Monroe Central 24-25

[MOVGridiron]

Went up and watched MC yesterday for the second time this season (also saw them against Marietta). Highly impressive performance from the Seminoles. They had an answer for everything North Adams tried to throw at them defensively (which was quite a bit because they were hopeless against them in straight man-to-man). MC was patient and efficient - if they had made some more open 3's it could have been much worse.

Defensively, they were locked in. North Adams got very few open shots and had to work hard for everything. #23 was a non-factor. MC's length and strength really, really bothered NA.

[MOVGridiron]

Intriguing matchup. Eastern Pike has a couple things that MC does not; a true PG and they pass the ball so well that it’s hard to press them.

Tucker Howell and Allen for MC present Matchup nightmares for Eastern Pike. If MC shoots the ball efficiently, I can see them advancing.

Both schools going for History.
Eastern Pike has never won a Regional. Regional Runner Up in 1983-84 season to Columbus Wherle.
Pike County hasn’t had a Final Four team since Waverly in 2022. Prior to that, Piketon in 2009. Then, Waverly in 1970. Western Pike (Latham) made it in 1968 and 1942.

Monroe Central is going for their first Final Four birth as well. Prior to this for Monroe County:

Graysville Skyvue in 1985 (State Runner Up) and 1984 coached by OHSBCA Hall of Famer Mark Huffman.

Bethel Township Blackhawks in 1957. Bethel scored over 100 points 10 times in 1957, had at least four 1,000 point scorers and was coached by OHSBCA Hall of Famer Dick Potts, whose 589 wins still has him ranked No 1 in OVAC history for all time wins.

Don't know that MC really needs a true PG...the offense runs through Howell anyway, whether he's in the low post, at the elbow, on the wing, or at the top of the key. They are incredibly unselfish and keep the ball moving - you'll be hard-pressed to find a team who does that better than MC.

[skyvue]

Intriguing matchup. Eastern Pike has a couple things that MC does not; a true PG and they pass the ball so well that it’s hard to press them.

Tucker Howell and Allen for MC present Matchup nightmares for Eastern Pike. If MC shoots the ball efficiently, I can see them advancing.

Both schools going for History.
Eastern Pike has never won a Regional. Regional Runner Up in 1983-84 season to Columbus Wherle.
Pike County hasn’t had a Final Four team since Waverly in 2022. Prior to that, Piketon in 2009. Then, Waverly in 1970. Western Pike (Latham) made it in 1968 and 1942.

Monroe Central is going for their first Final Four birth as well. Prior to this for Monroe County:

Graysville Skyvue in 1985 (State Runner Up) and 1984 coached by OHSBCA Hall of Famer Mark Huffman.

Bethel Township Blackhawks in 1957. Bethel scored over 100 points 10 times in 1957, had at least four 1,000 point scorers and was coached by OHSBCA Hall of Famer Dick Potts, whose 589 wins still has him ranked No 1 in OVAC history for all time wins.

Bethel (as well as Lewisville, Graysville and Stafford) became Skyvue in 1965 or so. Skyvue (along with Woodsfield) consolidated into Monroe Central in 1994.
Additional bit of history, that Bethel team was led by Ed Bode who went on to play at WVU with Jerry West. He later became a long time head coach at places like Skyvue, Martins Ferry and Strasburg.

I remember those Skyvue teams from 84 and 85 very well! Lost the 1985 state title game on a famous shot at the buzzer to Jackson Center. It was the only time Jackson Center had the lead in the whole game. Still haunts me to this day.

[JeepNation26]

If MC continues to play their game they should handle Eastern easily. If they don’t allow Tucker Leist to get going from behind arch MC could win this one by 20+, Eastern will have no answer for the Howell kid.

[West Rowan Falcons]

If what I read in the paper is true, MC has shot the lights out in the tournament games with unselfish play. Good luck Noles.

[selonmc]

We talk about the players, rightly so, but Coach Mason Lang deserves a lot of credit. Think about it… MC powers that be fired an experienced coach and gave the keys to this Ferrari to a junior high coach with zero varsity coaching experience. All he’s done is upgraded that Ferrari and gone head to head with some coaching legends and has held his own. A lot of that is credited to the players, but Lang has done a great job. I know there was a lot of drama in him getting the job but nobody can argue with the results

[skyvue]

We talk about the players, rightly so, but Coach Mason Lang deserves a lot of credit. Think about it… MC powers that be fired an experienced coach and gave the keys to this Ferrari to a junior high coach with zero varsity coaching experience. All he’s done is upgraded that Ferrari and gone head to head with some coaching legends and has held his own. A lot of that is credited to the players, but Lang has done a great job. I know there was a lot of drama in him getting the job but nobody can argue with the results

Absolutely! He deserves a lot of the credit. You can tell they listen to him and respect what he has to say.

