Pike County Holiday Classic

[smurray]

Toast,
Thanks for the wording on the back board slap.
Just for clarification and not complaining (we won), based on that definition it should not have been a technical. When the head official came to the table he said the ball had cleared the cylinder and the slap on the glass did not effect the shot in any way - his words. He said the reason for the techinical was the slap was after the fact.

I agree the blocking foul on Legg was a Waverly charge but the offensive foul on Martin at the other end in (I think the 4th) was just as bad if not worse.
I thought the 3rd foul call on Roback was just hilarious. Waverly lined up to in bound the ball. Roback made his break from behind the lined up players and the Piketon player FLOPPED. The official (head dude) could not have seen contact/non contact but made a call based on the Piketon player hitting the floor. Maybe the worst call of the night.

It's fun the critique the officials but like has been said, they did not determine the outcome, which is good.

Kevin Malone played a well of a ball game with some hard nosed defense and 6 big points.
Devin Kelly came in and played some great ball. Had a great drive to the bucket for an and one in the 2nd and then drove the nail in the coffin with the 2 HUGE FT's with 8.4 to go.
Rheadon Remy gets better every game, playing great defense. He had several steals last night.
Roback was a beast underneath (especially on the defensive end). Brush held scoreless.
What can you say about Martin and Kretzer - they lead the way scoring every night and get after it on the defensive end.
And then there's Sammy J - what an addition to the Tigers this year. The guy will end up being one of the best point guards in southeast Ohio when it's all said and done. He don't score allot of points (didn't score last night) but he runs the point with great effeciency and plays good hard nosed defense.

Looking forward to the Tigers improving every game and seeing where this journey takes us.

[Bobby k]

If the officiating didnt determine the outcome then why even bring it up? The officials NEVER win or lose a ball game. I heard folks in the first half talking about how the officials were calling ever little ticky tac foul in the world, and i Look up at the scoreboard and there had only been 9 fouls TOTAL for both teams called! That sounds to me like they were letting the boys play, which is how it should be.

Piketon has trouble when they are slowed down and have to run and offense. They are so talented and their obvious stength is to get out and run; when they do that, they are deadly. When they get slowed down, they are very average. Hopefully they will be able to start making jumpshots when the time comes that they need to and not rely so much on layup opportunities (although missed bunnys last night IMO was what cost the game for the streaks)

Waverly played to their strength against the opponent. Slow the ball down and work it inside. They were more disciplined last night and it showed. But if you can't make foul shots you will not win many big games, and it just about served true last night.

And the ONLY thing you will hear me say about the whole Southworth thing is that do I think he would've score more than two points last night? Yes. But on the other hand, he might've gotten sick the night before and not played anyways, or the entire scheme of the game for Piketon could've been changed with him in the game and it could've been a 20 point Waverly win. Who knows, who cares. YOU PLAY WITH THE TEAM YOU HAVE THAT NIGHT. NO EXCUSES

[trojandave]

Both of these teams could be playing in the D2 and D3 regionals come March......

[Ironman92]

In my opinion Caleb Southworth is very much an excuse. Waverly is not at fault in any way for winning and nothing can take that. But Caleb Southworth is 100% a factor.

[Jump23]

Bobby K, Yes their were only 9 fouls called for both teams, but the consistency of the fouls that were being called makes it look worse than it is.! Thats why people are ticked off at the refs! As refs you have to be CONSISTENT!! You can't call a little ticky tack reach foul and then when somebody gets hammered underneath not blow the whistle! But it is what it is and the best team that night won! Congrats Tigers.!!

[Bear42]

My opinion on the Southworth stuff. One, it's stupid to keep bringing it up. He had other things going on, he didn't play, and the game is done. It's time for both teams to move and make Pike County proud.
But, yes he was a missing link. Take Kretzer or Martin out of the lineup for Waverly and I believe the Streaks roll.
I didn't know what to expect from either team. I had only seen each of them play once. When I saw the teams take the floor, I thought Piketon was going to take care of business. Waverly came out very cocky.

