The Best Rivalry in Southern Ohio basketball

[noreply66]

Chillicothe-Zanesville can't qualify because it was only a rivalry for 3 years. The most heated 3 year rivalry in history maybe but untill joining the SEOAL they hadn't played in a long time and aren't playing this year.

CHILLICOTHE-PORTSMOUTH has to be one of the best if not THE BEST.
In all sports(especially football and basketball) they are rivals. I don't know when their first Bball contest was but their first meeting on the gridiron was in 1898. With Tuesday's Double overtime victory by the Cavs the series is tied. (42-42 or somethin like that) Both teams have fairly large followings. The students don't like each other. (as evidenced by the student sections needing seperated after the game yesterday. The players don't like each other but they certainly RESPECT each other. Speaking for myself, I hate Portsmouth but I have a lot of respect for those who have worn that uniform. Both programs have State Titles. Both are among the leaders in SEO in wins in the district tournament all time(most of those wins coming in D1 by both teams). Both have sent tons of players to D1 colleges and even the NBA over the last hundred something years. Rival cities for business. Both on 23 and seperated by a very short distance when you think of the historically larger schools in SEO.

IMO this is the best rivalry in SEO.
Probably followed by Waverly-Piketon IMO.
Burg has a few good rivalries as well.

I did say would have been

[clevelandbrowns#1]

What about Portsmouth and Ironton in ALL sports??? This is a huge rivalry. Someone help me in the records of football and basketball!!!

[iwearblacknikes]

Oak Hill vs every team they play seems like were hated by every team we play and loved by the whole village of O' KILL!

[crab_apple4]

Oak Hill vs every team they play seems like were hated by every team we play and loved by the whole village of O' KILL!

Maybe in the past 2 or 3 seasons... That has to do with Oak Hill being successful, and people wanting to beat a state champ. From 2000-2006 the Oaks were flat out terrible, with 2002 being a minor exception. They were solid in the mid to late 90's, maybe even won an SOC title... But Oak Hill due to being out of Scioto County and the kids generally not assosciating as much, they really don't have much of a built in confrence rivalry... SW is close, so maybe that will develop... And I really think it would be bigger if Norm's son in law would have stayed at Webster. It just seems like Jackson is disliked more than most confrence teams.

As for the other schools in the SOC, everyone seems to have more energy and more "motivation" against Burg... They have been the top dog in the league in all sports for quite sometime, so it's natural that everyone wants to beat them. I always loved the competition at Burg, but Minford was the school that I always wanted to beat. Maybe it's because Valley wasn't playing Burg in football at the time, but the Minford games in hoops always seemed to have incredible energy. But it seems that Burg has a rivalry with whoever the competition is for that given season.

[MightyOaksFan]

Oak Hill vs every team they play seems like were hated by every team we play and loved by the whole village of O' KILL!

Maybe in the past 2 or 3 seasons... That has to do with Oak Hill being successful, and people wanting to beat a state champ. From 2000-2006 the Oaks were flat out terrible, with 2002 being a minor exception. They were solid in the mid to late 90's, maybe even won an SOC title... But Oak Hill due to being out of Scioto County and the kids generally not assosciating as much, they really don't have much of a built in confrence rivalry... SW is close, so maybe that will develop... And I really think it would be bigger if Norm's son in law would have stayed at Webster. It just seems like Jackson is disliked more than most confrence teams.

As for the other schools in the SOC, everyone seems to have more energy and more "motivation" against Burg... They have been the top dog in the league in all sports for quite sometime, so it's natural that everyone wants to beat them. I always loved the competition at Burg, but Minford was the school that I always wanted to beat. Maybe it's because Valley wasn't playing Burg in football at the time, but the Minford games in hoops always seemed to have incredible energy. But it seems that Burg has a rivalry with whoever the competition is for that given season.

Don't say 2000-2006, say 2001-2006, our 99-00 team made it to districts, but I know what you mean.

[Ironman92]

Peebles/North Adams is way up on this list.


It is flat out basketball counrty in every sense of the phrase. Only 9 miles apart and they just don't like each other very much.

[trojandave]

For me, being a 1975 Portsmouth High School graduate, Chillicothe was and still is today the biggest basketball rival........the two schools have a long history of bitterness, partially due to the number of times they have met in the tournament.......In 1951, Portsmouth ended Chillicothe's perfect season in the district final with a 53-51 upset......10 years later, the Trojans needed a last second shot to edge the Cavaliers 52-51 again in the district final........In 1958, Chillicothe beat Portsmouth in overtime in the sectional, and then in 1961 the Trojans got a last second shot by Clem Hartley to beat the Cavaliers 52-51 in the district final.......PHS went on to win the state championship in Class AA (big school).

