Pike County Holiday Classic

[Hoggy]

The Pike County Holiday Classic at the Downtown Arena on Dec. 28 and Dec. 30. The tournament opens with Eastern facing Piketon before Waverly takes its home floor against Western.

So what is everyone's thoughts and predictions?

The Eastern vs. Piketon match up will be a true test and challenge for the Eagles. Eastern is coming in undefeated and will need to bring their "A" game.

Waverly will be playing against Western in the first round and will be trying to avoid getting scalped on their home court.

If this year is like the past, you can throw out the records and get settled in for some hard fought and exciting basketball action between the Pike County schools. Good luck to all teams!

[Hoggy]

ttt

[Slickrick301]

Yeah I can't wait till this year's game's both of these game's are going to very close. I can't really say my opion on who is going to win. I have only seen Western and Eastern Play this Season. Just know Eastern Will have 2 come with it on and leave nothing left on the court. I believe Piketon start's all over 6'0'' perhaps. Don't qoute me on that. Then Western and Wavelry. Waverly Has alot of Athletic Kid's and also I believe the smallest Player is 6'2 Idk. But I wish all the team's luck and a good season

[lilb-baller]

Waverly cleans house this year, there a really talented club! I personally dont see any one in the SOC containing Sammy J at point he is a huge key factor at Waverly this year. Kretzer and Martin are gonna get there 20-25 points along with Robak crushing the board, Kelly and Ramey will also fill there spots on the floor with a victory at home. Good luck to all teams its good to see all the County Schools are having a great season should be some good ball!

[toast]

Piketon is currently ranked number 2 in Southern/Southeast Ohio. Waverly comes in at number 5.

There can be no looking past the first game match-ups for the Tigers or Streaks. To do so would be perilous.

You can throw the records and rankings out the window in the Pike County Holiday Classic. It's an old cliche but it sure does ring true for this tournament.

[JIMMY THE GREEK]

Waverly cleans house this year, there a really talented club! I personally dont see any one in the SOC containing Sammy J at point he is a huge key factor at Waverly this year. Kretzer and Martin are gonna get there 20-25 points along with Robak crushing the board, Kelly and Ramey will also fill there spots on the floor with a victory at home. Good luck to all teams its good to see all the County Schools are having a great season should be some good ball!

Really? I think I heard that last year!

[smurray]

I don't know who you heard that from last year, Jimmy. Piketon was favored last year and they should be the favorite to win it this year.
The Championship game last year was worth the admission as the Tigers gave the much more experienced and highly favored Redstreaks a run for it.
While the reigning champions should be favored they shouldn't be favored by as much as last year should they meet up with Waverly in the championship game. Waverly is allot better than last year and I hear Southworth will not be here.

Of course Piketon must first beat an undefeated Eastern squad and Waverly must handle Western.

[Bear42]

It seems like Waverly is always matched up with the weaker team in the semifinal. Is this true?
Who does the scheduling here?
I look for Piketon (+12) over Eastern; Waverly (+18) over Western; and Piketon winning in dramatic fashion (+3) over the Tigers.

[bookem13]

Toast...wow...perilous! Good word! It's great to see the county teams playing well. Piketon is one tough piece of meat, and I sure hope Southworth will be at the game...I want them at their best. They have one of the premier point guards in the area in Evan Legg, and Brush and Southworth are just animals underneath. Vulgamore is quick as a cat, and Helton does a nice job of playing within himself and knocking down some shots. I haven't seen Eastern or Western play, so I can't comment on either of those teams. Waverly is as talented as I've seen them since we had Jeff Reuter, Jeff Schmitt, Jeff Dunn, Darrell Howard, Scotty Hattle, Bub Reisinger, Matt Thornsberry, and Eric Royster in 1989. I don't think we're as deep as that team, but with 3 guys 6'4" plus hitting the boards it makes up some ground. Sam is an amazing addition to this team! He is the real deal and completely changes this team...no more Jake and Harrison bringing the ball up the court, which really helps our lack of depth.

[smurray]

Bear42,
The matchups are rotated every year so you're not playing the same team in the semis that you did the prior year. It has nothing to do with who may be better than someone else.

[smurray]

bookem13,
That team, coached by the Hall-of-Famer Carl Wolfe, was ranked number 2 in the State if memory serves me right.
This years group has a way to go to match up to that squad but they are pretty good and getting better every day.

