Alter recovers from early jolt, tops Clinton-Massie in regional final

By Kyle Nagel | Saturday, November 21, 2009, 09:24 PM

CENTERVILLE — After trailing 7-0 just three plays into the game, the Alter High School football team scored 32 consecutive points and topped Clinton-Massie 32-7 on Saturday, Nov. 21, in the Division IV, Region 16 championship game at Centerville High School.

The top-ranked Knights (13-0) gained 302 yards and held the Falcons (12-1) to just 7 total yards after their opening 73-yard scoring drive, which gave them the touchdown lead just 1:21 into the game.

Fourth quarter, 10:44 left: Ending a stagnant second half, Nolan Wilson rushed for a 35-yard touchdown to give Alter a 25-7 lead.

Clinton-Massie has struggled to move the ball since a first-quarter, 73-yard scoring drive (including a 65-yard scoring run by Jordy Scanlon). Since that drive, the Falcons have — get this — 72 yards rushing in the game. So, since that drive, they’ve lost 1 rushing yard.

End third quarter: After a scoreless third quarter, Alter continues to hold its 18-7 lead against Clinton-Massie.

Alter starting quarterback Zane Pitzer, who was helped off the field in the second quarter, has remained on the sideline in his uniform while Cody Byers serves as a backup. Both offenses had trouble consistently moving the ball in the quarter.

Halftime: After trailing 7-0 following the game’s first three plays, Alter has firmed up its defense and collected a variety of scores to take an 18-7 halftime lead against Clinton-Massie in the Division IV, Region 16 final at Centerville High School.

Knights starting quarterback Zane Pitzer, however, was helped off the field limping with an apparent injury to his right leg with 3:38 left in the first half after a 2-yard run.

Backup Cody Byers, a Wisconsin recruit at safety, subbed for Pitzer and drove Alter to the Clinton-Massie 8-yard line with 26.6 seconds left. But, he threw an interception to Falcons linebacker Logan Evans, and Clinton-Massie took a knee to get to halftime.

Second quarter, 6:49 left: Alter QB Zane Pitzer ran for a 42-yard touchdown on the first play after a Knights safety to give Alter an 18-7 lead with 6:49 left.

Alter has scored a touchdown with a missed extra point, on a 30-yard field goal, on a safety and on a 42-yard run following a safety. As one press box observer noted: “They’re doing it every way you can do it.”

Second quarter, 7:03 left: Alter’s Teddy Link blocked a Clinton-Massie punt that went out of the end zone for a safety and an 11-7 Knights lead. The play was set up by a 43-yard Alter punt that put the Falcons at their own 2-yard line.

End of first: After a wild first quarter, with two 60-plus-yard runs, a fumble recovery and missed extra point, Alter leads Clinton-Massie 9-7 at the end of the first quarter.

First quarter, 4:14 left: Alter’s Andrew DiMario kicked a 30-yard field after Alter recovered a Clinton-Massie fumble at the C-M 25-yard line to take a 9-7 lead with 4:14 left.

First quarter, 8:10 left: Nolan Wilson followed a 65-yard run with a 6-yard scoring run with 8:10 left in the first quarter, but Alter missed the extra point and trails Clinton-Massie 7-6.

First quarter, 10:39 left: Clinton-Massie has taken a surprising 7-0 early lead against Alter on a 65-yard run by junior Jordy Scanlon just 1:21 into this Division IV, Region 16 final.

Scanlon accounted for all of the Falcons 73 yards on the drive’s three plays and broke away for the long run and the lead.

Pregame, 6:17 p.m.: Looks like Centerville athletic director Ron Ullery is getting some advance scouting done while his stadium hosts this Division IV, Region 16 final between Alter and Clinton-Massie, set to kick off at 7 p.m.

Centerville will play Alter next season is a much-anticipated area game, and Ullery was down on the field while Alter was warming up getting a closer look at the Knights players. Ullery had a roster in his hand and his reading glasses on.

Pregame, 4:18 p.m.: If you’re looking for a reason why the Alter and Clinton-Massie football teams have stayed undefeated this season and will play for the Division IV, Region 16 title tonight at Centerville High School, consider the schools’ commitment to football.

One watching the game from the stands tonight will see about one-third of both schools’ total male enrollment in uniform. According to the rosters and OHSAA enrollment figures, 145 of the 447 boys that attend both schools will be suiting up for the game.

Alter (12-0) enters as the state’s top-ranked team and defending state champion. But, based on computer points, the Knights are the No. 2 seed in Region 16.

Clinton-Massie (12-0) holds the top seed and talented junior running back Jordy Scanlon, who, at 5 feet 10 and 205 pounds, has already gained more than 300 yards in two playoff games.

