Photo by Keith Stewart
Emily Neuhauser eyes the basket from below Tuesday. Neuhauser finished with 25 points as did Brittin Boyer.

February 11, 2015

Will take on T-Town Thursday in Pana

by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com

Tuesday night’s regional semi-final in Pana was never much of a contest as Sullivan defeated Shelbyville for the third time this year, 66-24. But the landslide victory did afford a little practice for both Sullivan’s bench and defense, should either need to get creative further into the post-season.
“We switched our defense up most of the night trying to kind of practice different things that we may have to use down the road,” said head coach Sheri McCain. “We were trying to keep them out of the paint. I thought we played pretty well.”
Sullivan switched between man, a 3-2, and a 2-3 zone most of the night, during almost all of which they kept Shelbyville outside the paint where the Lady Rams’ shots struggled to fall. Read More

Photo by Keith Stewart
Pictured are this year’s Okaw Valley girls’ varsity basketball seniors who were celebrated Monday night. From left to right: Kali Forsyth, Amy Orris, Paige Harlin, Amanda McClain, and Savannah Birch. The Lady Timberwolves fell to Arcola 35-28.

February 4, 2015

31 giveaways help Arcola overcome Lady T-Wolves

by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com

Considering Okaw Valley had already committed 15 turnovers at the half and still led 16-14 over Arcola had a lot to do with boxing out and their typical stalwart defense. But given the chance to correct their course in the second half, OV failed to do so, instead committing another 16 turnovers that would prove too much to sustain a lead as they fell 28-35 on senior night.
“Unforced errors, that’s what killed us tonight,” said head coach Don Gardner. “And I don’t know if it was the whole senior night thing with emotions running high– not to take anything away from Arcola, they’re a very good team. Obviously they’re very well-coached, but I thought we played with them tonight, and it was a very winnable game. We just let it slip out of our grasp.” Read More

Photo by Brandi Denton
Pictured are members of the 93’ Findlay eight grade boys’ basketball team. Back row, left to right: Coach Herb Bricker, Anthony Scott, Zac Atkinson, Travis Park, and Nick Berry; Front row: Curtis Shinn, Brock Nichols, cheerleaders Robin Perry and Jamie Martinski, and Michael Williams.

January 21, 2015

‘93 team remembered for Elite 8 run

By Matt Kracht
NP Sports Reporter

Herb Bricker has been coaching basketball in the area for more than 15 years. But there’s one game in particular that still sticks out to him–one where he enjoyed having a pair of scissors in one hand and a net in the other.
And last Thursday night that game, in part, along with the 1993 Findlay 8th grade boys’ basketball team was recognized almost 20 years after their Elite 8 run in the state tournament. That year the team coached by Bricker went 18-4 with Bricker winning IESA coach of the year.
“After our win, the president of the IESA stayed in our hotel, and he made a point to tell me the defense we played was the most impressive he had since Andy Kaufmann in the mid 80s,” recalled Bricker.
Travis Parks confirmed just how important defense was to that team.
“Herb coached us from fourth grade that defense wins games,” he said. “That is just what it takes to win games.”
Bricker noted the team would try to hold opponents to 15 shot attempts per game and actually held a team to just four shot attempts in one contest. Read More

Photo by Keith Stewart
Peyton Hagerman (left) stands with Okaw Valley high school Principal Matt Shoaff (right) after scoring his 1000th career point Friday.

January 7, 2015

Game also marks Hagerman’s 1000th career point

by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com

The Timberwolves re-emerged in the regular season Friday evening and used a surging third quarter performance to pull away from Stewardson-Strasburg and ultimately win 67-53.

After Chandler Ballinger struck from deep to pull the Comets within five, Okaw Valley went on a 12-0 run that was capped with a Peyton Hagerman bucket to put the Timberwolves up 47-30.

The Comets’ freshman guard Brady Hansen would knock down a trey, but OV went unfazed. Devon Still’s putback was followed by Hagerman’s final bucket of the game, a drive from the right of the paint that also marked his 1000th career point. Read More

Photo by Keith Stewart
The Okaw Valley varsity girls' basketball team secured their holiday tournament crown Tuesday evening with a 55-41 win over Heyworth.

December 26, 2014

Take tourney crown for first time since 2004

By Matt Kracht
NP Sport Reporter

Christmas arrived on Tuesday night for Okaw Valley basketball fans as the Lady Timberwolves secured their first holiday tournament championship since 2004.
Amanda McClain had a double double sporting an impressive 12 point and 14 rebound line, while Megan Dash had her best performance of the season adding 10 points, six of which came in the fourth quarter to go along with nine rebounds. With the three tournament wins the Lady Timberwolves are now 11-2 on season.
All-tourney selection Amy Orris has what coaches’ call “in the gym range,” and after getting the scoring started with a coast to coast drive, Orris set the tone knocking down two NBA threes in the first few minutes of play.
Behind Orris’s strong start Okaw Valley stole momentum and held the early 15-14 lead after the first period. Orris, who was undoubtedly the floor general for the Lady Timberwolves, finished with 11 points, nine rebounds and five assists.
In the second quarter McClain dominated the boards and on one memorable possession claimed four consecutive offensive rebounds before cashing in with a layup. The second chance points pushed the Okaw Valley lead to five at 23-18 before Paige Harlin nailed a deep 3-pointer making it 28-20 with two minutes remaining in the first half. Harlin also shot her way to an all-tourney selection adding another six points on the night on two long 3-pointers. After the game Coach Gardener had high praise for his shooting guards. Read More