Last night the MC coaching staff stuck around to scout the Beaver Eastern vs Cardington game, but I did not see the players. I found it curious/odd that they would not have stuck around to see their next opponent in person?

[selonmc]

I watched the livestream from YrpTV a bit ago and I thought I heard them say Allen is MC’s 2nd all time leading scorer? Is that true?

[TGIF]

I watched the livestream from YrpTV a bit ago and I thought I heard them say Allen is MC’s 2nd all time leading scorer? Is that true?

He is the 2nd leading scorer for MC boys (excluding Skyvue&Woodsfield). He does have 2 years at Beallsville figured into those numbers. People have different feelings on how this should be considered.... career vs school...

There are 2 girls ahead of Chance for overall MC school leading scorer.
Hillary Lecrone 1996 grad- 1342(or right around that number)
Kalista Friday 2022 grad - 1569

Tucker Howell broke Friday's overall MC record late this season.

[MC Noles SportsFan]

We talk about the players, rightly so, but Coach Mason Lang deserves a lot of credit. Think about it… MC powers that be fired an experienced coach and gave the keys to this Ferrari to a junior high coach with zero varsity coaching experience. All he’s done is upgraded that Ferrari and gone head to head with some coaching legends and has held his own. A lot of that is credited to the players, but Lang has done a great job. I know there was a lot of drama in him getting the job but nobody can argue with the results

I will agree that Mason deserves a lot of credit and has done a good job but I feel it needs said that the previous coach was not fired.

[redskinwitness]

The coach certainly deserves credit, they are very talented but he steers that ship. I know it was controversial as the previous coach was successful and by all accounts I've heard a great teacher and role model and reports were that parents pushed him out but had that not happened many of these players would not be playing here and the run they've been on since last year would not have happened. I don't see that as the fault of the current coach, he can't control community members. He has done a very good job with the team. I've seen really talented teams lack discipline and team play, this one does not lack those things at all which is a sign of good coaching.

[SouthEast Hoops Fan]

Monroe Central by 17.

[selonmc]

Final Four baby. Great job boys.

MC
Colonel Crawford
Kirtland
Marion Local

I don’t care who we draw. Just happy for the team they made it

[selonmc]

Looks like it’s Marion Local. MaxPreps has ML next up on MC’s schedule. Time and place TBA. Probably will be somewhere in Columbus.

[Steely Dan]

Looks like it’s Marion Local. MaxPreps has ML next up on MC’s schedule. Time and place TBA. Probably will be somewhere in Columbus.

While that could be the match up, I wouldn't put too much stock into anything being said right now, as the committee to decide who plays who and where they play won't meet until tomorrow.

[EasternDspy]

Looks like it’s Marion Local. MaxPreps has ML next up on MC’s schedule. Time and place TBA. Probably will be somewhere in Columbus.

While that could be the match up, I wouldn't put too much stock into anything being said right now, as the committee to decide who plays who and where they play won't meet until tomorrow.

Max prep matchups are not right. It goes by travel and Marion Local makes least sense.

[rickoshay]

Great win for your old team Steely, Mason and his two brothers played for Fort Frye And his father Pat Lang was a long time Asst. coach for Dan Lidtke at Fort Frye. " The apple dosent fall far from the tree.

[Steely Dan]

Great win for your old team Steely, Mason and his two brothers played for Fort Frye And his father Pat Lang was a long time Asst. coach for Dan Lidtke at Fort Frye. " The apple dosent fall far from the tree.

You are correct, sir! I am ecstatic about tonight's win. They played great!

[bsee12345]

Final Four baby. Great job boys.

MC
Colonel Crawford
Kirtland
Marion Local

I don’t care who we draw. Just happy for the team they made it

Think it will be Marion Local vs MC at Ohio University- or Columbus Fairgrounds.
Also could be Kirtland vs MC at College of Wooster, Ashland University.

[EasternDspy]

Final Four baby. Great job boys.

MC
Colonel Crawford
Kirtland
Marion Local

I don’t care who we draw. Just happy for the team they made it

Think it will be Marion Local vs MC at Ohio University- or Columbus Fairgrounds.
Also could be Kirtland vs MC at College of Wooster, Ashland University.

I was told by an Ohsaa board that all boys games will be at bigger colleges.