[Final boys varsity cage game set Tuesday on GAHS court

[jottings]

Final boys varsity cage game set Tuesday
in GAHS gym against Jackson Ironmen

It all began with a “sudden death” 53-51 overtime Southeastern Ohio League victory over visiting Nelsonville on Dec. 5, 1958, and it will end Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2009, against visiting Jackson in another SEOAL contest.

It was the dedication contest of the current gym with around 900 spectators on hand for the evening’s festivities.

Kenny Bostic’s short jumper with 1:39 left in the second overtime propelled GAHS to victory in the dedication contest. The regulation game ended in a 46-46 tie.

Gallipolis went on to post a 10-9 regular season mark and finished 10-4 in the SEOAL standings.

Here’s the 1958-59 GAHS season record:

Gallipolis 54 Ironton 79
Gallipolis 53 Nelsonville 51 (2 ot)
Gallipolis 59 Jackson 46
Gallipolis 61 Wellston 66
Galli;olis 73 Logan 58
Gallipolis 53 Huntington Central 88
Gallipolis 66 Pomeroy 47
Gallipolis 52 Athens 53
Gallipolis 73 Middleport 58
Gllipolis 62 Nelsonville 60
Gallipolis 69 Jackson 60
Gallipolis 64 Wellston 55
Gallipolis 63 Logan 47
Gallipolis 52 Pomeroy 65
Gallipolis 50 Athens 44
Gallipolis 56 Middleport 59
Gallipolis 55 Ironton73
Gallipolis 39 Marietta 67
Tournament at Oak Hill
Gallipolis 56 South Point 58

Here’s the 1958-59 final SEOAL standings:

TEAM W L P OP
Gallipolis 10 4 853 769
Pomeroy 9 5 846 815
Jackson 8 6 839 807
Logan 6 8 899 907
Middleport 6 8 863 911
Nelsonville 6 8 816 848
Athens 6 8 779 795
Wellston 5 9 803 846
Totals 56 56 6698 6698

Members of Mark Wylie’s 1958-59 SEOAL championship squad were Dick Roderick, Jay Caldwell, Jay Simms, Gary Lane, Ken Mitchell, Jack Mills, Hank Thompson, Bob Coder, Newt Jones, Ken Bostic, John Gilmore and Gary Caldwell.

It’s been 50 years and 2½ months since the Gallia Academy High School Blue Devils basketball team began play in the current gym at the corner of Fourth Ave., and State St.

During dedication ceremonies in 1958, members of Gallipolis’ five previous SEOAL championship teams were on hand for the event—the 1938-39, 1948-49, 1953-54, 1954-55 and 1955-56 squads.

The Gallipolis Downtown Coaches Club (now the GAHS Athletic Boosters) served refreshments under the leadership of club president Bob Marchi.

Prior to the current gym, GAHS played it home games on the Washington School hardwood from 1931 until the end of the 1957-58 season. (Washington School’s hardwood was dedicated on Jan. 10, 1931. Pomeroy defeated Gallipolis 35-16 in that dedication game game 78 years ago.

Tuesday night, GAHS will play its final boys varsity basketball game in the current gym. Between the 1958-59 campaign and the 2008-09 seasons, GAHS has played approximately 480 games at the current location.

(Note—the GAHS girls will host a SEOAL Day of Champions contest on Saturday, Feb. 21.)

Next winter, the Blue Devils will be playing in their new gym at Centenary off Rt. 141.

During the past 51 years, seven coaches have guided the Blue Devils in the current gym—Mark Wylie, one year, Carl Ward, one year, Clyde Evans, one year, Carlos Dupler, one year, John Milhoan two years, Duke Burson five years and Jim Osborne, 40 years. Osborne has coached 522 wins at GAHS since his arrival during the 1969-70 season.

Some interesting events have taken place there, including a gym scoring record of 43 points by Larry Mitchell against Logan on Feb. 16, 1968; worst two losses in school history, 83-26 to league foe Pomeroy in 1959-60 and 85-24 to non-league opponent Huntington in 1959-60.

A winless streak of 30 straight games ended there with a 52-49 win over Pomeroy during the 1960-61 season. That win also snapped the Blue Devils 21-game losing streak in SEOAL play.

Gallipolis enjoyed 10 consecutive winning seasons (from 1978 to 1988) while playing on the current hardwood.

Gallipolis won 33 straight games over Jackson on the current court from 1971-72 to 2004-05.

Gary Harrison set the boys school career scoring record with 1,347 points between 1985 and 1987; Gil Price scored 1,195 points between 1970-74; Larry Mitchell finished with 1,135 points from 1964 to 1968.

Heath McKinniss had the most three-point field goals in one season with 59 during the 1996-97 season and Dave Rucker had the most career three point goals, 100, during the 1994-97 campaigns.

Gallipolis won 12 SEOAL cage titles in the current gym and GAHS teams won 14 sectionals, two district crowns and advanced to the regional tournament twice.

Longest game ever played in the current gym was four overtimes against Meigs during the 1971 season, won by Meigs, 61-59.