Alter’s defense hasn’t yet allowed a playoff point with shutouts of Jonathan Alder and Carlisle, and Clinton-Massie uses a power running game. Both teams should stay mostly on the ground, making this regional final a game of muscle.

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Winton Woods powers past Trotwood in regional final

By Kyle Nagel | Friday, November 20, 2009, 09:56 PM

MASON — Winton Woods quarterback Dominique Brown and running back Jeremish Goins combined for 288 yards and four touchdowns as the Warriors used an effective triple option offense to defeat Trotwood-Madison 28-7 on Friday, Nov. 20, in a Division II, Region 8 final at Mason High School.

Trotwood running back Antwan Gilbert rushed for 48 yards on 12 carries to end his season with 2,586 yards and 32 touchdowns. He scored after turning a short pass into a 75-yard touchdown with 6:39 left to set the final margin.

Fourth quarter, 7:13 left: Winton Woods Jeremiah Goins has scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns, from 6 and 2 yards, as the Warriors have taken a 28-0 lead in this Division II, Region 8 final at Mason High School.

The second touchdown was set up by a 58-yard run by quarterback Dominique Brown, who left the game limping after the run, to get Winton Woods to the Trotwood 2-yard line. Brown finished with 165 yards on 26 carries and two first-half scores.

Third quarter: Trotwood slowed the Winton Woods rushing offense, but the Rams failed to score in the third quarter and trailed the Division II, Region 8 final 14-0 heading into the fourth quarter.

Trotwood quarterback Marcus Graham completed a 40-yard pass on the second play of the second half to get the Rams to the Winton Woods 23-yard line. Trotwood stalled, though, and was stopped on fourth-and-3 at the 16.

The Rams changed their offense in the third quarter to split time between putting running back Antwan Gilbert in the Wildcat and quarterback Marcus Graham in the shotgun spread offense, although they didn’t find much offensive success.

The defense came up with a stop as Winton Woods faced a fourth-and-5 at the Trotwood 25-yard line with 2:13 left in the quarter.

Winton Woods’ David Hampton then intercepted Trotwood quarterback Marcus Graham to set the Warriors up at their own 49-yard line

Halftime stats: Winton Woods quarterback Dominique Brown rushed for 71 yards on 17 carries and two touchdowns. Warriors RB Jeremiah Goins gained 53 yards on 14 carries.

Trotwood’s Antwan Gilbert had 34 yards on eight carries as the Rams have mixed the pass more into their offense than previous weeks, as QB Marcus Graham threw six times (completing four) for 21 yards.

There were a total of five first-half possessions, as Winton Woods controlled the clock with its powerful option offense.

Halftime: Winton Woods quarterback Dominique Brown scored on a 2-yard run on the final play of the first half, and the Warriors led Trotwood-Madison 14-0 at halftime.

Trotwood got its first stop on third-and-4 from the Winton Woods 33-yard line on a 2-yard loss by Jeremiah Goins with 9:23 left in the half. The Rams then drove to the Winton Woods 22-yard line but missed a 39-yard field goal with 5:27 left.

Winton Woods used the next 11 plays to go 78 yards and set up a fourth-and-goal at the Trotwood 2-yard line. Winton Woods called timeout with 2 seconds left in the half before Brown pushed in from 2 yards for the 14-0 lead.

First quarter: There were only two full possessions in a run-heavy opening 12 minutes, and Winton Woods led Trotwood-Madison 7-0 after the first quarter.

Winton Woods took the opening possession 68 yards in 14 plays and 7:11 and got a 1-yard score from quarterback Dominique Brown to take a 7-0 lead with 4:49 left. On the drive, Brown carried seven times for 22 yards, and running back Jeremiah Goins carried six times for 24 yards.

Winton Woods then attempted an onside kick, which failed and set Trotwood up at the Rams’ 45-yard line. Trotwood advanced to the Winton Woods 37 before punting, and the Rams downed the ball on the Winton Woods 1.

Winton Woods got a first down at the 15-yard line as the quarter ended.

Pregame: Trotwood has donned the black uniforms with the white helmets for tonight’s Division II, Region 8 final against Winton Woods at Mason High School.

Keep an eye or an ear out for three rushers, whose numbers will help determine the outcome and the spot in the state semifinals. Trotwood’s Antwan Gilbert has gained 2,538 yards and scored 32 touchdowns, including 507 yards in the Rams’ two playoff wins so far. He’s the main offensive weapon for Trotwood (9-3), which is seeded No. 4 in the region.

At Winton Woods (10-2), the No. 2 seed, running back Jeremiah Goins (1,599 yards) and University of Cincinnati-bound quarterback Dominique Brown (1,399) are each threats on the ground. The Warriors finished the regular season ranked No. 6 in the state.