Portsmouth beat the Cavaliers in the regular season twice in 1971, then CHS got their revenge with a 60-57 win in the sectional opener. Chillicothe would go on to eliminate the Trojans from the tournament in 1973 and 1976. The 1976 meeting was the last time that CHS and PHS would meet in the tournament, as Portsmouth dropped to Class AA.

In the 1978 regular season, Portsmouth beat a very good Chillicothe team 62-54 at CHS......and the Trojans went on to win the Class AA (middle) state championship. The very next year Craig Tubbs of PHS made a winning jump shot over his cousin Joe Glassgow of the Cavaliers in a 51-50 Trojan victory.

The two schools continued to play each other throughout the 80's, with the Trojans dominating the games.......it was Portsmouth's most prolific decade ever record wise, going 197-50 for those 10 years, with a state title and state runnerup.

Over the last 20 years, PHS and CHS had played off and on until both gained membership into the SEOAL.......over the 4 years since that time, Chillicothe has completely dominated the series, going 8-0 vs. Portsmouth, and until this year the games were lopsided.......this year's games resulted in very competitive games, both Cavalier wins by scores of 45-42 and 66-61 in 2 OT........those games were more like those of my days at PHS........intense on the court and in the stands.

I look forward to many games vs. our old rivals from Ross County, and I'm glad that we are both in the same league.......and pretty soon I'm hoping the Trojans can end a 13 game losing streak vs. the Cavaliers.

The series now stands at 40-40 after Tuesday's 66-61 2 OT loss by the Trojans. Chillicothe is the second most frequent opponent in Portsmouth's history, topped only by Ironton.......the Fighting Tigers and Trojans have played approximately (I am not sure exactly how many because we have played so many times) 139 times. Ashland, KY is the third most frequent opponent with the Trojans holding a 46-28 advantage vs. the Tomcats. Portsmouth leads the Ironton series 80-59.

[CharlieHustle]

Ironton/Portsmouth used to be way bigger than what it is right now. Every game was always a madhouse for either football or basketball.

Every team will say Burg is their rival, because they are hated by everybody. LOL.

A huge rival is New Boston/East...only about 3 miles seperate these schools and it's always a dogfight every game. They have both been in the SOC I since it was founded (1946). The fans really get into every game. There have been some great battles between these teams.

[crab_apple4]

Don't say 2000-2006, say 2001-2006, our 99-00 team made it to districts, but I know what you mean.

Yea, I meant the 2000-2001 team... The 99-00 team was extremely solid, and being the same age and playing against you I know that both 98-99 and 99-00 were darn good teams... I'm pretty sure we split the 4 games. What am I saying, I know we did because me and a certain PG of yours still like to argue about some of that about twice a year when he comes back to town. lol

But the teams following you were rough until the year Davis transfered back from Wellston. When Norm returned the talent level was on its way back up, and it should be good times in the village until this Jr class is gone.

[The Ghost of Swanker]

I'd say the Oak Hill - SW thing is developing because of the 06 and 08 state titles and the distance between us. same thing with Wheelersburg. Should be called the 140 series.

[arrowman]

Still waiting on the Eastern counties to chime in.

[eagles73Taylor]

Piketon vs Waverly - 1922-23 to 1955-56 - Pre-Consolidation

25W – 50L - 4U

Piketon vs Waverly - 1956-57 to Present - Post-Consolidation

15W – 19L
The Rivalry is usually a Close Game…

113 times Piketon and Waverly have played since 1922-23 season.

52 times the point margin has been single-digits.

22 times the point margin has been 2 points or less.

4 times games have went to OT…one game lasting 3 OTs.

- 3 OT game ties Piketon record for longest game.


The Rivalry – Margins & Streaks…

29 pts Largest Piketon win over Waverly.

55 pts Worst Piketon Loss to Waverly.

5 Most Consecutive Piketon Wins over Waverly.

25 Most Consecutive Piketon Losses to Waverly.

The Rivalry - Piketon & Waverly meet in “any” Finals…

Pike County Tournament Piketon 4W Waverly 1W

(1924-25, 1931-32, 1935-36, 1936-37, 1952-53)


Waverly Holiday Classic Piketon 3W Waverly 3W

(1997-98, 1998-99, 2000-01, 2006-07, 2008-09, 2009-10)

[cheer 'em on]

Peebles/ NA

Length of rivalry: the two schools have only been in existence since 1970, however in the early 60s Seaman and Peebles battled it out for the AC tournament crown 3 times, with Peebles winning twice. (Back then I'd have to say Franklin & Winchester were bigger rivalries.) Peebles mostly dominated the meetings until the 80s, when the tide started to turn. In 1985 Peebles won a 5-overtime game, but NA knocked them from the sectional. NA had some abysmal years in the late 80s, but began their rise as Peebles was beginning their decline. In 1993 both teams had powerhouse squads.

