No matter the format, tourney is exciting

February 17, 2019

With area girls basketball teams having started tournament action on Saturday and the rest getting into action this week — to be followed next week by the start of the boys’ tournaments — it’s time for the debate regarding the location of games during the first two rounds of the tournament. Ohio’s basketball (and volleyball, baseball, softball) tournaments traditionally have been divided into sectional, district, regional and state competition. Generally, a team must win two games (or a bye and a win) at each level in order to advance to the next. For a generation at least, ...

Streak may result in memorable season

February 16, 2019

YOUNGSTOWN Looking across the way at the Beeghly Center, I remember those red, plastic chairback seats where I was sitting, about four rows up. Joining me was the late Dan Peters, as he normally did when I stopped by practice. I was in my mid-20s, my first year covering Youngstown State University basketball, the 1998-99 season. Not much has changed in the Beeghly Center since then, aside from a few enhancements here and there. I can’t believe it was that long ago that I sat there talking to Peters, who was one of the people I had the pleasure of covering. He told me a couple ...

Barnes has special time in Indiana

February 15, 2019

“OH my gosh, that is so freggin’ cool.” That’s how I started a conversation with Youngstown State University women’s basketball coach John Barnes. Circumstances took his team to the famed Hinkle Fieldhouse on the campus of Butler University in Indianapolis. If you ever watched the movie Hoosiers, you know why I’m getting geeked up over this column. If not, watch the movie and you’ll understand my excitement. Barnes has a picture of himself shooting where the main character, Jimmy Chitwood, shot the long-range, game-winning shot of the fictional Hickory Huskers. ...

More than meets the eye with YSU hoops

February 9, 2019

YOUNGSTOWN — Todd Burkey stood in a corner, watching and observing during Thursday’s game. His focus was vastly different than those in the Beeghly Center stands watching and complaining about a missed call, errant shot or successful play. They all saw the last-second bounce pass from Darius Quisenberry to Garrett Covington who beat the buzzer for a game-winning 3-pointer Thursday night against Milwaukee. A dogpile ensued as player after player from the Youngstown State men’s basketball team celebrated with Covington in one mass of humanity in front of the media table. Fans saw ...

Resiliency, the key to YSU men’s success

February 4, 2019

DETROIT Shot swish, others clank off the rims inside Calihan Hall for a few collegiate players. It was a Friday night a couple of miles outside one of our nation’s largest cities. The Motor City has tried to reinvent itself, modernizing the downtown area, making that area more palatable ...

High school postseason gets rolling this week

February 3, 2019

Area wrestlers kicked off the 2018-19 high school winter sports postseason on Saturday with the Dual Team Tournament regionals, and area swimmers and divers begin their postseason trek this week at sectional meets. The wrestlers competed Saturday in the usual dual match format with each regional across the state sending one regional champion to the state final eight in each division. The traditional individual wrestling tournament gets started the weekend of Feb. 23 with sectional tournaments. Qualifiers go on to district competition the following week with the state meet scheduled ...