Also, why do they call this the Pike County Holiday Tournament if it's always played at Waverly? Piketon has a very nice place. Why not alternate the sites or find a neutral place. Get away from the Waverly Classic.

Enjoyed the atmosphere. I don't think you can get much better than that. Good Luck to both staffs and their teams.

[bengalfan76]

I think Piketon likes to play there because it gives them 2 games on the floor they play their Sectional Tourney on.
Home court did not play into this at all. Definately did not give Waverly a shooting advantage.

[homeward_bound]

Bear42...not sure any other gymnasium could handle the crowd. It was packed.

[hbk2016]

You could only rotate it between Piketon and Waverly. Eastern and Western gyms can't hold the # of people that attend.

[roundingthird]

No way Piketon's gym hold as much as Hawhee's Palace.

[soccerfix]

Mr. Arnett, the Waverly AD, said there were 1800 paid admissions last night. Hard to fit that many in any other gym in southern Ohio and still have room to spare. I believe seating capacity of the Hawhee Palace is 2200. That's probably all of Piketon or half of Waverly. Great crowd, great games, and a great classic.

[smurray]

bobbyk,
The main problem with the officiating last night was not the blown calls (you'll have that in every game), it was the arrogance and the "I'm the show" attitude of the head official. The guy has a problem and shouldn't be officiating with that kind of attitude.

Bear42,
It is the Waverly Holiday Classic, a tournament HOSTED by Waverly. Some have recently started calling it the Pike County Classic because all the teams are in Pike County, it has not always been that way.

WAVERLY'S DOWNTOWN ARENA is the only gym of the 4 County schools big enough to handle it. Same amount of seating on both sides. I thought it seated near 3,000 but soccerfix says 2,200. I don't know the actual number but people were standing where they could.

The atmosphere there for this annual classic is way better than any sectional tournament and many District games at the convo.

[sparky]

each district is always looking for new officials, get your whistle, take the classes and give it a try instead of sitting in the bleachers and complaining. get your license and help out.

[chef_piketon]

Piketon's Oven (gym) has seating capacity of 2600. Its posted on a sign as you enter the gym.

[ndc soccer]

Just imagine the atmosphere at Piketon with a packed house, and the band playing...would be fun to see

[smurray]

If Piketon seats 2,600 than Waverly's Dowtown Arena is over 3,000 like I was thinking.
There would be no room in either facility for a band. It doesn't get any better than Waverly's Pep Band but there isn't room.

What I would like to see next year is turning the lights out for the introduction of the starting line-ups for the championship game.

[bengalfan76]

Agreed, keep it in Waverly. I agree Turn out the Lights and Ham it up. Should be the same two teams again next year as both return quite a bit of their teams. Unless Waverly gets another Transfer.lol I kid!lol

[JohnKnight]

Well, if you ask me. Waverly's new gym (up on the hill with the school) is plenty big enough for this tournament and the parking is much better and the Lobby(cafeterium) ten times better! Imagine being able to sit and eat your steak burger and watch the game on the big screen! I would think there are as many seats if not more than in the down town gym.

[hbk2016]

The downtown gyms capacity has become greatly inflated over the years. I think the actual # based on the math is around 2300. I would guess it would actuallly hold about 2500. The new Piketon gym probably holds about the same. I would think the Waverly gym on the hill will hold at least 2000+.

[smurray]

While the gym at the new school is nice there's just something about it that's cold. Maybe it's because we haven't had any big crowds in it to see what it would be like. I love the 4 locker rooms and the cafeterium. Waverly's awesome pep band could be utilized by sitting in the bleachers at the end under the basket. If the band didn't use those bleachers I'm not sure who would be allowed to sit there since they are behind the basket. Without those seats being used for fans there's no way it seats as much as downtown. Another draw back is the seating not being equal on both sides.

There is a reason the OHSAA chooses the DOWNTOWN ARENA over the new school gym for tournanments.