Wins/Losses: From 1970 to 1990, Peebles was dominant, I'd guess in the range of 70%, at least. Again, it swung back the other way, with Peebles beating North Adams just 5 times (I think) since 1993 (and 2 of those wins were this year).

Proximity: 8 miles away, but what a difference those 8 miles make, as the mailboxes go from saying "Kremin" to "Copas."

Hatred: No fights have broken out, but we've had some dirty fouls over the years. A Peebles student tackled the NA mascot last year. Mostly Peebles was up and NA was down, and when the roles were reversed PHS didn't like it much...I'd say NA fans aren't liking the pendulum swing this year, either.

Story Lines:
On the girls side, NA star guard Angie Haslam transferred to Peebles for her senior year. When NA played at Peebles that year, the gym was standing room only and Devils fans carried signs that said "Traitor." (Peebles wins, btw). On two different occasions a NA player has beaten the school's scoring record in a Peebles gym, which stings, it just stings. 2008-09 had two of the most competitive rivalry games the schools have ever played.

Relevant programs: Over the past 40 years, these have been THE two most dominant schools in our area...just rarely at the same time.

Solid prospects: The list of incredible players produced by these programs over the years is staggering. Marc Kremin, Nathan Copas, Joe Ryan, Kraig Unger, Chuck Johnson, Troy Storer, Kelly Copeland, Eric Evilsizer...on and on and on....

Student/Fan involvement: Well, again...booing a teenage girl and calling her traitor, tackling a mascot...and no one in these two communities has a regular bowel movement on days they play...

Any other stats/stories I'm missing out on guys?

Jimmy, Are the year by year wins/losses posted anywhere? Would like to see the actual historical rundown. Thanks, by the way, for the work you put into all this roundball history. Terrific effort yielding terrific results.

[jchitwood]

There's some stats on wearetheindians.org...very few NA stats on there, only the combined SHL records from 1970 till 1999.

Josh compiled Peebles' record against every team they ever played, but it's not online yet. All of those stats are written in a secret book that is passed from eldest son to eldest son in out family...

[TribeManiac10]

There's some stats on wearetheindians.org...very few NA stats on there, only the combined SHL records from 1970 till 1999.

Josh compiled Peebles' record against every team they ever played, but it's not online yet. All of those stats are written in a secret book that is passed from eldest son to eldest son in out family...

I know where they got the idea for the Gates family on National Treasure now.

[swbaseballfan]

I'd say the Oak Hill - SW thing is developing because of the 06 and 08 state titles and the distance between us. same thing with Wheelersburg. Should be called the 140 series.

140 series sounds like an awesome idea, or 140 title...durring basketball season aok hill can take it home, then durring baseball webster can take it back!!!!!!

[wipala]

earlier the Northwest/Valley game was mentioned...well ole wipalawalt can remember when northwest was not,,it was Raden, Otway and I think one other school and every year there was a Scioto County Tourney at Grant Gym in Portsmouth,,,I had the honor of watching some GREAT games among all the teams...Burg, West, Valley, Webster, East,,,and so forth....The Otway and Raden games were like a war...nothing left on the court...however times change and so many schools had to join together to survive...I like the PHS-Chilli,,,,Our only win in 61-62 seasong was over Chilli!!!! Wipalawalt

[jeepmadness]

Webster and clay in the 60's or 70's and Webster and green in the 80's.

[trojandave]

Chillicothe vs. Portsmouth.........

5 state titles
16 regional championships
46 district championships
65 sectional championships

Over 2,300 victories all-time between the two schools

No other rivalry in the Southeast District can come close to matching those numbers.

[trojandave]

Ironton is also a BIG rivalry for Portsmouth, and the Trojans' biggest rival overall if you take into account football as well........Wheelersburg is also a BIG rival, but that one doesn't have the long history that Chillicothe or Ironton has.

Portsmouth has had many memorable clashes in the tournament with the Tigers and Pirates, especially from the late 1970's to the present.

One of the great venues for the high school tournament in the 1970's was at Rio Grande when there were about 10 AAA schools in the Southeast District........some GREAT games were played there, and the Trojans and Cavaliers battled each other quite a bit.