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Girls basketball preview: Milton-Union

By Greg Billing | Friday, November 20, 2009, 12:39 PM

MILTON-UNION

Coach: Richard Cline, first season

2008-09 record: 18-5 (9-3 Southwestern Buckeye League Southwestern Division)

Returning starters

Amber Beeman, Jr., 5-3, G

Notable

Richard Cline takes over a Bulldogs program that graduated seven seniors. Beeman is the lone returning starter, but senior forward Tiffany Fox and sophomore guard Katelyn Vincent also return limited varsity experience. The Bulldogs are young with one senior and six underclassmen on the roster. Sophomores Cate Busse and Meghan Swartz are expected to step up in the post. Milton graduated its top four scorers and rebounders including the tough 1-2 punch of Kaci Finfrock and Alycia Helman, who combined to average 33 of the Bulldogs 50 points and 15 of their 30 rebounds.

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Girls basketball preview: Monroe

By Greg Billing | Thursday, November 19, 2009, 11:03 PM

This is another in a series of capsules previewing area high school basketball for the 2009-10 season:

MONROE

Coach: Krista Doan, first season

2008-09 record: 8-13 (6-6 Southwestern Buckeye League Buckeye Division)

Returning starters

Rachel Williams, Sr.

Allycin Foster, Sr.

Reegan Reece, Sr.

Notable

Doan takes over Monroe after spending last season as an assistant at Middletown. She replaces David Farrish (85-85 in eight seasons), who took Doan’s assistant job with the Middies. The Hornets return three starters and senior Krystal Gaston adds experience. Four freshmen on varsity will have to learn fast. Doan wants Monroe, which was outscored on average 47-41 last season, to be known for pressure and man-to-man defense. To get on the winning side of .500, the Hornets will have to cut down on their 22 turnovers per game.

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Coldwater coach John Reed to undergo treatment for cancer

By Marc Pendleton | Thursday, November 19, 2009, 10:35 PM

Coldwater football coach John Reed will undergo treatment for cancer of the esophagus soon after the Cavaliers’ season ends.

The veteran coach likely will have daily radiation therapy and chemotherapy for about six weeks. That course of treatment was recommended by University Hospital doctors at Indianapolis on Thursday.

The treatments likely will be at Grand Lake Regional Cancer Center in Celina, near where Reed resides.

Reed continues to work at the school and coach the Cavaliers. He’s expected to be on the sidelines when Coldwater (11-1) plays St. Henry (9-3) in a Division V, Region 20 regional final at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Wapakoneta.

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Girls basketball preview: Carlisle

By Greg Billing | Thursday, November 19, 2009, 10:29 PM

This is another in a series of capsules previewing area high school basketball for the 2009-10 season:

CARLISLE

Coach: Randy Glover, third season (18-25)

2008-09 record: 11-11 (5-7 Southwestern Buckeye League Buckeye Division)

Returning starters

Abby Hamilton, Sr., G, 5-4

Stephanie Reed, Sr., G, 5-5

Stefaney Turner, Sr., F, 5-9

Donna Holbrook, Sr., C, 6-2

Alexis Murphy, So., PG, 58

Notable

The Indians, who won their first tournament game in seven seasons last year, just missed their first winning season in a decade. This could be the year. Senior leadership is strong and sophomore Murphy led Carlisle in scoring (11.8), assists (2.4) and steals (3.0) last season. Holbrook is tough to stop inside and just missed averaging a double-double (9.3 points, 9.6 rebounds). Guard play gets a boost with Reed, a starter as a sophomore, who missed most of last season with a broken finger. Injuries and illness took its toll on the Indians, so staying healthy is a must. “Our continued efforts in the gym everyday will be important for us to achieve this goal,” Glover said of a winning season. “I have confidence in our players that they will work hard to achieve this goal.”

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Girls basketball preview: Franklin

By Greg Billing | Thursday, November 19, 2009, 01:17 PM

This is another in a series of capsules previewing area high school basketball for the 2009-10 season:

FRANKLIN

Coach: Frank Russell, second season

2008-09 record: 5-17 (2-10 Southwestern Buckeye League Southwestern Division)

Returning starters

Brandi McDaniel, Sr., F, 5-10

Kristen Gebhardt, Sr., G, 5-6

Jessica Dean, Sr., G, 5-4

Danielle Williams, Jr., G, 5-7

Notable

The Wildcats are very optimistic for a much improved season. McDaniel is a big reason why. The senior forward was second in the Southwestern Division in both scoring (17.2) and rebounding (11.5). She’s the program’s all-time leading rebounder and needs 120 points to top the scoring chart, too. Russell likes what he sees from an athletic group that also includes sophomores Chrissy Robinson and Ashley Shelby. Franklin led the division in rebounding last season (31.4 per game), but was second-to-last in team offense (41.85 points) and last in team defense (55 points allowed). “We will show up and play hard every night,” Russell said. “If we do that I think that we can be very competitive in our league.”

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