Best High School Program in Southeast Ohio

[trojandave]

I have compiled Portsmouth's year by year records since 1916, and the Trojans have 1,271 wins........so the 1,233 figure has not been updated........I saw that number in the state tournament program several years ago.........

Very nice work, though, John Wooden........

[Lightle04]

As a WESTERN INDIAN fan we really appreciate the mention the kids and coaches have worked really hard to be mentioned in the same sentence with some of those schools a few years ago that talk would have gotten a person laughed at so thank you.

[tigernation]

Greenfield McClain - Rick's teams won 7 district championships in his 28 years and missed making state three times (twice by two points or less.)

Portsmouth throughout the 20th century without question.

Logan Elm probably so far this century - although they should be in the central district geographically.

[Rocket Fuel]

Wellston would have to be up there. Some very good teams in the past.

[noreply66]

For sort of a new school you could put Warren in there

[hawkeyepierce]

Wellston would have to be up there. Some very good teams in the past.

[bman]

A good portion of the Logan Elm district is in Hocking County, thus they probably have more of an argument of being in the Southeast than those that are far off to the west of U.S. 23.

[BBallin fool]

Overall!!! I got to go with Portsmouth.

[Mad-Dogg]

Overall!!! I got to go with Portsmouth.

i agree. overall it has to be p-town but in recent years you can't forget the burg

[Peake]

I have no problem with putting a team without a state appearence above another with one.

Does a state title of tourny appearence make your program better then one who has been REAL GOOD for a long time?

Fairland has been to a final four, but I would have a real difficult time putting them a head of Chesapeake as a program.

[trojandave]

I agree with Peake.......Fairland has been the Final 4, but I would rate Chesapeake's program over the Dragons.

My top 8 programs ALL-TIME in the SE District.......all these teams are members of the SE District:

1. Portsmouth.......4 state titles, 3 state runnerups, 34 district titles, 13 regional titles
2. Wheelersburg.....6 state appearances, 2 state runnerups, 15 district titles
3. Southeastern Ross.....4 state appearances, 15 district titles
4. Chillicothe.......1 state title, 3 state appearances, 12 district titles
5. Racine Southern.......8 district titles, 3 state appearances, 1 state runnerup, most wins in the SE district
6. Ironton......2 state appearances, 1 state runnerup, 11 district titles
7. Greenfield McClain......12 district titles, 3 regional runnerups, 1 state appearance
8. Chesapeake.......11 district titles, 3 regional runnerups

I think Portsmouth and Wheelersburg all-time are a solid 1-2......after that, one could debate 3-8..........if you take the last 30 years, Wheelersburg, Greenfield McClain, and Chesapeake have been the SE District's most consistent winning programs. If you were to look at the decade of the 2000's, which just concluded with this past season, I would rate Wheelersburg #1, Ironton #2, Logan Elm #3, Greenfield McClain #4, Chillicothe #5, and Chesapeake #6. Of those 6 teams, only Greenfield McClain and Chesapeake do not have state appearances in the decade of the 2000's........but they still were both consistent winners.

The Waterloo Wonders won back to back state titles in 1934 and 1935, but that school shut down almost 50 years ago so I don't consider it as one of the all time programs in SE Ohio. My list regards schools that have been playing basketball for 75-100 years continuously.

Chillicothe was the toughest to rank because they were D1 in the early part of the decade of the 2000's and didn't have much success.......they have put together a nice run of 3 straight regional appearances, including the D2 state title in 2008. I think, though, that both Greenfield McClain and Logan Elm won more consistently than did Chillicothe over the course of the decade.

Historically, Chillicothe deserves their ranking based on the fact that the Cavaliers were consistent winners from the late 40's to the early 80's.........but since they were a D1 school up until a few years ago I don't think there was a lot of attention paid to their overall history. Anybody who watched CHS during the 70's know just how tough they were with Coach Tom Cuppett. The Cavaliers knocked Portsmouth out of the tournament 3 times in that decade.

Ironton, I believe, is the most underrated program of the top eight I have listed.......they have a much better basketball history than some believe.......but for the most part football always overshadowed basketball at IHS.

[John Wooden]

trojandave I agree that all the schools you mentioned are very good programs. I am surprised you left Racine Southern off your list. Seeing how they have more wins then any other school in southeastern Ohio. They also have 35 district appearances
16 district finals
8 district championships
6 regional appearances
2 regional championships
3 state appearances
1 state runner up
I would have to think if you are going by what a program has done over the years you would have to have a program with the most wins on the list. I am wondering why you left them off?

[trojandave]

John Wooden: You are very correct about Racine Southern.........I simply forgot about them........probably because like Portsmouth they haven't fared well this decade........based on your stats, I would put them #5.........I will edit my original post to include them........I knew I would probably leave someone out when I did my list.

[trojandave]

In the 90's, Belpre had a very good run under Coach Joe Garrett with 3 state appearances and 1 state runnerup.......I couldn't quite see them in the top 8, however, because they don't have a long winning stretch that could rival that of the other teams. However, I do think Belpre merits a top 12-15 ranking based on that outstanding decade.

[trojandave]

Although I don't have all the stats in front of me, just for fun sake I would rate these teams from 9-12:

9. Gallia Academy.......won only 2 district titles since 1970.......1973, 2003......but the Blue Devils under Jim Osborne have put together a lot of winning seasons and SEOAL titles.......and they had a strong history before Osborne took over.
10. Marietta........multiple state appearances (I believe their last was before 1945), 11 district titles, but the Tigers haven't done much at all in the last 30 years.
11. Waverly.........under Coach Hawhee, the Tigers were a consistent power, going to the state in 1970.......but since their regional final in 1980 they haven't had a long run of success.
12. Belpre........for the reasons mentioned above.......I couldn't put them any higher than this because 1 outstanding decade is not enough to merit a top 10 ranking.

The lists I have made will stir some debate I am sure, but it gets more difficult to rate teams the farther down the list you go.

[JIMMY THE GREEK]

What about North Adams or Beaver Eastern? Just a question....I know they won their share of games in the past. Portsmouth is #1 and Burg #2 based on overall stats. Since the year 2000 who would be your top 10?

[boilermaker]

I would have to say the Berlin Roads Pollcats ,by far! They have never lost a game yet.

[Keyser_sozeThrice]

boilermaker....That's funny! But have they since dropped "Berlin" and it just goes by "Roads" now since that is what the signs say?

[boilermaker]

Yes Keyser they have ,but I'm old school and they are still Berlin to me.

[Kenny Bixx]

I would have to say the Berlin Roads Pollcats ,by far! They have never lost a game yet.

This tread is about the best programs in SE Ohio. Where is Berlin and if its that trashy cross road south of Wellston why would anyone care. Wellston and there coach are a bunch of cheaters.