Most points scored by GAHS in the current gym were 105 vs. Pt. Pleasant on Feb. 21, 2000.

Here’s a list of GAHS coaches, their all-game and league records, and positions they finished in the SEOAL during the past 50 years:

1958-59-Mark Wylie 10-9 10-4 1
1959-60-Carl Ward 1-19 0-14 8
1960-61-Clyde Evans 3-16 3-11 7
1961-62-Carlos Dupler 5-14 4-10 6
1962-63-John Milhoan 1-18 1-13 8
1963-64-John Milhoan 3-14 3-11 7
1964-65-Duke Burson 6-11 4-10 6
1965-66-Duke Burson 5-14 3-11 6
1966-67-Duke Burson 7-13 2-12 8
1967-68-Duke Burson 11-8 7-7 5
1968-69-Duke Burson 11-9 6-8 5
1969-70-Jim Osborne 10-10 7-7 6
1970-71-Jim Osborne 5-15 3-11 7
1971-72-Jim Osborne 16-5 11-3 2
1972-73-Jim Osborne 19-4 12-2 2 (District Champions)
1973-74-Jim Osborne 18-4 13-1 1
1974-75-Jim Osborne 11-8 9-5 2
1975-76-Jim Osborne 13-8 10-4 2
1976-77-Jim Osborne 13-8 9-5 3
1977-78-Jim Osborne 9-11 6-8 5
1978-79-Jim Osborne 15-6 10-4 4
1979-80-Jim Osborne 13-8 9-5 3
1980-81-Jim Osborne 15-7 10-4 2
1981-82-Jim Osborne 15-7 13-1 1
1982-83-Jim Osborne 14-7 7-5 4
1983-84-Jim Osborne 16-7 6-2 1
1984-85-Jim Osborne 17-4 5-3 2
1985-86-Jim Osborne 12-9 3-5 3
1986-87-Jim Osborne 19-3 10-0 1
1987-88-Jim Osborne 17-6 8-2 2
1988-89-Jim Osborne 8-14 3-7 5
1989-90-Jim Osborne 8-13 5-5 4
1990-91-Jim Osborne 13-9 7-3 1
1991-92-Jim Osborne 15-7 8-2 1
1992-93-Jim Osborne 16-7 8-2 1
1993-94-Jim Osborne 16-7 8-4 2
1994-95-Jim Osborne 7-14 4-8 4
1995-96-Jim Osborne 5-16 3-9 6
1996-97-Jim Osborne 15-8 11-3 1
1997-98-Jim Osborne 11-10 8-6 3
1998-99-Jim Osborne 12-9 10-4 3
1999-20-Jim Osborne 18-4 13-1 1
2000-01-Jim Osborne 9-13 6-8 4
2001-02-Jim Osborne 20-4 12-2 1
2002-03-Jim Osborne 20-4 11-1 1 (District Champions)
2003-04-Jim Osborne 16-7 9-3 2
2004-05-Jim Osborne 9-14 2-8 5
2005-06-Jim Osborne 11-10 5-5 4
2006-07-Jim Osborne 13-9 7-7 5
2007-08-Jim Osborne 8-14 4-10 7
2008-09-Jim Osborne 5-11 1-8 x
X-season not complete.

Tuesday’s freshman game will begin at 5:30. The reserve game will follow. Before the varsity game, GAHS seniors and parents of the athletes will be honored.

It will be the final home game for Quinton Nibert, Kyle Mitchell, Chris Armstrong, Evan Wood, and Beau Whaley.

[BBallin fool]

GOOD LUCK BLUE!!!

[Crazy Legs]

Can't think of a better way to close a court with a good rivalry game!

Should be a good one!! Jackson 4th game in 5 days hopefully endurance is not an issue, Good luck Ironmen playing well keep it up!

[JJ Hale]

Good Luck Ironmen!

[devilfan08]

I got to go with the Blue in this one! Alot of Great players played at state street.

[jottings]

4-Ever...We're talking about boys here, not girls.

[jottings]

Girls never started playing basketball as a league sport until the late 1970s.

[bettis]

Goodluck to the Blue Devils tonight. I hope the atmosphere is really great for the last game.

I know my father-in-law Kenny Bostic would love to be here to see the last game along with others who have past on. Make us proud Blue!

[Crazy Legs]

Any updates?

[jottings]

Gallipolis won all three games in home finale--

Varsity
Gallipolis 48 Jackson 36
Reserve
Gallipolis 58 Jackson 19
Freshmen
Gallipolis 37 Jackson 25

Big crowd on hand for parents senior night.

[91blue14]

will the junior high start playing on 4th and state

[devilfan08]

What happen to equal rights?"LITTLE HARSH JOTTINGS!!!!!!

[BBallin fool]

08!!! You may be right!!!

[BlueWhiteBlue]

Kenny Bostic 1958 GAHS graduate made the first 2 points in the State & Fourth Gym -- Beau Whaley 2009 graduate made the last 2 points in the State & Fourth Gym. I feel lucky (and old, LOL)to have seen both events happen.

[91blue14]

girl or not kristi thomas could ball