Something interesting is the year: 09/10
The squad you mentioned was 89/90 (20 years ago).
Another good Waverly ball team, the 79/80 squad (30 years ago) went to the Regional Finals where we lost by 1 to Portsmouth. We beat seveal ranked teams along the way.
Waverly's only State appearance was a very good 69/70 squad (40 years ago).
We may have something brewing!

[bucki4life]

Tigers 2010- Well said, this team has a long way to go before it can be mentioned with an 18-2 power like the 89-90 team, but I really like what Coach travis said on the radio after the recent win against Wheelersburg- "We havent accomplished anything yet- they dont give out trophies for going 3-1, you can tell he is happy with where they are but a long way from where he wants them to be!!

The 89-90 team compared to this squad is neat to look at:
point guard- Jeff Reuter (89) vs. Sam Johnston(09)- pretty even because Sam is simply outstanding and Reuter was a stud, who could not be pressed and was a coach on the floor- advantage -Tie

Two guard- Jeff Dunn (89) vs. Remy (09)- Remy plays a little better defense - but the rest is all Dunn- he was a great player who scored at will. Advantage Dunn

Fowards- Jeff Schmitt (89) vs. Kretzer (09)- Schmitt was a good shooter - Kretzer is a great shooter and overall player- Advantage Kretzer

Foward- EJ Royster (89) vs. Martin (09)- This is also close-- Royster was a good scorer and rebounder for Waverly- Martin scores a lot for Waverly- Advantage- slightly to Martin

Post- Darrell Howard (89) vs. Roback (09)- Big advantage for Roback for his athletic abilities but no denying Howard was an incredible game changer in the paint and incredible dunker- Advantage Howard.

Bench- Kelly, D. Remy,and Malone (09) vs Thornsberry, Reisinger, Reader, and Hattle(89)- big advantage in 1989- Waverly played an up and down the floor sytle and played lots of people, they swept the burg as they went undefeated in the league and the drilled Chillicothe and Greenfield that year. This years team is off to a good start but needs to build off each game.

Coaching- Wolfe (89) is in the hall of fame and Robertson (09) is the begining of his varsity coaching career- don't know who assisted that year but I do know at one time Dave Young(North Adams), Kent Wolfe (ex-Westfall), Rick Uhrig(Huntington), and coach Willie Hobbs were all on staff for Waverly.

PA Announcing- I can't remember who did it back then- but its hard to imagine anyone being better than the punk that does it now!

And, lets not forget- during the middle of the season channel 6 came to town to do a story on Waverly Basketball because both the boys and the girls teams were undefeated and ranked in the top ten in the state that year. Lets hope basketball is headed back to those glory days!!!!

[smurray]

Nice break down and comparison, bucki4life.

I couldn't tell you who did the announcing back then either but the mic is the best place for this one to be, lol.

[roundingthird]

From what I heard Southworth will not be there the first game for Piketon, something to do with football.

[smurray]

Correct, he is playing in the Offense/Defense All American Bowl in South Carolina.
http://www.o-d.com/bowl/roster

[Jump23]

Going to be another exciting Holiday Classic! I think the Streaks better not over look the Eagles in the first round. Both teams run the floor and play hard nosed "D". I look for the game to be very fasted pace. I will pick the Eagles in a thriller over the Streaks in the first round- Eagles 65 Streaks 62. Tigers vs. the Indians I think this game will be close in the beginning with the Tigers pulling away in the end- Tigers 78 Indians 58. For the Consolation game the Streaks win 71 to 50 against the Indians. The Championship game very close threw three quarters with the win going to the Tigers 60 to 51 against the Eagles.

[hbk2016]

Eastern over Piketon? They must have broken out the eggnog in Beaver already!

Piketon by 15.

[Sports 101]

Piketon over eastern
waverly over western

eastern over western
Piketon over waverly( Close Close Close GAME!!! Will be a Classic!!!)

[Slickrick301]

It seems like Waverly is always matched up with the weaker team in the semifinal. Is this true?
Who does the scheduling here?
I look for Piketon (+12) over Eastern; Waverly (+18) over Western; and Piketon winning in dramatic fashion (+3) over the Tigers.

I'm sorry I don't see Piketon beating Eastern by that big of a margin. It's going to be a good game and come down to what team wanted it most.. Don't count Eastern out. They might not have the Height But I know they have the heart. We will just have to wait and see what happen's

[Hoggy]

ttt