99. Neff and an appreciative crowd erupted in approval. But seconds later the time was adjusted.

Neff was 10th (4:16.09) in the Nike Outdoor Nationals mile last weekend at North Carolina A&T University, Greensboro, NC.

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Ryan Bass leaves CJ for Dunbar

By Marc Pendleton | Tuesday, June 23, 2009, 09:18 PM

All Dunbar needed last basketball season was a steady — and productive — presence at the point. They got it, for this coming season.

Senior-to-be Ryan Bass, a two-year starting guard for Chaminade Julienne, has withdrawn from CJ and has enrolled at Dunbar. CJ was 11-10 last season. Bass was All-Area Division II as a sophomore and second team as a junior.

Senior point guard Ryan Bass is on the move again, leaving CJ for Dunbar / Staff photo by Barbara J. Perenic

The 5-foot-10 guard averaged 18.6 points last season and had nine games of 20 or more points. He put 24 and 22 points on Alter in a pair of losses and 24 on D-II state runner-up Marshall in a 3-point loss.

“Ryan’s no longer with us and we wish him the best of luck,” said CJ coach Joe Staley.

Bass has spent the summer playing with Dunbar’s high-scoring team. The Wolverines blew through Fairmont’s summer tourney unbeaten last week and went 3-1 against defending D-I state champ Columbus Northland, Centerville and Lakota West in a series of 15-minute scrimmages Tuesday following Daequan Cook’s Basketball Skills Camp at Dunbar.

“That’s very unusual to get a player of his caliber,” said Dunbar coach Peter Pullen. “He’s been a tremendous asset this summer. He gives us that missing piece that we were struggling with at the point.

“He’s been through the battles of the GCL, so we know he’s been under fire. He’s just got to get used to playing a little bit more uptempo, which I think fits him real well. A lot of time, he was the quickest player on the court in that league. Now, he’s going to a venue that everyone we play is as quick as he is.”

Bass’ arrival with the Wolverines will offset the expected loss of Williamp Pope. The undersized but effective center averaged 14 points last season, but has spent the summer with Preble Shawnee’s team and hasn’t participated in any of Dunbar’s camps.

The combination of Bass and Geron Johnson, the 2008-09 City League player of the year, should be the area’s most high-scoring backcourt.

Junior Tim Szabo inherits the point for CJ. The Eagles also return regulars Joe Staley, the coach’s son, Matt Vest and Jon Bibbs. Besides plenty of other returnees — CJ had just three seniors last season — another Staley will be on board, sophomore John.

“We’re expecting to have a good basketball team,” said Joe Staley.

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Boucher, Replogle lead Ohio to Big 33 win

By Marc Pendleton | Monday, June 22, 2009, 03:27 PM

Austin Boucher (Alter High School) and Adam Replogle (Centerville) saved their best for last in the Big 33 all-star football game last weekend at Hershey, Pa.

Boucher, a talented left-handed quarterback who’s headed to Miami University, riddled the hosts for 260 yards passing, completing 18 of 24 attempts with no interceptions.

After working his magic during Alter’s D-IV state title run last season, QB Austin Boucher was at it again in the Big 33 game / DDN photo by Jim Witmer

Who are you going to turn to on the 1-yard line? Adam Replogle / DDN photo by Chris Stewart

But it was his 50-yard dash in the final minute that set up Ohio’s All-Stars for a 38-31 defeat of Pennsylvania. Two plays later Replogle, a 6-foot-3, 275-pounder, bulled over from the 1 for the clinching score.

Boucher also had a game-record 99-yard scoring toss to Micha Hyde (Fostoria). Replogle is headed to Indiana to probably play defense with his older brother, Tyler. But like this game and with the Elks, don’t be surprised to see Adam in the Hoosiers’ red zone backfield.

Sam Longo (Bellbrook) also played for Ohio. The offensive lineman is headed to Ohio State. Assistant Ohio coaches included Bill Nees (Piqua) and Doug Frye (St. Marys Memorial).

This is the 52nd year for the Big 33 Game, and snaps a three-game win streak by the hosts.

North drops South

The North put a 49-7 pounding on the South in Saturday’s 64th Ohio North-South Classic at Ohio Stadium.

Area players on the South roster were Mark Mays (Northmont), Karlos Marshall (Springfield), Terrence Glenn (Dunbar), Allen Matthews (Xenia) and Mike Breland (St. Marys Memorial).

The North leads the series 38-23-3.

A Classic record was probably set on Saturday: No OSU recruit played in the game. That’s because six incoming Buckeyes were on the Ohio team at the Big 33 Game.

This is the fourth straight year those long-running all-star games have been played on the same date. Don’t look for any changes. Both games were pushed back to June from traditional August dates to not interfere with preseason college camps.

The all-star games also took a hit when high school seniors began graduating early to enroll in college.

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